workplaces across the country are inundated with office betting pools. According to a

new Vault.com survey, 58% of employees say they partake in such pools, and 77%

indicated that their co-workers participate.

Pools for the Super Bowl are most popular; 51% of respondents say they or their cubicle

mates have joined a pool for the big game. Following closely behind is the NCAA men’s

basketball tournament with 48%. Other pool-worthy events: NFL regular season games

One respondent said, “[Pools] add a level of excitement on game day, and they enhance

socializing in the workplace.”

Vault’s Office Betting Pools Survey was conducted in February, 2008 and consists of

responses from 683 employees representing various industries across the United States.

Pools generally don’t interrupt the workday too much (68% of respondents say they

spend only five to ten minutes at work making their picks), and 65% say the cost to enter

is relatively low, only $5 or $10. The winnings vary, but 66% say they usually amount to

$200 or under. Almost one quarter of survey-takers (24%) say they’ve won an office

pool.

Most employees (91%) say their offices either do not have a policy against betting pools

or they are unaware of one. According to the survey, 72% of employees say the primary

motivation for office pools is to have a little harmless fun at work.

Vault is the leading media company focused on careers. Vault offers over 100 online and

thousands of company and university profiles, information on hundreds of occupations

and industries, articles on a multitude of workplace topics, a network of message boards

for professionals and jobs-related video, blogs and research tools. Maintaining offices in

New York, London, Mumbai, and Hong Kong, Vault was founded in 1996 by Hussam

Hamadeh, Samer Hamadeh, and Mark Oldman.