A sample office pool policy you can copy
Here's a short office pool policy you can copy. It allows a free, voluntary pick'em with no entry fees and no prizes, and it bans any pool where money changes hands.
[COMPANY NAME] OFFICE POOL POLICY 1. Purpose We want people to be able to enjoy a friendly sports pool at work without gambling. This policy says what is allowed. 2. What is allowed Employees may take part in a prediction game, such as a weekly pick'em or a bracket, when all of these are true: - It is free to enter. Nobody pays an entry fee, a buy-in or a "donation." - Nothing of value is paid out. No cash, gift cards, paid time off or other prizes. Bragging rights are the reward. - Taking part is voluntary. 3. What is not allowed - Any pool, bet or wager where money or anything of value changes hands, on company time, on company property, or using company email, chat or equipment. - Side bets between employees connected to a permitted game. - Collecting or holding money for a pool on behalf of others. 4. Taking part is voluntary No one may be pressured to join. No one may be treated differently for joining or for staying out. A manager may invite their team and must make it clear that saying no is fine. 5. Keep it friendly Trash talk stays good-natured. Our anti-harassment and respectful workplace policies apply to league names, player names and messages. 6. Time and equipment Making picks should take a few minutes and must not get in the way of work. Use of company devices and networks follows our acceptable use policy. 7. Who runs it Each pool has one organizer, approved by [HR CONTACT OR MANAGER]. The organizer may not charge players or keep anything from the pool. The company may pay for the software used to run a free pool. 8. Questions and concerns Bring questions or concerns to [HR CONTACT]. The company may end any pool at any time. Breaking this policy may lead to discipline under our normal process.
This sample is a starting point. It isn't legal advice. Fill in the brackets and have your own counsel review it for your state before you adopt it.
How to use it
- Copy it and replace the three items in brackets.
- Check it against the policies you already have on gambling, acceptable use and harassment, so they agree.
- Have counsel review it.
- Send it out before the season starts, with the name of the person to ask.
What each part is for
- Free to enter (part 2). ADP says any company-run pool or fantasy league should be free for any employee to enter. SHRM says keeping money out avoids most of the legal issues.
- No money pools (part 3). Littler advises employers not to sponsor pools or wagers where money will change hands, and to make clear what is and isn't permitted.
- Voluntary (part 4). Foley & Lardner says taking part should be completely voluntary.
- Friendly (part 5). Littler raises exclusion and harassment as workplace risks of office pools.
- Time and equipment (part 6). ADP recommends setting limits on the use of company equipment.
- An approved organizer (part 7). ADP recommends a written policy and approval for pools that employees run.
- A place to raise concerns (part 8). ADP tells employers to listen to complaints.
How Breakroom Pick'em fits it
| The policy says | What the product does |
|---|---|
| Free to enter | Players never pay. There's no way to charge them. |
| Nothing of value paid out | There are no prizes and no payouts. The Terms forbid them. |
| No wagering | No odds, no point spreads and no money features. Betting language is filtered out. |
| Voluntary | People join from a link if they want to. Nobody is signed up for them. |
| Friendly | The Captain can remove any player at any time. |
| A few minutes | A weekly sheet is a handful of taps. |
| One organizer | Each league has a Captain, and a log of what the Captain changed. |
| The company may pay for the software | The organizer pays once: $40, $80 or $150. |
Sources
- ADP Spark, "Managing Office Pools and Fantasy Sports Leagues in the Workplace," September 25, 2018
- SHRM, "How Employers Can Approach March Madness Office Betting Pools," March 15, 2022
- Littler, "Gambling in the Workplace: Is Anything a Safe Bet?," February 1, 2016
- Foley & Lardner, on office pools and employers, August 20, 2012
I read each of these on November 11, 2026.
Questions
What do I tell HR?
Send them the no-betting promise page. The short version: players give a display name and their picks, nobody pays anything, and nobody wins anything of value. There's also a sample office pool policy on this site that HR can copy.
Is this gambling?
No. Nobody pays to play and nobody can win anything of value, so nothing is being wagered. It's a free game where you pick winners and see who's ahead. The only payment is the organizer buying the software, and that price is the same no matter who wins.
Can the winner get a prize?
No. Nobody pays to play and nothing of value gets paid out, and that includes a gift card from the boss. The winner gets the top spot on the board. There are weekly awards too, like the Perfect Card and the Wooden Spoon, but those are just titles.
What do you know about the players?
A display name, a jersey number, two colors and their picks. No email address and no phone number. There are no ads and no trackers, and I don't sell data.
Written by the person who builds Breakroom Pick'em at Lind-Sac AI Solutions LLC, Omaha, Nebraska. Last reviewed .