A review of eight-ball pool rules from around the world

WORLD STANDARDIZED RULES 
http://www.pool-table-rules.com/bcaworld.php

The World Confederation of Billiard Sports delivered the first-ever official application for recognition of cue sports to the International Olympic Commitee in Lausanne, Switzerland, in September, 1992. Since that time the Billiard Congress of America (representing the various federations of North America) has worked in cooperation with the other confederations of WPA - the European Pocket Billiard Federation (representing 24 national federations), the Asian Pocket Billiard Union (representing 7 national federations), and the Astralasian Pool Association (representing 2 national federations) to produce the first-ever world standardized rules for the major tournament games.

BILLIARD CONGRESS OF AMERICA WORLD STANDARDIZED RULES: 8-BALL 
http://www.bca-pool.com/play/tournaments/rules/rls_8bl.shtml

Playing the 8-ball
When the 8-ball is the legal object ball, a scratch or foul is not loss of game if the 8-ball is not pocketed or jumped from the table.

Loss of game
Fouls when pocketing the 8-ball (except on the break).

AMERICAN RULES
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eight_ball

Pocketing the 8-ball
Once all the player's object balls are pocketed, he/she may attempt to sink the 8 ball. To win, the player must first call which pocket they plan to sink the 8 ball into. If the 8 ball is shot into the wrong pocket or a foul occurs, the player loses.

UNOFFICIAL WORLDWIDE 8-BALL RULES
http://www.gamecolony.com/pool_game_rules.shtml#8

Playing the 8-Ball
When the 8-ball is the legal shot for a player, a scratch or foul does NOT result in a loss of game if the 8-ball is not pocketed. 

Losing the game
Foul when pocketing the 8-Ball.

Note: the game is NOT lost if a player gets a scratch or a foul when playing the 8-ball as long as the 8-ball is not pocketed.

SCOTTISH 8-BALL RULES
http://scottish8ball.mobi/wepfrulesn.htm

Loss of frame fouls
Committing a foul in the same shot that the Eight Ball is potted (except on the break).

MICHIGAN UNION RULES
http://www.umich.edu/~billiard/8ball.html

Loss of game
A player loses the game if he fouls when pocketing the 8-ball (except on the break).

IRISH POOL ASSOCIATION RULES
http://www.irishpoolassociation.ie/wepfrules.htm

Loss of frame fouls
Committing a foul in the same shot that the Eight Ball is potted (except on the break).

OFFICIAL INTERNATIONAL POOL TOUR 8-BALL RULES
http://www.internationalpooltour.com/ipt_content/ipt_rules/default.asp

Winning a game -
A player wins a game by legally pocketing the eight ball after which time all the balls of his corresponding ball group have been pocketed, or by legally pocketing the eight on the break.

Losing a game -
A player loses a game by committing any foul on a shot that results in the eight ball being pocketed.

ENGLISH POOL ASSOCIATION RULES
http://www.epa.org.uk/wrules.php

Loss of frame fouls
Committing a foul in the same shot that the Eight Ball is potted (except on the break).

CANADIAN POOL ASSOCIATION 8-BALL LEAGUE RULES
http://www.poolplayers.ca/8-ball.shtml

How to win -
You have won the game when all the balls of your numerical group have been pocketed, and you have legally pocketed the 8-ball in a properly marked pocket without scratching.

AUSTRALIAN EIGHT-BALL FEDERATION

Loss of frame fouls
Committing a foul in the same shot that the Eight Ball is potted (except on the break).

LATIN AMERICA
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eight_ball

A Latin American variant of last-pocket is that each player is allowed two cue ball scratches when shooting for the 8, which simply end the shooter's turn at the table and give the opponent ball-in-hand; only the third such scratch is a loss of game (though scratching the 8 ball itself off of the table or into the wrong pocket is an instant loss); this version is common even in US pool bars that are dominated by recent Latino immigrants.