SBC Podcast

Episode 97: Anthony Kaminskas on AKBets on Modern Bookmaking, Restrictions & More

Posted on by Peter Ling

In Episode 97 of the Smart Betting Club Podcast, I am joined for the third time by Anthony Kaminskas, founder of AKBets and a former professional punter turned bookmaker.
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Nearly three years on from the launch of AKBets, this conversation takes stock of how the business has grown, how the betting industry has shifted, and why life as a modern bookmaker is far tougher than most punters realise – including a healthy discussion on betting restrictions.

AK speaks candidly about operating under UK regulation, handling restrictions, managing compliance risk, and absorbing rising costs at every level of the business.
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He also lifts the lid on the real economics of running a sportsbook, sharing hard numbers on payroll, data feeds, duties, levies, payment processing and platform fees.
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It is an honest look at why betting markets look the way they do, why margins are tightening, and why both punters and bookmakers are being squeezed by the same pressures.

You can listen to Episode 97 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 AK:

  • The early chaos of launching AKBets just before Cheltenham and surviving the first year​
  • Growing from a one man operation to a licensed bookmaker with close to 30 staff
  • Why compliance now outweighs trading as the biggest business risk and team
  • How and why bookmakers limit or restrict certain betting patterns
  • The reality behind social media narratives around account closures
  • The impact of rising UK betting and casino duties on prices and offers
  • Why higher taxation almost always leads to worse odds for customers
  • The true monthly cost of running a UK sportsbook
  • Why horse racing is becoming harder and harder to offer sustainably
  • The growing risk of black market operators as regulation tightens
  • Whether the future still holds opportunity for sharp bettors
  • Why professional gambling skills transfer well outside betting

If you want to understand how bookmakers actually think, why markets behave the way they do, and where the pressure points now sit in UK betting, this is essential listening.

Key Quotes

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​On the reality of running a bookmaker

“It costs us around £500,000 to £600,000 every single month just to keep the site running.”

On total account closures

“Since the start of October, we’ve closed four accounts for trading related reasons. One of those was Brodders, who has an account with us now. So realistically, you’re talking about three accounts closed in that period.”

On process changes after the Brodders case

“We don’t let individual traders close accounts anymore. If an account is going to be closed, it now needs sign off from 3 people.”

On taxation

“Higher betting duty only leads one way. Higher margins. There is no other solution.”

On compliance versus trading

“A mistake in compliance has more chance of us not existing as a business than a mistake in trading.”

On the black market

“If you think the legal market is tough on sharp customers, the black market will be worse, not better.”

On horse racing

“You could make the tax on racing 0% and it still would not fix the underlying cost problem.”

On survivorship bias

“People only see the bookmakers that survive. They never see the ones that disappear.”

On professional gambling skills

“If you can think critically and solve betting problems, those skills transfer to almost anything.”

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.
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​ 👉 Join SBC and start improving your betting now

How to Bet Like a Sharp: David Hipkin on £200K Profits, Multiples, and Beating Bookmaker Limits

Posted on by Peter Ling

In this episode, Pete speaks with Sharp Betting co-founder David Hipkin – who started out as a boxing trader before pivoting into professional betting, using the same data-led methods that would later form the basis of Sharp Betting to generate over £200,000 in profit from soft bookmakers alone.

David shares some of his real-world strategies to beat the bookmakers, insights into how to operate like a sharp bettor and the power of multiples in terms of maximising value and circumnavigating restrictions.

We also explore Sharp Betting’s curated tools and member community, including the growth of David’s Daily – their free service and why it was so important to David to make his site affordable and relevant to regular punters, not just big stakers! And if you’re an SBC member, you can currently secure a full ​12 months of Sharp Betting Premium for just £150​ – saving £78 compared to the regular price (offer valid until 30 November 2025).

You can listen to Episode 95 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 David:

  • David’s origin story: From betting with family at the Grand National to trading Vegas title fights
  • Turning data into money: How “Frog the Gambler” evolved into Sharp Betting’s global football model
  • Why sharp betting isn’t about staking big – it’s about winning small, consistently
  • Grabbing value quietly: How multiples (accas, Yankees, Lucky 15s) act as camouflage for sharp bettors
  • “If it works, why sell it?” – The real answer behind productising a winning betting model
  • Variance vs edge erosion: How to spot the difference and stay profitable
  • Dealing with restrictions: Camouflage tactics, priming accounts, and making yourself look like a mug
  • Why betting exchanges don’t suit every model – Sharp Betting’s experience on Betfair
  • Community impact: Why helping everyday bettors build £1–3K banks is as rewarding as six-figure wins

Key Quotes

“We don’t want success for three days, we want success six months and a year down the line. That’s what sharp betting is about – having the edge and knowing how to use it.” “There’s a lot of ego around betting. I don’t mind being a small punter – a couple of thousand pounds a year can be life-changing money for many.” “There’s no downside to looking as recreational as possible. I even spell ‘hello’ wrong when I contact customer service – I want them to think the worst of me.”

Pinnacle Odds Dropper Review & Podcast: 345,000 Bets Analysed for Sharp Betting Insights

Posted on by Peter Ling

In the latest SBC Podcast episode, I sit down again with Dylan, co-founder of Pinnacle Odds Dropper (POD), to take a deep dive into sharp betting, market efficiency, and the lessons from analysing over 345,000 logged bets.

We explore how the software helps advantage bettors track steam moves, why Pinnacle remains the barometer for bookmakers, and what our August 2025 independent SBC review uncovered. Dylan also shares insights on CLV, market limits, niche sports, and the growing challenges facing US bettors under new tax rules.

You can listen to Episode 92 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.

HOW POD WORKS & WHY IT MATTERS

– The evolution of Pinnacle Odds Dropper as a top-down “chasing steam” alert service
– How the in-built bet tracker has logged over 450,000 bets since launch
– Independent SBC review: 345,000-bet dataset reveals where edges really lie and on what sports

WHICH SPORTS DELIVER THE BIGGEST EDGES

– Basketball’s “killer combo” of ROI and strike rate
– Soccer’s vast sample size, overs vs unders trends, and higher ROI on away sides
– High ROI surprises in baseball and volleyball vs the pain of betting NFL

CLOSING LINE VALUE & MARKET LIMITS

– Why CLV is the best early indicator of profitability & the stats that prove it.
– How Pinnacle market limits act as a proxy for confidence and edge significance
– Should you apply filters or follow Franco’s “bet everything” approach?

SHARP BOOKS & MARKET EFFICIENCY

– Is Pinnacle still the sharpest? Latest data says yes, within 0.24% of perfect efficiency
– Where rivals like FanDuel and Circa are catching up in niche sports
– Why bettors should map out which books are sharp for which markets
– The occasional reality of market manipulation and how to handle it

PRACTICAL BETTING STRATEGIES

– Using POD with soft books, exchanges, and even in-person kiosks
– Case study: a hedge fund manager using POD to manage exchange exposure
– How successful users treat betting as volume-driven and sport-agnostic
– Why bankroll growth depends on embracing variance, not avoiding it

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:
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✅ 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.

Tom Waterhouse on Syndicates, Minimum Bet Law, and the Future of Sharp Betting | SBC Podcast Ep.91

Posted on by Peter Ling

In the latest SBC Podcast episode, I sit down with Tom Waterhouse, Australian betting guru, ex-CEO of William Hill Australia, and founder of Waterhouse VC.
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Tom lifts the lid on how professional syndicates really operate, where today’s biggest betting edges can be found, Australia’s Minimum Bet Law and what the rise of new markets like crypto and contracts means for sharp players. ​
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​He also shares how Waterhouse VC is investing in cutting-edge suppliers, betting technology, and even syndicates themselves, with a focus on option-based deals.

You can listen to Episode 91 with Tom now via Apple / Spotify / YouTube and all other major podcast directories (search Smart Betting Club)

SYNDICATES – WHAT PROS DO DIFFERENTLY

  • Inside Waterhouse VC’s investments in tennis and blackjack syndicates
  • Spotting the difference between scalable edge and short-term variance
  • How Tom’s father, with 45 years of unbeaten syndicate betting, helps evaluate opportunities
  • What everyday bettors can copy from syndicate’s approach and structure

DISCIPLINE, MINDSET & SHARP PLAY

  • Why betting less often can be the key to winning long term
  • Tom’s blueprint for knowing when to strike and when to sit tight
  • Advice on finding overlooked markets where edges still exist

REGULATION, MINIMUM BET LAW & THE BLACK MARKET

  • Australia’s minimum bet law: why some bettors love it and others hate it. Would it work in the UK and other areas as a solution to restrictions?
  • How these same restrictions and affordability checks are pushing punters away from licensed firms
  • The surge of crypto-based black-market betting and why it’s so hard to police
  • Why Tom believes regulation moves in cycles and what might trigger the next reset

HOW WATERHOUSE VC FINDS AN EDGE

  • From on-course bookmaker to running William Hill Australia to launching his own VC fund
  • Why Waterhouse VC backs technology suppliers instead of operators
  • The option-based model Tom uses to limit downside while chasing outsized returns

NEW TECH & WHERE THE GAME IS MOVING

  • High-frequency betting, crypto products, and contract markets shaking up the industry
  • How platforms are bypassing regulation and partnering with giants like Robinhood and X
  • Why user experience and retention now matter more than sign-ups

You can listen to Episode 91 with Tom 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.

Multi-Accounting, Withheld Winnings & Betting Disputes: Legal Advice for Punters in 2025 with Harry Stewart-Moore

Posted on by Peter Ling

In the latest SBC Podcast episode, we have a returning guest in the form of Harry Stewart-Moore, betting lawyer and partner at Gardner Leader.

Harry came back on to answer your questions and provide some fascinating insight on the toughest legal issues facing bettors in 2025.

You can listen to Episode 90 with Harry now via Apple / Spotify / YouTube and all other major podcast directories (search Smart Betting Club)

MULTI ACCOUNTING CHAT

  • What you really need to know about multi-accounting, runners, and beards
    Why these tactics are under growing scrutiny in the UK, where the legal boundaries sit, and how some bettors are being pulled into cases they never saw coming.
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  • Why civil forfeiture cases under the Proceeds of Crime Act are quietly becoming a big issue
    How funds can be frozen and seized under POCA, what typically triggers these actions, and the steps bettors must take to recover their money.

BETTING DISPUTES

  • Why fewer disputes are reaching court even as complaints surge
    The practical hurdles punters face when trying to litigate against bookmakers.
  • Why overseas firms are so hard to pursue and the loophole that needs closing
    The service-of-process gap that lets some operators stay beyond reach.
  • ID requests, document checks, and withdrawal blocks
    Why guidance remains unclear, leading to repeated standoffs.
  • What happens to withheld funds during a stalemate and the 5 percent account-maintenance fee
    The real-world impact on customers when neither side will budge.
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MONITORING, OMBUDSMAN & BLACK MARKET

  • The realities of betting-shop compliance
    How shop punters are tracked and the thresholds that trigger additional checks.
  • Will the proposed ombudsman deliver genuine change or simply mirror IBAS?
    Harry weighs up the likely scope and limitations of the new body.
  • How a lack of industry solutions is pushing sharp punters toward the black market
    Why better options are urgently needed before the problem grows.
  • Harry’s solutions to fix racing H
    is straight-talking ideas to protect the sport’s integrity and keep savvy bettors engaged.
  • The need for a campaign to warn unsuspecting users of black-market dangers
    Education as the first line of defence against shady operators.
  • Why Harry believes the black market poses an existential threat to legal gambling
    As trust erodes and more money flows outside the regulated space, the long-term health of the licensed betting industry is at risk.

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Harry also explains why “being in the right” often is not enough when challenging a bookmaker, especially when rules are vague and the firm sits offshore.

You can listen to Episode 90 with Harry 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.

Nick Rust on Bookmaking, Racing & UK Betting Regulation

Posted on by Peter Ling

From starting out behind the counter at Ladbrokes to leading the British Horseracing Authority and advising the UK Gambling Commission, Nick Rust has seen the betting world from every angle.
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In this candid, hour-long conversation, Nick reflects on his journey through the sharp end of UK betting—sharing what he’s learned about punters, bookmakers, racing politics, regulation, and even his own quest to bet profitably as an SBC member.

? In this episode, you’ll hear about:

  • How Nick’s career started as a teenage betting shop cashier and evolved into senior roles at Ladbrokes, Coral, and SkyBet
  • The early years of online betting and the chaos of launching Ladbrokes.com​
  • His time as BHA Chief Executive: levy reform, racing politics, and challenging bookmaker dynamics
  • His current role chairing the UK Gambling Commission’s Industry Forum—and why the Commission must do more to support bettors
  • Inside stories on affordability checks, AML policy, bet restrictions, black markets, and the desperate need for a consumer ombudsman
  • Why Nick is now focused on his own betting strategy, using SBC-recommended tools, bots, and value services

? If you’re a punter, tipster, or industry watcher, this episode offers a rare window into the real world of betting—from shop floors to boardrooms and regulators’ offices.

You can listen to Episode 89 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.

?SBC Podcast #85: Your Guide To Bookmaker Disputes – Expert Advice To Help Bettors

Posted on by Josh P

In the latest SBC Podcast, Episode 85, I am joined by Josh to talk about the project that we launched last week to help punters dealing with bookmaker disputes.
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If you missed that – make sure you download our brand-new FREE guide – designed to walk you through what to do where bookmakers won’t pay out or suspend accounts (and many other issues that bettors suffer currently!)

Click here to get your copy of the SBC Bookmaker Dispute Guide.
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In this podcast episode, we discuss the whats and whys of the guide, with some of our personal experiences and opinions intertwined into the chat.

It’s the ideal companion to learn more about how bookmakers work, why we are seeing such an increase in complaints and crucially – insight on what to do if you have a bookmaker dispute.

Please feel free to share the guide with anyone you feel could benefit from what is inside – it’s free for everyone and despite being ‘UK-centric’ – many of these firms are international companies and apply similar policies in different jurisdictions.

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 85 now via Apple / YouTube / Spotify and all other major podcast directories (search Smart Betting Club)

 

In this chat, Josh and I talked about:

  • Why are we here?
  • Just a UK problem?
  • Withdrawal woes & loose T & Cs
  • Big Brother Is watching you!
  • Prevention
  • Disputes – how to handle them
  • Showing you know what you’re doing
  • ADRs – are they worthwhile?
  • Considering court action
  • Court claims for larger amounts
  • Other tips & tricks
  • The guide & final thoughts

Plenty of punters have already downloaded the guide and we have already had some feedback (mostly ‘I wish someone had done this sooner’!) so please get in touch if you have any comments or questions!

SBC Podcast #84: Tilt The Odds, Golf Edges, Phil Vs Skybet & How Poorly Big Bookies Treat Punters

Posted on by Peter Ling

In the latest Smart Betting Club podcast I am joined by Rowan for a new ‘Betting Clever’ episode.

You can listen to Episode 84 now via Apple / YouTube / Spotify and all other major podcast directories (search Smart Betting Club)

In this chat, Rowan and I talked about:

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.

?SBC Podcast #72 – Betting Clever: Horse Racing, Black Market Bookies, Oddschecker Unlimited & Exchanges

Posted on by Josh P

In the latest SBC Podcast I am joined by SBC’s Josh as the Betting Clever podcast returns to tackle a whole host of important topics in the betting world.

With this chat recorded during Cheltenham, betting on horse racing takes centre stage, with some recent news about a black market bookmaker discussed in the wider context of getting money down on a sport beset by problems.

Andy Holding, Oddschecker Unlimited, missing account balances, accusatory emails, a listener question and exchange chat are also on the agenda in an action packed show!

You can listen to Episode 72 now via ​Apple​ / ​Spotify​ / ​Google​ / ​YouTube​ and all other major podcast directories (search Smart Betting Club)

For those of you who would like to access the BETDAQ sign up offer we reference in the show, you can do so ​here​ – please remember, this promotion is available to all listeners, not just SBC Members!

As ever, if you have any topics or areas of the gambling world that you would like us to discuss, please get in touch!

?SBC Podcast #71: Andy Holding From Oddschecker on Speed Figures, Punting & Tipping

Posted on by Josh P
In the latest SBC Podcast I am joined by Andy Holding, the well known racing expert who tips for Oddschecker and commentates on William Hill Radio.

Andy has been in love with horse racing from an early age and he has put in the hard yards to get to where he is, working in bookmaker shops, crunching numbers and building up a reliable system to beat the bookies.

He is that rarest of beasts – someone in the betting media who not only talks the talk but walks the walk as he became a professional punter at the age of 30 so knows what it takes to win.

Speed figures and sectional timing are central to his edge and this feeds into his betting and tipping alongside his service, Andy Holding Speed Figures (recently reviewed by us at SBC!) where clients can access a plethora of tips, data and resources to help them make their punting pay.

Andy wears many hats and this means that we had plenty of topics to cover. Dealing with losing runs as a tipster, affordability checks and the names of the 4 major bookmakers who lay him a bet are on the agenda – I think there is something for everyone in this chat!

You can listen to Episode 71 now via Apple / Spotify / Google / YouTube and all other major podcast directories (search Smart Betting Club)

An In-Depth Chat With A Hardened Bettor And Tipster

In this episode, Andy and I discuss:

  • Andy’s grounding in racing (and betting)
  • A mentor who changed everything
  • Time!
  • Going professional and how Andy ‘got in’ at the right time
  • Opportunities that have arrived along the way
  • Speed Figures and how they can provide an objective view of races
  • Market reactions to speed figures and sectionals (and how they are still underestimated)
  • The work that goes behind the scenes at Andy Holding Speed Figures
  • Irish Racing and Andy’s daily podcast
  • Tipping for Andy Holding Speed Figures and Oddschecker (and the differences between the selections)
  • Price contractions
  • Dealing with losing runs as a tipster
  • Andy’s betting activity and how he gets on!
  • The firms that Andy has a relationship with and restrictions that turn punters away
  • Affordability Checks and Andy’s thoughts on the future of horse racing
  • Some tips from Andy for betting at Cheltenham (with some early selections!)
  • General advice for betting on horse racing
  • Andy’s football allegiances!
  • How to find Andy and a special SBC discount

You can find out more about Andy’s work on his website, www.andyholdingspeedfigures.co.uk, by following his work on Oddschecker or by following his service’s Twitter/X account, @figuresAndy .

We recently reviewed Andy’s service in Issue 139 of the SBC Magazine, with detailed proofing and analysis of the tips as published by his Speed Figures service (Spoiler – they are excellent!).

To read this review in full and access an exclusive discount on the cost of joining Andy’s service, you will need a SBC subscription, options for which can be found here.