How I Bet For Profit

Phil Smith: How a Professional Bettor Made Over 100% ROI

Posted on by Peter Ling

What does it actually take to make a living from betting?

Not simply finding the occasional winner, but identifying a genuine edge, exploiting it consistently and – perhaps most importantly a adapting when things stop working.

That’s the subject of our latest How I Bet For Profit video interview, available exclusively to Smart Betting Club members.

My guest is Phil Smith, a professional bettor and antepost specialist with an outstanding long-term record – including an extraordinary 2025/26 season that ultimately produced around 100% ROI.

Exclusive Video Interview Now Available For SBC Members.

Inside the Mind of a Professional Bettor

Phil’s route into antepost betting actually began almost by accident.

Having initially concentrated on trading, he started exploring football antepost markets as something of a side interest. After turning an initial bankroll of around £3,000 into £12,000, and importantly tracking the bets along the way, he realised there appeared to be a significant edge worth pursuing.

That edge has since developed into his full-time profession.

In this exclusive interview, Phil explains:

  • How he identifies antepost markets where bookmaker prices haven’t caught up with changing circumstances.
  • Why predicting where a price is going can be as important as predicting the eventual winner.
  • How he researches teams, leagues and goalscorer markets.
  • Why knowing which markets not to bet is crucial.
  • How he constructs and manages a portfolio containing thousands of bets.
  • The role of hedging, staking and risk management in his approach

It’s a fascinating look at the work that goes on behind the headline profits.

From a Challenging Season to Over 100% ROI

Perhaps the most interesting part of Phil’s story, however, is what happened when things didn’t quite go according to plan.

Following a more challenging 2024/25 season, Phil analysed his performance and identified where he could improve in his choice of markets, staking and where he was placing his bets.

The changes were substantial – and what followed was an exceptional 2025/26 campaign that ultimately produced over 100% ROI.

Even more revealingly, Phil can still identify mistakes he made during that hugely profitable season and areas he believes can be improved further.

It’s a great example of something we repeatedly emphasise at SBC: long-term profitable betting isn’t just about finding an edge. It’s about continually testing, refining and adapting it.

SBC Members Can Also Join Phil Smith Select

There’s another reason why this interview is particularly timely.

We’ve recently teamed up with Phil to launch Phil Smith Select, a separate betting service available exclusively to SBC members, giving subscribers the opportunity to follow a more accessible version of his antepost approach throughout the season.

Note – Phil Smith Select requires its own subscription in addition to SBC membership. The full How I Bet For Profit video interview with Phil is included as part of your standard SBC membership.

The emphasis is particularly on goalscorer bets and accumulators, with modest stakes allowing followers to gradually build a portfolio across the football season.

As a member, you’ll also receive access to our independent, in-depth betting service reviews, exclusive interviews with successful bettors, strategy and educational content, practical betting advice, the monthly SBC Magazine and a growing range of member-only offers.

Join the Smart Betting Club today and you’ll gain immediate access to the full Phil Smith How I Bet For Profit interview, along with our latest SBC Magazine, independent betting service reviews, exclusive member content and offers.

You’ll also have the option to join Phil Smith Select and follow Phil’s bets throughout the season.

How A Former Football Referee Built A Profitable Betting Edge, Exclusive SBC Interview

Posted on by Peter Ling

Every so often, we get the opportunity to sit down with one of the betting industry’s genuine professionals and ask the questions that matter.

Our latest How I Bet For Profit interview does exactly that.

This month, SBC members can watch an exclusive interview with one of Europe’s most respected betting analysts – a former Danish league football referee, and the brains behind of one of our highest-rated betting tipsters.

His tipster service is up 47.78 points profit at 37% ROI this World Cup alone – more about that shortly…

In this interview, he explains how his route into betting is unlike anyone we’ve ever featured before, and it provides a fascinating insight into the mindset, discipline and preparation that underpin his long-term success.

Among the topics we discuss are:

  • How his refereeing career shaped his approach to betting
  • Why he believes professional betting should be treated like professional sport
  • How he prepares weeks in advance to identify value before markets move
  • Why understanding your own strengths and weaknesses is essential
  • His views on AI, modelling and where he believes the real edge still lies
  • How he structures his staking and copes with inevitable losing runs
  • Why discipline and “sticking to the plan” are the foundations of long-term profitability
​

37% ROI From The 2026 World Cup…So Far!

Alongside his How I Bet For Profit interview, members can also read our comprehensive review of his excellently run and affordably priced tipster service – as published in SBC Magazine 163.​

The review analyses every aspect of the service, including historical performance, obtainable odds, bankroll requirements, drawdowns, staking, practicalities of following, and whether we believe the edge is sustainable over the long term.

Even better, the service has continued to justify our confidence since the review was published in April.

May itself produced over 50 points profit at an ROI of 23%, whilst for the World Cup alone he is up 37% ROI from his first 83 bets, making this an ideal time to discover how one of Europe’s most respected professional bettors approaches the markets.

A Service Delivering Right Now

Of course, this interview and tipster review is just one part of what SBC membership offers.

Members also receive:

  • Independent, in-depth betting service reviews – showcasing the best tipsters and experts for you to follow!
  • Exclusive interviews with leading professional bettors
  • Strategy guides and educational content
  • Ongoing betting industry insight
  • Practical betting advice
  • Exclusive discounts on carefully selected betting services and tools

If you’re serious about improving your betting, we’d love to welcome you as an SBC member.

​Join today and gain immediate access to this exclusive interview, our full in-depth review of the service, and the complete SBC members’ area.

How to Win Consistently at Small Stakes | David Hipkin Betting Strategy Explained

Posted on by Peter Ling

We’ve just released a new video in our members only How I Bet For Profit series, and this latest one is a must watch.

In it, David Hipkin from Sharp Betting explains his approach to winning consistently at small stakes, and why that can still lead to meaningful long term profit when done the right way.

This is not about flashy staking, trying to go full time, or chasing unrealistic returns.

It is about building a disciplined, repeatable process that works in the real world.

And importantly, it is an approach backed up by results, as shown by the excellent long term performance of David’s Hall of Fame rated Sharp Betting service, which we reviewed in depth in SBC Issue 157.​

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

 

What is David’s Approach?

David’s philosophy is simple, betting should be treated as a structured side activity, not an all consuming pursuit.

The goal is not to rely on betting for income. It is to generate steady, repeatable profit over time, even from modest stakes, by applying the right process with consistency.

That means:

  • Starting small and building confidence gradually
  • Letting volume do the work, rather than judging results too early
  • Trusting process over emotion
  • Using a clear edge, then applying it with patience
  • Avoiding the common mistake of trying to scale too fast

It is a highly grounded way of thinking, and one that will resonate with many.

Because the truth is, most bettors do not need betting to replace their income.

They need it to work sensibly alongside normal life, and that is exactly where David’s approach fits.


Inside The Video, David Explains..

  • Why small stakes betting can still be highly worthwhile
  • How volume and patience are essential to making an edge count
  • Why many bettors fail by reacting too quickly to short term variance
  • How he breaks events down to create better prices and better decisions
  • Where intuition can add value, especially in the right markets
  • How multiples can be used as a powerful tool when applied properly
  • Why bookmaker management and account longevity are part of the edge

Alongside the full interview, members also get access to a written companion guide pulling out the key lessons from David’s approach.

And of course, with an SBC membership you also unlock:

If you want to see how a proven bettor approaches winning at small stakes, and how that can be turned into consistent long term profit, this is exactly the kind of content SBC was built to provide.

Join the Smart Betting Club and watch David Hipkin’s full interview now

Ryan Bruno’s £211k Profit Journey, 105 Months Of Betting In How I Bet For Profit Video 2

Posted on by Peter Ling

We have just released Video 2 in our members only How I Bet For Profit interview series.

In this latest session, Rowan speaks with Ryan Bruno, who has been documenting his betting journey for nearly nine years through his “Making a Million” challenge.

The challenge is now more than 105 months old and his current profit stands at approximately £211,000.

So well over 1/5 of the way towards his lofty target!

This is not a hot streak or a short term run.

It is the result of adapting over time as offers disappeared, accounts were restricted, and markets became tougher.

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

Inside the interview, Ryan explains:

  • How he started with matched betting and arbitrage
  • Why he transitioned into value betting and exchange strategies
  • Some of the tipsters and strategies he follows and has followed
  • How he coped with account closures and tightening margins
  • How he balances betting with work and family life
  • The biggest lessons he has learned along the way

Like Video 1, this is a full and honest breakdown of what actually worked.

​If you missed the first video in the ‘How I Bet For Profit’ series, that featured an SBC member who made 100k net profit in around 11 months by applying structure and correct staking to SBC recommended tipsters.

Two very different journeys but the same core principles.

Both videos, along with written companion guides highlighting the key lessons, are available now inside the SBC members area.

If you are not yet a member, joining the Smart Betting Club gives you immediate access to the full How I Bet For Profit series, plus our archive of tipster reviews, strategy guides, and 19 years of data led insight.

If you want to see how profitable betting is actually done in practice, this is the place to start.

How an SBC Member Made 100k Profit in 11 Months Using Tipsters Correctly

Posted on by Peter Ling

We have just launched a new SBC members only video interview series, focused on how profitable bettors actually operate in practice.

The first release in this series is now live, and it is a detailed one hour case study.

The headline is simple.

An SBC member made 100k net profit in around 11 months by using tipsters correctly in 2025.

The goal was to make 100k in 2025 alone – but he achieved that goal in just 11 months.

This is not a short clip or a highlights reel. It is a full one hour interview that walks through the process step by step, including what worked, what did not, and how the approach evolved over time.

  • No inside information.
  • No special access.
  • No one off wins.

Just structure, discipline, and consistent execution across a high volume of bets with SBC recommended tipsters.

This series is designed to move away from theory and instead show what betting for profit actually looks like when applied properly.

Explored In The First Video Interview

In this first interview of the ‘How I Bet For Profit’ series, the member explains:

  • How opinion led betting held him back initially
  • Why correct staking changed everything
  • Choosing the right tipsters
  • How repetition, not big wins, drove results
  • How limits were planned for, not feared
  • The mindset shift that removed emotional swings

Alongside the video, SBC members also get access to a written companion guide that pulls out the key lessons, quotes, and ideas in a format that can be revisited and applied.

For anyone looking to make 2026 a genuinely profitable year using SBC reviews, recommendations, and guidance, this is an excellent place to start. It shows how the pieces fit together in real terms, not just in theory.

Both the one hour video interview and the written guide are available now inside the SBC members area.

If you are not currently a member and want access to this new video series, along with the wider SBC library of tipster reviews, betting advice and recommendations on how to win, joining SBC will give you immediate access.