Betting Podcasts

Episode 100 SBC Podcast: Ant De Rosa on Sharp Betting, Pinnacle, and Market Execution

Posted on by Peter Ling

In Episode 100 of the SBC Podcast, I welcomed a special guest to mark the milestone, in the form of Antonino (Ant) De Rosa, a former Pinnacle trader and now operator of a large scale professional betting group.

This episode goes deep into the reality of sharp betting. Not theory, not models in isolation, but how markets actually move, how sportsbooks react, and why execution is often the biggest edge in the modern game.

Ant shares his unique journey from elite level Magic: The Gathering player to being recruited by Pinnacle, where he specialised in live NBA trading. He explains how his edge was never about knowing sport better than others, but about predicting behaviour, understanding where the next bet would come from, and how the market would react.

The conversation then shifts into the mechanics of running a serious betting operation today.

From scaling across multiple sports, managing hundreds of accounts, and handling real world challenges like liquidity, restrictions, and non payment. Ant is clear that having a strong model or idea is not enough, if you cannot get money down, the edge has no value.

This is a rare, honest look at the sharp end of betting in 2026, where success comes from combining insight, discipline, and the ability to execute at scale.

You can listen to Episode 100 FREE now via Apple / Spotify / YouTube and all other major podcast directories (search Smart Betting Club)

You can also support the SBC Podcast by visiting our podcast sponsor, Matchbook. You can get 150 days, commission free with them via this link.

Topics covered include

  • From Magic: The Gathering to Pinnacle trader
  • How Pinnacle identified and used sharp bettors
  • Predicting where the next bet comes from
  • Why market movement is driven by respected money
  • The difference between “cold” and “hot” bets
  • How sportsbooks actually set lines and limits
  • Building and scaling a multi sport betting operation
  • Managing hundreds of accounts and execution challenges
  • The reality of getting bets on and getting paid
  • Why liquidity defines what is worth betting
  • How edges evolve and disappear over time
  • Where opportunities still exist in modern betting

Key Quotes

On what made him successful at Pinnacle
“I was able to predict where the next bet was coming from.”

On market dynamics
“If nothing is happening and a sharp bets you, you have to move. If they bet after you move, that means something completely different.”

On sportsbooks and pricing
“Opening lines don’t matter. Within 15 minutes you’re at the right number taking bets.”

On timing of bets
“Why did they bet now and not later, that’s the question you should be asking.”

On betting reality vs theory
“If you can’t get money down on it, it’s worthless.”

On execution challenges
“I had no idea how hard it was to bet until I started doing it myself.”

On scaling and liquidity
“For us to get 10k down on a challenger match, 300 people might have to see the bet.”

On building an edge
“Start with an idea, then test it. Don’t start with a sport and hope to find one.”

About The Smart Betting CLub

The Smart Betting Club (SBC) is an independent service that has been helping serious bettors and professionals since 2006. We review, rate, and monitor tipsters and betting strategies, uncovering proven ways to profit and avoid the noise. Our mission is to help you make smarter, more sustainable profits without relying on bookmaker goodwill.

Inside SBC membership you’ll find:

  • In-depth tipster reviews and performance reports
  • Access to winning strategies that work with sharp-friendly bookmakers
  • Educational guides, data, and insights from professional bettors
  • Monthly magazines and podcasts covering everything that matters in betting today

If you’re ready to treat betting as an investment and want guidance from experts who actually win, join the Smart Betting Club today.
​
​ 👉 Join SBC and start improving your betting now

 

SBC Podcast Episode 99: Sports4Cast Founder Graeme Acheson on Rugby Betting Models & Sunderland Managers

Posted on by Peter Ling

In Episode 99, my guest was Graeme Acheson, founder of Sports4Cast, the data driven Rugby and Sports modelling platform recently reviewed in SBC Magazine 161.

Graeme explains how a background in accountancy and risk analytics evolved into building forecasting models across rugby, football and baseball.

The discussion centres on rugby, where the model has produced a double digit ROI over the past 12 months (as explored in SBC 161), and why thinner, less efficient markets can offer opportunity for disciplined bettors.

The conversation then moves beyond betting, exploring how the same ranking methodology has been used by football clubs such as Sunderland to help shortlist managers and guide season level decision making.

Finally, Graeme outlines plans to expand into further sports, the challenges of modelling sharper markets like football, and why simple principles, applied consistently with good data, can still uncover edges in 2026.

You can listen to Episode 99 FREE now via Apple / Spotify / YouTube and all other major podcast directories (search Smart Betting Club)

You can also support the SBC Podcast by visiting our podcast sponsor, Matchbook. You can get 150 days, commission free with them via this link.

Discussed With Graeme:

  • From chartered accountant to sports modelling founder
  • How rugby rankings evolved into a betting model
  • Why rugby markets are less efficient than football
  • Why early week pricing can offer stronger edges
  • Liquidity trade offs and closing line efficiency
  • Using A, B and C bet gradings to manage risk
  • Fully automated modelling and hourly odds updates
  • Working with betting syndicates vs retail bettors
  • Applying ranking systems to football manager recruitment
  • Data driven shortlisting at Sunderland
  • Season targeting models and decision support for clubs
  • Expanding into football, baseball and future sports
  • Why probability accuracy matters more than picking winners

Key Quotes

On rugby as a betting market

“There’s always something going on in rugby, and it’s not priced as efficiently as football.”
The mispricings in some of the smaller rugby leagues are almost farcical.”
“Three or four days out you’ll see plenty of good opportunities. The trade off is limits.”

On Using The Sports4Cast Service

“The system is constantly updating. Every hour the recommendations can change.”
“Different users will see different opportunities depending on when they log in.”

On Syndicates and Scale

“I speak to a couple of syndicates who take the responsibility of getting the bets down. That allows you to get some skin in the game without the admin of keeping accounts open.”
“If you have the execution in place, there is definitely scale there in rugby.”

On working with football clubs

“If a manager consistently joins clubs and leaves them at a much higher ranking, they must be doing something right.”
“You never blindly follow the data. You match the quantitative with the qualitative.”
“It just gives clubs a grounding. You’re not sticking your finger in the air.”

About The Smart Betting Club

The Smart Betting Club (SBC) is an independent service that has been helping serious bettors and professionals since 2006. We review, rate, and monitor tipsters and betting strategies, uncovering proven ways to profit and avoid the noise. Our mission is to help you make smarter, more sustainable profits without relying on bookmaker goodwill.

Inside SBC membership you’ll find:

  • In-depth tipster reviews and performance reports
  • Access to winning strategies that work with sharp-friendly bookmakers
  • Educational guides, data, and insights from professional bettors
  • Monthly magazines and podcasts covering everything that matters in betting today

If you’re ready to treat betting as an investment and want guidance from experts who actually win, join the Smart Betting Club today.
​
​ 👉 Join SBC and start improving your betting now

Episode 96: Inside the mind of a live betting pro with Andrew Pace

Posted on by Peter Ling

In the latest SBC Podcast Episode, Pete speaks with Andrew Pace, founder of inplayLIVE, a live betting platform built around real time wagering and repeatable edges.

Andrew shares his journey from early losing punter to profitable live bettor, then into building one of the most active live betting communities around today.

He explains how watching games in real time revealed repeatable pricing errors, why mindset is the foundation of long term success and how his field goal strategy kickstarted six figure profits.

He also gives a candid look at the realities of getting on, dealing with limits and non payments and how he has had more than 500 betting accounts closed!

For those wanting to learn more about inplayLive, you can read a full independent review and take advantage of a 25% saving on both the Light and Pro packages (the latter worth over £450) in Issue 158 of the Smart Betting Club magazine.

You can listen to Episode 96 FREE now via Apple / Spotify / YouTube and all other major podcast directories (search Smart Betting Club)

You can also support the SBC Podcast by visiting our podcast sponsor, Matchbook. You can get 150 days, commission free with them via this link.

Discussed With Andrew:

  • Andrew’s transformation: From gambling on instinct to building a structured live betting approach that actually wins
  • The lightbulb moment: How spotting repeatable patterns during games led to his first major edge
  • Field goals to full markets: The simple live angle that grew into hundreds of 1000’s in profit
  • Why watching games beats models: Real time information, fast reactions, and knowing when prices are wrong
  • The power of community: Members uncovering edges that became more profitable than Andrew’s own plays
  • Inside the live stream setup: Why fast feeds matter and how to avoid being picked off by delays
  • Getting on and staying on: Over 500 hundred account closures, six figure non payments, and how he still navigates today’s books
  • Market evolution: Why edges shift, how corrections happen, and the process Andrew uses to find what comes next
  • Education first: How the inplayLive masterclass became the backbone of their entire system
  • Betting as a vocation: Why Andrew would still watch every game even without money on the line

Key Quotes

On getting started live betting…“My first parlay won, and the next day I was on Craigslist buying TVs so I could watch every game.”

On learning where the edges lay…“I watched everything with the sportsbook open, and I started to notice patterns. That’s when things changed.”

On the psychological battles bettors face…“The biggest edge in betting long term is always mindset.”

On the inplayLIVE community…“We’ve had members find edges that became more profitable than anything I’d been betting before.”

On not getting paid by bookies…“I’ve been cut off from well over 500 sportsbooks and stiffed for more than $400,000 dollars.”

About The Smart Betting Club

The Smart Betting Club (SBC) is an independent service that has been helping serious bettors and professionals since 2006. We review, rate, and monitor tipsters and betting strategies, uncovering proven ways to profit and avoid the noise. Our mission is to help you make smarter, more sustainable profits without relying on bookmaker goodwill.

Inside SBC membership you’ll find:

  • In-depth tipster reviews and performance reports
  • Access to winning strategies that work with sharp-friendly bookmakers
  • Educational guides, data, and insights from professional bettors
  • Monthly magazines and podcasts covering everything that matters in betting today

If you’re ready to treat betting as an investment and want guidance from experts who actually win, join the Smart Betting Club today.
​
​ 👉 Join SBC and start improving your betting now

The Champion’s Mindset for Sports Betting: How to Think Like a Pro with Elliot Roe & Samm Hunter

Posted on by Peter Ling

In Episode 94 of the Smart Betting Club Podcast, Pete speaks with Elliot Roe and Samm Hunter, two leading performance and mindset coaches who work with elite performers – from poker champions and traders to professional bettors – helping them reach their full potential.

Fresh from their Bet Bash 2025 seminar “From Emotion to Execution: The Champion’s Mindset for Sports Betting,” Elliot and Samm explain what separates consistent winners from those trapped by emotion, ego, and poor habits.

They discuss how emotional regulation, discipline, and resilience can turn variance from a threat into a challenge to be managed. This is an episode that will make you rethink how you approach betting, pressure, and performance.

? Listen to Episode 94 free now via Apple / Spotify / YouTube (search Smart Betting Club).

Inside the Conversation

Key topics discussed with Elliot and Samm:

  • Why emotional control and self-awareness are essential to long-term betting success

  • The difference between being the casino and being the gambler

  • How to reset your mindset after wins or losses

  • The influence of subconscious beliefs about money, self-worth, and luck

  • Why lifestyle habits – sleep, exercise, relationships – impact betting results

  • How to recognise and stop destructive patterns such as chasing losses or over-staking

  • Simple exercises to improve focus, resilience, and recovery

Key Quotes

“You need to see yourself as the casino, not the gambler. The casino doesn’t care about one spin, it cares about the long-term results.” – Elliot Roe

“Our subconscious beliefs around money, worth, and success shape everything, even how we bet.” – Samm Hunter

“Most bettors aren’t aware how much edge they give away through emotion. Tracking those moments is the first step to real improvement.” – Elliot Roe

About the Guests

Elliot Roe is a mindset and performance coach who has worked with world champions, elite athletes, and top-level traders. He is also the creator of the Primed Mind app.
elliotroe.com/success-stories

Samm Hunter is a performance and transformation coach helping individuals break through subconscious barriers to unlock their potential.
primedmind.com/sammhunter

Download the Primed Mind app: www.primedmind.com
Apply for a coaching consultation: Typeform link

Support the SBC Podcast & About SBC

You can also support the SBC Podcast by visiting our sponsor, Matchbook.
Get 150 days commission-free via this exclusive SBC link.

The Smart Betting Club (SBC) has helped serious bettors and professionals since 2006.
We independently review and monitor tipsters, betting strategies, and data-driven systems, helping our members make sustainable profits without bookmaker restrictions.

Inside SBC membership you’ll find:

  • Detailed tipster reviews and verified performance reports

  • Access to profitable, sharp-friendly strategies

  • Educational resources from professional bettors

  • Monthly magazines and podcasts covering every corner of betting today

If you’re ready to treat betting as an investment, learn from those who actually win, and build long-term success:

Join SBC today and start improving your betting now.

From Square Bettor to $200k Profit at 22 – Franco’s Success with Pinnacle Odds Dropper

Posted on by Peter Ling

In this latest SBC Podcast episode, we shine a spotlight on a North American bettor who has turned software into serious profit. Franco, known online as Raid_Prints, joins me to share how he went from casual square punter to making over $200,000 profit in just two years.

His story is not theory, it’s a real-life example of what’s possible when you combine the right tools, discipline, and mindset. Fresh from our major SBC review of Pinnacle Odds Dropper and the Episode 92 discussion with its creator, this episode flips the perspective.

You can listen to Episode 93 FREE now via Apple / Spotify / YouTube and all other major podcast directories (search Smart Betting Club)

If you’re keen to explore the data and learn more about POD, make sure you also check out our in-depth review in SBC Issue #155. Access Issue 155 and the entire 19 year back catalogue with a SBC Membership​

You can also support the SBC Podcast by visiting our podcast sponsor, Matchbook. You can get 150 days, commission free with them via this link.

In episode 93, Franco and I cover:

  • His journey from square to sharp – how he discovered arbitrage, EV betting and eventually Pinnacle Odds Dropper.
  • The daily routine of a steamer bettor – why volume is king, how he runs 6,000+ bets, and why priming accounts matters.
  • Secrets behind his $200k profit – what sports and markets he targets, managing variance, and coping with restrictions.
  • How others can do it too – practical insights into priming, choosing soft vs sharp books, and using POD effectively.
  • The North American betting boom – why Franco calls this the “golden age” of betting in the US and how bonus offers, sweepstake books and offshore options fit in.
  • The mindset required – tracking bets, handling losing months, and building a long-term edge.

This is not just theory, it’s a showcase of sharp betting in practice. Whether you’re in North America or elsewhere, Franco’s story provides invaluable lessons on discipline, software, and the modern betting environment.​

Want to Learn More?

This podcast follows on from our major review of Pinnacle Odds Dropper in SBC Magazine Issue #155. Inside, we dig deep into the data and show exactly how and where POD delivers profit.

SBC Members get:
​
✅ Full access to our 40-page review, covering Soccer, Basketball, Tennis, NFL, Baseball, Hockey, Volleyball and more
✅ CLV analysis, Pinnacle market size breakdowns, and customisation tips to maximise ROI
✅ Insights into sharp markets and how to exploit them
✅ An exclusive 50% discount on your first month with Pinnacle Odds Dropper

If you’re serious about betting with an edge, POD is one of the most powerful tools available today – and through SBC you can try it at half price.

? Join SBC today to access Issue #155, our entire 19-year back catalogue, and unlock the POD 50% discount.

How a Top Industry Name Is Winning with SBC

Posted on by Peter Ling

You may have heard on the latest SBC Podcast — Nick Rust, former BHA Chief and current UK Gambling Commission adviser, joined us for a candid conversation.

But if you’ve yet to listen, one of the most fascinating insights was Nick’s discussion about his time as an SBC member and how he’s been using SBC-recommended tipsters and tools to sharpen his betting.

Nick has moved from recreational punter to focused bettor — not for the money, but for the intellectual challenge. And he’s seeing real success.

“I’ve learned so much — Telegram, bots, AI, even VPNs. I’m making a few quid, but really, it’s the intellectual challenge that keeps me going.”

Nick now splits his betting across three main areas: his own horse racing systems automated via MB Bot Manager, betting on politics and entertainment, and following proven services.

“I use Bookie Bashing — I think it’s first-class. I enjoy the intellectual challenge behind some of the bets they set up.”
“I added WinnerOdds Tennis after Smart Bash last year — it’s a tremendous product if you’ve got enough road to run.”

He also highlights that many of the services he uses have come directly from being an SBC member — helping him learn not just what to bet on, but how sharp bettors think, operate, and sustain long-term success.

“Through SBC, I’ve found tools and services that work — it’s been great to understand the sharper bettors and the thought processes behind sustainable betting.”
“I’ve got a core routine each day — some automated systems, some alerts — but it all started by becoming an SBC member and learning what’s out there.”

If someone with Nick’s industry experience sees the value in SBC, what could you unlock by following the same path?

? Ready to sharpen your edge?​
Become an SBC member today and get instant access to the same tools and tipsters Nick — and many others — are using to bet smarter.

? Listen to the full episode now and hear how Nick approaches betting, regulation, and why he believes in smarter betting strategies:
Apple / Spotify / YouTube

?SBC Podcast #83: Jose On How to Scale Edges & Betting Groups/Sharp Punting Insight (Part 2) ?

Posted on by Josh P

After an intriguing first part of SBC Podcast #83 this is part two, where I quiz the betting expert Jose and get some answers to bettor FAQs.

After discussing technical betting topics in part 1, this segment covers more ‘practical’ subjects as we start by touching upon issues such as barriers to profitable betting, cryptocurrencies and how the betting ecosystem is changing around the world.

Jose and I then go on to discuss questions that are regularly fired our way here at the SBC around betting with soft bookmakers, sharp bookmakers and exchanges in the most efficient ways possible.

Jose’s personality and wisdom shine through even more in the second half of Episode 83 as he talks us through some ‘dos and don’ts’ that many of us wish we had learnt sooner!

You can support the SBC Podcast by visiting our brand-new podcast sponsor, Matchbook. You can get ​150 days, commission free with them via this link.

You can listen to Episode 83 (Part 2) now via Apple / YouTube / Spotify and all other major podcast directories (search Smart Betting Club)

In this chat, Jose and I talked about:

  • The barriers to profitable betting
  • Cryptocurrencies & consumer preferences: a changing ecosystem
  • The future of the global betting markets
  • Which sports markets are on the rise? Which sports are declining?
  • Originator or mover? Which is better?
  • Who does Jose work with?
  • Listener questions: using soft bookmakers & sharps/exchanges
  • The ideal betting location in 2025
  • Networking: talk to Jose!

Ever the networker, Jose closed our chat by offering the chance to talk to him. To reach him (or to follow) on Twitter/X, he can be found at @xeque999. His Telegram account is nearly identical but it has one less 9 – the link for that is here: https://t.me/xeque99​

I hope you enjoy the pod!

?SBC Podcast #83: Jose On How to Scale Edges & Betting Groups/Sharp Punting Insight (Part 1) ?

Posted on by Josh P

In the first part of a ‘double header’ for SBC Podcast Episode #83 I was joined by Jose, one of the most informed and well-connected betting people out there.
​
Jose has a wealth of experience working with bettors from all over the world and instead of modelling or originating his own bets, he concentrates on meeting people who can and helping them maximise their profits.
​
Getting on, masking sharp activity and sustainable betting are all hallmarks of Jose’s work and he has strong opinions about everything from the most efficient market makers, the best types of edges and CLV.
​
In Part 1, we discuss all of this as Jose shares wisdom that can benefit bettors of all levels from beginners right through to hardened pros. Part 2 will be with you soon as we will answer some very common questions that bettors have!

You can support the SBC Podcast by visiting our brand-new podcast sponsor, Matchbook. You can get ​150 days, commission free with them via this link.

You can listen to Episode 83 now via Apple / YouTube / Spotify and all other major podcast directories (search Smart Betting Club)

 

In this chat, Jose and I talked about:

  • Introducing Jose
  • Betting, edges & scaling operations with others
  • Betting in practice: sustainability
  • Bet execution & the variance that comes with multiples
  • Pinnacle: is it still the same barometer it once was?
  • CLV
  • Good & bad practice in betting groups
  • End of part 1!

I have met and spoke to Jose many times in the past and he is at the cutting edge of the betting markets all across the globe, with contacts on every continent.

I learn a lot from him every time we talk – I am sure that you will too!

Enjoy!

?SBC Podcast #81 – ?Pisky On An Infamous (HUGE) Edge With One Bookie & How He Made It Pay?

Posted on by Josh P

In the latest SBC Podcast I am joined by Alex Piskopos (AKA ‘Pisky’), a serial betting winner and entrepreneur with some amazing stories to share – including details of the very successful betting operation he was a key part of and one which made him some serious profits!

You can listen to Episode 81 now via Apple / Spotify / YouTube and all other major podcast directories (search Smart Betting Club)

Pisky is a man with many strings to his bow, with extensive industry experience, podcasting and working with some of the sharpest betting groups all being part of his background.

First off though, he walked me through a quite remarkable story about his time at the Ontario Lottery Gaming Corporation (OLG) and how he took serious advantage of an edge he spotted whilst working there.

After leaving OLG, he teamed up with his betting partner ‘The Fulldog’ and scaled up a very impressive betting operation that truly maximised the edge available to him. Its a story that gets to the heart of the logistics involved in running a larger betting operation with a team of runners, handling large sums of cash, arranging deals with shop owners and much more besides!

We also touch upon Pisky’s more current work as he diversifies away from betting 24/7 and grinding away for profit. Part of this relates to continued work with betting groups whilst he also has more experience than most in using cryptocurrencies alongside co-hosting his own podcast – ​Always Betting​.

You can also support the SBC Podcast by visiting our brand new podcast sponsor, Matchbook. You can get 150 days, commission free with them via this link.

 

In this chat, Pisky and I talk about:

  • An introduction to Pisky – where does the name come from?!
  • What Pisky is doing at the moment
  • A revenge story – exploiting a lucrative loop hole!
  • Building the infrastructure to exploit an edge
  • Practical advice for retail punters
  • Networking and its importance
  • Crypto – a growing betting space & a way to move away from traditional banking
  • The issues that come with both winning and losing
  • Diversifying and doing different work around full-time betting
  • Creating content and the ‘Always Betting Podcast’
  • How to find and communicate with Pisky online

To that last bullet point, for those of you who would like to follow Pisky on social media, you can do so on X/Twitter @RiskyPisky_, Instagram @RiskyPisky_ or @Pisky on Linktree and the Always Betting Podcast can be found here.

Enjoy!

?SBC Podcast #80 – Zeus O’Dea On Politics Betting: A US Election Special?

Posted on by Josh P

In the latest SBC Podcast I am joined by a guest who is perfectly placed to talk about the biggest betting market of all time: the US Election of 2024!

Zeus O’Dea is a professional bettor and trader at the crypto-book Shuffle, one of the newer entrants into the global betting markets (and a relatively big one at that!).

As a guest, Zeus brings plenty to the table as he specialises in several markets and we dig into two of them – politics and cricket.

With November 5th just weeks away, it is the former that makes up the majority of our chat as Zeus talks us through some of the stranger market moves of recent times and how things like polling and commentators like Nate Silver can impact upon odds.

This chat was like no other as alongside our betting talk, crypto deals in Montenegro and evictions from an Oval Test Match both made it into our conversation too!

You can listen to Episode 80 now via Apple / Spotify / YouTube and all other major podcast directories (search Smart Betting Club)

You can also support the SBC Podcast by visiting our brand new podcast sponsor, Matchbook. You can get 150 days, commission free with them via this link.

 

In this chat, Zeus and I talk about:

  • Zeus’s Travels
  • How Zeus got into the betting world
  • Moving into employment with Shuffle
  • Crypto & how it is different from traditional betting
  • Controversial weather betting & pricing up obscure markets
  • Political betting & BIG bets
  • Taking risks as a bookmaker
  • 2024 – different from previous elections?
  • Polling and its impact on odds
  • Submarkets providing betting opportunities and edges
  • Nate Silver & his opinions on betting markets
  • Useful resources to inform betting choices
  • Cricket betting
  • Zeus being forcibly removed from a Test Match
  • Predictions for the US Election 2024
  • How to find Zeus

With the US Election likely to dominate the traditional and betting news in the next few weeks we will be providing further content with expert guests joining me for reactions to market moves and their very best bets. Make sure to follow us on social media @SBCInfo to keep up to date with this!

For those of you who would like to follow Zeus on social media, you can do so on X/Twitter @ZeusODea.

I hope that you enjoy the listen!