Short answer: it’s called “pool” because the game became tied to 19th-century betting “pools,” not because of the table itself. This Pool vs. Billiards twist is stranger than most people expect—keep reading to see how gambling rooms, pocket tables, and language quirks shaped the name we use today.

The True Name Origin: From Betting Ante to Billiard Table

The Meaning of "Pool" in the 19th Century

The Definition of a "Pool": Collective Bets and the "Ante" (The money pot)

In the 19th century, a “pool” referred to a shared pot of money collected from bettors.
This had nothing to do with cues or tables at first.
People simply contributed to a joint stake, and the term stuck.
It became a common expression in many gambling settings. 

Vintage-style chart showing the billiards family tree, dividing pocket billiards and carom billiards above an old-fashioned poolroom scene with gamblers and tables.

Horse Racing Connection: How “pooling” money became synonymous with gambling

Pooling money was especially common at horse races.
Because these betting habits were widespread, the word “pool” became closely linked to gambling culture.
Anything associated with wagering often adopted the same name.

The Rise of the "Poolroom"

A Place for Wagering: Betting parlours where patrons gathered for race results

Poolrooms began as betting parlours rather than cue-sport venues.
People gathered there to place wagers and wait for race results.
The tables inside were merely additional entertainment.

Entertainment Between Races: The need for a time-filler game for gamblers

Gamblers needed something to do between races, so billiards tables became a natural option.
These tables offered a social way to pass the time.
As cue games grew more popular, the association strengthened.

The Critical Association: How billiards tables became permanently linked to the betting room

Because billiards tables were fixtures inside these “poolrooms,” people eventually used the same name for the game.
Over time, pool became the casual term, even though the game itself had existed long before.
The linguistic shift stuck firmly in everyday use.

Billiards as the Official, All-Encompassing Term

The Classification of “Pocket Billiards”

Pool is a type of billiards: why the game itself is technically a subset

Technically, pool sits under the broader category of billiards.
Billiards includes all cue sports played on a cloth-covered table.
Pool simply became the most recognised version in modern play.

Pocket billiards: the formal name for any cue sport played on a six-pocket table

Pocket billiards is the official term for games like eight-ball and nine-ball.
These rely on six pockets and the familiar solids-and-stripes ball set.
Rulebooks still use this terminology today.

Carom billiards: the contrasting term for games played on pocketless tables

Carom billiards uses a table with no pockets at all.
Players score by rebounding the cue ball off the other balls and the cushions.
It represents one of the oldest forms of billiards.

The Etymology of the Word "Billiards"

French roots: derived from bille (ball) or billart (stick)

The word “billiards” likely came from bille, meaning ball, or billart, meaning stick.
Both origins fit neatly with the equipment used in the game.

Ancient history: evolution from a 15th-century indoor or lawn game

Early versions of billiards were originally lawn games, similar to croquet.
Later, the game moved indoors and developed into the form we recognise today.
This shift paved the way for various cue-sport variations.

Modern Usage and Regional Differences

Today’s Common Language

American popularity: why “pool” dominates in U.S. English

In the United States, “pool” became the everyday term because of the long association with poolrooms.
The gambling connection overshadowed formal terminology.
People now use “pool” to describe eight-ball, nine-ball, and similar games.

The snooker distinction: where the UK/Commonwealth separate “snooker” and “pool”

In the UK and Commonwealth countries, “snooker” and “pool” are treated as separate cue sports.
The word “billiards” is often used differently, depending on local traditions.
These regional distinctions help explain why terminology varies so widely.

“Pool hall” vs. “billiards club”: connotations and modern-day business naming conventions

A “pool hall” usually refers to a casual, social venue.
A “billiards club” implies something more traditional or refined.
Modern naming conventions still influence how players perceive the game.