UK Tote Group Shakes Up Leadership Team with Two New Additions

UK Tote Group, operator of pool betting operator the Tote, has added Paddy Desmond and Eugene Delaney to its leadership team as Group Chief Operating Officer and Chief Commercial Officer, B2B respectively.

Desmond has been promoted from Chief Revenue Officer, taking operational leadership across the UK Tote Group business; his responsibilities will span product, customer experience, marketing and revenue. Desmond has been with UK Tote Group since June 2024, with his previous positions at the company including Strategy Consultant and Group Chief Strategy Officer & Chief Commercial Officer (Ireland).

Extensive experience from both

‍Alex Frost, CEO of UK Tote Group, said: "These changes to our senior team ensure we have dedicated leadership across both sides of our business. Paddy has an outstanding track record in our consumer business and a deep understanding of racing, and his expanded role reflects the confidence we have in him to lead our growth.”

Paddy Desmond

Desmond has been in the sports betting industry for more than two decades, going back to when he joined betting exchange Betdaq as a Sports Executive in 2003. He then worked for Paddy Power for the best part of 14 years from 2004 to 2018, with his roles including Head of Racing; horseracing is the sport primarily associated with the Tote. Desmond was also briefly Head of Racing at Australian operator Sportsbet in 2013.

Desmond said: "This is an exciting time to be leading the Tote's consumer business. We have a distinctive product, a loyal customer base and real momentum. My focus will be on continuing to improve the experience we offer customers while growing the business responsibly and sustainably."

Eugene Delaney

Delaney also brings plenty of experience within the horseracing industry. From 2014 to 2021, he worked for Spotlight Sports Group – the rebranded company name of the Racing Post – as Director, B2B. Prior to this, Delaney was Commercial Manager at Paddy Power from 2012 to 2014. After leaving Spotlight Sports, Delaney was Managing Director of racing and sports data supplier Podium, formerly PA Betting Services.

Delaney said: "The Tote's B2B potential, across international pools and the UK, is significant and there is a clear opportunity to build on what has already been achieved over the last eight years. I'm looking forward to working with Alex, Paddy and the wider team to deepen our partnerships, sharpen how we operate and continue building long-term value for our racecourse, operator and international partners."

What is the Tote?

The Tote, short for totalisator, refers to a pool betting system where all wagers on a specific outcome are pooled together, with the house and racing industry taking a cut from that pool. The Tote was founded in 1928 and was owned by the UK government until 2011, when it was sold to Betfred for £265 million. In 2019, UK Tote Group – a consortium made up of more than 150 investors – bought the Tote for £115 million.

Industry problems

The horseracing industry in the UK is currently in a difficult spot. The industry is expected to be impacted by the increase in remote gaming duty, from 21% to 40% of gross gambling yield (GGY), which was introduced in April, and the planned increase in general betting duty, from 15% of GGY to 25% in April 2027; bets on horseracing will be exempt from this.

Earlier this week, British Horseracing Authority Chief Executive Brant Dunshea called the planned financial risk assessments in the UK an “abdication of duty” by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.