Episode 56 - Stanley From Tour-Tips.com - Using Data To Find Value On Golf

Andy Holding is a genuine racing expert having operated at the sharp end of the racing world for over 2 decades. Starting out working in a bookmakers, he made the leap to being a professional punter at the age of 30 and in more recent years has become best known through his work tipping on the Oddschecker website and on William Hill Radio.

He also oversees his own Andy Holding Speed Figures website with colleagues Sam Turner and Andy Bate, which was the focal point of a recent in-depth SBC tipster review in February 2024 as we explored the service and tips on offer.

Using the data from his speed figures to highlight value bets for members of his service and via his Oddschecker column, Andy outlines how speed figures work, how he uses them and just why they are so useful to accurately pinpoint the relative strengths and weaknesses of a horse and when you should back it.

Alongside that, Andy also openly discusses his own betting, the issues facing the racing industry and most revealing of all - names the 4 major bookmakers that still use him as a 'mark' and allow him to get bets down with them. There are some names that might surprise you here!

We also get into his Oddschecker column, how he picks these bets and their performance, plus how he copes with the pressures of being a prominent tipster, especially during a bad run.

And for those of you listening to this ahead of the 2024 Cheltenham Festival, he picks out a trio of big value bets to follow and back.

Andy was a fascinating guest, full of insight on his specialist subject and with a long track record of beating the bookmaker.

(00:00) Intro
(02:12) Andy's grounding in racing (and betting)
(03:50) A mentor who changed everything
(04:28) Time!
(06:00) Going professional and how Andy 'got in' at the right time
(07:10) Opportunities that have arrived along the way
(10:35) Speed Figures and how they can provide an objective view
(14:30) Market reactions to speed figures and sectionals and how they are still underestimated
(17:00) The work that goes behind the scenes at Andy Holding Speed Figures
(20:10) Irish Racing and Andy's daily podcast
(22:10) Tipping for Andy Holding Speed Figures and Oddschecker (and the differences between the selections)
(26:25) Price contractions
(28:30) Dealing with losing runs as a tipster
(31:00) Andy's betting activity and how he gets on!
(33:00) The firms that Andy has a relationship with and restrictions that turn punters away
(37:40) Affordability Checks and Andy's thoughts on the future of horse racing
(40:55) Some tips from Andy for betting at Cheltenham (with some early selections!)
(44:40) General advice for betting on horse racing
(47:35) Andy's football allegiances!
(49:40) How to find Andy and a special SBC discount

Discover More:

• Learn more on the Smart Betting Club and how we help winning bettors at https://smartbettingclub.com/ 
• Andy Holding Speed Figures: https://andyholdingspeedfigures.co.uk/
• Andy Holding Speed Figures Twitter: https://twitter.com/figuresAndy
• Andy Holding Twitter: https://twitter.com/Holding_Andy
• Andy's Oddschecker page: https://www.oddschecker.com/tips/andy-holding

Podcast feedback - contact SBC on twitter @sbcinfo

Read more about each SBC Podcast episode: https://smartbettingclub.com/the-smart-betting-club-podcast/

I have a very special guest for Episode 70 in the form of lawyer, Harry Stewart-Moore, who is a partner at the law firm Gardner Leader, with a speciality in cases in the betting industry. Harry regularly acts for some of the leading names in the gambling world in both High Court proceedings and before various sports regulatory panels.

With a preference to represent those on the punting side of things including many professional bettors in the past, Harry explained the type of cases he takes on and some of the issues and grievances brought before him.

Many of them do focus on bookmaker behaviour alongside issues created by the industry and its regulator, the Gambling Commission, about whom he has very many concerns as to the way they operate.

We also expand on the black market, its growth and the legal challenges that creates as well as why frictionless affordability checks just wont work and the problems with many bookmakers terms and conditions.

Nothing was off the agenda in this wide-reaching chat and Harry was a fascinating guest, happy to share his thoughts and experiences on all things betting from a legal perspective.

(00:00) Introducing Harry
(01:20) Harry's father's impact on his career choice (& love of gambling!)
(02:44) Gambling and what Harry has learnt working with successful gamblers
(03:45) Cases, clients and the life of a gambling lawyer
(06:30) The increase in punter vs. bookmaker cases and the possible reasons for this
(07:32) The most common disputes that Harry deals with
(09:40) The lengths that bookmakers will go to to avoid paying liabilities
(12:55) The anatomy of a gambling dispute case
(13:47) AML and other regulatory checks and how bookmakers weaponise them
(19:15) The Gambling Commission
(22:50) The National Lottery & the Gambling Commission's attitude towards it
(25:50)The regulatory future in the UK & the growth of the black market
(30:50) Criminal elements' hold on certain gambling jurisdictions
(32:15) The law and how it relates to black market betting
(34:50) The White Paper and Harry's take on 'frictionless' affordability checks
(40:45) How issues with law and regulation keep reappearing
(41:12) The competitive advantage that major firms have when dealing with onerous checks and regulation
(44:00) IBAS, eCogra and how dispute resolution services just aren't working
(46:30) Bookmaker Terms and Conditions and how some are drafted to shaft punters
(48:30) How treating 'skilled' and casino/fixed odds betting differently could well help with regulation and dealing with problem gambling
(55:50) How to access Harry's legal expertise!

Discover More:

• Learn more on the Smart Betting Club and how we help winning bettors at https://smartbettingclub.com/ 
• Harry at Gardner Leader: https://www.gardner-leader.co.uk/team_members/harry-stewart-moore-2/
• Harry on Twitter @HarryStewartMo1
• Podcast feedback - contact SBC on twitter @sbcinfo
• Read more about each SBC Podcast episode: https://smartbettingclub.com/the-smart-betting-club-podcast/

Betting Clever ep 69 features both Pete and Josh from SBC and is split into two parts, with 'gambling chat' making up Part 1 and a Q & A with the Head of Exchange at Matchbook, Ronan McDonagh, making up Part 2.

Part 1 starts with Pete and Josh discussing our gambling plans for 2024, before we move on to explore the perils of betting social media after being alerted to some strange goings on with some of Flutter's affiliates. Andy Robson Tips is one of many affiliate tipsters who likes to present himself as a regular guy looking to make his followers a few quid. The reality it seems is quite different.

We also touch on our brand new SBC Free Tipster, Account Agent. This service is designed to prolong bookmaker accounts using a three-pronged approach. It doesn't guarantee 'immortal' betting accounts, but these strategies are proven to keep you away from the 'eye in the sky' at bookmakers' HQs!

In 'Part 2' we are joined by Ronan McDonagh, Head of Exchange at Matchbook.

Matchbook are looking to expand and wrestle market share away from the dominant exchange. We talk about how they are doing this, their plans for the future and how they are targeting specific markets.

We also quiz Ronan on the topics that we feel that you, as smart bettors, will want answered. How they treat winners; commission rates; prices; liquidity; additional features not traditionally found on exchanges - we talk about all of them!

To top our chat with Matchbook off, we also have an exclusive offer - 150 days on the Matchbook platform, commission free!

(00:00) Intro
(01:30) Pete and Josh's plans for 2024: slight alterations or major changes?
(03:40) SM Affiliates: a murky world with questionable vested interests
(13:10) SM Tipsters: BOOM! A bit of fun or predatory?
(17:20) Account Agent: SBC's new free service that helps maintain bookmaker accounts
(23:10) Golf Betting: our second place curse in 2024!
(25:20) Golf Betting Club: SBC's new Premium Service with an excellent in-play edge
(27:10) New Magazine Format: Monthly updates with everything all in one place
(29:25) BetInAsia & Broker Options: Pete's experiences getting the best prices from across the major exchanges

Part 2
(31:35) Introducing Ronan McDonagh from Matchbook and recent developments at the Matchbook Exchange: Building products bit-by-bit
(34:40) Matchbook's focus on the 'personal touch' and how they have looked to grow market share
(36:50) Horse Racing: Liquidity, pricing & what the data tells us (& scandalous Industry SPs!)
(41:25) Established players trading on Matchbook: Why big fish are swimming in the Matchbook pond
(45:25) Football; liquidity, secondary markets, growth areas and multiples
(48:27) American Sports: Matchbook's 'bread and butter' and how they compete in the market
(49:28) Golf Betting: Liquidity differentials across tours, popular products and massive bets (on Denny McCarthy!)
(52:45) The Regulatory Environment: AML, SOW & affordability checks and how Matchbook want to balance customer service with their licensing requirements
(57:24) Winners: How Matchbook negotiate with customers individually rather than apply arbitrary commission rates on winning punters' action
(59:50) 150-days on Matchbook commission free for SBC Podcast listeners!

 Discover More:

• Matchbook Data & SBC Analysis (with sign up offer info)
• Account Agent's SBC page
• Sign up for a SBC Membership 
• Podcast feedback on twitter @SBCInfo
• Read more about each SBC Podcast episode

In Episode 68, I welcomed back to the podcast, brothers Duncan and Neil Campbell to talk about their continued ability to make a profit from betting on golf.

Operating together as 'Golf Betting Club', they talk me through how they use their extensive experience, nous and ability to find profitable edges not just from pre-tournament bets but also crucially - in play betting.

It is this unique and often overlooked in play angle - betting during the 4 days of a tournament (or 3 for Liv Golf) that sets them apart from many other golf punters and tipsters and they share plenty of insight into how exactly they use it to turn a profit.

We also get into the operation of their successful service, from tipping late into strong markets on a Wednesday, betting with exchanges and using and settling to fair odds and terms that everyone can obtain at scalable stakes.

Neil and Duncan also outline their take on the changes in the golf world at the moment following Jon Rahm's move to Liv golf and why all this uncertainty can ultimately be a long-term positive from a betting perspective.

(00:00) Introducing the Golf Betting Club
(01:55) About Duncan & Neil - their dynamic, how they balance betting & tipping with other work and balancing work and life with a time consuming business
(04:48) Watching tournaments to find value and keep abreast of player performance
(07:54)  Getting on, exchanges and the challenges of backing value once you have found it
(08:40) Place terms, the timing of bets and balancing value with attainability for members
(11:10) Tipsters betting on Mondays and how GBC's approach is different with 'Best', 'Tracked' and 'Minimum' prices all provided for their subscribers
(13:30) Betting in-play and why the Campbells often prefer it over pre-tournament action
(14:39) Exotic markets, 3-balls and the edges available outside of the core markets
(15:53) How player profiling can help with in-play betting, especially for those players consistently disrespected by the markets
(22:47) Reflecting on performance, planned improvements and changes in the golf betting markets
(24:35) LIV, The PGA Tour, The DPWT and how the politics of golf may well offer up betting opportunities
(28:51) Statistics, popular metrics and how the Campbells have their own approaches to assessing players, especially when they play on different tours
(31:08) Pre-event vs. in play & using the first round to gauge whether a player makes the shortlist
(33:39) Variance, losing runs and dealing with this (as both tipsters and punters)
(35:48) Where to find GBC and how to access their content (much of which is free!)
(37:25) Predictions for 2024 and beyond

Discover More:

• Join Golf Betting Club via SBC and save up to £50 on membership https://smartbettingclub.com/golf-betting-club/
• Learn more on the Smart Betting Club and how we help winning bettors at https://smartbettingclub.com/ 
• Podcast feedback - contact SBC on twitter @sbcinfo
• Read more about each SBC Podcast episode: https://smartbettingclub.com/the-smart-betting-club-podcast/
• Watch a video of this interview on the SBC YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/SmartBettingClub

Episode 67 is a Golf Betting Special, where SBC Editor Pete, was joined by 3 guests in the form of Rowan and Josh from SBC alongside Tom Brownlee from Bookie Bashing to explore his service's exceptional Golf Tracker Tool.

With a track record of success dating back several years - the Golf Tracker provides edges for those of you able to bet with bookmakers each way and as we explore for the first time in this podcast - also betting win only via the exchanges.

The logic being that it will appeal to all of you - whether able to bet unrestricted via soft bookmakers, where it has a ROI in excess of 30% OR if limited and closed down, you can try it out betting win only with the exchanges. The record to date for that is quite ridiculous at over 50% ROI since 2019.

As all 4 of us on this podcast bet extensively on golf, we also outline our own strategies, what we do, how we do it, when and where we bet and tips to maximise your edge.

Even if you don't like the sport of golf, the reality is golf betting is where many top punters invest their time and this special hour long pod will help to explain  how you can too.

EPISODE BREAKDOWN

• 'Cliff golfers' - those who have cost us the most but who we dare not leave off our shortlists!
• How we bet on golf, including shops, online soft bookmakers, exchanges and even Fantasy Golf
• How the Bookie Bashing Golf Tracker works
• Odds ranges, 'sweet spots' and which bands of odds can deliver massive profits from places
• Timing, bookmaker profiling and when we bet to balance every consideration
• Lesser known bookmakers and exploring firms not on the Oddschecker grid
• Win only betting - why the tracker finds value (if it does!)
• Quirks in the data between different tours
• Drawdowns, tempering expectations and finding strategies that match individual risk appetites

Discover More:

• Learn more on the Smart Betting Club and how we help winning bettors at https://smartbettingclub.com/ 
• Bookie Bashing Golf Tracker: https://www.bookiebashing.net/how-it-works/golf-tracker/
• Weekly Golf Value: https://smartbettingclub.com/weekly-golf-value/
• Podcast feedback - contact SBC on twitter @sbcinfo
• Read more about each SBC Podcast episode: https://smartbettingclub.com/the-smart-betting-club-podcast/

In episode 66 I was joined by Chris Poole, currently the Director of Trading for Bet Victor and someone with a vast amount of experience working in the betting industry.

Rising up the ranks from betting shop cashier to his current role, he spoke candidly about the reality of trading in the modern betting world and dealing with issues like affordability checks and his dislike of concessions like Best Odds Guaranteed.

He also expanded on what happened with the Guaranteed Bet market that Bet Victor tried out a few years back, why it was introduced and the issues it attracted for Bet Victor, specifically with large scale betting syndicates who took advantage of it and ruined it for others. For those of you frustrated by account restrictions and closures, it provides rare insight from a bookmaking perspective on why such ventures can be a real struggle and why as yet, a Minimum Bet Guarantee has not been a workable concept.

As an experienced trader on horse racing, Chris discussed the role of inside information, including the very big coup 2 years ago, which nearly claimed a huge win at Bet Victor's expense and saw him front and centre discussing it with the national media.

Chris is perhaps best known by many of you for his amusing Tweets, including his Trumpet Emoji calling out those who 'Aftertime' and put up winners after the event. He also was happy to talk about one quite famous 'Aftertiming' Twitter account he was involved in and which caused quite a stir a few years back.

Chris was a fantastic, talkative and insightful guest - happy to discuss frankly the reality of bookmaking in 2023 and its ups and downs. My thanks go to him for speaking so openly and frankly! Make sure you follow him on Twitter: https://twitter.com/ChrisPoole___

Discover More:

• Learn more on the Smart Betting Club and how we help winning bettors at https://smartbettingclub.com/ 
• Chris Poole on Twitter: @ChrisPoole__
• Podcast feedback - contact SBC on twitter @sbcinfo
• Read more about each SBC Podcast episode: https://smartbettingclub.com/the-smart-betting-club-podcast/

In this new Betting Clever episode, Pete and Josh from the Smart Betting Club unpack a whole host of topics of note for those of us who enjoy betting, kicking off with the latest on the affordability nonsense that is dominating matters currently. The knock on effect of that has been growth in the black market, which we explore and just how betting is going further underground at the moment.

They also unpack the motivations and flaws from many popular free tipsters and betting experts such as Tony Calvin from Betfair, who has come in for criticism recently about his form, yet for them the issues with him and others of his ilk lie elsewhere.

With the launch of a new bookmaker in BetMGM recently, they also discuss just why they have opened in the UK, who's behind it all and how to take advantage of some of the profit boosts they are offering to customers. They are ideal for bankroll growth for those of you looking to generate some easy wins.

They also tackle the crazy profit figures they have seen first-hand from a tipster purporting to have inside information. An ROI of 88% from 700 bets backs that up and despite both Pete and Josh being entirely cynical on this concept of such insider bets, they have had to put their hands up and say - there could be something here. Alongside that they also outline the more straightforward profits being made by service such as Chasing Steamers, Winner Odds and the free expert, HeadStart Racing.

The goal of this podcast is to help you with your betting and provide opinions, insight and expertise you might not get elsewhere.

(00:00) Intro - the return of the Betting Clever podcast
(01:40) Josh goes too far after golf wins & we discuss our betting routines?
(04:05) Politics & Betting - Affordability & The Gambling Commission
(11:56) Pete's experience of the Black Market
(16:05) Industry Big Wigs, Naive Regulations & Useless Beaureaucrats
(19:80) Bet MGM
(23:42) Tony Calvin, tipping early & free tipsters
(29:00) Making money on European Basketball on Pinnacle
(33:20) Inside Information- Pete & Josh's cynicism & being pleasantly surprised
(39:47) Chasing Steamers - the perfect bank builder
(48:45) Getting ahead of the bookies with a new Free Tipster

Discover More:

• Gamblers Consumer Forum: https://gamblersconsumerforum.com/
• BetMGM Profit Boosts: https://www.betmgm.co.uk/promotions
• Chasing Steamers: https://smartbettingclub.com/blog/chasing-steamers-review/
• Winner Odds: https://smartbettingclub.com/blog/winner-odds-sbc-betting-record-and-guide/
• Headstart Racing: https://smartbettingclub.com/headstart-racing/
• To sign up for a SBC Membership click here: https://smartbettingclub.com/subscribe/
• Podcast feedback - contact SBC on twitter @sbcinfo
• Read more about each SBC Podcast episode: https://smartbettingclub.com/the-smart-betting-club-podcast/

I have a fascinating guest in Episode 64 in the form of Nick Goff who has been a professional football bettor for the past 7 years. Nick works as part of a football betting syndicate and is one of a group of experts who bet and win extensively on the beautiful game.

Now it's really rare to get the kind of insight that Nick reveals in today's pod as big football bettors and groups tend to be quite secretive in their nature - Think Tony Bloom's Starlizard syndicate as just one example of this.

So what Nick shares is really insightful and a rare peek behind the curtain of what it's like to be in the top echelon of football punting including the leagues and markets they target, when they bet, how often and just how they get on.

Nick also explains his own angle as regards Antepost betting and just how he maximises value and manages his bankroll throughout a football season to find very big edges to exploit.

As someone with a extensive history in the industry - Nick previously was the head of Football Trading at Coral, he also shares plenty on other topics of note from the current state of betting such as affordability checks, the Black market & the Minimum Bet Law concept.

I really enjoyed chatting with Nick and learning about his work at the sharp end of the betting world and I think you will too. My thanks to Nick for being so candid and for sharing his time with me.

Discover More:

• Learn more on the Smart Betting Club and how we help winning bettors at https://smartbettingclub.com/ 
• Nick Goff on Twitter: @nickgoff79
• Podcast feedback - contact SBC on twitter @sbcinfo
• Read more about each SBC Podcast episode: https://smartbettingclub.com/the-smart-betting-club-podcast/

In this episode, I had the pleasure of talking to Stephen Harris, a vastly experienced bettor and bookmaker with a speciality on both greyhounds and jumps racing.

Starting out life as a bookmaker at the age of 20 taking bets on dogs, Stephen walks me through his early years on track, through to his time working at Sporting Index with some of the sharpest minds going, before his current role providing content and tips for Betting Expert.

Along the way Stephen has learnt plenty on how the betting world works including who makes it pay and how, whether it be punting on course or online with both bookies and exchanges. Its through the latter where Stephen bets exclusively these days and he has plenty to share on how the betting markets now operate and the importance of adapting and evolving as a punter to survive.

He also has some strong thoughts on the current mess surrounding affordability, the motivations of those at the Gambling Commission, through to how easy it is these days to bet into the black market.

We also touch on his work at Betting Expert and his superb Free Value Angle column and its edge and educational approach.

Discover More:

• Learn more on the Smart Betting Club and how we help winning bettors at https://smartbettingclub.com/ 
• Betting Expert Horse Racing: https://www.bettingexpert.com/news/horse-racing
• Stephen Harris on Twitter: https://twitter.com/Stephenh61
• Podcast feedback - contact SBC on twitter @sbcinfo
• Read more about each SBC Podcast episode: https://smartbettingclub.com/the-smart-betting-club-podcast/

Jason Trost is the founder and CEO of both the Betting Exchange, Smarkets and the up-and-coming bookmaker, SBK and he joined me in Episode 62 to talk about his time running both companies and the many challenges in the industry right now.

Jason talks candidly throughout about his work first of all in setting up Smarkets, including taking on Betfair, the challenges of attracting customers and their goal to be different in terms of simplifying and improving the exchange experience.

He also explains their approach to commission rates and liquidity, including the setup and usage of their own trading arm to provide betting volume across the range of markets on Smarkets.

Not one to rest on his laurels, in 2019, Jason setup the bookmaker, SBK as a way of appealing to those who prefer a more traditional bookmaking setup, but with the advantage of better odds based on those available from the Smarkets exchange.

He explains the challenges of this including advertising restrictions and their quest to replicate many of the more exotic bets that many regular punters look for such as multiples, yankees & lucky 15s.

Jason also tackles the thorny topic of affordability limits and the various checks and balances forced upon all operators at the moment to comply with current rules. He has some strong opinions on why gambling is being singled out when other 'sin industries' are not and why banks should be more involved when it comes to these checks. He also rails against the double standards that has seen some bookmakers benefit from operating in offshore jurisdictions where betting is not legal and the unfair financial advantage that gives them elsewhere, including in regulated markets such as the UK.

I really enjoyed my chat with Jason as someone happy to speak openly and honestly about not only running both an exchange and a sportsbook, but also the various challenges facing the betting industry as a whole.

And for those of you on the fence, we do recommend checking out both Smarkets as a Betfair alternative and also SBK for the often best-value odds you can find in several markets.

Discover More:

• Learn more on the Smart Betting Club and how we help winning bettors at https://smartbettingclub.com/ 
• Smarkets: https://smarkets.com/
• SBK: https://getsbk.com/
• Contact Jason: jason.trost@smarkets.com
• Podcast feedback - contact SBC on twitter @sbcinfo
• Read more about each SBC Podcast episode: https://smartbettingclub.com/the-smart-betting-club-podcast/