football betting

David Hipkin of SharpBetting on Profitable Betting, Restrictions & Long Term Success

Posted on by Peter Ling

We’ve just released a new interview on the SBC YouTube Channel as part of our How I Bet For Profit series – and this one is a fascinating watch.

​Watch it here​

Rowan sat down with David Hipkin, co-founder of SharpBetting, to discuss what profitable betting really looks like behind the scenes.

(Note – this video was originally only for SBC members only but I felt it was a great example of the type of content we provide to give you a sample!)

David brings a very different perspective to betting.

Rather than portraying himself as a “professional gambler”, he approaches betting as a structured, analytical side income opportunity – something that can fit around normal life while still generating meaningful long-term profit.

Access to this interview series is available now with an SBC membership​

What is David’s Approach?

During the interview, David talks openly about:

  • How SharpBetting was built from real bookmaker and trading experience
  • Why most bettors should focus on steady long-term gains rather than unrealistic expectations
  • How one Sharp Betting football approach generated nearly £200,000 profit before bookmaker restrictions became a major issue
  • Why volume and patience matter far more than short-term variance
  • How multiples can be used intelligently to compound value
  • The importance of discipline, bankroll management, and starting slowly
  • How bookmaker restrictions can be managed more effectively
  • Why boxing betting presents very different opportunities from football
  • How human judgement and intuition still matter – even in an increasingly AI-driven world

It’s one of the most honest and insightful betting conversations we’ve published in a long time.

You can watch the full interview free on the SBC YouTube channel now​

But it also gives a very good example of the type of thinking, analysis, and betting education SBC members get access to regularly.

WHAT YOU GET WITH SBC:

Alongside interviews like this, SBC members also receive:

  • Detailed betting service reviews
  • Strategy guides and educational content
  • Ongoing industry insight
  • Practical betting advice
  • And access to a range of genuinely valuable member-only discounts

One of those discounts is with SharpBetting itself.

SBC members can currently access an exclusive 20% lifetime discount on an annual Sharp Betting membership – reducing the yearly cost by £45.60 every year.

Considering SBC membership starts from just £24.99 per month, many members effectively recover a large part of their subscription cost through offers like this alone – before even considering the value of the reviews, content, and ongoing support available inside the members area.

And SharpBetting is just one example.

Members also receive access to additional discounts across carefully selected betting services, tools, and software we genuinely believe provide value.

So even if you start by watching the interview for free, if you want deeper insight into profitable betting – and access to the wider SBC community – becoming a member is the next step.

Join the Smart Betting Club today

Smart Bash 2026 Preview With Jesse May & Simon Nott | SBC Podcast Episode 102

Posted on by Peter Ling

Episode 102 of the SBC Podcast is OUT now and this time we take a closer look at Smart Bash 2026, one of the fastest growing betting events in the UK.

I’m joined by Jesse May and Simon Nott to preview this year’s event, taking place on May 27th and 28th at Chelsea FC in London, England.

🎟 SBC listeners can also save 10% on Smart Bash tickets by using the code SBCSBASH10 when registering at: https://www.smart-bash.com/​

You can listen to Episode 102 FREE now via Apple / Spotify / YouTube and all other major podcast directories (search Smart Betting Club)

This episode breaks down why Smart Bash has quickly become one of the standout betting events in the UK and why it continues to attract everyone from aspiring bettors through to some of the sharpest operators, traders and professional gamblers in the industry.

We also preview many of the major panels and workshops taking place across the two days, including:

• World Cup betting and trading angles
• Prediction markets and exchange betting
• The growth of the black market
• Tax and syndicate structures
• Bookmaker restrictions and sustainability
• Racecourse betting and bookmaker insights
• The evolution of betting edges
• Why “getting money down” has become one of the biggest modern advantages

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.

Live SBC Podcast Panel

One thing I’m personally especially looking forward to is hosting a live SBC Podcast panel discussion at the event titled:

“Getting Money Down is the Real Edge”

I’ll be joined by Phil Smith, a long term professional bettor and trader (and my guest on Episode 101), alongside two other highly experienced names with backgrounds in both large scale betting operations and bookmaker trading rooms.

Together we’ll be discussing:
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• Accounts and longevity
• Limits and restrictions
• Execution and timing
• Scaling betting operations
• How serious bettors operate today

We’ll also be taking live audience questions throughout the session.

If you’ve ever wanted to understand where the betting industry is heading, sharpen your edge, or simply meet serious like minded bettors, this episode gives a very good insight into why Smart Bash has built such a strong reputation within betting circles.

I hope to see many of you there.

🎟 SBC listeners can also save 10% on Smart Bash tickets by using the code SBCSBASH10 when registering at: https://www.smart-bash.com/

Ex Referee Betting Service Review, 13% ROI Edge in SBC Magazine 163

Posted on by Peter Ling

The latest issue of the Smart Betting Club Magazine has landed and this month we focus on one of the most interesting and under the radar football betting services we have come across in some time.

In SBC 163 we bring you our exclusive review of a little known service run by an ex referee turned full time bettor, a unique angle that is now starting to turn heads within SBC.

Focused on Over/Under goals, BTTS, correct score and cards markets, this is where specialist insight creates real value, especially in the types of niche and lower profile markets where bookmakers are vulnerable.

Over more than 1800 bets, this tipster has delivered a 13.03% ROI and 422% bank growth to our recommended staking, a standout level of performance for any service, let alone one priced at just £29 per month.

A genuinely exciting find, and one we expect to be very popular with SBC members.

Access Issue 163 and the entire 19 year back catalogue with a SBC Membership​

A Standout New Find?

  • Strong real world suitability, with 66% of bets available at Pinnacle and no issues getting bets down.
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  • Built on detailed research and analysis, not guesswork or opinion.
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  • Focused on football, especially minor leagues and niche markets such as correct score and cards.
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  • All bets supplied instantly via Telegram and overall a very well run service, affordably priced at just £29 per month.
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ALSO IN SBC MAGAZINE ISSUE #163

Alongside this review, this month’s issue also contains:

How I Bet For Profit: Rowan’s interview with David Hipkin of Sharp Betting and his approach to making money at low stakes on football. A must read for anyone working with a smaller bankroll, plus a significant saving for SBC members.

Sharp Betting Boxing: An early look at a new angle from Sharp Betting, this time focused on boxing, with positive early impressions and exclusive SBC member savings available.

Podcasts X 2: Episode 100 and 101 of the SBC Podcast featuring Antonino De Rosa and Phil Smith, covering execution, scaling, and the realities of modern betting.

Bet Diary: Rowan shares his latest results, portfolio updates, and honest reflections on the ongoing challenge of betting for profit.

Smart Punter Mailbag: When and how to withdraw from bookmaker accounts safely, comparisons between various services offering similar edges, plus how to get more value from a Bookie Bashing subscription with some lesser known edges.

Smart Betting News: Are affordability checks about protection or control, and our reaction to the recent Telegraph coverage on how bookmakers treat winning punters.

SIGN UP FOR INSTANT ACCESS

If you’re a member, log in to your SBC account to read Issue 163 today.
​
If not, join SBC now and get instant access to this magazine, our full tipster ratings, betting insight and knowledge and hundreds of previous issues and reports!

​To sign up as a paid SBC member, just click here and follow the registration link.​

Phil Smith on Antepost Betting, Betfair Removal & Modern Betting Challenges | SBC Podcast Episode 101

Posted on by Peter Ling

In Episode 101 of the SBC Podcast, I’m joined by Phil Smith, a full time football bettor specialising in antepost (futures) markets and exchange trading.

Phil shares his journey from early losses and trial and error, through to building a profitable approach combining Betfair trading and more recently, antepost betting.

We go deep into how antepost betting works in practice, where the real edge comes from, and why volume, structure and discipline are key to long term success.

The conversation also explores the growing challenges facing bettors today, including Phil’s own experiences, from being permanently removed from Betfair after years of activity, to being locked out of funds and bets for months during an affordability check with Sky Bet.

This is a practical, honest discussion about modern betting, where theory often takes a back seat to execution, access and adaptability.

You can listen to Episode 101 FREE now via Apple / Spotify / YouTube and all other major podcast directories (search Smart Betting Club)

Look out for more on Phil and his service coming in the JUNE Smart Betting Club Magazine!

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

  • Phil’s journey from early losses to going full time in 2020
  • Transition into antepost betting and building a profitable edge
  • Turning a £3k bankroll into £12k through structured betting
  • Betfair trading as the foundation of his bankroll
  • Impact of affordability checks, account closures and restrictions
  • Being removed from Betfair after years of activity.
  • Being locked out of funds and bets for months with Sky Bet
  • Evolution of his antepost strategy and staking approach
  • Managing variance through diversification and structured betting
  • Combining short term income with long term ante post returns

Resources & Mentions

Key quotes

On early struggles
“There was a lot of going through bankrolls and going around in circles. It took me about 10 years before I went full time.”

On finding an edge in antepost betting
“I realised there was a lot more to learn and a lot more angles to cover.”

On building a bankroll
“I turned three grand into about twelve grand, that was a big bank builder.”

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

On going full time
“I wasn’t happy in my job, so I decided to take the risk and go for it.”

On Betfair challenges
“Betfair staff don’t really understand how people trade and operate. I never expected to get kicked off, it definitely caught me by surprise.”

On Sky Bet issues
“It was six months of no access to my funds, no access to my bets. You can’t even speak to the people actually dealing with your account.”

On long term success
“If you can combine day to day profit with long term systems, that’s the way to go.

Best Odds Dropping Software? 6.89% ROI from 5,391 Bets Reviewed

Posted on by Peter Ling

The latest issue of the Smart Betting Club Magazine has landed and this month we focus on what every serious bettor is chasing, a more advanced way to beat soft bookmakers.

In SBC 162 we break down what could be the most powerful odds dropping software we have seen to date.

This goes beyond simple alerts. By combining Pinnacle price moves with a built in EV Scanner using Betfair data, it gives you two strong signals to spot value early.

A more refined and powerful evolution of the odds dropping model, built for today’s markets and best of all as an SBC member you can save 50% for 13 months on the software in question (A saving of more than €1000!)

Access Issue 162 and the entire 19 year back catalogue with a SBC Membership​

The Best Yet?

  • Proven, real world results analysed with a 6.89% ROI from 5,391 bets across multiple sports.
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  • Custom built to suit your setup. Filter by bookmaker, odds, EV, sport and more.
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  • Not reliant on longshots or one angle, value appears across the board and multiple sports/markets.
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  • Customisable so you can tailor it to suit your approach and the bookmakers you can use!
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  • Huge SBC member discounts. 60% off month one and 50% off the next 12 months, saving over €1000

ALSO IN SBC MAGAZINE ISSUE #162

Alongside this review, this month also contains:

Bankroll Management Guide: Rowan breaks down one of the most misunderstood parts of betting using powerful free tools. Learn how to model drawdowns, understand risk, and stress test your strategy using Monte Carlo simulations so you know what to expect before variance hits.

£50K Golf Winner Payout: We speak to the SBC member who turned £10 into nearly £50,000 using our golf doubles strategy. A full breakdown of how it works and how to apply it online, in shops, or via kiosks to extract maximum value.

Football Coupons Strategy: A practical video and guide with Tom Brownlee on exploiting bookmaker shop coupons. Built on years of syndicate experience, combining small pricing edges into multiples to create long term profit.

Bet Diary: Rowan shares his latest results, portfolio adjustments, and honest insights from the ups and downs of betting for profit and the tipsters he uses.

Smart Punter Mailbag: This month covers each way golf betting using the win and place market on Betfair, how to get more from Sharp Betting, and questions around the Bet Hero service.

Smart Betting News: A look at the rise of prediction markets and what it means for bettors, plus a closer look at whether today’s betting markets are as fair as they seem.

SIGN UP FOR INSTANT ACCESS

If you’re a member, log in to your SBC account to read Issue 162 today.
​
If not, join SBC now and get instant access to this magazine, our full tipster ratings, betting insight and knowledge and hundreds of previous issues and reports!

​To sign up as a paid SBC member, just click here and follow the registration link.​

⚽ Syndicate Edge – Our New Goalscorer Service From A Proven Source

Posted on by Josh P

Some markets are neglected by bookmakers and they think they are safe by placing massive overrounds on their books.

This is true in most cases but some secondary football markets like corners, cards and goalscorers are vulnerabilities for them – weaknesses that we can exploit!

That’s where services like Syndicate Edge come in and in an exclusive tie up with the SBC, the service is currently FREE for our members!

About Syndicate Edge

Run by a syndicate of football bettors that have been beating the bookmakers for several years, those behind Syndicate Edge use their independent pricing to find mistakes with bookmaker odds.

In recent months betting on their selections as preparation for this service, we have seen consistent 20%+ ROIs and to add some weight to these numbers, we have a personal betting record detailed on the Syndicate Edge page, with the following headlines:

  • 269 bets
  • Stakes (using a unit-win strategy) totaling £40,880
  • Profits totaling £11,708
  • A 28.64% ROI

All of this activity was based on betting with one bookmaker so whilst the ROI is higher than expectation (20%), the long-term returns would actually have been greater if using a wider range of bookmakers available.

Fair Policies

To keep the Syndicate Edge service sustainable, we have limited the leagues that will see bets advised and selections to those shared on the day of game, making it easier to get on as limits increase.

In addition, we are only quoting prices for our record if they are available with at least two of the following bookmakers or groups: Bet365, Unibet, BetFred, PaddyPower/Betfair, Ladbrokes/Coral, BetVictor and Skybet.

This means that if you have access to two or three of these bookmakers/groups, you should have no issues with getting money down.

Sign Up For Access/Learn More

You can learn more about the service via the Syndicate Edge Free Tipster page.

To get access to the service itself and its selections, you will require a paid SBC Membership.

Alongside Syndicate Edge, paid membership will also provide you with access to another excellent free service that is currently hidden away in our Members’ Area.

In addition, there are several other benefits to membership. You can read all about them here.

Please get in touch if you have any questions!

The (Genuine) Experts To Help Your Football Betting This Season With SBC

Posted on by Josh P

Football really does offer the biggest breadth of betting opportunities and here at the Smart Betting Club, we have a wide range of tipsters, tools and experts to guide you along the path to profit this coming season.

So forget listening to washed up ex-players and pundits with no actual betting expertise and focus on those with a track record of winning – those recommended by us at SBC.

With the football season about to get into full swing, there may be something that could be the perfect addition to your betting portfolio.

​To read all our analysis, savings deals and reviews on each of these services – join SBC today!​

How To Win Football Betting With SBC

Here are just a few of the services we have examined and recommended recently which offer edges on football betting:

  • A detailed examination of Pinnacle Odds Dropper (POD) and Chasing Steamers – which both track notable price contractions at Pinnacle, providing followers with the opportunity to back said selections with soft bookmakers. Both come with substantial SBC member discounts and are ideal for football bettors.
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  • Footy Star, an excellent algorithm-based value spotter who finds winning bets in the ‘both team to score’ markets. His record is frankly superb with a 14.4% ROI over 1872 bets so far. Best of all, SBC Members can get instant access to Footy Star’s bets via Telegram and if you would like to learn more about the service, you can do so here.
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  • The fantastic in-play service: Monetos, a unique offering run by a group of pro punters who have a 6,17% ROI from 1600 bets. Profitable on exchanges and NOT detrimental to bookmaker accounts, Monetos is a service making real waves right now. A full review can be found in SBC Issue 141.
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  • The Early Payout Tracker service as recommended by our blogger, Rowan, who has more than doubled his bank using it. As first explored in SBC Issue 142​
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  • The unique Antepost Betting Service run by a professional punter which is ideal for those of you looking for lots of sharp action to take. This is another service to have more than doubled their money last season. Again in SBC Issue 142, we have an exclusive SBC member video interview with the punter behind it, to walk through how it works and how you can take advantage of it.
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  • Analysis on Football Trading Club, a pre-match service that finds value in major markets with both bookmakers and exchanges and which continues to impress with their one-bet-a-day strategy.

The above is just a small snapshot of the services we have analysed, reviewed and recommended to follow to our members. As ever we leave no stone unturned to help you make a profit with our expertise!

To access all of our reports, insight and excellent discounts you will require a paid Smart Betting Club membership.

To get this before the football season gets into full swing, you can sign up here and choose the best membership for you.

As ever, if you have any questions about football tipsters, the SBC or anything else betting related, please get in touch!

Another Free Tipster For SBC Members!

Posted on by Josh P

A new month presents yet another reason to join us here at The SBC!

We are excited to introduce Footy Star, an excellent algorithm-based value spotter who predominately finds winning bets in the ‘both team to score’ markets. Unlike most tipsters (and more importantly, recreational punters), Footy Star’s ‘MO’ is to select NO.

We have been proofing this strategy for some time and since 2022, Footy Star has:

  • Put forward 1,692 selections
  • Had 696 winners with a strike rate of 45.97% (178 bets were void)
  • Tipped with an average price of 2.752 (around 7/4)
  • Delivered a ROI of 14.29% with (the advised) flat staking

The breakdown of these results over the proofing period looks like this:

SBC Members can get instant access to Footy Star’s bets via Telegram and if you would like to learn more about the service, you can do so here.

​Joining An Illustrious Club

Footy Star is the latest in a long line of excellent tipsters who have joined us as Free Tipsters to showcase their prowess in beating the markets. Established tipsters such as No Foto Needed, PGA Profit and Pricewise With PCB all offered their services to our members free of charge for prolonged periods.

We currently have another three services who are also freely available to members, namely:

Account Agent: The service that helps you prolong bookmaker accounts by placing ‘Amateur Bets’ and ‘Hedge Bets’. We have tracked the performance of this service’s offering since it went live and for a minute loss in your bookmaker accounts, you can mask any other EV activity!

Kieran Ward 13/2 – 8/1 Racing: 10,599 bets. 1,079.80 points of profit at level stakes. A 10.4% ROI. Kieran Ward’s free service has been delivering for SBC Members for way over a decade. It is a brilliant service and costs members nothing!

The Daily Sheet: Another relative ‘newbie’ to the SBC Tipster stable, The Daily Sheet lets followers know about ‘warm money’ that is being fed into the morning markets. Run by a professional punter with a wide-ranging ‘little black book’, this service is well worth checking out!

These four exciting services are all available to SBC Members for nothing and they are just a fraction of what we have to offer. If you would like to learn more about how we can help your betting then our Membership Benefits page is well worth a browse.

Subscription options are available to view here and if you have any questions, please get in touch!

⚽️ 24% ROI and ROC Above 100%! Easy To Use Tracker Delivers Massive Profits – Review Out Now!⚽️

Posted on by Josh P

For those of you who read Rowan Day’s Bet Diary series, some quite remarkable 2024 results were posted recently as our resident writer discussed his use of the Bookie Bashing Early Payout Tracker.

Using Lucky 15s for his staking, Rowan has posted Return On Investment (ROI) figures of 25.42% and this excellent performance has resulted in his starting bank for this strategy more than doubling this year (Return On Capital stands at 110.11%!).

How Does This Work?

Many bookmakers (including the likes of Bet365 and BetFred) offer concessions that offer excellent value in the football markets and with some sensible staking strategies, these can be used to create excellent value bets that don’t spook bookmakers. This is because they do not trigger mechanisms that would normally flag your action (e.g. beating the closing line).

Using a tracker on the Bookie Bashing website, you can find value propositions from leagues all across the world, meaning that getting bets down on a daily basis is more than achievable!

The good news is that despite the major European leagues now being on their Summer breaks, the European Championships and a wide range of global leagues are still up and running, providing plenty of opportunities to get these bets down!

Yes we know Man City have won the league in England but leagues such as in Scandinavia, North and South America and the rest of the world continue apace as usual.

Our Review

To accompany Rowan’s diary posts, we have just published a review of this strategy, with a detailed analysis of the historical figures, commentary from the SBC team and real-life usage all incorporated to provide an overview of who this strategy is best for.

Like with any of our reviews, we use advanced analytics to break the data down and one key takeaway from this work is how bookmakers are likely to react to this betting and whether account restrictions are a big risk here (or not!).

Sign Up To Read

You can read this review (and all of our other publications) immediately with a paid SBC subscription, options for which can be found here.

In addition, subscriptions to Bookie Bashing can be obtained at reduced rates, with 25% off your first three months with this service, which has many other tools and trackers that can help your betting (golf and horse racing are just two that have gone through full SBC reviews).

To find out more about discounts, our reviews and every other benefit that comes with SBC Membership, just visit this page, where we have tried to summarise it all!

As ever, if you have any questions, please get in touch!