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Inside the Bet Diary: Real-Life Betting Wins, Losses, and Lessons from Rowan Day

Posted on by Peter Ling

Betting can often feel like a solitary game and it’s rare for many of us to regularly talk about our punting in an honest and transparent way, if at all (booming on social media doesn’t count!).

Which is why Rowan Day writes his Bet Diary for us here at SBC as we felt there was a gap in the market for an honest, realistic and at times humorous rundown of what it is like to bet on tipsters to make a profit.

Follow Rowan’s real life betting journey

Below are some excerpts to show why this series is so popular as Rowan gets into the weeds on the ups and downs of how he makes a long-term betting profit.

And the good news is that lately it’s been a very positive time as Rowan outlined in his latest diary update. Here is an excerpt:

“My last post was headlined, “56% bank growth…in one bet!!!”.

What’s it going to be in my next post? “1,000% bank growth…in one bet!!!”, as a Lucky 15 is landed with four double digit winners?

A man can dream.

But, what is no dream, is that following on from a 3 out of 4 winning Lucky 15 using the Bookie Bashing Racing Tracker last week, Weekly Golf Value – taking value priced players from the Bookie Bashing Golf Tracker – put up 200/1 winner of the Genesis Championship in South Korea, Junghwan Lee! I woke up to the news that a final round 64 had shot Lee to the head of the leader board, and there he had stayed. Wow!

If memory serves me correctly, and sadly I’ve reached an age where perhaps my memory is not quite as sharp as it was, that’s the biggest winner I’ve ever had on the golf. “

Yet as good as a period of form its been lately (His October ROI sits at 16.49% as he updates at the end of each blog post), it’s not always sunshine and rainbows when betting as we all know.

There are often challenges, not just losing runs but things like online restrictions and juggling it around work and other commitments as he posted about on the 1st October:

“September has been a particularly underwhelming month, and several issues have arisen that frankly, have been a little tiresome to deal with. I’ve recognised the problems, because I’ve been through these situations before. More to the point, I knew they would arrive again, and have therefore had plenty of time to think ahead.

In a nutshell, the time has arrived again to start to look towards betting predominantly in shops and on the exchanges.

My betting now has to be designed largely around work, and being able to get to bookmaker shops. I’m fortunate in that I have a number of BetFreds, William Hills and Ladbrokes all within a very short drive. I’ve been here before, and I’ve been able to make it work.”

Real Life Betting

Rowan lives and breathes his betting, reporting the challenges that can come with following any tipster or system.

He has been doing this for a long time so he knows ‘the game’ but I still find it fascinating (and refreshingly honest) when he articulates the joys, biases and paranoia that can come with serious betting for profit.

In addition to this, Rowan’s posts also discuss things like:

  • New tipsters, strategies and angles that have come into the SBC or the general market
  • Account restrictions
  • Exchange betting
  • Shop betting and dealing with the ‘beady eyes’ when taking that value
  • Rowan’s thoughts on developments in the gambling world
  • Arsenal’s title challenge (Yawn!)
  • A lot more besides!

Read More Every Week

For those of you interested in reading the Bet Diary, simply visit the Bet Diary link each week to read Rowan’s posts.

Every one of Rowan’s pieces is also kept on this page if you would like to go back and read through the archive!

Betting doesn’t have to be a solitary game when you can read the thoughts of others – this is the perfect opportunity to do just that!

How Demetrio Giotti Keeps Beating Pinnacle: European Basketball Profits with Liquidity and Precision

Posted on by Peter Ling

If you’ve been struggling to follow tipsters because soft bookies have limited or closed your accounts, or because tips are sent into weak, illiquid markets, then this is for you.

​Demetrio Giotti offers something different — a long-term profitable service built on sharp prices, real liquidity, and a market still underexploited by most punters.

And fresh off a stellar 2024/25 season (and with a 10 year winning record to boot), interest in his service is sky high.

Read on for more and how you can join his waiting list to grab one of only 50 spaces next Thursday!

? Why European Basketball?

Demetrio specialises in European basketball, a fast-growing but still exploitable market. He targets top-tier competitions such as:

✔️ EuroLeague​
✔️ EuroCup​
✔️ Spain’s ACB League​
✔️ Italy’s Serie A

While these leagues are hugely popular across Europe, they remain under the radar for many bettors globally and offer opportunities for a shrewd analyst such as Demetrio.

Backed by years of experience, his selective approach pinpoints value in the moneyline, handicap and totals markets – all with solid liquidity and high betting limits.

And even if you don’t follow European Basketball, it matters little if you simply want to use his expertise to profit in these markets.

Proven Profits on Pinnacle’s Sharp Lines

All official tips are advised using Pinnacle’s odds – widely considered the most accurate pricing in the industry.

Most bets are sent when Pinnacle limits are already $1,000+, and even in lower-liquidity leagues (like Serie A or EuroCup), Demetrio ensures the market can handle $750–$900 stakes before advising a bet.

This means that when he advises a bet, the market is resolute and can absorb the stakes from his members without crashing the odds!

That means you can follow his tips via:

✔️ Pinnacle (direct or via brokers)
✔️ Soft bookmakers (if you still have access)
✔️ Shops or in-person betting

No rushing. No restrictions. Just value bets in real markets.

Track Record That Stands Up To Scrutiny

Since launching his service in 2016, Demetrio has achieved:

  • ✅ +259.5 units profit
  • ✅ 15% ROI from over 925 official bets
  • ✅ Backed by in-depth stats, line tracking & closing price analysis

In 2024/25 alone, he delivered:

  • ? +40.4 units profit (22.3% ROI) from official bets
  • ? 80.8% ROC based on a standard €4,000 bankroll
  • ? Even betting at closing prices would have returned 62.4% ROC

For the last few seasons, he has also shared extra Telegram-only unofficial plays with:

  • +11.7 units profit from standard bets (24.0% ROI)
  • +41.6 units profit from long-term bets (231.1% ROI)

This is an edge built on discipline, accuracy, and experience – and it has held up over nearly a decade in sharp markets.

Limited To Just 50 Members

To preserve the value of his advice and avoid unnecessary market impact, Demetrio’s service is capped at just 50 members for the 2025/26 season.

There are no exceptions to this limit. Once full, the service will close for the season.

Given his record and the interest already shown this summer, we expect these 50 spaces to go quickly – especially from returning members.

? Want to Learn More?

You can explore the full breakdown of Demetrio’s strategy, pricing edge, and last season’s performance in our recent blog post:

? Read how Demetrio Giotti beat Pinnacle again in 2024/25​

? Join the Waiting List Now

If you want the chance to join for the 2025/26 season, the only way is via the official waiting list.

Spaces will open to those on the waiting list next Thursday the 14th August!

➡️ Add your details to the waiting list via this link:

​https://smartbettingclub.com/demetrio-giotti-premium/​

Not recorded. Not repeated. Last chance to join us at Smart Bash 2025

Posted on by Peter Ling

​Smart Bash 2025 is just around the corner – and it’s your final chance to be in the room with some of the sharpest, most influential names in the betting world.

? Thursday 3rd & Friday 4th July​
? Chelsea Football Club, London
? Exclusive networking drinks both evenings

Make sure you secure your tickets now before they sell out!

Count down to 2025-07-03T11:30:00.000Z​

Every session is off-the-record​
Nothing will be published or shared afterwards. The only way to benefit from the insight, stories, strategies and experience on offer is to be there in person. (The only exception is the live AK Bets Podcast recording.)

The biggest movers and shakers in betting​
This year’s guest list includes pro bettors (individuals and groups), bookmakers, sharp minds, data specialists, exchange pros, and regulatory and industry experts. A rare chance to meet them face-to-face.

Panels, workshops and presentations you won’t get anywhere else​
From AI betting models to bookmaker pricing, political betting to regulation disputes, each session offers real, practical takeaways.

Evening networking drinks – both days​
Both Thursday and Friday wrap up with drinks and informal networking onsite at Stamford Bridge.

A room full of serious, like-minded bettors​
Whether you’re a bettor, bookmaker, analyst or service provider, Smart Bash brings together hundreds of professionals and semi-pros. One event. Once a year. Be there.

​Check out the full schedule for the Thursday 3rd July workshop day​
​
​Check out the full schedule for the Friday 4th July conference day​

​Download the schedule in PDF form here​

⚠️ Last chance to buy tickets

Tickets must be purchased in advance. There will be no sales on the door.

​Reserve your ticket now and be part of the biggest Smart Bash yet.

Looking forward to seeing you there,
​
​The Smart Bash Team
​Organised by Smart Betting Club • Bookie Bashing • Matchbook ​
​smart-bash.com

4 New Smart Bash Speakers + Thursday Workshop Announced – Early Bird Ends Tonight!

Posted on by Peter Ling

The countdown is on — Early Bird tickets for Smart Bash 2025 end tonight – Friday, 9th May at midnight.

If you’ve been thinking about coming along, now’s the time to act. Book today and save up to £100 for what’s shaping up to be our biggest and best event yet.

? 4 New Expert Speakers Just Announced

We’ve added four exceptional names to the Smart Bash lineup:

Matthew Trenhaile – Founder of Anubis Trading and former trader with Pinnacle and Mustard Bet. Brings 20+ years of experience building decision-making systems for betting markets.
​Richard Hayler – Managing Director of IBAS, the UK’s leading betting dispute service. Now spearheading efforts to establish a national Gambling Ombudsman.
​Simon Nott – Acclaimed journalist and creator of the #BettingPeople interview series. A respected voice in racing and on-course bookmaking.
​Dan Abrams – Engineer, betting analyst, and author of But How Much Did You Lose? Focused on bankroll growth and intelligent risk management.

? Thursday Workshop – Hands-On Betting Intelligence

This year we have added a 2nd day to Smart Bash, with a half day session on the Thursday 3rd July delivering practical insight for serious bettors:

  • Masterclass in Sports Betting Probability
  • How to Price Up a Horse Race
  • Building a Betting Model Using AI (with Miguel Figueres)
  • BetDEX: Lifecycle of an Exchange Market
  • Dan Abrams Live: Win More by Losing Less

? Pre-Event Networking Drinks – 6PM Thursday​
Relax, connect and get in the Smart Bash spirit with speakers, attendees and industry faces over a drink.

? Early Bird Pricing Ends Friday at Midnight​
Secure your place now and lock in the best value tickets before prices rise.

?️ Get Your Smart Bash Ticket Here​

Looking forward to seeing you there,
​
​The Smart Bash Team
​Organised by Smart Betting Club • Bookie Bashing • Matchbook ​
​smart-bash.com​
​

? Learn more about our speakers: ​Speakers – Smart Bash

? SBC Podcast Episode #88 – Jeevan Jeyaratnam on Player Markets, Pricing, & Goal Scorer Odds

Posted on by Peter Ling

In this episode, I’m joined by Jeevan Jeyaratnam, Chief Betting Officer at Abelson Info—an industry leader in player market pricing and home to the settlement feeds behind many of today’s major betting markets.

Jeev shares insights from two decades in the betting world, including the evolution of player-focused markets like anytime goal scorers, shots, cards, and more.

With Abelson pricing over 17,000 football matches annually, Jeev offers an expert deep dive into the nuts and bolts of compiling odds, managing data accuracy, and servicing leading firms like Flutter, Entain, William Hill, and Betway.

? Key topics include:

  • How Abelson provides player market odds for 150+ global football competitions
  • The rise of markets like shots on target, fouls committed, and goalkeeper saves
  • The art of pricing in-play player markets—and why team news timing is critical
  • Examples of edge cases bettors can exploit (e.g. players in unusual positions, suspension tactics)
  • What happened when Henrikh Mkhitaryan was mispriced… and cost a bookmaker big
  • The role of feedback loops and how Abelson collaborates with major operators
  • What’s next: Jeev reveals details about Abelson’s upcoming Bet Builder product launch

You can listen to Episode 88 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.

​

 

? Automatic CLV Tracking Added To SBC Proofing & Review Process ?

Posted on by Josh P

When it comes to evaluating tipsters, one of the most reliable metrics we can use is Closing Line Value (CLV).

Why?

Because simply looking at profit and loss figures often doesn’t tell the full story. Results can be skewed by variance or small sample sizes – CLV cuts through all of that.

If a tipster is consistently beating the closing line, especially with sharp bookmakers like Pinnacle, it’s a strong sign they’re identifying genuine value and making smart bets.

They are tipsters or services we want to consider following with our own money.

That’s why we’re excited to be incorporating the methodology behind Track-A-Bet – the latest product from Christian Baier—into our proofing and review processes here at SBC.

This tool adds another layer of insight, helping us assess tipsters not just on outcomes, but on the underlying quality of their advice.

We also have produced some specific SBC Member user-guides on Track A Bet (both a video & written) to explain how it works further.

A Real Life Example

Let’s use this real-life betting record to illustrate: 183 bets at level stakes, average odds of 1.95 (or 19/20 in fractional odds), a profit of 20.49 points and a ROI of 11.15%. This is brilliant, right? We’ve found the next Patrick Veitch or Tony Bloom!

 

Maybe, but this tipster’s CLV suggests not. Despite the profit made during this snapshot sample, we would actually have expected these bets to lose 4.7 points with a -2.56% ROI considering the closing prices with Pinnacle.

This came from a recent submission to the SBC from a football tipster. Were they being disingenuous or lying about their bets? No, it appears that they were being ‘fooled by randomness’ into believing that luck was skill.

We would expect the red and orange lines to converge over time and unfortunately in this case – we’d be lucky to break even once the sample reaches 1,830 or 18,300 bets.

What Are We Doing With This Data?

We have always looked at the closing line at the SBC but this data allows us to do a few things that we couldn’t do before:

  1. We can now separate out the very best tipsters from the rest quickly, without having to collect larger samples or manually run checks on how bets are performing against the closing line
  2. We can incorporate this data into our reviews, with graphs and tables used to clearly demonstrate how much value bets are finding

This, alongside all of our other deeper analytics around things like drawdowns, betting banks and odds sensitivity mean that our commentary and conclusions will now have even more depth to help you find the right services for you!

Sign Up For Access

We have created two user guides for SBC Members on the Track A Bet product – one written piece and one 15-minute video walkthrough – so in addition to the packed reviews referenced above, you can get instant access to both of those (and all of our other Intelligence) too!

It takes just minutes to get this access – you can get a full membership by clicking here, choosing your subscription and entering your details – you will then be ‘in’!

If you have any questions about our work on CLV, our reviews or anything else, please get in touch!

?SBC Podcast #87: Kieran Ward’s Secrets To Finding & Betting Value?

Posted on by Josh P

In the latest SBC Podcast I am joined by Kieran Ward, an experienced bettor and tipster who has been finding value for over 25 years!

Value is central to what Kieran does and his tipping services, including The Value Machine and his newly formed The Value Machine Exchange Profits are both laser-focused on finding selections that are overpriced, whether that be with soft bookmakers or exchanges.

In this chat, Kieran and I walk through his history in the betting world, how his approach to gambling has changed over time and how he balances his own betting with running numerous successful services.

​SBC Magazine Issue #150 also came up as Kieran and I discuss a new project where he and a fellow ‘SBC Hall of Famer’, Allan Darke, have married their approaches to create a superb new system that is accessible to all as it is exchange based.

Adapting, finding sustainable solutions and providing services that customers want is central to why Kieran is so popular – this chat showcases that perfectly!

You can listen to Episode 87 now via Apple / Spotify / YouTube and all other major podcast directories (search Smart Betting Club)

PLUS! For a limited time, you can also save 20% on the Value Machine by using this code SBCPOD20 during checkout

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 this chat, Kieran and I talk about:

  • A life in betting – what does Kieran do – what is his history in the betting world?
  • Bottom-up vs. top-down betting and issues with Betfair’s reliability
  • Getting on, tipping vs. betting and Kieran’s high-volume betting strategy
  • Kieran Ward: a day in the life!
  • Just racing or does Kieran dabble elsewhere?
  • ‘The Value Machine’ and Kieran’s other tipping services – developing, maintaining and innovating
  • Attainable returns using Kieran’s software & dealing with volatility
  • The Value Machine Exchange Profits: teaming up with Allan Darke
  • Betting into exchanges late – a different challenge to take on
  • Adapting to the markets and liquidity
  • Affordability and bureaucratic issues with operators
  • Kieran’s expansion plans
  • Where to find Kieran

You can read more about The Value Machine here and we have reviewed Kieran’s offerings on several occasions. To read those reviews, you will need a SBC Membership – you can see options for different subscriptions here.

?SBC Podcast #86 – Varun Sudhakar: Co-founder and CEO of BetDEX?

Posted on by Peter Ling

In the latest SBC Podcast I am joined by Varun Sudhakar, the Co-Founder and CEO of the crypto-exchange and brokerage service, BetDEX.

Varun is an experienced operator within the betting industry, with various roles across several continents at the likes of Fanduel and plenty of punting (as he calls it!) making him an intriguing guest with lots of insight.

As part of the leadership team at Betdex, Varun is at the cutting edge of a new era, with technology and cultural trends helping to pool betting liquidity across the world.

This innovation requires investment, vision and the ability to seize opportunities – something that Varun and BetDEX pride themselves on.

This chat covers all of that, with the ‘big ideas’, challenges and key considerations all topics of conversation as Varun sets out where he thinks betting (and in particular BetDEX) can get to over the next few years and decades.

In addition, Varun has a very special offer for SBC Podcast listeners who reside within countries where BetDEX are licensed. You can get 0% commission for the first 120 days of your use of the site by clicking here!

All of the relevant details are included on the sign up page and visiting the site is the quickest way to find out if BetDEX operate where you are (e.g. they do in Ireland but not in the UK); this page has a comprehensive list of where you can and cannot bet from.

You can listen to Episode 86 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.

In this chat, Varun and I talk about:

  • An introduction to Varun
  • Varun’s work at FanDuel
  • Hypergrowth in US betting: regulation, marketing wars and a Flutter takeover
  • Co-founding BetDEX – a different vision for a betting operator
  • What makes BetDEX different from other bookmakers and exchanges?
  • Growth areas, where customers are coming from and why
  • BetDEX’s markets – the ‘chicken and egg’ of customers and liquidity
  • The challenges of hosting horse racing on the platform
  • BetDEX’s brokerage service and meeting the demands of larger-staking bettors
  • The types of bigger bets that BetDEX are facilitating
  • Cryptocurrencies, their growing prevalence and the challenges/opportunities vs. fiat money
  • Regulators and choosing which jurisdictions to operate in
  • Plans to improve the BetDEX platform and broadening the customer offering
  • Varun’s vision for BetDEX in the medium and long-term
  • How to find Varun and a special 0% commission offer for SBC Podcast listeners!

For those of you who would like to follow or interact with Varun, there are numerous ways to do so. He can be followed/contacted on Twitter/X @svarun91, his email is varun@betdex.com and his Telegram ID is @varunsudhakar.

If you who would like to try using the BetDEX platform, the 0% commission offer that is available to SBC Podcast listeners betting in jurisdictions where BetDEX are live can be found here.

We are Getting Behind the Gamblers Consumer Forum

Posted on by Josh P

There is a real battle going on for the future of gambling in the UK and, for the first time, it feels like we have a unified body to represent bettors interests in the form of the Gamblers Consumer Forum (GCF).

Previous debates about betting have seen anti-gambling activists pitted against the corporate bookmakers, with every day punters (who make up the majority of bettors!) left without a voice.

This time though it’s much more serious with the deeply flawed measures being proposed by the inept Gambling Commission, a fundamental threat to bettors everywhere.

The GCF, who launched at the recent SmartBash, are different. Led by two experts in Andrew Woodman and Abbie MacGregor with political, scientific and media backgrounds, they have a clear plan to fight back against the proposals set out in the White Paper, namely:

  1. Calling for a change in culture at the Gambling Commission
  2. Campaigning for evidence-based treatment for gambling addicts
  3. Vehemently opposing Affordability Checks
  4. Getting everyday gamblers’ voices heard by decision makers
  5. Communicating a positive gambling message to key stakeholders

Find Out More, Donate & Get Involved

You can find out more about the Gamblers Consumer Forum, who they are and what they are doing by visiting their website or by following them on social media @GamblersCForum.

As an independent organisation, the GCF also relies on support from the wider betting community. Sharing their work on social media and donating money for funding are two of the ways to help them represent us and you can find out more about how to do so by visiting this page.

The White Paper and media narrative surrounding gambling make the future of our pastime uncertain, let’s get behind this organisation to fight back!

For those of you interested in learning more, check out the recent SBC Podcast with Andrew Woodman and Abbie McGregor here!).

SBC Golf profits keep on growing in 2022 – let’s celebrate with a discount!

Posted on by Peter Ling

We normally associate tricasts with horse racing or greyhounds but… how about golf?

Remarkably, Weekly Golf Value selected Russell Henley (45/1), Brian Harman (40/1) and Joel Dahmen (66/1) and this trio filled the first 3 positions in last week’s WW Technology Championship!

To celebrate the continued growth of SBC Golf, we are offering you a 10% discount on both of our Weekly Golf Value & PGA Profit services when you sign-up to a 6 or 12-month package before midnight on Monday 14th November.

To secure your 10% discount simply enter the coupon code HENLEY when prompted during checkout on any 6 or 12 month subscriptions to either of them.

You can read more about historical records and why these services are so profitable by clicking on their respective links.

28.72% ROI Long-Term

These latest wins added yet more profit to the SBC Golf Premium stable, taking our cumulative ROI to 28.72% with £12,399.04 profit obtained from advised staking, as you can see below.

​You can view a full breakdown of performance at the SBC Golf Results spreadsheet.

​

GET YOUR 10% DISCOUNTS

We would love for you to join us by signing up to an SBC Golf Premium service so that we can celebrate more of these wins together through the rest of this year and into 2023.

To save 10%, simply use the coupon code HENLEY on any of the 6 or 12 month subscription options to any of Weekly Golf Value or PGA Profit services before Midnight on Monday 13th November.