Trading on horse races is becoming more popular than ever before. The widespread popularity of betting exchanges like Betfair certainly helps to make it more accessible. However, it is the easy access to horse racing trading strategies that has really made the difference.

It is now incredibly easy to find details of how to do this. Does this mean that it is a guaranteed success? No, you can still lose money on trading. But knowing the basic strategies gives you some exciting ways to try and make a profit.

It is more complicated than just betting outright on a horse. Thankfully, it isn’t as difficult as you might think, though. Let’s take a look at what it involves and how to get started.

The Basic Horse Racing Trading Strategies

What is the difference between betting on a horse and trading? Well, one key different difference is that you aren’t just betting on a horse winning. You can make money even if your chosen horse finishes outside the places. In fact, there are going to be times when you want this to happen.

Trading is all about taking advantage of movements in the market. When the odds rise or fall, this presents opportunities. Trading smartly on horse races is about knowing when to make a move. How do you get started on doing this?

You might back or lay a horse before the race begins. You then want to see the price move in the direction that you expect to see. But you will be looking at exiting sometime before the race ends. You aren’t planning on sticking with it all the way to the end.

In play Horse Racing Trading Strategies

Prices can change a lot once a race begins. For example, there are horses that always front run. Their odds will tend to drop sharply once it gets underway. Others will hang back and then finish strongly. I’ve written more about these strategies here.

There is nothing quite like the feeling of seeing your plans come through. This is when you see the horse do exactly what you expected it to. You can then complete your strategy by exiting at the stage you planned to exit. Having said that, you also need to be prepared to react to anything unexpected happening.

A horse that usually hits the front might not do so. Or one that tends to finish strongly may not do this time. This element of the unknown keeps things exciting all the way through. You can never just tune out until your profit is guaranteed.

It is a strategy that can lead to small but regular profits. Generally speaking, it is easier to pick a horse for trading than it is to pick a winner. So, how can you go about trading? There are a few different strategies to bear in mind.

Why Carry Out In-Race Trading?

If you have tried traditional betting, you might be ready to try in-race trading. But what are the main reasons for doing this? The following are some of the benefits you will get.

• Cut out the bookie. This is one sure-fire way to avoid the bookies. Maybe your accounts have been gubbed. Or perhaps you are unhappy with their in-built advantage. Either way, you will only be using Betfair for your horse racing trading strategies.
• The chance to understand the price changes. A horse’s price will often change before the race start. But it often isn’t clear why this is happening. With in-race trading, you can see exactly why the price is moving in a certain direction.
• Better value. This approach lets you judge the accuracy of a horse’s price better. You can compare the current price to what you see happening in the race. The money bet on the race before it started doesn’t take into account what has happened since then.
• A more flexible type of bet. This is a way of adding a good degree of flexibility to your betting too. You don’t need to just make a straight bet at a fixed price. One possible approach is to gradually back or lay off a horse as its price moves.
• More opportunities to make big profits. The odds can swing wildly during a race. For instance, as the first place horse falls behind another. Or when a horse makes a surge from behind to take the lead. These sudden, significant changes mean that there is the chance for big profits.
• More enjoyable. For many horse racing fans, trading is more fun and satisfying than simply betting.

Drawbacks to In-play Trading

It isn’t all good news and happy thoughts when you trade. There are a few drawbacks that you need to be aware of before you get started.

• The need for training and practice. Most people can place a bet with a bookie pre-race. Even a complete novice can do this without any problems. When it comes to trading, a bit more knowledge is needed. This means spending some time learning about the process and practicing it.
• Liquidity issues. One of the big issues when trading can be a lack of liquidity. You may find it awkward to trade as much as you want to or to find the right price. Choosing big, popular races is the best solution to this problem.
• The speed of trading. Not everyone is comfortable with the speed that they need to trade at. This involves making quick decisions and then carrying them out right away. It can take some time to get used to this urgency.
• Any delays in the broadcast. If you are seeing TV pictures of the race, you will be slightly behind the real-time action. This means that people at the racetrack have an advantage over you.

Set Your Trade Before the Action Starts

One popular option is to set the trade before the race begins. There are a few different reasons for doing this. For instance, you might not be able to follow the race live on TV. Or you might worry that the prices move too fast for you to keep up.

The other approach is to back and then lay your runner before the race has even started. You are taking advantage of the odds movements before the race has started.

In either case, you are looking for a horse whose odds will shorten. Since exchanges now have a fast, slick process, it is easy to trade out of a position quickly. The key to a big profit is in deciding when the odds are likely to be at their best.

So, let’s look at a few popular horse racing trading strategies now.

Trading Front Runners

This is one of the most widely-used strategies. It involves looking for horses that like to lead races. This type of horse will typically see its odds shorten at some point in the race. This makes it one of the easiest ways to grab a fairly simple profit.

Just back it before the race starts and then lay during the race. The other option is to back it once the race starts, and then lay it off later in the race. Backing it like this usually means that you get a lower price.

To make it work, this approach needs a bit of research done on it. Basically, you need to know which horses like to hit the front. Ideally, you will find a horse that likes to stay there for a while. If it only stays in the lead for a short time, your profit options will decrease.

It is also important to know about the other horses in the race. Are there others that will be pushing hard to hit the front? Or is your selection likely to be virtually unchallenged for a long spell?

To find out all of this, you need to research previous races. You don’t want your horse to start off too strongly, though. If it does this, the odds could lengthen. As bettors will realise that it will burn itself outside long before the end.

Lay Front-Running Horses

This horse racing trading strategy has something in common with the previous one. But there are also some differences. In this case, you just look for a horse that is being heavily backed during the running of the race. You then lay it.

This is worth doing when the price gets too short. For instance, a lot of traders might be following the previous strategy and back it. The price needs to be short enough to be attractive. But you need to be careful. If it is extremely short, it might be that the horse is actually looking like winning the race.

Back to lay is the term used when you back pre-race and lay at shorter odds. This is usually done with a horse that starts strongly but doesn’t finish as well. You expect the horse to take up a good position by the half-way mark. But you expect it to not go on to win the race.

The opposite approach is to lay it around the half-way point. You then want to back the horse at higher odds when it falls back later.

Identify Different Types of Horse

One of the secrets is in identifying different kinds of horse. Strong travellers and those that are fast but have a difficult attitude offer good opportunities. Anyone who hasn’t researched them as well as you may back them at the wrong moment.

Then there are hold up horses. These are the runners that tend to hang back until later in the race. Their odds will typically increase at the start of races when they fall behind. But your research will have told you that they have a good chance of finishing strongly.

There are all sorts of horses out there. To trade wisely on them, you need to understand more about them. The greater your knowledge, the more you can expect to earn by trading.

Other Factors to Take Into Account

So far so good, but there is more to look at. The way the race plays out will depend upon a variety of factors. The following are a few of the key points to take into account when trading.

• The weather conditions. Do they suit the horse you are interested in? You need to look at the horse’s record to see how it performs in different types of condition.
• The length of the race. This is especially important when looking at front runners and those who hold back initially. Is the race long enough to make your strategy work? Or is possible that there just won’t be enough time to trade successfully?
• The size of the field. Some horses run better in smaller fields, while others prefer bigger groups. The more horses are running, the more research you will need to do. It could be that there are several front runners in the field, for example.
• The jockey. Is the jockey likely to push the horse on to a better performance? Or will he let it run at its own pace? Some jockey/horse combinations get the very best out of each other and others don’t.

Most people bet on races without taking all of these factors into account. This puts them at an advantage right away. If you look into all of this, you are already ahead of the game. Now, you need to ally the information to a solid strategy and carry it out well.

What Skills Are Needed for Trading?

As we have seen, there is a range of different skills needed to trade on horses. First of all, you need to be good at researching. Then you need to be able to understand and react to the changing market during a race.

Patience and a cool head are needed. If you rush in, you could lose money or lower your profit. A horse only lasts for a short time, but you need to choose the perfect moment for each action.

After a while, this should become second-nature. There are certain situations that you will see occur over and over again. So, the more you trade the better you should become at it.

We can then wonder who horse racing trading strategies tend to suit. It may be perfect for someone who is fed up losing money to bookies. Making money off traditional horse racing bets is incredibly difficult.

With trading on an exchange, you are removing the bookie’s advantage. It is now more of a level playing field. So the person with the most knowledge and best system is likely to win.

This doesn’t mean that you will always win when trading. However, a good strategy will help you to lower the risk. With practice and experience, you should bring the risk of loss down significantly.

Paid Horse Racing Trading Strategies

Trading seems too much like hard work to a lot of people. Not everyone has the time or patience to do the research needed for the previous strategies.

This is where a paid system can come in useful. These systems make it easier for you to get started and make money. You generally need to just follow some simple guidelines to choose your horse and strategy.

They will make it easier for you to get started and choose a horse. A good system will then guide you through the steps that you need to take to trade successfully. The following offer useful horse racing trading strategies you might be interested in.

• One solid example is Betfair Sniper. This provides a process that can be learned in about an hour so. It is about trading favourites, and being patient is a big part of it too. You only need to use a Betfair account for this method, with no bookie bets needed. Anyone can try it, even if they currently know nothing about trading.
• Caan Berry provides another paid trading system. This one comes with a hefty amount of training material. It perhaps is a bit more difficult and time-consuming for newcomers to get started with. But it does give a solid grounding in the most popular trading strategies.
• Betfair Scalper is another way of learning how to trade. It takes a systematic approach to profit from price movements during races. Again, you need to get some training to get started confidently in this way.

As you can imagine, a good paid system for trading costs money. You need to pay for access to the training material. In some cases, there is also a cost for on-going access to the software.

Therefore, you need to use it enough to make money overall. This sort of paid system is certainly a good starting point for anyone who is new to trading. It gives you an easy, gentle way to start trading with some valuable help.

Horse Racing Trading Strategies Summary

For a lot of people, trading gives an exciting new way of betting. If you are looking for a new approach, it is well worth considering. Horse racing trading strategies might not be right for everyone. But it makes sense for a lot of people.

It takes a bit more time and effort than simply backing a horse with a bookmaker. But by doing the necessary research, you will put yourself into a far stronger position.

The post Complete Guide to Horse Racing Trading Strategies appeared first on Mike Cruickshank.

Have you heard about in-play betting in football and wondered whether to try it? The amount of in-play betting has increased hugely in recent years. This is a popular way of adding some extra excitement when watching a match. But could it also be profitable for you? In this guide, I’ll be telling you about the some in-play football betting strategies.

You might that this is a highly complicated type of betting. Maybe you expect it to involve complex and time-consuming strategies. Thankfully, this isn’t really the case, although it does need some research carried out. Pretty much anyone can try it, but not everyone will do it well enough to get a profit.

First of all, there are some things that you need to know about this approach. Let’s look at the basics. We can then see what type of bettor is best-suited to doing this.

What Is In-Play Betting?

In-play betting is where you place a wager on a match that has already started. This means that the odds will be fluctuating all the time. The ebb and flow of the match will determine what happens in the different markets.

The massive number of online bookies and exchanges makes it easy to place these bets. All good bookies offer this option. You will usually find this in an “in-play” or “live” tab on their websites. Many of them let you follow the action live on their site too.

You can usually bet on a range of markets, as you would with a pre-match bet. Choose who you think will win or who will score next. Or how many goals will be scored. Choosing the right market is one of the keys to success. So we will look at that in a minute.

Some bookies say that they make more than half of their profits from in-play betting. So it is clearly extremely popular. And something that the bookmakers win plenty of cash on. It is easy to see why they go all out to encourage it.

The nature of in-play betting brings up new challenges for bettors. For a start, this is a fast-moving market. You need to be ready to think on your feet and act fast. Lots of punters get carried away in the thick of the action.

As for making money, the key is in finding value. This usually means using a betting exchange. There just isn’t the same chance of getting value from a bookie. With that in mind, let’s take a look at some of the best strategies for in-play betting.

Laying the Draw In-Play football Betting Strategies

This is probably the most sensible way to bet in-play on a football match. It is also one of the easiest to get to grips with. This makes it ideal for someone who is getting started on this kind of betting.

The classic way of doing this used to involve laying the draw before the kick-off. You would then wait for the first goal to go in. After that, you would hedge all of the different outcomes possible. This can lead to a tasty profit if things go your way.

However, this has become a less popular approach over time. Part of the reason for this is that is now less profitable. Therefore, we have had to look for a new way to lay the draw.

The solution? Laying the draw in-play. This can prove to be far more profitable than the pre-match option. So how does it work? The first step is to look for a match that is in the second half but still level.

You can then lay the draw using in-play betting. This works by lowering the risk that you are running. The odds on a draw will be lower than they were pre-match. And the profit is bigger if one of the teams then scores a goal.

Another option is to just lay the draw in this way and leave it. So, you don’t need to trade out of the position. This makes it even easier to use this strategy. It’s no surprise that a lot of newcomers to in-play betting choose it first.

When should you think about laying the draw in-play? The best situation is when the favourite has a strong incentive to win. Maybe they are pushing hard at the top of the table and need the points.

Or perhaps it is a cup game that is vital to their season. It is good news when the favourite has strong reasons to go for it. This means that they aren’t likely to settle for a draw.

We also want to see that the other team could score. They might be the underdog, but they need to show some signs of danger. Maybe they will hit with a fast goal on the counter-attack. If only the favourite looks like scoring, the best move might be to just back them.

Laying the Correct Score on In-Play football Betting Strategies

The previous example is the easiest way of using in-play betting. But it certainly isn’t the only one. Another strategy you might like is laying the correct score.

In this case, we are betting on there being more than one goal. Why is this suitable for in-play betting? If you place this sort of bet pre-match, the odds will be high. Wait until the game kicks off and the odds will be better. This opens up more opportunities for making money.

You want a situation in which there is urgent need of a goal. One of the teams needs to be desperate to score. For example, the home team might be the favourites in a cup time. But they are losing by a goal in the second half. If they fail to score they are out.

In this case, you expect to see them push hard for an equaliser. This also opens up the possibility of the away team hitting on the break. A one goal difference isn’t a big amount. Even if the game is near the end, the players should keep going to try and recover it.

You will also want to take a look at the way the game is going. Is the team in the lead killing the game? Or it not very open and end to end? Does the team that is behind have a game-changer on the bench? Or does their manager tend to make bold tactical changes in these situations?

So far, we have seen that you need to have a reasonable grasp of the game. It is important to bear this in mind. Someone with no interest in football will struggle to understand the subtleties of these situations.

Corners In-Play football Betting Strategies

You can find an in-play betting strategy for most football markets. If you can bet on it pre-match, you can probably do so in-play too. We could look at betting on corners, for example.

The situation the match is in is vital here. Pre-match betting on corners is more about assessing the teams. You would make your wager based on their respective strengths and history of getting corners. This involves a lot of guess-work.

For example, the favourite might tend to win a lot of corners. But if they take an early lead they might ease off. Or they might be very accurate and clinical in their attacks in this game. This could lead to them scoring more goals than getting corners.

Once the match is underway, you can see how it is unfolding. What if a team is chasing the game? They might start hitting long balls and winning more corners. If the defending team is clinging in, they might concede corner after corner.

Even a team that doesn’t usually win a lot of corners might get a cluster of them. They often appear late in the game at things get desperate. It is impossible to predict accurately. But you can get a feel for what is most likely to happen.

If it has turned into an unadventurous midfield battle, there will probably be fewer corners awarded. The manager chasing the game alters his tactics it could be a sign. If he brings on a tall striker or moves a defender up front, expect corners to follow.

Equally, a team defending a lead might introduce a no-nonsense defender. He could be someone who is happy to put the ball behind regularly. These are all factors to take into account.

What Other In-Play Betting Markets Are There?

Is there a certain type of football bet that you like? If there is, you can probably bet on it during the game too. For example, there is the over/under goals market to look at.

It is now more common to bet on over-under goals in-play than before the game. This is because it is easier to get a feel for the way the game will go. You may feel confident about betting after just a few minutes.

A popular tactic here is to bet on fewer than 2.5 goals before it starts. If around 15 minutes pass with no goals, you can then lay under 2.5 goals. This is because the odds should have shortened by this stage. So, you will be looking for a profit no matter what happens.

You could also look at the first half goals market. Statistics suggest that two-thirds of matches have goals in the first half. The odds before the kick-off are generally too low to be tempting. But the odds often increase quite soon after it starts.

Total goals and next goal are other popular in-play markets. In each of them, you should be looking for a strategy to help you out. The fast-moving nature of these markets means that value can be found. You just need to know where to look for it.

Who Should Try In-Play Betting on Football Betting?

This approach isn’t right for everyone. But for some bettors, it is an exciting and profitable idea. The following are some of the key factors you should look to meet.

• Be able to think on your feet. This is a fast-moving market and value can pop up at any time. You might need to change strategy rapidly.
• Good bankroll management. You will want to be able to manage your funds well. It can be too easy to get tempted into chasing losses with in-play bets.
• Able to dedicate time to it. You need to watch the games and the markets as they evolve. This isn’t the type of bet you can just place and forget about.
• Have decent knowledge of football and betting. This isn’t something that requires you to be an expert. But you do need to understand the basic principles of football and betting. This will help you to see trends and opportunities.
• Enjoy watching football. This isn’t essential, but it makes sense. If you don’t like the sport, you won’t be happy to have to watch so much of it. A true fan will look forward to every game.
• Able to keep cool and make good decisions. You need to keep a clear head even when things get really exciting.

How to Prepare for In-Play Betting

The best idea is to bet on matches that you watch. You could follow the match online through text updates. But you will miss a lot of the details in this way.

If you can’t watch live on TV, check a bookie’s site. You might be able to follow it in this way. For example, Bet365 is a good choice. There are also some sites that provide live data feeds from football games. These include the popular Flashscore.

Nothing really beats seeing what happens with your own eyes. As we saw earlier, a lot of the strategies depend upon you noting the match evolution and swings. So, take some time to find a way of watching the game.

You should also look to do some research too. It is good to know as much as you can. Which team really needs to win? Who is on the bench for both of them? Does one of them traditionally start or finish games strongly?

You never know exactly what will crop up, so you need to be ready to react. The more information you have ready the better.

Then there is bankroll management mentioned earlier. You should put some thought into how much you plan to wager. This will help you to make fast, accurate decisions.

You can use free stats sites to find the figures you need. The best ones include the likes of Soccerstats and Soccerway. Look for one that it easy to use and navigate.

Once the Game Starts

Don’t just rely on your own eyes. While this is a part of the process, you will also want to see some stats. Combining these two methods is perfect.

You will find statistics for in-play betting on most bookies’ sites. Choose a reliable bookie that you trust to stay up to date on this matter. Some of them might lag behind the play.

In this way, you might spot something you can use. For example, you might notice from watching the game that one team is dominating. But this isn’t yet reflected in the corners awarded. It could be that they are due a run of corners to reward their play.

It is important to remember that you should only bet when the conditions are right. Don’t feel under pressure to make a bet just because you are watching the game. This is where being a football fan helps. You won’t feel that you have wasted you time just by watching without wagering.

Make sure you are placing value bets. This is the key to using the right in-play football betting strategies.

Another point to bear in mind is around the bets that bookies offer. As you watch, they might pop up an ad for a certain type of bet. Generally speaking, this is likely to be a poor value bet. Stick to finding your own bets through good research and instincts.

As mentioned earlier, betting exchanges are more suitable for in-play betting. You can also check a comparison site like Oddsportal. This will let you see a live feed of the different prices around.

In-play football betting strategies Conclusion

In-play betting on football is hugely popular for some very good reasons. It is exciting and adds a lot of fun to watching a game.

Having said that, bookies love it for a reason. They make tons of money through rushed and ill-judged bets. It is easy to get carried away and lose money in this way.

We can safely that this isn’t right for everyone. You need to be a footie fan and have a decent grasp of betting markets. Of course, if you are already a fan, you can learn about betting.

Get it right and in-play betting can be profitable in the right circumstances. It is a great feeling to pick up some wins in this way. However, it isn’t a substitute for a solid, sustainable approach like matched betting. Instead, I would suggest that you look on it as an interesting addition to your betting.

If you already enjoy watching football, in-play betting can add some extra spice to the games. For some people, this makes it an ideal way to place some smart wagers. Finding the right in-play football Betting Strategies will help you profit over the long term.

The post In-play football betting strategies that work appeared first on Mike Cruickshank.

Having access to the best football stats sites is a huge help for some bettors. This is how you can find out about scores, form and everything else. You could keep your own records but it is an almost impossibly huge task for one person.

Thankfully, there are lots of options out there for you. Many sites are packed with football statistics that you can use. In fact, they have more stats than you could ever hope to use.

So, it is a question of finding the right one for you needs. How can you best do this? We will take a look at all of the factors involved in this decision. Then we will go through a few of the most popular footie statistics websites.

Look at the Cost

The cost of any service that helps your betting is vital. The more you pay, the lower your overall profits. If you are already paying for another betting service, a second cost is unwanted.

You can’t afford to pay out a lot of your winning on things like this. If you can get a football stats site for free then so much the better. Is this possible, though?

Yes it is, as many of these sites are completely free to use. Others charge a fee, which is high in a lot of cases. Is it worth paying a bit more for a better service?

It is if you think that the difference is big enough to make you more money. However, it is important to note that paid services tend to be aimed at different markets. When we look at the sites later on, you will see this clearly. Most paid services probably aren’t designed with you in mind anyway.

If in doubt, I would always suggest taking a free option first of all. You can then see if it is good enough for you. If not, you will now know what exactly you should be looking for. You will also have a decent idea of how much it is worth to you.

On the other hand, what if you start with a paid service? Well, you will never know if you could have got the data for less. Or even for free. It might be that you don’t use the bits that are really worth paying for.

Are you losing money by not having access to reliable stats? It comes down to the type of betting you carry out.

What Do The Best football stat sites Cover?

The best football stat sites tend to contain huge amounts of data. If you enjoy looking through facts and figures you will enjoy them. There is a lot more here than just a list of final scores.

Of course, you will find results on here. A huge database of results is the basic starting point for any statistics collection. Expect to see results from all of the major leagues. Some sites also cover less well-known leagues.

However, you should look for a lot more than just results. You can also search through team numbers on things like possession, goals scored, shots taken and so on. The wealth of data on some of these sites is incredible. Of course, not all of it will help you to make smarter bets. So you need to know what you are looking for.

You can then drill down on individual player stats. What is Messi’s assist rate like? Does Neymar win many aerial duels? Who is the best passer in the EPL? You can find out all of this and more.

Most sites also provide other services. These could include a football blog and upcoming match previews. You might find live scores on here too. All of this adds a bit of extra value. Choose wisely and it could become the only footy site you need to use. Make the wrong choice and you could waste time drowning in pretty useless numbers.

How Easy Are The Best football stat sites to Use?

You might think that all of these statistics make for an unwieldy website. Yet, the best of them are very simple to use. If you can use a basic spreadsheet then you can use a football stats website.

In most cases, you use tabs to get around. You can then filter and re-order the statistics however you want to. With lots of flexibility, you can narrow it down to exactly what you want to see. It should only take you a few minutes to get the hang of any site of this kind.

Naturally, some are easier to use than others. You don’t need to be a technical whizz to use any of them, though. Most people should have absolutely no problems with any service of this type. So it probably isn’t the most important point.

Just give any stats site you are interested in a short trial run. Remember that you need fast, reliable access to the numbers. If they give you this, then you should be happy enough to use them.

Do You Really Need One?

At this point, you may wonder whether you even need a football stats site. It is certainly worth thinking about this. Not everyone who makes money from football bets uses a site like this.

The key is in understanding how you are going to place bets. Are you going to be getting tips sent to you? If so, you would only use this service to back up the selection. You might think that this isn’t necessary.

What if you are going to be choosing your selections? Again, it comes down to the way that you do this. For example, if you are using matched betting you are using a loophole. So the stats don’t bother you as much. You already know that you can’t lose in any outcome. You don’t need to find the Best football stat sites.

Then there is the time aspect. Do you have the time to look through a stats site before making your bets? Again, it is something that is fine for some bettors but not for everyone.

Football statistics are really for people who want to identify the best bets. These might be value bets. So, you could find that a team is at fairly long odds to win. But you believe that their chances are better than that. You need to find and interpret the statistics that back you up.

For everyone else, this sort of service is nice to have. But it isn’t usually essential. With any good betting system, you should know whether the addition of facts and figures would help.

Having said all of that, let’s look at some sites now. There are some of the best footie stats services. You can find tons of fascinating details on each of them.

Soccerstats

You won’t need to pay a subscription to this stats site. All of the information is free, and you don’t even need to register on it. This makes it very easy to get started on.

At first sight, the layout is a bit uninspiring. In fact, it looks a little bit old-fashioned, to be honest. However, once you start looking into it, you will find a lot of interesting figures. A nice feature is the live blog down the side of the screen. This keeps you updated with all of the current games.

You can also filter by the game date. This lets you see at a glance the stats for each of the day’s matches. There is also a useful analysis for completed games. Other tabs let you see form, teams and ref information.

One of the best things here is the incredible variety of leagues. At the top of the screen, you will see national flags. Choose one and you will then see the leagues from that country. They have covered just about every competition you could be interested in.

For example, I clicked on Italy. I was then offered Serie A, B and C. I could also see the Primavera youth leagues covered. The amount of detail in this site is amazing, although you need to be careful to not be overwhelmed by it all.

Soccerstats is possibly of interest to anyone who likes betting on more obscure leagues. Information on these leagues can be hard to find. But it is all neatly wrapped up for you on here.

WhoScored

This is another of the free footie stats sites. It brings together pretty much all of the elements we have looked at so far. You can see results, live scores and match previews. They also have player stats covering a range of different areas. These include tackles, cards, possession, aerial duels and more.

The statistical best 11 is a nice touch. This lets you see the best combined team from the top 5 leagues or from just one of them. You can also choose it by week, month or season. It is a very quick way to see the in-form players all over the park.

Their previews are very good too. This is where you can very quickly weigh up the two teams in an upcoming game. Some neat graphics let you instantly assess their stats. This includes goals, assists and player ratings.

Each preview ends with a summary and a score prediction. This makes it an easy way to check whether your own prediction is realistic. This is arguably the site’s best feature. It brings together all of these stats to give you an easy to understand score prediction.

Statbunker  

This is another stats site that looks a little bit dated these days. But don’t let that put you off too soon. It is packed to the rafters with interesting data. It covers the biggest European leagues and a range of statistics.

Many of the stats in here are similar to those on the other sites we have looked at. You can start off by choosing a league. There are English, French, Italian and German options, among others. Cups and international football are also included.

The goals category is nicely split up. See who has scored more goals and most hat-tricks. You can also see goals by type of play and method, as well as penalties and so on. The same comprehensive approach is taken on discipline factors.

You can see goals scored and conceded per team. The general section has a range of information. Some of it is really useful, like the half-time table. The likes of youngest and oldest teams maybe not so much.

Statbunker is a good general stats site. You might like it if you are interested in markets like goals scored and cards given out.

FootStats

This is another free footie statistics website. In fact, it is the last free one for us to look at. It was originally based purely on British leagues. But it has been expanded to include other leagues now.

However, it is still largely focused on matches in the UK. You might prefer it if you like to bet on British matches.

The tables tab is particularly useful. This is where you can order the league by things like corners, goals, cards and so on.

Statistic Sports

This is the first of the paid for services. Does it offer enough advantages to make the cost worthwhile? Certainly, it is probably the most comprehensive site on the list so far. It also includes a handy mobile app.

Their site is powered by AI. What this means is that it gives you advanced predictions very quickly. They call it the best football prediction tool on the market. The site owners suggest that they cover over 2,000 matches each week. This sees them look at 95% of all live football games.

You can get started with a free trial for 7 days. After this, the basic membership fee is €17 for a month. You can step up to deluxe package for €37 each month. Even more complete is the platinum level for €77 a month.

This is probably too much for most bettors. It is really designed for professionals to use. You need to be completely serious about your football betting to pay for this service.

Wyscout

Another paid football stats service, this is also pretty expensive. The most expensive subscription is £999 annually. It clearly isn’t aimed at the average, casual punter.

One of the outstanding features here is the huge video archive. It has been described at the biggest and best football video collection on the planet. It is easy to see why it is called “the professional platform”.

To be honest, this site is aimed at people in the game. They have videos from over 100 countries. There are over 200,000 full matches with analysis. Over half a million players and teams are included. More than 2,800 new matches are added to the platform every week too.

There is a free 15 day trial. After that, the cheapest option on this site is currently listed at €250 a year. The price for full, unlimited access isn’t listed. But other sources put it at close to £1,000.

It is hard to see any bettor making money in this way. The cost is just too expensive to make sense in this way. It is designed for pro scouts and teams to use as part of their analysis work.

Which is the best football stat site for you?

As we have seen, all of these stats sites have good things about them. They are all fascinating reading for footie fans. But you might have some trouble finding the right one to use.

The first step is probably to ignore the paid services. These are actually terrific sites. But they aren’t designed for people wanting to make money from betting. Unless you are going to bet on the Statistic Sports predictions, it just doesn’t make sense.

After this, each of the other sites we have looked at is free. The information they each offer is similar but different. For instance, you will find a focus on different leagues and types of statistic. The presentation is also something that changes quite a bit.

I would suggest giving one of them a trial run. If it suits your betting strategy, stick with it. If you can see the best football stats you crave, that it all you need. However, when you can’t see what you are after, there are other options. You could go through them all until you find the perfect site.

The same applies with the layout and presentation. Some people might prefer the slightly retro style on some sites. Others will want a slicker and more modern feel. Just check them out until you see one that you are comfortable with.

There is no right or wrong answer. As far as I can see, each of these stats sites is trustworthy and reliable. The one that you choose just comes down to personal preference. It won’t take you long to find the best football stat sites.

Best football stat sites Summary

The best football stats sites are enjoyable but can they help you to bet more wisely? It really depends upon the strategy you use. If you feel that having these facts and figures to hand would help, then give it a try.

The good news is that you are spoiled for choice. Just look around and see which site suits you best. After this, you can ensure that you are always armed with the best football stat sites that you need.

The post Best Football Stat Sites appeared first on Mike Cruickshank.

You have probably heard esports mentioned at some point. After all, it is something that is big news right now. With the sporting calendar severely disrupted in 2020, esports have become a valid alternative.

I am sure that a lot of people have started looking into this subject lately. They will want to know everything about this interesting, modern type of sport.

Perhaps still you aren’t sure what exactly this is or who play these sports. You might not know that it is possible to bet on these games too. This could give bettors an interesting new option away from football, horses etc. Anything that helps to diversify our profits has got to be a good thing.

It’s time to find out what esports are all about. We will then take a look at how you can try and make money from betting on esports.

What Are Esports?

Esports are simpler to understand than you might fear. This is a massively popular type of video gaming event. Professional gamers play against each other in a live setting. Tens of thousands of spectators often turn up for the live events in stadiums.

Others follow the action on their screens at home. Twitch is commonly used to watch these games online. If you are into gaming it will all make sense. If you aren’t, it might still sound a bit strange but it will become clearer.

Esports is something that has been around for a while. But it has exploded in popularity in the last decade or so. People have been playing video games competitively for decades. Some sources suggest that esports can be traced back to the early 70s. Yet, it was completely different then from what we can see these days.

It is the improvement in technology that now made it so widely accessible. It is incredibly easy to follow these games live from anywhere on the planet. Huge numbers of people can now watch the same game as it happens.

You might see the name electronic sports used too. It is the same thing as esports or e-sports. Individual players can take part, while there are also team events.

Events and tournaments take place in different parts of the world. They are incredibly popular in Asia. You can also find them in Europe and in the Americas too. One country where betting on esports isn’t so popular is Japan, due to the strict betting laws there. Instead, China and South Korea are the main focal points in Asia.

However, the Japan Times reported that the government hopes to make billions off the sport. They stated a projection of U$£2.6 billion by 2025. This would come from ticket sales, advertising and other sources.

A big debate at the moment is whether these are sports or not. Some people claim that they are and others are convinced that they aren’t. Certainly, we need to expand our usual definition of sports to include electronic sports. It isn’t a sport in the way we are used to seeing.

It is also clear that this subject divides opinions. Millions of people are hooked on esports. Others can’t imagine why anyone would watch these games. It is something that will provoke a lot of discussion as it continues to grow and get media coverage.

Love them or hate them, esports are here to stay. So what else do you need to know about them?

What Games Are Involved?

A variety of different video games are played in these events. These include multiplayer online battles and first person shooters. You might also see sports, fighting games and strategy games too. Battle royale style games are also popular just now. Basically, any type of competitive video game can be used in this way.

There are certain games that are most widely used, though. Some of the most commonly played titles are as follows. League of Legends, DOTA, Counter-Strike, StarCraft. Some are set up in league formats and others are played as one-off events.

It is likely that the number of games played keeps on growing. As new games are released and more players join, it seems like a natural progression. This will keep it fresh. It also means that you should look out for games you might be interested in getting added.

For football fans, FIFA is the most popular title on the circuit. There is a FIFA eWorld Cup and various qualifying events leading up to it. 32 players take part in the finals. Qualification games happen all over the planet and the prize pool is said to be “stunning”.

It is interesting to see that there is discussion of esports being included in the Olympic Games. While it isn’t clear when this could happen, it would help them reach a new audience. This has increased the debate over whether esports gamers are a real type of sport. Being included in the Olympics would make it easier to say that it is a real sport.

The Intel World Open was planned for the run up to the Tokyo Olympics in 2020. A £405,000 prize pool was mentioned. With the Olympics being postponed to 2021, this esports event has also been put back a year.

It is strange to think that this sport has so many fans without being mainstream. Yet, huge chunks of the population know nothing about esports. Others maybe think it is a novelty thing that will go away. These attitudes should change once it becomes clear that it is here to stay.

How Big Is the Esports Industry?

This is one of the fastest-growing industries in the world right now. In fact, the numbers for it are pretty incredible. Earlier this year, it was reported that there were 173 million esports viewers. This is predicted to rise to over 300 million by 2023. After that, it will be even harder to ignore.

In 2018, the biggest event was a League of Legends tournament. Held in France and Germany, it was watched by 60 million people. This sort of audience size is becoming increasingly common. Some of the largest viewing figures are breath-taking. There is no doubt that esports viewing has become massive.

As for the prize money, DOTA 2 International 2019 had over US$34 million at stake. This made up a total for that year of US$47 million in prize funds on just that game. Add in all of the events and it is a giant industry.

In terms of revenue, 2020 should see esports pass US$1 billion for the first time. China is the biggest market, with over a third of the revenue coming from here. North America comes in second. Remember that it is something that is still in the growth phase too.

Figures for the UK are a bit trickier to find. I found an article suggesting a growth in audience to 8 million people by 2019. A more recent study suggested in 2017 that 4 million Brits (7% of adults) had watched esports. It was 12% in the US and 11% in Germany. This compares to 45% of Chinese adults with internet access.

Interestingly, just 10% of British adults said that they think it is a real sport. 59% said that it isn’t and the rest weren’t sure. Therefore, it seems that the UK is lagging behind other countries. In addition, there seems to be a problem around the perception of the sport.

The big question here is whether Brits will ever catch up. Will esports becomes as popular here as elsewhere or remain a minority sport? It will be interesting to see new figures when they come out. My feeling is that the numbers will begin to climb. But this may not be as quickly as some people hope for.

You may have seen that pro gaming teams have been formed around the planet. Manchester City, Roma, PSG and West Ham all have their own teams. Most have been formed fairly recently and more are expected soon. This is a smart way of growing the industry.

Among the highest earning teams are Team Liquid, OG and the Evil Geniuses. These teams make tens of millions of pound each year. Their players are celebrities to many people. Most other people have never heard of them. This situation perhaps best sums up the current esports situation.

To sum up, it is a giant industry and growing rapidly. However, the UK is lagging behind and suffers from people not taking it seriously. These are some key points to remember when we look at esports betting possibilities now.

The Bookies That Offer Betting on Esports

Have you noticed esports odds being offered on the bookmakers you use? The truth is that many of them now have this category. In fact, it is now more surprising to not see esports on a site than to see it.

Let’s look at the example of the Betfred site. They have an esports hub with a lot of information on it. At the time of writing, I could see Counter-Strike Go, League of Legends and DOTA2 games. Go into any of these sections and you can find different leagues and matches.

The odds are presented in the normal way. For example, Funplus Phoenix are at 4/9 to win. They are up against Invictus Gaming at 8/5. Delving deeper, you can bet on a variety of extra markets. These include 1^st map, 2^nd map and 2-way odds.

To someone who follows these games it all makes perfect sense. If you are new to esports and to gaming, there is some catching up to do. Betting without researching is like choosing a football team or horse you know nothing about. You really need to understand the basics before you do anything else.

Next, I had a look at William Hill, They also have a selection of bets on esports. Right now, they cover Rainbow Six and StarCraft 2. I could also choose DOTA2 or Counter-Strike Go. Again, there are various betting markets to choose from.

BetVictor has a similar approach to the others. League of Legends, Counter-Strike and DOTA2 are all covered. The selection of matches seemed a bit bigger on here than on other bookmaker sites, though.

It is fair to say that esports selections are still pretty limited just now. This could be because the market is still growing. It might also be that the bookies still aren’t completely confident.

Of course, the market will grow as more events are played. It does seem that the main bookies are ready to ramp up their bets when needed. Their sites all have dedicated esports sections that are ready to grow. So don’t be surprised to see this sector really take off soon.

For the time being, it is still quite limited. But it does seem like a matter of time. Look again in a few months and I expect you will find a lot more bets available.

How Can You Make Money By Betting on Esports?

Now that we are up to speed, the next question is the big one. How can you make money from betting on esports? Is there any way of getting an edge over the bookies?

Clearly, people bet on this like on any type of sport. This means that they follow teams and track results. There is plenty of information online about previous results if you look for it. So you can place bets on that basis if you want to.

As with other sports, this will only get you so far. It is as tough to beat the bookies at esports as it is on anything else. The man in the street might not know much about esports yet. But can be sure that the bookies have done their homework.

The odds they offer are designed to maintain their edge. You can’t expect to beat them at their own game. So what about getting some inside info? Could a tipster help you to make more money in this way?

I found quite a few esports tipsters online. On Tipify, their top tipster is called Razorcrest. He has a 24.35% yield and a 64.38% hit rate. His figures are good, but the same caveats apply as with any tipster. You can’t guarantee long-term success in this way. This is not the best way for making money betting on esports.

Quite a few other sites have other esports tipsters. So you aren’t short of choice. The sheer volume of esports tipping sites surprised me a little. This is probably a sign that it is a market that is growing. There seems to be quite a bit of demand for tips now. But it is still a risky business to follow tips.

If you can’t beat the bookie with normal bets or tips, what can you do? One idea is to look for esports offers from bookmakers. This could give you the edge, just as it does in other types of matched betting.

Are There Esports Offers from the Bookies?

As with other types of sports betting, bookie offers are the secret to your success. By using these offers wisely, you give yourself an edge. This lets you earn consistent profits. Of course, you need to get hold of some offers first of all.

What are your chances of finding some useful offers? The truth is that they are still a bit thin on the ground. Most bookies seem to still be finding their way in this sport.

The main bookie doing esports offers at the moment is Betway. Other than that it’s a bit thin on the ground.

It seems certain that the number of offers will start to increase, though. This should happen as the market becomes more competitive. The bookies will start to offer deals to attract more new customers. Once some of them start giving esports deals, the rest need to follow suit. They won’t want to get left behind.

Look out for deals such as free bets and boosted odds. They can help you to get more value out of your bets. You might need to be patient about it. But I feel fairly confident that they will start to appear before too long. This is the easiest way for making money betting on esports.

A Look to the Future

All of the current predictions are for esports to carry on growing. More events, more players and more spectators are all expected in the next few years.

This means that we are going to hear a lot more about it. The current projections seem perhaps over-ambitious. However, it should be an area with a lot of growth.

This is especially true in the UK. Esports participation rates have been slower to take off here than in other places. This means that it could take great strides in the next few years. Even just catching up with other countries would mean gaining a lot of new spectators.

Making Money Betting on Esports Summary

Right now, there aren’t great opportunities for making money on esports betting. However, this should change as it grows over time.

A busier betting market should mean more offers. This is when you can start to earn money off this sport.

For the moment, it makes sense to be aware of the market. You will want to know what it is all about. In that way, you will be ready to move. Once the offers start to appear, this could turn into a very profitable market.

The post Making Money Betting on Esports: Is It Possible? appeared first on Mike Cruickshank.

It is a great feeling to win a bet. But even a successful wager can leave you filled with doubts. For example, you might wonder whether you now have a winning system. Can you repeat the feat and keep on winning?

In other words, have you worked out an edge to win regularly? Or have you just benefited from a stroke of luck? It might not seem all that important at the time. A win is a win, after all.

Yet, understanding the difference is crucial. This is what turns a single win into a series of wins. That winning feeling could become a regular occurrence in your life.

If you can confirm that you have an edge it is a big deal. It means that you can look ahead confidently to winning money on a regular basis. If you don’t have an edge then you will know that a new tactic is needed. Or you will eventually lose.

So, how can you work this out? The good news is that there are a few simple questions to help you out. The following points will show you whether you have or haven’t got an edge.

How Many Times Have You Won?

Have you won on a single bet or hundreds of them? One or two wins could be just down to luck. There is no way to draw conclusions from this.

Anyone can hit it lucky now and then. It is best to put this down to beginner’s luck rather than proof of a good system.

You might also fool yourself into thinking yourself that you have more won than is true. Wins are more memorable than losses. So you might forget just how many times you have got it wrong.

This is why keeping good records is essential. You need to record all of the details of every bet. It is the only sure way to know what has happened. You can see exactly how much you have won or lost.

If you want a long-term way of making money, you need a system. This needs to be something that provides value bets.

So you need to prove that system first of all. Don’t rush to conclusions after just a few wins. It can be tempting to think that you have a winning formula. You might get carried away and start placing more or bigger stakes. But you need to be sure of this method first of all.

To do this, you will need a large sample size. The more bet outcomes that you can assess the better. Remember that the operator’s edge also become clearer over time. Bookies and casinos know that casual punters will always lose in the long run.

They also knew that people will win. But the odds are against punters in the long run. Luck alone won’t help you to win regularly.

Those with a smart system can beat the edge. This needs to be seen over a period of time, though. The profit off just a few bets could soon disappear if it was just luck. No one has enough luck to hold out forever.

In some cases, even a system with a lot of wins can turn negative. A losing streak that differs from your normal results is a cause for concern. What is going on here? If you have done a decent sample then you will expect the same results to continue.

Any losing streak is probably due to something changing. Perhaps you were taking advantage of a temporary opportunity that is now closed. Sometimes, a winning system can start to fail because of even a minor change. This is when it is time to look for something new.

Of course, you also need a good sample size of losing bets. You can’t judge your process on just a few losses. Some strategies need only a few wins to counter a greater number of losses. You still need to go on a big enough sample size. And also be aware of any changes over time.

Analyse your results to see how profitable it is. Is the ROI high enough to justify the time you spend on it? This means not making snap decisions based on just a few bets.

Why Does Your Strategy Work?

Many punters have a scatter gun approach or trust their instinct too much. They may win now and then. But they couldn’t claim to be following a betting system of any type.

This kind of person bets for fun. They certainly can’t hope to build a profitable account over time. Many people think that they are beating the bookies. But they aren’t really. They just don’t take the time to work out the figures.

If you are using a certain strategy, it has to have some pattern to it. You need to be able to see why it works. By doing this, you can feel comfortable that it will carry on working. You will also have a clearer idea of when it might stop being profitable.

This is about seeing where your edge is coming from. If you can work this out, you have a strategy you can trust. This will also help you to deal with any losing streaks along the way.

There are some areas where the edge in a betting system will typically come from. It could be because you are getting tips from an expert. Does this tipster get inside information or use tools to work out the winners? You might never know how they do it. But the tipster is giving you an edge.

This is fine if you completely trust the tipster. At the end of the day, you are leaving it in their hands. They know how the strategy works but you don’t. In this way, you may feel nervous about keeping on winning in the long term.

You may also have access to information that others don’t have. This could be because you keep extensive records of every race. Or because you use a database service that provides lots of information.

Either way, you are using data to discover trends or some other secrets. The key is in knowing how to use the information over and over again to place value bets. The good thing about this method is that the amount of data will increase over time. This should help you to make better decisions each time.

Another possibility is that you are moving faster than others. This means that you can grab the best value odds. This is the approach needed for value bets, for example. Since they often only exist for a short time, you need to be swift.

Some people base their betting strategy on grabbing the best odds as quickly as possible. This makes sense provided that there is a clear advantage. Why does moving so quickly help you to win more money? Speed for speed’s sake isn’t enough.

Spotting and exploiting errors is another possibility. This is where you find odds that are wrong. As with the last point, you need to be fast to make money in this way. The bookies tend to quickly rectify any mistakes. You could also exploit errors made by other bettors on an exchange.

Another way is that you have found a loophole. Matched betting is the best example of this. You are placing a bet that can’t lose by betting on all outcomes. The amount of your profit is all that may be in doubt. As with the other examples, you know exactly where the edge is coming from.

If you are using bookie offers this is a big help. You can’t just use offers on their own, though. This needs to be part of an overall strategy. For example, you might use offers to increase the profits in a matched betting strategy.

The same applies to any successful betting system. Your edge has to be coming from somewhere. If you can’t explain it, then you can’t trust it to carry on giving you wins. You are just betting on a wing and a prayer, like most punters do.

Would It Work If You Used Level Stakes?

The results of a strategy can be masked by varying the stake. If you change the stake for each bet, it might appear to be more profitable than it is. You won’t be able to judge it properly in this way.

A good test of any betting system is to try it with level stakes. If it doesn’t work like this, it can’t be trusted to bring you a profit. If it does work, then you will know that it is worth continuing with.

The same applies if you have been losing because of different-sized bets. Your losses might be varying because of fluctuating stakes.

You simply can’t judge your results based on uneven stakes. You will be distorting the results by using unequal amounts each time. This will give you a false impression of your success.

You don’t need to carry out a new sample of bets on even stakes. Just work out what the results would have been with level stakes. If you can see consistent profits then you should be confident that you have got a winning formula.

It is important to remember that a level staking plan doesn’t always mean the same stake every time. You can do this in either of these two different ways.

• The first approach is to use the same amount each time. Regardless of the odds, you always use the same stake. This is an easy system to follow because the stake never varies.
• The other idea is a different type of level-risk staking plan. This involves finding out the risk for the odds. Then you calculate the stake based on that. So, if the odds are lower the stake is higher. This keeps the profits even. So you can tell more easily whether you are making money.

As you can see, both cases are based on following a system. There is no varying of stakes done on a random basis. The strategy’s success can then be more clearly seen.

Did You Discount Any Out of the Ordinary Results?

We saw earlier how a big sample size is needed to accurately assess a strategy. This is how the good and bad results will even out over time. Yet, there may be situations in which an extraordinary result or two distorts even a big sample size.

This is when you win at huge odds, for example. It is the type of win that you might only get once in your life. So you can’t rely on it for future wins. Unless, of course, you used an edge as defined in the earlier point.

By its nature, this sort of result only comes along very rarely. But when it does, it can mess up your figures. A big win is clearly a good thing. But it becomes a negative if it fools you into spending more on an unsustainable system. You could end up losing a lot more than you won.

You need to strip these weird, one-off results out of your data. One way of doing this is by restricting the odds that you bet on. You can make sure that you only bet up to certain odds. This means that the system stands or falls on its own merits.

Even a big win won’t help you in the long run without a good system. The bookie’s edge will eventually erode your winnings and put you at a loss.

A good way to understand this is with a slot machine example. No skill is needed on these games. But you might get lucky and win the top prize of, say, £100 on your first spin.

If the return to player is 95%, then you will expect to get 95% back from betting the £100. Wager that £95 and you will expect to get 95% of that back. And so on, until the casino’s edge has finally triumphed.

If you try and beat this in-built advantage, you can’t. You are just playing the bookie or casino at their own game. Theoretically, no matter how much you win, you will eventually lose it. Unless you have an edge of your own.

Are You Beating the Starting Price?

The starting price reflects the odds just before a race of match begins. It takes into account all of the relevant, up to date information. Therefore, this can be considered as an accurate figure for the odds.

Beating these odds is a way of winning with a repeatable system. It means finding prices that are incorrect, or that move late on. This partly comes down to what we saw earlier in being fast. And also in taking advantage of any errors that pop up.

In terms of odds that move, there are two worthwhile ways to do this in horse racing.

• The first is if the odds rise after you have layed it.
• The other is if they fall after you backed it. The same theory applies in other sports too.

The betting exchanges are highly efficient markets. As are sharp bookmakers. They will tend to offer fair prices taking the wisdom of crowds into account. This is the price that considers all of the factors.

Your challenge is to find a system that identifies odds that will change before the event. It isn’t easy, but gives you a system you can use with confidence.

The Next Step: Stick to a Winning System Once You Find It

By now, you should be clearer about whether you have a genuine edge. Can you see where the profit is coming from? If you still can’t then it seems that you are relying on luck.

What happens once you find a winning system? The simple answer is to stick to it. You can now see that it works. Just as importantly, you can see how it works. This means that it is worth sticking to.

Here is a free example of a winning system that’s been proven over years.

Knowing where the edge comes from lets you keep on using it. So when should you stop? Once something changes that means you lose your edge. This strategy might not last forever. Bookies look for ways to stop winners and technology changes over time.

Because you have looked into it, you know how to spot the signs. Once you begin to lose money, it is time to make a change. Doing this as quickly as possible is crucial. The longer it takes, the more money that you lose.

This is where you get your final advantage from knowing about your edge. You can see when it disappears. While other players could carry on for too long, you should know when to quit.

At this point, you can look for a new system to use. Just remember to do the same checks. You should understand the new approach like the old one. In fact, it makes sense to check out any betting strategy in this way.

Conclusion

Don’t settle for using a strategy that you don’t understand. The more you know about where the edge comes from the better. This will let you make smart decisions consistently.

The post Work Out If You Have an Edge in Your Betting appeared first on Mike Cruickshank.

Getting your account restricted is one of the main hazards of matched betting. It can also cause problems with other betting systems and strategies. For example, value bets and arbitrage wagers can also lead to a restricted account.

If you use a lot of offers or win regularly, the bookies will keep a close eye on you. They won’t be slow in limiting you if they think you are an unprofitable customer.

Thankfully, there are some tactics to help you try and avoid this. But is the approach taken by bookies fair? Or are you up against some sort of bias that could see you unfairly targeted?

There have been suggestions that female account-holders are more likely to be restricted. You may have seen this reported and wonder if it is true. Perhaps you think that it is impossible for bookmakers to discriminate in this way.

To find out the truth, we need to take a good look at the overall subject.

Why Are Accounts Restricted?

Surely bookies need a good reason to restrict an account. You might assume that there are clearly defined guidelines and processes you can see. There aren’t. This is a secretive process that they don’t talk about.

There are some reasons for this. Naturally, they don’t want people to find out about possible loopholes. If they released their processes, smart bettors would soon work out how to get around them.

A bookie can simply restrict or close your account at any time. Why would they do this, though? The most common reason is if you are winning too much. They hate to see someone winning regularly. This is something that they will want to put a stop to.

The bookmaker might think that you are using matched betting. Or that you are taking advantage of arbitrage techniques. Even if they don’t, they can still decide to restrict the account.

This could mean that you can’t use bonuses. Or it might limit the size of bets you can place. Either way, it will make it far more difficult for you or win money. In the worst case, they might refuse to accept any more bets from you.

Most people who bet successfully are restricted at one point. They might need to switch bookies regularly to keep on place bets. In fact, if you are never restricted it probably means that you aren’t making any money.

Remember that betting exchanges like Betfair won’t restrict you. We are only looking at bookmakers here.

Are Women Treated Differently?

It is very difficult to know if the bookmakers have guidelines on this. They are notoriously secretive about their decisions for limiting accounts. We can only really guess at the reason why any particular bettor is targeted.

Yet, there have been stories lately about female accounts being closed more quickly. Is there some truth behind it? Or are these stories just guesses with no substance to them?

The truth is that there is some guesswork involved. Different bookies could have completely different rules and approaches. One might have had worse experiences with certain types of customer.

Some of the recent stories appear to be backed up by insiders like former bookie employees. They claim that women are treated differently. Some even say that this difference is evident from when someone first opens an account. They suggest that women are targeted from day one.

The theory is that they immediately have lower limits on stakes. They might also have more bets referred for approval. It is also claimed that they lose access to offers more easily.

Why Might This Happen?

If the previous point is true, there must be a reason for it. Bookies are known for making hard-nosed decisions at all times. They think about their profits above all else. So why would they choose to discriminate against women?

The simple answer is profits. Men are known to open accounts in their wife’s / girlfriends / mothers name to get around their account restrictions. Therefore, the bookies keep a closer eye on their betting activity.

They will ban well-known bettor who make a lot of money off them. The concern then is that the bettor uses a female relative’s name as a front.

The betting industry has changed a lot in recent years. The appearance of internet betting has meant that huge numbers of bets are placed every hour. This is especially true at big events where loads of bets fly in. There is no way for bookies to physically check all of them.

If their statistics show that women lose them more money, what would they do? It is safe to say that they would do something to cut losses. Restricting all accounts for women seems a bit drastic.

This isn’t as far-fetched as it might seem. We know that bookies have very sophisticated systems for monitoring their accounts. This means that they can look after their profits at all times. They would prefer to target a whole segment than potentially lose money to them.

Simply having a process that is tougher on women would be relatively easy to implement. This could be built into their systems. No manual intervention would be needed in most cases.

At a stroke, they could lower the risk on thousands of accounts. If they think it is worth doing this, it is easy to imagine them doing it.
Are Women Better At Betting?

So far, we are basing a lot on the fact that women win more when betting. This is something that is often stated, but is there any truth in it?
There is a lot of debate over this subject. In fact, some companies have decided to study it in depth to find out more.

A study by 888 Holdings looked at this matter. They found a huge difference between the genders. Women got a return on investment of almost 20%. Meanwhile, their male counterparts lost close to 5%. This was based on American sports betting.

One of the problems with studies like this is that fewer women bet. Therefore, it is difficult to compare. Perhaps only women who are genuinely experts choose to bet and do it seriously. While many men do it on a casual basis as a hobby.

What Evidence Is There?

The evidence of female customers being treated differently is purely speculation. But there are a lot of people who have tales of this happening.

Some people say that their female friends or relatives had accounts restricted faster than them. Other cases involve women saying that they felt treated differently.

The problem is that it is very difficult to prove this. Bookies use complex systems to manage their customers. Since they take many issues into account, each case is different. Some even use artificial intelligence to try and weed out winners.

To do this, they look at numerous factors. This includes the age, where they live and their betting history. It seems safe to say that gender plays a part in this too. But it is far from being the only one. It is arguably one of the most important, though.

It is difficult to think that they solely look at gender to make decisions. But it could be one of the factors taken into account automatically. They could give a bigger weighting to female customers in certain areas.

As mentioned, some articles talk about ex-employees of bookies. They say that all bookies are tougher on women. This seems to be an issue that is well-known in the industry.

Since the information is anonymous, it is difficult to rely on this. But there does seem to be enough of it to make it difficult to ignore. It isn’t likely that different people have just made up this issue.

Is This Fair and Legal?

It certainly doesn’t seem very fair, does it? There is no reason why you should suffer poorer offers due to your gender. It’s not as though women are offered better odds or bigger winnings.

There also appears to be no clear evidence that they win more often. Even if they do, shouldn’t the bookie take this into account in their overall odds? The same odds and offers should be available for everyone.

If they are losing money on female customers, this should be reflected in their overall deals. They need to lower the deals for everyone or for no-one surely? Or do you think that it is fair to only change the offers for ladies?

If we move on to the legal issues, it is a bit more complicated. In the UK, the Equality Act 2010 makes sure that men and women are treated equally.

This is an act that brings various other pieces of legislation up to date. It is designed to enforce equal treatment of all customers.

We need to work out whether the bookies would be going against this law. If they restrict women more than men it hardly sounds like equality.

It certainly appears to go against the spirit of the act. However, the exact wording possibly gives them some wiggle room. This is because it says that they can differentiate between genders in some cases. But only when it is a better or effective way of working.

To be honest, it doesn’t sound like this is the case. Instead, bookies are just worried about making more money. But the legal case would be difficult to enforce. The betting firms presumably have some reasons lined up in case they are ever seriously questioned on it.

It is worth remembering that any breach of this law would be extremely serious. A bookie could lose their license for doing this. So, it seems unlikely that they would run the risk of doing so without legal advice.

If they operate a separate policy for women, they must have checked out the legality. In this case, they should let us know about the differences, though. There would be nothing to hide. Although they might still fear a backlash from customers.

What seems completely unfair is treating men and women different from day one. In this way, bookies would be giving men an advantage right away. It would be more difficult to criticise them if they simply made this an on-going factor when reviewing accounts.

One day, someone will probably raise a serious complaint on this subject. Until this happens, we can only speculate. Don’t forget that gambling firms have been hammered in the past for ignoring different rules.

Do Many Women Bet?

There have been attempts made to find out how many bookmaker clients are women. However, the betting firms have been reluctant to give out this information. The lack of details is usually put down to commercial reasons.

It seems clear that internet betting has seen the number of women wagering increase. Perhaps some were reluctant to enter bookie’s shops in the past. Or maybe they were never interested in betting until they discover winning systems online.

Another possibility is that bookies are targeting women as potential customers. This was the conclusion reached by Associate Professor Samantha Thomas. She is the Deakin University gambling researcher.

Thomas said that sports betting ads have become more gender neutral. She suggests that this is an attempt to attract more women. This was based on the Australian market. UK advertising perhaps hasn’t been so obvious in this respect.

Why would bookies want to attract more women, though? If they are afraid of the ladies and restrict them easily, why bother? The most likely answer is that they only want the profitable female gamblers. Those who lose, in other words.

By attracting more women, they can pick the most profitable ones. It isn’t as though they have a blanket ban on all females. They just want the best of both worlds.

Either way, the number of women betting seems to be rising. A study by Deloitte Global showed that millennial men are most likely to bet on US sports. However, women aged 25-34 made up 14% of the market. Ladies between 35 and 44 represented 9% of all betting.

What Should Happen Next?

We all want to see a fairer betting industry. However, it is difficult to argue against bookies using their knowledge and statistics to protect themselves.

The big question is whether this is done fairly for women. Do they simply use gender as one of many factors on someone’s account? Or do women bettors have it more difficult from day one?

It would be nice to see even one bookie come out and tell us their thoughts. I don’t expect them to tell us everything about how they operate. But they should be clear on how they ensure gender equality.

If not, it could come down the regulatory authority. The UK Gambling Commission needs to ensure that there is a fair market. They would not be happy to find that it is more difficult for women to win.

This will probably happen eventually. If a disgruntled woman gambler makes a formal complaint it will need to be investigated. When this might happen is anyone’s guess.

Should Women Carry on Betting?

If the market is weighted against women, is it worth carrying on? First of all, it is worth remembering that we aren’t talking about odds here. If a man and a woman place the same bet they will get the same odds. Provided it is placed with the same bookie at the same time.

Where they might find a difference in the offers they can access. This could be especially bad news in matched betting.

The details suggest that women will find it more difficult to stop their account being restricted. But there is no guarantee of this happening. It is one of a number of factors taken into account.

I certainly wouldn’t suggest avoiding this based on gender. Plenty of women have been successful at matched betting.

What I would say is that it pays to be really careful about maintaining your account. Losing your offers could be a disaster in terms of how much you can win.

This advice applies to men too, of course. However, since women seem to get restricted faster, it is even more vital for them.

Summary

We will possibly never know whether women bettors are treated differently. The balance of probability suggests that they are. But we can’t expect the bookies to ever confirm this unless forced to do so.

It is something to take into account but it shouldn’t put women off. They can still earn money on matched betting. But maybe women should be even more careful with their accounts than men.

The post Do Bookies Restrict Women’s Betting Accounts Faster? appeared first on Mike Cruickshank.

We all love to hear someone call us a VIP. This is something that hints at us being special, valued customers. VIP schemes are common in many different industries. They have also become more widely used in online betting sites. The big question is whether this is something that is worth doing.

There is a lot to take into account here. However, the main question to look at is whether they are worth it. Should you be dreaming of becoming a VIP or avoiding this privileged status?

Why Do Bookmakers Offer VIP Schemes?

Let’s start with the basics. Who are these programmes aimed at? And what do bookies gain from offering them, anyway?

They are designed to appeal to the site’s biggest spenders. These are the punters that the bookie wants to keep happy. After all, they are likely to make more money off them than off regular bettors.

Therefore, they want to show these customers how important they are. This will encourage them to stay and carry on betting. It is a way of creating more loyalty among customers who lose money.

However, the rewards can’t be so big that it costs the bookie too much money. They want to keep these members sweet. But they need them to remain profitable too.

Remember that they want their VIPs to feel more important and valued. If the VIP scheme achieves this, their relationship will improve. This could lead to the customer spending more with them instead of elsewhere.

What about those people who aren’t yet in the scheme? Perhaps they could see joining this scheme as a long-term aim. It could also be an incentive for newcomers to join up.

Overall, it is about building better relationships. If this happens, the bookie will expect to gain more than they spend on it. It is about getting the balance right for them.

What Do VIP Customers Receive?

We have seen that this sort of programme can make sense for bookies. But what do customers get in exchange? Each bookie will have their own list of benefits.

There are numerous different rewards that can be offered in this way. The following are some of the most common things you will see.

• Special prizes
• Unique bonuses
• Gifts
• Prize draws
• Interesting sporting experiences
• Better offers than regular members get
• Improved odds
• A dedicated account manager
• Faster banking

The exact details of how it is run vary between bookmakers. Some of them link it to a loyalty scheme. Some advertise their VIP clubs while others keep them secret. There is no single way of doing this.

In general, they all offer ways of making your money go further. It is typically marketed to be as exciting as possible. The bookie will focus on the most interesting aspects of it.

A VIP scheme may also have several different levels to it. These are typically known by names like Bronze, Silver and Gold.

The rewards will increase as you move up through these levels. This may be clearly laid out, or you may only discover when you change levels.

How Do You Become a VIP?

The entry requirements for VIPs also vary widely. Not all bookies make it clear what you need to do to become a VIP. However, since we know the type of member that want, we can assume this.

In general terms, they are based on your gambling history with the bookmaker. This usually means that those who bet most money are invited to join. However, they might look at how often you log in to decide this. How often you deposit and withdraw is also taken into account.

In some cases, they may also take into account your volume of bets. This would allow you to join even if you don’t bet large amounts. If it is based on points awarded then every bet you make may count.

You will probably never know your bookie’s exact VIP criteria. This is true even if you join their scheme. You might enter and leave the scheme without ever knowing how it happened.

In fact, many players enter and leave these schemes. If you bet more at certain times, then you may find that you become a VIP for a period. This membership will probably end once you start gambling less.

VIP status is typically reviewed on a monthly basis. You might qualify one month and lose access the next month. This is purely a business decision. They want their top members to benefit in this way.

Let’s say that you stake a lot during the World Cup. Or doing a big horse racing meeting. You might get an invite for the next month. If your betting goes back to normal you could lose this benefit after a month.

Do you think you should be a VIP? You may be able to contact the VIP team directly. In this way, you can ask for an invite if you feel you deserve it. They might refuse you, though.

I have seen bookies suggesting that you provide evidence of VIP status elsewhere. This could make them see that you are a high-roller. They might decide to give you VIP membership to encourage you to use them more often.

How Do bookmaker VIP Schemes Work?

The bookmaker’s website might not make a big deal out of their VIP scheme. Most appear keen to keep it a secret. But you can be sure that most of them offer something like this.

There are a couple of good reasons for keeping it low-key. For a start, they don’t want to annoy their other members. Someone who has bet there for years and isn’t a VIP might get jealous.

Another reason is to avoid potential compliance issues. They could get in trouble if they are seen to encourage people to bet more. Obviously, wagering more than you can afford just to get a VIP invite isn’t a good idea.

Yet, you can be sure that they take it very seriously. Most of them have a special team looking after their VIPs. They act as a personal contact for their most important members.

As we saw earlier, they don’t always let you see their entry criteria. You can be sure that this team is monitoring activity, though. They will be keeping an eye on who to invite next.

You may be advised by email or by phone that you are eligible for this special status. You will probably think that there is no reason to refuse. However, we will look later at some possible drawbacks.

More About the VIP Scheme Benefits

At first glance, most bookie VIP schemes are very similar. The types of reward mentioned vary little from one to another. Yet, in practise there is often a world of difference between them.

To get a better feel for this, we can look at some of the rewards in more details.

1. Prize draws. This is one of the most common and most exciting VIP rewards. Yet, it can come in many different shapes and forms. As well as widely varying prizes, they will also be run in different ways and with different frequencies. Look out for the regularity of prize draws, as the more the merrier.
2. A dedicated account manager. This special benefit will give you direct access to the support team or to a single person. You might never contact them. Or it could be a really useful way of getting in touch.
3. Special promos. VIPs can sometimes take advantage of unique promotions. These are usually enhanced deals that are really worthwhile.
4. More loyalty points. When a bookie has loyalty points, VIPs tend to earn more with each wager. You might also find that they are more valuable when redeemed than other players’.
5. Days out. For big sports fans, this is the best benefit of these scheme. You might get invited to a memorable day out at a big event. Loads of bookies have hospitality boxes at sporting venues due to their sponsorship deals. So, they can invite small groups of VIPs along.
6. Better odds. You will be given access to enhanced odds too. This won’t apply to every single bet you make. However, better odds on certain events can be very useful.
7. Smoother cash withdrawals. Bookies don’t want to risk upsetting their most profitable clients with slow withdrawals. Therefore, you will probably be offered easier, faster banking.
8. Cashback offers. Bookies expect their VIPs to spend more and lose more. However, they like to soften the blow of losing regularly. This means that cashback schemes give back a percentage of losses each week or month.

Most of the biggest bookies offer rewards of this type. William Hill gives you access to a personal account manager. You also get “flexible account controls” and hospitality at big sporting events.

888 is an example of a big bookie with a strong VIP scheme. They often greatly increase their standard offers for VIPs. You also get a weekly cashback based on how much you wager during the week.

Another example comes from Coral. They have a ladder system in place. You need to earn a certain number of points to become a bronze member. After that, you can aim for silver, gold and platinum. Better offers are part of the scheme, as are comp points.

Ladbrokes are part of the same company as Coral. So their VIP scheme is the same. If you are a member of one of the biggest bookies then have a look. There is almost certainly a VIP scheme.

Here is an example of a VIP offer from Ladbrokes.

Is It Worth It? The Possible Downsides

As we have seen, there are some great benefits to being a VIP. It all sounds great so far. However, when something sounds too good to be true it probably is. So what’s the catch in this case?

The main issue is that none of this is really free. It is all sounds good but why are they giving you these benefits? It isn’t just out of generosity.

If you are made a VIP it is because you make the bookie money. You lose more than you win. They are trying to keep you sweet with these offers. This is because they hope that you carry on losing money.

Is there a better approach for you? Well, you could look at an alternative betting approach. It would be more profitable for you to win more than you lose. If you are made into a VIP then your current strategy is only making the bookmaker money.

The truth is that your losses are paying for the benefits. If you were a regular winner, the bookie wouldn’t treat you so well.

It’s unlikely you will become a VIP by mug betting. They will likely catch on before you get invited.

VIP accounts are closely monitored

Another point is that VIP accounts get more closely looked at. It is unlikely that you have been carrying out matched betting. Otherwise, you wouldn’t have lost enough to be invited to this scheme. Having said that, some bookmakers base entry upon total wagers rather than total losses.

However, it is worth remembering this greater level of scrutiny. If you have tried any strategies that are frowned upon then this is more likely to come to light. It will also limit your chances of trying out new approaches.

For some bettors, there is another possible downside. This is the difficult in trying to retain VIP membership. It isn’t easy to keep wagering at this high level. You might end up only retaining the status for a month or two.

But what if you are really keen to stay as a VIP? It could encourage you to bet more than you should. Placing frequent wagers just to stay in a scheme is a terrible idea.

Is a VIP Scheme Better Than a Loyalty Scheme?

This is a good moment to look at the differences between VIP and loyalty programmes. Are they pretty much the same thing? Or is one of them better than the other?

It really depends how the bookie runs it. In some cases, the loyalty and VIP schemes are sort of fused together. In others, they will be completely separate.

The name of any particular scheme doesn’t really matter. The most important points are the entry criteria and the benefits.

We have seen that VIP schemes offer a variety of benefits. Some of them tend to be more useful than others. You might not use some of the offers that you receive.

Loyalty schemes tend to more direct. You will earn points as you wager. These points can then be converted to cash at some point. This type of approach is more useful for many bettors. But it is less eye-catching.

If you are using a betting strategy then a loyalty scheme is probably more suitable. You can still earn loyalty points or comp points as you earn money. Your account is likely to be under less scrutiny as well.

Everything is done automatically in a loyalty scheme. You just earn the set number of points on every bet.

Perhaps the biggest difference is with a personal account manager. Once you get one of these agents appointed, it becomes a VIP scheme. The likes of special events and days out are also unique to VIP programmes.

Do Some Bookies Not Offer VIP Schemes?

Not every bookie has this sort of programme. Yet, it is becomingly increasingly rare to see that one doesn’t.

This kind of programme used to be used more in casinos. But they have started to move into bookmaker sites in recent times. As noted earlier, it isn’t always clear whether an operator offer one or not.

What if you have never been invited to become a VIP? A look on their site should let you see if they offer details of a scheme. If there is no information then just ask about it. There is nothing to lose.

You might never get an invite. Even if you bet regularly, this isn’t all that they take into account. The VIP team will also look at your overall history with them.

If they don’t want to make you a VIP there isn’t a lot you can do. Changing your style might help, though. Some of the negative factors they take into account are betting on low odds and withdrawing regularly.

They prefer to see regular deposits and big stakes on varied markets. Is it worth your while changing your style to get an invite? Probably not.

Eventually, you might decide to go elsewhere. If a certain bookie doesn’t value you highly then why stick around? This isn’t a bad idea. You can then get new player offers with a different site.

VIP Schemes Conclusion

Bookies’ VIP schemes are pretty good for some people. However, if you plan to make money from betting then this isn’t the way.

They are aimed at people who stake high and lose a lot. These are completely the opposite types of bettor to those who make money.

If you are using matched betting you are probably never going to be a VIP. This is fine, as you will be making money in a different money. Also, the less scrutiny your account gets the better.

The post Are Bookies’ VIP Schemes Worth It? appeared first on Mike Cruickshank.

Tax is one of the first things most new bettors want to know about. After all, no one wants to lose part of their winnings to the taxman.

Since we pay tax on most things, it is easy to assume that it applies to winning bets. Income tax, stamp duty and VAT are a few of the main taxes. Almost all of us come across them at some point. In fact, you have probably seen the saying that there are only three certain things in life. These are death, taxes and change.

Yet, when we look at taxes in betting, things aren’t that simple. Therefore, let’s take a closer look at this subject.

Do UK-Based Players Pax Tax in Winnings?

If you are based in the UK, you don’t normally pay tax on your winnings. The amount that you collect is yours. There is no need to even declare it in your tax returns. It might sound too good to be true. But we will see later that there is a good reason for this.

This rule applies regardless of whether you have won a pound or a million of them. It could be on football betting or horse races. Casino games and bingo are exactly the same too.

No tax is payable on the vast majority of betting in this country. There are some exceptions that you will want to know about. We will look at them in a moment. However, in sports betting and casinos there is no tax payable on winnings.

What if you aren’t based in the UK? Well, in that case it depends upon the laws in your country. In some places, the law is the same as in the UK. In others, you will need to declare your winnings. There is no hard and fast rule that applies to every country.

For instance, US citizens need to declare and pay taxes on their profits. France has one of the highest tax rates on gambling. Poland is another country that taxes betting profits. Canada, Germany and Australia are among the places with no gambling taxes.

Of course, the situation can change in any country. They may bring out new laws or tweak existing regulations. Therefore, you always need to check the current laws in your country. You definitely don’t want to fall foul of the taxman without knowing it.

This is pretty much all good news so far. There is no tax payable on your winnings in the UK. That isn’t the same as saying there is no tax at all, though. We need to delve a bit deeper to understand it all.

Why Is There No Tax on Winnings?

You might wonder why your gambling winnings aren’t taxed. We are used to seeing tax on just about everything. So why should betting be an exception? It seems unlikely that the government just decided to not bother with it.

The truth is that betting is taxed in the UK. It’s just that it is taken off directly from the operators. Consumption tax is passed directly from bookies to the authorities. This is how the Treasury makes huge amounts of money off betting.

Naturally, this affects the bookie’s profits. So it is taken into account in their odds. This means that you are paying tax after all. It just isn’t taken off directly from what you win. But it is there all the same.

Why is it so complicated? It would seem to be easier to just tax our winnings. Or add a taxable figure onto each bet we make.

More mature gamblers may remember a simpler time. This was when they paid tax directly on bets. The fact that it has changed is a long story. We can start to understand it by looking at the laws that govern betting.

The Changing Betting Tax Laws in the UK

Throughout most of history, there was no tax levied on betting in the UK. It wasn’t even legalised or controlled most of the time.

The Gaming Act of 1845 attempted to stop betting. All this did was drive it underground, though. This meant that there was no way of paying tax on profits. Later in the same century, certain types of gambling were made legal.

The laws concerning betting tax have changed several times since then. To fully understand this, we need to go back to the 1960 Betting and Gaming Act. This legislation made betting legal in the country away from racecourses.

It meant that betting shops could open up in High Streets. In fact, it led to an explosion in British gambling. The regulations meant that hundreds of licenses could be issued to bookies. Punters loved the fact that they could now bet so easily.

As part of this new legislation, a tax was introduced. This saw the bookmakers pay 6.75% tax. They passed this tax onto punters as a 9% betting tax. The customers could pay this in one of two ways. They either paid in with their stake when making the bet. Or else they left it to be taken off their winnings at the end.

Since 9% of the winnings is more than 9% of the stake, most people paid it upfront. This meant that the winnings would be paid in full. Therefore, some people still think that this is how it is done.

Betting tax law changes

Yet, law changes since then mean that this is no longer the case. The reason for the change was the growing number of offshore gambling firms. The arrival of internet gambling changed the entire industry.

If a British company moved abroad, they could offer tax-free betting. Suddenly, the existing British laws were rendered invalid. British punters used British bookies based offshore but no tax was collected. A new law was needed to correct this loophole.

The new law was introduced in 2001. This meant that the previous levy we looked at was removed. However, it was replaced by a 15% tax. This amount was now to be taken off the gross profit made by the operator. To punters, this looked like good news for them. The bookie was paying the tax rather than them.

The 9% tax disappeared from betting slips. Yet, it would be naïve to think that the bookies just accepted this and paid it. Instead, they passed on the new tax to their customers indirectly. This could be seen in the shape of less attractive odds.

This change led to greater income for the British government. It didn’t harm the bookies either, as many posted record profits in the following year. Punters were generally kept happy too. Since they couldn’t see any taxes, it felt like there were none.

Further Tax Betting Law Changes

The 2001 change was a step in the right direction for the government. But they wanted to get more taxes from this growing industry. The problem was that the new regulations taxed at the point of supply.

Many more big name operators moved abroad. They went wherever the tax levied was lower than in the UK. Gibraltar was a particularly attractive destination due to low tax rates. It soon became a hub for British gambling firms looking to pay less tax.

Even traditional, land-based bookies moved their online betting abroad. The High Street branches still paid full UK tax. But the massively successful online operations were making fortunes. And paying virtually no tax.

This meant that a further law change was needed. It came in 2014, when the 2005 Gambling Act was amended. The change brought in a 15% point of consumption tax. It applied to all of the operator’s profits.

What this did was force companies based overseas to pay the tax on profits from British gamblers. If they wanted to keep their UK license, they needed to comply.

2018 brought us another important change. This time, the Chancellor added a 21% point of consumption tax rate. This was bumped up from 15% for games of chance. So, it covers the likes of slots and card games.

The new rate was brought into force in October 2019. As we have seen in the past, the operators pass on any new taxes to customers. Therefore, the returns to casino players will reflect this new tax rate.

What Does This Mean for the Future?

As we just saw, the higher tax rate is likely to mean lower profits for gambling firms. However, given the profits made by this industry, some people still hope that the casinos will cover part of it.

Another issue is whether it causes some operators to leave the British market. This has long been a hugely profitable place for betting companies to do business. Brits love to gamble and there are big profits to be made.

Yet, there are fears that more taxes will drive casinos away. The British market could become unprofitable for them. This is especially true if they pass on too much of the tax to customers. This could drive people away to other sites.

It is a difficult balancing act for online operators. They don’t want to pay too much in taxes. But they can’t afford to become uncompetitive either.

The fact that most casinos operate in other markets too is another issue. Some of them may decide that it is better to concentrate on countries with lower taxes.

What About Professional Gamblers or Visitors?

There are a couple of situations that people sometimes think are exceptions to the rule. For instance, it is commonly believed that pro gamblers pay taxes on winnings.

This isn’t true. They are subject to the same rules as everyone else. They pay taxes indirectly. But they don’t pay direct taxes on their profits. This is the case even for someone who earns all of their money in this way.

The next big issue is around visitors to the UK. Do they need to pay taxes on gambling? Or perhaps they can claim it back when they get home?

Well, they are subject to the same rules in the UK as anyone else. Visitors from abroad don’t pay tax on their winnings. They get to keep the full winnings while they are in Britain.

Yet, we saw earlier that different countries tax gambling profits. If they are from one of these countries they may have to declare it on their return. It really depends upon their home country’s rules and regulations.

Anyone in this situation needs to consider how to get the money home too. There is a limit on how much physical cash can legally be taken out of the UK. This is currently set at €10,000, or equivalent in another currency.

What If You Win Money While Abroad?

Can you imagine the joy of winning a big sum while on holiday? You are sure to think about whether any tax is due on it, though.

As we have seen, the UK doesn’t tax betting profits. You don’t need to declare anything when you get home. What about taxes in the country where you earned the money?

It really depends which country you bet in. If they tax profits then you will pay the tax there. This is likely to be taken off automatically. But that isn’t always the case.

As with visitors to the UK, taking the profits home can be tricky. You will be subject to cash limits on the amount that you carry with you. This limit will be determined by the country that you are in.

Sending back a transfer to your UK account might be easier. But this can be expensive, especially if you are outside of Europe.

What Are the Exceptions?

I mentioned earlier some exceptions to the general rules. These are spread betting, index betting and binary options. They are treated differently because of how they are governed.

None of these types of betting is controlled by the UK Gambling Commission. Instead, they are regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Most people still don’t need to pay capital gains tax or stamp duty on their profits.

However, it could be your main job or your main source of income. In either of these cases, you need to pay taxes. This is because you are classed as a trader. You could also write off any losses.

Another interesting situation is when you are a stock market trader. In this case, you pay capital gains tax and stamp duty.

Should I Declare Big Winnings?

Let’s imagine for a moment that you strike it lucky. A big win has given you hundreds of thousands of pounds. Or maybe you have become an instant millionaire. It has happened to other people, so it isn’t impossible.

It is understandable that you could feel nervous. You might feel as though you are hiding something.

You don’t need to declare. No tax will be paid on it anyway. The tax authorities don’t need to know about any winnings. It doesn’t matter how big or small they are.

Having said that, you can choose to declare this if you want to. There is a place on the tax return where you can declare winnings from betting. It still won’t be subject to tax, though.

The only real reason to do this is to put your mind at ease. I suppose that it might also help if you are ever investigated by the taxman in the future too.

Keeping detailed evidence of your win is probably more important. This will give you the proof you need if you are ever contacted by the tax authorities. For instance, they might be alerted by big cash purchases that you have made.

Passing Your Winnings to Other People

Things get a little bit more complicated now. This is because you might decide to gift your winnings to friends or family. Or they might inherit the money when you pass away.

In terms of inheritance, it depends upon the size of your overall estate. If it is big enough, this tax will be payable.

As with most assets, it makes sense to gift it while you are alive. Currently, you can give £3,000 a year to someone with no tax due on it. One possible issue here is that inheritance tax is due if you die within 7 years of the gift.

Inheritance laws are notoriously complex. They also tend to change according to the latest budget. If you are thinking of gifting your winnings then check the current rules.

Tax and betting in the UK: Conclusion

Not having to pay taxes on your winnings is a good thing. However, you shouldn’t mistake this with there being no taxes at all.

The taxes paid by operators have increased in recent years. This is still a highly profitable industry. Part of the reason for this is that they pass on any taxes to their customers. So you will be paying taxes indirectly on every wager.

This situation is unlikely to change any time soon. The only possible issue on the horizon is whether operators decide that the market is uncompetitive. This seems far-fetched right now, but any further tax increases may prove to be too much.

The post Tax and Betting: Everything You Need to Know appeared first on Mike Cruickshank.

Sports betting podcasts have started to go mainstream in recent times. More and more people are turning to them. Why should you do this and which ones can you listen to?

The coronavirus outbreak is forcing people to stay indoors. So now is a great time to catch up on some of the best podcasts. This lets you stay in touch with the sports world easily. You might find that it becomes a part of your weekly routine.

Let’s get started by thinking about why you might want to listen to a podcast? What do they offer that could be of use to you.

What Is a Sporting Betting Podcast?

This is a type of online broadcast that you can listen to at any time. It is generally an audio file, although some are also available as videos. This means that it is good for listening to while driving. Or while cycling or traveling to work on public transport. In fact, they offer great entertainment at any time.

If you normally look on the TV for sport, this is a different option. The fact that you can watch them at any time is a big advantage. You might choose one to wake up to. Or else listen to one before going to sleep. It is entirely up to you.

There are now believed to be over 800,000 active podcasts online. This gives you a total of more than 54 million episodes to listen to. It is a huge market. And it is growing all the time.

Naturally, this huge number of podcasts covers a massive number of different subjects. These range from comedy to money matters and from discussions about crimes to history lessons. Basically, you can find a broadcast on anything that you are interested in.

One of the most popular subjects is sport. There are numerous podcasts covering football, tennis and cricket. In fact, you could listen to one on just about any sport.

They are normally fun, chatty affairs. Two or more hosts will tend to work together, or a single host will interview experts. The atmosphere is often light-hearted and filled with jokes. The best ones build up large, loyal fan bases.

There are fewer that are based purely on sports betting. Yet, there are some out there. They look at different aspects of the industry and have varied styles. For example, some give tips for upcoming races while others interview important industry figures.

Why Listen to One?

There are several reasons for listening to a sports betting podcast. The first one is simply entertainment. When done well, they can help you to pass an hour or so enjoyably. If you have never listened to one you might be surprised. You might like it more than you thought you would.

Some of them are just like a group of friends chatting. You will soon pick up the in-jokes and discover their personalities. On some, it is an informal sort of structure. So expect them to wander off to talk about all sorts of things on any episode. Others appear to be more heavily scripted.

Apart from the entertainment factor, what else do they offer? Well, you might learn something new. This is a great way of picking up tips from the experts. You might hear a tip or learn some behind the scenes news.

This is especially true on something like matched betting. You want to be as informed as you can be on this subject. Every little bit of information you can get hold of helps.

This is a good tactic for beginners. If you are new to matched betting, this is a solid starting point. But even experts can learn something new in this way. You might need to listen to a lot of chatting to pick up a nugget of information. But if you like their style, this won’t be a problem.

How to Pick the Best Betting Podcast?

New podcasts appear online all the time. This means that there is a big selection to choose from. So choosing the right one is vital. What should you be looking for?

For a start, are you more interested in entertainment or information? You might prefer a serious podcast or one that is more light-hearted. Some try to provide a balance between these extremes. The use of a panel of guests helps, as there are generally different personalities on them.

Then, it comes down to considering what you want. Do you want serious tips? Or a look at the overall industry? Perhaps you want a few laughs and some tipping advice thrown in?

Then there is your level of expertise to consider. Do you need to listen to something fairly basic to get you started? Or are you looking for advanced topics?

There is something for everyone out there. Let’s look at some of the names you might come across when looking online. To help you get going, we have picked a few of the best sports betting podcasts for you. Why not give them a try when you have a few minutes? You might find something that is perfect.

Business of Betting – What Is It?

This podcast has been around for a long time now. Their site confirms that they have passed 1 million downloads and listens. What is impressive is the short time in which they have done this.

Business of Betting started up at the beginning of 2017. Since then, they have produced 125 episodes. At the time of writing, the latest ones include Inside the Pylons and NFL betting. There is a lot of variety in the topics that are covered.

Their broadcasts are sponsored by Betfair Australia. They look at the business side of gambling and investing. This often means one to one interviews with leading figures in the industry.

Some of their podcasts involve interviews with CEOs of betting companies. Other have professional bettors, poker players and so on. You never know exactly what to expect

The host is Australian Jake Williams. He doesn’t seem to stick to a script. Instead, he lets the guests chat and covers a lot of ground. His friendly manner and relaxed style make him easy to listen to.

You can find all of their older broadcasts on their site, using the Soundcloud platform. They can also be downloaded on iTunes if you prefer.

The podcast’s Twitter account tells us what comes next. We can see that the next season will cover episodes 126 to 150. This is going to see the return of the best guests to date, for a second interview.

You can listen to past episodes here: –
www.businessofbetting.com/

Business of Betting – Will It Help You?

This is an interesting and informative podcast. Some of the guests are industry heavyweights with great insights. If you are interested in the business side of gambling, it is recommended.

Having said that, it isn’t the sort of tool for picking up tips. Instead, it will give you a better understanding of the market. It is certainly worth a try if you are interested in sports betting. However, if you just want to make money on matched betting, it is probably too high-level.

Matchbook Betting Podcast – What It Is?

This is an interesting option, as it comes from a betting exchange. Matchbook is one of the big exchanges in this industry.

Their podcast covers a wide range of subjects. Naturally, all of their episodes are sports betting focussed. But they jump from one sport to another. This makes their archives highly varied.

The most recent episode is based on Irish horse racing. This is because it is one of the few sports still going ahead. It is hosted by Tom Stanley, Ali Maxwell, Aidan O’Sullivan and Phil Kitromilides. You will also hear special guests popping up now and again.

It is easy to listen to on a desktop PC. You can also download using the App Store or Google Play. This makes it a great choice for listening to on the move.

Once sport gets back on track, expect it to be back. This is a weekly podcast that is one of the most popular UK sports betting podcasts.

You can listen to past episodes here: –
www.podcast.matchbook.com/

Matchbook Betting Podcast – Will It Help You?

Previous episodes largely focus on football or horse racing. Some also look at golf or other sports. So there is a decent amount of variety there.

They tend to look at upcoming events and odds. So listening back to old broadcasts isn’t all that informative. It is quite entertaining though. You might want to choose a shorter episode to get a feel for it first of all.

Ideally, you will listen to an episode on upcoming games or races. In that case, this could be useful. You will find a lot of great information and tips on here.

It is probably best described as a mixture of entertaining and informative. If you love hearing experts talk about sports you will enjoy this. There is also a decent chance that you pick up some useful tips.

As it is from Matchbook, it looks at things from an exchange point of view. That is perfect for matched betting fans, of course. It is well worth giving a try.

Betfair Podcasts – What Is It?

As the biggest exchange in the business, it is no surprise to see Betfair involved with podcasts. Indeed, they have a variety of broadcasts on different sports.

These are fun, lively podcasts with a panel of experts all chipping in. They cover everything from football and horse racing to cricket and rugby.

Again, the lack of action has seen it ground to a halt. Normally, there is a fixed schedule in the week. Tuesday is the day for cricket and Wednesday is NFL. Football is covered on Thursday and horse racing on Friday. You can delve into their archive to sample past episodes.

The host on Football…Only Bettor is Caroline Barker. Among the others on the panel are Mark O’Haire and Kevin Hatchard. Dimitar Berbatov is their football ambassador who turns up regularly. They chat about the latest and biggest issues each week.

You can listen to these broadcasts on Apple Music or Spotify. You can also watch the videos on their site or on YouTube. They are hugely popular broadcasts that are good fun to listen to or watch.

You can listen to past episodes here: –
www.betting.betfair.com/football/footballonly-bettor-subscribe-to-betfairs-podcast-160819-51.html

Betfair Podcasts – Will It Help You?

These podcasts cover a lot of subjects. The fact that different experts get involved means that there are lots of opinions.

The key is in working out which ones to act on. There is no doubt that you will learn a lot on here, though. If you are looking for a helping hand, this is a good starting point.

The hosts and guests are all knowledgeable. It isn’t just about boring chat and analysis, though. Their entertaining debates add plenty of life to the previews of the upcoming events.

They look at the latest odds and discuss which are the best bets. This might help you to make up your mind.

The Betting Guy – What Is It?

Dean is the host of this next sports broadcast. He has a background in working for a bookie and running a tipster service. It is clear that he is very enthusiastic about sports betting in general. The podcast is sponsored by Betfair and is growing impressively in popularity.

According to the site, the Betting Guy has over 50,000 unique monthly downloads. It also mentions more than 15,000 unique monthly views on YouTube. There are currently over 600 episodes to choose from. This shows how popular it has become in a relatively short period of time.

The latest episodes include a Champions League preview and a look at in play trades. Naturally, the current lack of sport has slowed things down a bit. Expect Dean to be back once sport is back to normal.

You can listen to past episodes here: –
www.thebettingguy.co.uk/category/episodes/

The Betting Guy – Will It Help You?

These are good fun to listen to and you can also learn a lot. Dean knows his stuff and is always fired up when he speaks about betting. His enthusiasm should help put a smile on your face too.

Some of the episodes are focused on betting ploys. Others are interesting stories about the betting world. This means that there is a good degree of variety. Just pick the right episode for your current needs.

Football and horse racing are the main sports covered. The host seems equally comfortable talking about both of them.

Behind the Bets – What Is It?

This is an American-focused podcast that is hosted by Doug Kezirian. He regularly introduces guests with inside knowledge of Las Vegas and the betting market.

Among his recent episodes is one called Embracing Gambling. This was recorded with a live audience. Together with Atlanta Hawks CEO Steve Koonin, he looks at how sports leagues are embracing betting. His co-host on this episode is sports analyst Jeff Ma.

Other past broadcasts include looks at American football, baseball and basketball. The strong American focus gives it a very different feel to the British podcasts. This makes it interesting for a change of pace.

You can listen to past episodes here: –
www.espn.com/espnradio/podcast/archive/_/id/5395837

Behind the Bets – Will It Help You?

This is another podcast that is more about giving you a broader knowledge. Unless you bet on American sports, you probably won’t pick up many tips here.

However, you are sure to learn a few things. The host covers some fascinating subjects around the broader gambling industry.

It may be a bit heavy and in-depth for some listeners. But others will be pleased to learn a few new things from each broadcast.

Best betting podcast  – Which One Should You Choose?

It is worth listening to all of these podcasts. Why not set aside and hour or so to give them all a try? They are all different but worthwhile.

With the sporting action on hold, this is a great time to check them out. If you like one, just subscribe to it. You will then get advised of new episodes as they are launched.

Before long, sports should be back to normal. When that happens, these podcasts can be a great part of your weekly routine.

The post What Are the Best Sports Betting Podcasts? appeared first on Mike Cruickshank.

The idea of being a sports tipster is incredibly appealing to many people. If you love sports then you probably like the sound of this job.

Researching sports events and giving tip sounds great. It is the sort of job that offers a lot of freedom too. You can do it from home, from the racetrack or anywhere else. Who wouldn’t want to live like that?

They probably earn a fortune every month as well, don’t they? Yet, we need to look more in-depth to find out if this is the truth or not.

What Do Tipster Sites Say About Their Income?

Naturally, these sites want you to think that the tipster is a huge success. What if they said that the tipster was barely scraping a living? Not many people would be tempted to trust their services. They need to give off the warm glow of success and financial freedom.

Websites that offers services from different tipsters also mention high earnings. This is because they want to show this as a great way to make money. Their business relies upon new tipsters joining the network. It needs to be an attractive choice for betting experts to join up.

Therefore, it isn’t in their interests to show low earnings. But maybe you have some doubts about the figures. You might think that it probably isn’t possible to earn so much in this way. We need to look into the matter fully to discover the truth.

The Differences Between Tipsters

To start with, we need to understand the different types of sports tipster. The most successful are well-known in the industry. They have great reputations and command a lot of respect.

These experts usually have outstanding track records. They can prove their consistent success over a long time. Because of this, they have a lot of followers. They can also charge more for their services, knowing that people will pay it.

However, this only accounts for a small percentage of the industry. For every high-flier earning great money, there are others who are earning less. We could call this the top 10%. In truth, it is probably closer to the top 5%.

There are far more of them who earn a lot less. This could be due to them just starting out. The internet now makes it easier for anyone to give this a try. Many will fail and give up quite quickly.

Or maybe their records are mixed to date. This means that they can’t charge as much. And they won’t have as many followers either.

Then there are the tipsters who don’t charge a fee. Anyone who gives out tips to punters can call themselves a tipster. So, just because someone uses this title doesn’t mean that they earn money.

A free tipster might be looking to build up a following. Perhaps they plan to charge in the future. Or maybe they have a different plan to monetise their website or earn through social media.

The Need for Long-Term Profits

Let’s say that you want to become a profitable tipster. Now that you know the different types around, you want to be among the successful ones. Therefore, you need to see how to do this.

The first point is to convince people that you make profits. If they are paying for tips, they want to win more than they lose. Indeed, they need to win enough to cover your fees. And they need to earn something extra on top of that.

Punters will be wary of any tipster who doesn’t provide evidence. To charge a healthy fee, they need to prove long-term, sustainable profits. This is what gets punters to sign up.

It is also why tipsters show their full record. A newcomer to their site needs to be convinced that they will earn profits in the long-term. Remember that this is a business. It is a business that relies upon the customers making money.

Check Out the Evidence

We just saw the need for evidence. But might it be tempting to make it up? An unscrupulous tipster might be tempted. They could decide to claim results that never happened. You should never simply accept the numbers that they tell you.

This is why reviewers will often do their own research. They will carry out a proofing period. In this way, they will see exactly how often the service is right.

Tipsters can’t just lie about their profits. They would soon get found out. However, if you want to see their true history don’t just look at their figures. Check out the review numbers too. Looking at a few reviews is best, as their results will vary.

Do They Look After the Customers?

This is a hugely competitive market. So, they need to look at customer service too. If you are thinking of becoming a tipster, looking after people is important.

Punters get very emotional about betting. This means that they get excited about wins. But they also get angry if they lose a lot.

All of the best tipsters have good support and communication. This means explaining things clearly and being there to help.

Does this affect the price they charge and the profit? It certainly does. For the tipster, it means more overheads. They might need to do this full-time or employ a support team. Great customer service can’t just be done now and then.

Does this also mean bigger or lower profits? It really just depends whether they charge more for the service. Top-class service plus great results makes for a worthwhile combination. Customers may be happy paying more for reliable service.

What Is the Tipster’s Strength?

To charge a premium price, it needs to be a premium service. A tipster service with no obvious strong points needs to be cheap. However, if they have some real selling points this makes a difference.

The following are some of the main selling points that can be used.

• A high return on investment
• Very fast and easy to use
• Great strike rate
• Interesting analysis on their choices
• Selections sent out every day, with enough time to place bets
• A couple of selections or more each day
• Easy to secure the odds quoted

Does a Profitable Tipster Mean Customers Will Make Money?

Now that we have looked at tipster’s profits, what does that mean? Should punters always use services that make a lot of money?

The truth is that this isn’t always the case. Just because the tipster makes money it doesn’t mean their customers will.

One reason is that they might earn more from subscriptions than wins. Even a tipster that loses a lot can make money from selling enough tips. They don’t need the users to win. Naturally, this would only be a money-making business for a short period of time, though.

Therefore, the profit a tipster makes isn’t always relevant. If you want to know whether to join, more important are their results.

Yet, these can also be mis-leading. They might make money on their bets but you won’t. There are some situations when this could happen.

• They provide more tips than you can follow. You risk missing the best ones in this case.
• You don’t follow their staking advice. A good tipster will let you know how much to stake.
• Using your own judgement. What if you follow a tipster but use your own judgement? You might decide to only bet on the selections you like.

Dealing with Losing Runs

Not everyone understands that it is impossible to avoid losing runs. Some people think that tipsters have some sort of magic power. They expect to win every single time.

This means that customers get nervous after a few losses. They might start to worry that the whole thing is a scam. Or that the tipster has lost their touch. Either way, it can be disastrous.

Experienced bettors will understand that losing runs happen. However, newcomers may lose their faith and cancel. This means that the tipster’s profits drop. Since losing runs can happen at any time, this is a constant risk.

Good tipsters will warn about losing runs right away. This means that new members go in with their eyes open.

How to Start Off as a New Tipster

Many people start off by giving tips to friends. You might do this by putting messages on Facebook or Twitter. It is a good start and sure to be exciting. But you won’t be making any money from your tips.

To monetise your service you have a couple of options. One is to go it alone. The other is to join a website where different tipsters are published.

The first option gives you complete independence. You can charge what you like and it is all your profit. You can also run this business in any way that suits you. However, it is likely to be more difficult.

To go it alone, you need to set up a website. Then you need to deal with running it, collecting fees etc. It could easily turn into a demanding, full-time job.

On the other hand, what if you join an established website? This will clearly be a lot easier. You will join a group of tipsters who are marketed by the company such as Betting Gods or Betfan.

However, this comes at the cost of losing independence. You will only earn a percentage of the fees. This is likely to be between 20% and maybe 40%. You also have no control over the site, the marketing or the fees.

Your decision probably comes down to how confident you are. Do you have the technical skills and marketing knowledge necessary? Also, do you have the time that is needed to run your own website?

It is a huge decision that will define your future. Therefore, you need to take your time and be honest with yourself.

Either way, this is a business venture. You shouldn’t look on it as a hobby. Going into it seriously and with a solid plan is vital for your progress.

What Are the Earnings Like?

So far, we have covered a lot of the crucial points. But the main point is still waiting for us to look at. How much can a tipster actually make?

We have seen there are a lot of variables. So every tipster will earn differently. However, the first point to cover is around unrealistic expectations. If you have 100 members paying £20 a month, that doesn’t mean that you earn £2,000.

There are costs to cover no matter how you do this. For example, if you go with joining a tipster network you will by paying commission. This goes from 60% to as high as 80%. So, with the £2,000 fees earlier, you actually earn between £400 and £800.

It’s a lot less impressive once you look at the final figure. As you can see, you need a lot of followers to earn really good money.

Remember that the amount you pay the network covers a lot of things. These include the website design and maintenance, hosting and marketing. Then there is customer support and payment processing fees. It is an easy sort of place to get started. But you might be disappointed with the overall financial results.

Would going it alone be easier and more profitable? In this way, you keep all of the income that you generate. However, you also need to meet the same costs that the network charges for you.

You need to pay for a website, marketing, payment processing etc. It is more difficult to put an exact figure on this. This is because there are different ways of doing it.

As a general rule, the following are the main costs.

• Design and build a website. This could be as low as £500.
• Website hosting. There are a lot of good deals around. But it could still be about £10 per month after any introductory deal ends.
• Member area hosting. Probably about £75 to get set up.
• Marketing set-up. The initial cost is likely to be about £100 to £200 to get started.
• Customer support could cost you from £200 monthly. It depends how big your audience is and what your requirements are.
• Bank fees and payment processing. This might eat in your income to the tune of 5% or a bit less.

These numbers will differ in the real world. They are services that vary over time. What it costs to set up a website today might not be what it costs next month.

Overall, expect to pay an absolute minimum of £1,000 to start your own business. This could go as high as £3,000 or so. You will want to be careful and look for good value.

With the £2,000 income we looked at earlier, how does it now look? You are going to be left with a maximum of £1,500. These numbers are quite conservative.

The first few months will see you paying off the set-up costs too. In addition, costs will rise as your business grows. More visitors and more members means more income. It also means more maintenance fees.

Is Running Your Own Site Best?

Having looked at the two options, you probably have a decent idea now. Do you like the sound of greater independence? Or do joining an established tipster network sound safer?

Don’t forget that there is one thing you can only get from an existing network. That is the access to betting fans. The best sites of this type have huge audiences. This makes it easier to get started.

At the end of the day, it comes down to personal preference. You should earn more money going it alone. With no fees taken off at the start, there is more income. The costs you need to meet are lower than the fees charged by networks.

Are you happy playing it safe? Or would you rather take the risk on earning more? It mainly comes down to your own personality.

Running your own site will take up a lot more time too. So, this is more suitable for someone looking for a full-time job. If you want to dedicate less time to it then joining a network makes more sense.

Conclusion

Sports tipsters can earn good money. Yet, they don’t rake in the fortunes that some people think. It is something that requires time and effort, for a decent but not spectacular return.

If you are thinking of selling tips there is a lot to think about. First of all, how will you get started? It is a tough choice but your lifestyle and personality should help you to decide. It may sound like a cash cow, but it all depends on how good your tips are. Most tipsters make very little money.

For anyone who follows tipsters, this could be an eye-opener. These people aren’t earning millions off their services. Most are hard-working people just trying to make a decent living.

The post How Much Money Do Tipsters Make? appeared first on Mike Cruickshank.