value betting

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

 

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.
    ​
  • Custom built to suit your setup. Filter by bookmaker, odds, EV, sport and more.
    ​
  • Not reliant on longshots or one angle, value appears across the board and multiple sports/markets.
    ​
  • Customisable so you can tailor it to suit your approach and the bookmakers you can use!
    ​
  • 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.​

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 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/​

A Deep Dive Into The Value Machine 2.0

Posted on by Peter Ling

Version 2.0 of The Value Machine has now been released and the new version comes with a whole host of nifty upgrades that have improved an already very successful service.

The horse racing betting service is founded by one of the best racing tipsters around, Kieran Ward. I recently interviewed Kieran which you can view here.

It’s also available exclusively to SBC members with some time limited discount offers, including a 14 day trial for £7. More on that later on in this post.

Anyway, back to The Value Machine 2.0, and some of the upgrades to the service include…

Slicker, quicker odds feed – a dedicated odds feed that provides very accurate odds at all times.

New Telegram Alerts – fully customisable Telegram alerts that will notify you of value bets in real time, on the go.

Improved Results Logging & Tracking – The new version of The Value Machine also tracks the performance of your bets with an improved automatic results settling so you can keep a track on performance.

Plus, Kieran has developed a central dashboard where you can view the real-life result by those who are using the service.

 

The TVM Results Dashboard

I thought I would delve a little deeper into the new results dashboard and sift through the thousands of horse racing bets that have been placed by followers of The Value Machine 2.0.

This is the full history of the service since version 2.0 went live in early July and I’ve broken it down into the sections that make up the centralised dashboard.

You are welcome to explore this yourself via the results dashboard of course!

Stakes are set at £10 win or a £5 each-way where relevant.

First of all, an overall look at every bet placed using The Value Machine

A lovely upward curve here with total profit at the time of writing at £11,210. That’s going back to the start of July this year.

With the new addition of Telegram alerts, the dashboard also has a selection showing the results of these alerts.

Profit for this table is well over the 50k mark as it showcases the results of every Telegram alert sent to every user. So you will find there are often instances of the same bet being recorded multiple times.

Since July there have been 46180 Telegram alert bets for a profit at the time of writing of £54120.

And the final dashboard I wanted to pick out was the profit by bookmaker section. 

Looking at the results, every single major bookmaker is showing a profit, apart from Paddy Power and Betfair Sportsbook.

That means the following bookmakers were all in profit when using the TVM tool.

  • Bet365 – £6,330.40
  • Bet victor – £3,255.80
  • Betfred – £1,267.20
  • William Hill – £1,178.10
  • Skybet – £1,112.50
  • 888sport – £891.50
  • Unibet – £700.10

Some big profits are being made here!

Membership Options

The only way you can join The Value Machine is through SBC as public membership has been closed by Kieran to protect the service and how many people have access to it.

Not only this – but we also have some time-limited discounts available for members of the Smart Betting Club.

This includes a special 14 day trial of both the Monthly and Quarterly membership options for just £7, followed by discounted rates.

There is also a special low annual price at £347 (over 28% saving)

But please note – these prices are time limited and will be coming to an end soon! This is not a marketing gimmick but a chance for early users of the Value Machine 2.0 to get the best deal possible!

My Final Thoughts

The Value Machine is a service that I’ve been using myself so it is one of the betting services that make up my portfolio.

I can certainly vouch for all aspects of this newly revamped service especially as it’s backed by Kieran Ward who, as mentioned earlier, is one of the best racing tipsters out there.

His betting history is well vetted by the team at SBC and his profitable record goes back many years.

This tool puts Kieran’s strategy, knowledge and experience in the hands of the user to access high quality value bets whenever they feel like it. 

Which is something I’m very excited about going forward.

Learn more about TVM including subscriptions options here

All the best
Pete

Video Diary – Alex shows how he uses this special golf ‘value tool’ to bet on the US Open

Posted on by Alex Lyons

It’s the US Open this week and to celebrate Alex has recorded another video in his video diary betting series, this time all about the profitable Golf Tool he uses.

In the video Alex explains exactly how he used it to pick his selections for the 2021 US Open at Torrey Pines.

He also updates us on his latest results from using this golf tool, which include an amazing 1st and 2nd place in last week’s European Tour event.

Safe to say that his results are still incredibly healthy.

You can see the exact process Alex uses to get these fantastic results when using this powerful betting tool by watching the video on the Smart Betting Club YouTube channel.

Watch the video here.

Best Regards

Peter Ling

Smart Betting Club
Owner and Founder

Tipster Video Diary – Follow Alex’s journey using 4 SBC recommended betting services

Posted on by Peter Ling

Building a successful betting portfolio is not always straightforward and at SBC we try to give people the knowledge to succeed in this game.

That’s why we’re asking SBC team member and part-time bettor, Alex to document his betting journey using tipsters in a video series to show you exactly how it is done.

The first video is now live on our YouTube channel.

In it he details the 4 services he is using, all SBC recommended, in an attempt to turn a profit from betting this year. He goes through how each service works and the specific strategies he will be using for each.

If you want to know any of the following…

  • The strategies used for some of the best SBC recommend services
  • Bankroll management for building a successful portfolio
  • Real-world potential profits on offer

Then you’ll definitely want to watch this video diary.

This is the first video in the series which will be tracking exactly what Alex is doing and the results that come from each service. These are some of the most highly recommended services by us at SBC so it’s very likely that there will be some good profits along the way (in fact he has already recorded some healthy figures testing these services out).

Alex is going to show the precise strategy he uses to build a successful betting portfolio.

Watch the first video here

Best Regards
Peter Ling

Smart Betting Club
Owner and Founder

A 26.6% ROI in 23 weeks betting – this winning strategy in action

Posted on by Peter Ling

Last week I told you about the SBC member who made £8,402.02 through the amazing new racing strategy we have been recommending for sometime and in this post I have even more profitable stats to share.

And this one actually beats it for profit with a full £11,979.02 made!

This amazing profit was made by a SBC team member over a period of 23 weeks using the strategy and in the updated review we just released on it, we show you exactly how he did it!

This updated review outlines:

  • The full week-by-week breakdown on how he made this profit over a 23 week period.
  • The stakes he used, his strike-rate and more.
  • The full lowdown on the strategy he used and the type of bets struck.

Basically it’s a full explanation on how it works and how you can run it yourself.

Here’s a taster of some of the results from the 23 week period to give you an idea of just how potent this strategy is.

All told over the full 23 week period and 717 bets placed – a ROI of 26.6% has made. Don’t forget, these are actual real-life profits made by one team member using this strategy.

Discover More with an SBC membership

You can read the full lowdown on this strategy and how you can follow it with a Smart Betting Club membership.

Membership grants you access to each of our SBC Magazines, including Issue 122 which includes a full 27 page report on the potency of this winning strategy and how you can use it yourself.

We go into great detail on all aspects of how it works, the theory behind its success and our real-life profits from using it ourselves. We also put forward several different ways and options for those of you keen to use it yourself.

Now is also a great time to join us at the Smart Betting Club with membership prices extremely low (starting at just £29.99 per quarter).

Not only can you access winning strategies like the one above from SBC 122 but an SBC membership also grants you access to:

  • All our SBC Magazines & Independent Tipster Reviews (over 120 issues)
  • Tipster Profit Reports
  • Bet Diary Pro Access
  • Free Tipster Access (14 in total currently!)
  • Pro Betting Fundamentals Guides & Insight Articles
  • Back Catalogue Access
  • Unique Tipster Savings & Trials
  • Bookmaker Restrictions Help
  • How I Make Money Betting Interviews

Plus all our memberships our 30 day and 90 day no quibble money back guarantees.

Learn more about SBC memberships here

Kind regards
Pete

Smart Betting Club
Owner and Founder

£8,402.02 in 4 months – One bettors journey with this recommended racing strategy

Posted on by Peter Ling

Would you be happy with a £8,402.02 profit in 4 months from betting on horse racing?

OK well it’s a bit of an obvious answer for most of us I imagine, but the reason I pose it is because that is exactly how much one bettor has made following a winning strategy as reviewed and recommended by the team here at the Smart Betting Club.

Starting with a £2000 bankroll in late November 2020, by the start of April 2021, this strategy had turned it into £10,402.02 using just 3 bookmakers.

Hence the £8,402.02 profit!

Sounds too good to be true?

Well let me explain more and outline how you can discover more in-depth stats and evidence it is not (and why I use it myself)…

His Betting Journey Since November

The truth is that the bettor in question is actually a friend of mine who, having lost his job during the Covid-19 pandemic had time on his hands and a small bankroll to bet with.

It was at this point I spoke to him about the potency of this strategy, explained how it all worked and advised on how best to make it work for him. Even as a relatively inexperienced bettor he soon got to grips with it.

Starting with relatively small stakes as he familiarized himself with it all in action, as his profits accumulated, he then raised them long-term to an average of around £40 to £45 per bet.

In early April 2021 and as part of the updated SBC review just released, I asked him if he would mind sharing his profit figures and overall progress since he began, which he was only too happy to do so.

Especially as he is 8.5k up in a little over 4 months from using it and pretty pleased with proceedings!

A Strategy The SBC Team Uses

The only reason I put forward this strategy to my friend is that I personally knew it to work following my own tracking and usage of it for several months previously.

Since late November, his own success with it has only backed this up further and given more confidence were it needed (it wasn’t!) that this is a winning strategy.

All of which has led to the updated review of this strategy as recently published and available now to all Smart Betting Club members.

In it you can read…

  • The exact stakes and strategy my friend used to make the £8,402.02 profit since November.
  • Detailed results from other users and members of the SBC team who have had similar success using it
  • Walk-through video and guide on how it all works so you can copy it like many others are.
  • Full results analysis and breakdown of why this method is so profitable.

Read with an SBC membership

You can read full details on this strategy and how you can follow it the instant you join the Smart Betting Club.

Membership also comes with several other benefits including major discounts on top tipsters, all our independent reviews and reports as well as access to several top quality free tipsters.

Sign-up today and get started immediately.

Our Lucky 15 Winning Betting Strategy

Posted on by Peter Ling

If you’re looking for a solution to keep your value bets ‘under the radar’ with bookmakers then the remarkable Lucky 15 strategy we outline in the very latest SBC Magazine Issue #122 might be the perfect solution for you!

Not only can it help you win money betting BUT best of all, does so in a way whereby bookies think you have got lucky and so can easily extend the life of your betting accounts.

Sounds too good to be true?

Well I thought you might think that, which is why in todays email I have some real betting slips with big payouts to prove otherwise, plus details of how it works and the numbers behind it all.

Its safe to say this has been a real gamechanger for members of the SBC team and could easily be for you too.

So if you only ever read one Smart Betting Club review – you might want to make it this one!

This review and strategy is available to read now with a Smart Betting Club membership

Lucky 15 Winners

The strategy itself is based upon Bookie Bashing’s exceptional Horse Racing tracker tool (as featured in SBC 122), which does all the work in finding value horse racing bets for you to back.

When you use this tool with a simple Lucky 15 strategy (as we outline in our review) then you have a seriously powerful betting strategy to add to your portfolio.

In this special review we outline some of the attractive features and benefits of it including…

  • How Lucky 15 bets are looked at more favourably by bookmakers even when you win.
  • How Lucky 15s reduce variance when compared to other accumulators meaning losing runs are less severe. The more risk averse of you will find this much easier to handle!
  • The neat trick that occurs when you compound multiple value bets together.
  • The 10 rules to consider to get the most from the strategy meaning you will give yourself the best chance to profit.

The Lucky 15 Strategy in Action

To put this all into action, in the review we outline the performance obtained using this Lucky 15 strategy during the last few months with real betting accounts and real stakes.

During a 10 week period, we placed 405 Lucky 15 bets and achieved a profit in 99 of these (24%).

Staking a total of £22,740 across these 405 Lucky 15 bets, it returned a clear profit of £6198.33, an impressive ROI of 27.26%!!

Check out some of the winning tickets generated by it below:

Lucky 15 Lucky 15

Lucky 15Lucky 15

What People Say…

To further back up the performance of this strategy, here are a couple of quotes from two people using it:

“The Racing Tracker offered by Bookie Bashing is one of the best tools that I’ve used in my betting career so far. It is very easy to use and the value it provides is quantifiable, the longer and longer I used it I began coming up with different tailored approaches to what type of horses I select as part of my Lucky 15’s which has increased my ROI Leveraging the Lucky 15 strategy has provided me with an ROI of 20% so far over a sample size of 500+ Lucky 15’s but it also gives you lots of entertainment value and action where you have some action on almost every single race of the day”

S . Long-term SBC member

 

“I was directed towards using the racing tracker a few months back by Pete, the editor of SBC who is a friend of mine. I had time on my hands and he told me it could be a fantastic way of making some extra cash betting on horse racing. Safe to say he was right and after he explained how to best use it by placing Lucky 15’s, I got to work. I have made over £3500 profit since then and using the tracker forms part of my normal morning betting routine these days. I can’t wait to use it during the Cheltenham Festival especially!

M – SBC Member & Bookie Bashing Member

 

Save 50% on your first month with SBC

You can read the full lowdown on this strategy in the full review now available in Issue 122 of the Smart Betting Club magazine.

For those of you looking to give it a go then Smart Betting Club members can save 50% on your first month with Bookie Bashing – enjoying a saving of £34.50!

Given that SBC membership itself can be snapped up for as little as £29.99 + VAT per quarter, then you can effectively sign-up now and save overall if also interested in joining Bookie Bashing.

To access this fantastic discount and our comprehensive review on the service you need to hold a Smart Betting Club Membership.

All memberships are at our lowest ever prices and are backed up by our 30 day and 90 day money back guarantees.

Sign-up to gain instant access

Peter Ling
Smart Betting Club Editor

pete@smartbettingclub.com

P.s. There is no better time to sign up with Cheltenham just around the corner. We expect this racing tracker to really come into its own that week!