In this episode, Pete speaks with Elliot Roe and Samm Hunter, two leading performance and mindset coaches who specialise in helping elite performers from poker champions and traders to professional bettors reach their potential.

Fresh from their Bet Bash 2025 seminar “From Emotion to Execution: The Champion’s Mindset for Sports Betting”, Elliot and Samm break down what separates consistent winners from those trapped by emotion, ego, and poor habits.

Together, they unpack how to build emotional regulation, discipline, and resilience in a world driven by variance and risk.

This is one of those episodes that will make you rethink how you approach betting, pressure, and performance both on and off the computer screen.  

In This Episode

• Why emotional control and self-awareness are key to long-term betting success
• The difference between being the casino and being the gambler
• Tools to reset your mindset after wins or losses
• How subconscious beliefs about money, self-worth, and luck impact performance
• Why lifestyle habits, sleep, exercise, and relationships directly affect betting results
• How to identify and stop destructive patterns like chasing losses or over-staking after a win
• Practical exercises to improve focus, resilience, and emotional recovery

Key Quotes

“You need to see yourself as the casino, not the gambler. The casino doesn’t care about one spin, it cares about the long-term results.” - Elliot Roe

“Our subconscious beliefs around money, worth, and success shape everything - even how we bet.” - Samm Hunter

“Most bettors aren’t aware how much edge they give away through emotion. Tracking those moments is the first step to real improvement.” - Elliot Roe

About the Guests

• Elliot Roe is a mindset and performance coach who has worked with world champions, elite athletes, and top-level traders. He is also the creator of the Primed Mind app elliotroe.com/success-stories
• Samm Hunter is a performance and transformation coach helping individuals break through subconscious barriers to unlock their potential primedmind.com/sammhunter
• Download the Primed Mind app at www.primedmind.com
• Apply for a coaching consultation: https://elliotroe.pro.typeform.com/to/rl0svgYS

Support The Podcast

You can support the SBC Podcast by visiting our podcast sponsor, Matchbook. Get 150 days commission free via this link: https://welcome.matchbook.com/SBC150

In this latest SBC Podcast episode, we shine a spotlight on a North American bettor who has turned software into serious profit.

Franco, known online as Raid_Prints, joins me to share how he went from casual square punter to making over $200,000 profit in just two years. His story is not theory, it’s a real-life example of what’s possible when you combine the right tools, discipline, and mindset.

Fresh from our major SBC review of Pinnacle Odds Dropper and the Episode 92 discussion with its creator, this episode flips the perspective. Franco explains how he uses Pinnacle Odds Dropper (POD) in practice to beat the soft books, where he finds value, and the secrets to sustaining long-term success.

We cover:

• His journey from square to sharp - how he discovered arbitrage, EV betting and eventually Pinnacle Odds Dropper.
• The daily routine of a steamer bettor - why volume is king, how he runs 6,000+ bets, and why priming accounts matters.
• Secrets behind his $200k profit - what sports and markets he targets, managing variance, and coping with restrictions.
• How others can do it too - practical insights into priming, choosing soft vs sharp books, and using POD effectively.
• The North American betting boom - why Franco calls this the “golden age” of betting in the US and how bonus offers, sweepstake books and offshore options fit in.
• The mindset required - tracking bets, handling losing months, and building a long-term edge.

This is not just theory, it’s a showcase of sharp betting in practice. Whether you’re in North America or elsewhere, Franco’s story provides invaluable lessons on discipline, software, and the modern betting environment.

You can also support the SBC Podcast by visiting our podcast sponsor, Matchbook. Get 150 days commission free via this link: https://welcome.matchbook.com/SBC150

For more on the topics explored in this podcast

• Franco (Raid Prints) on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@raid_prints
•  Website: https://pinnacleoddsdropper.com

In the latest SBC Podcast episode, I sit down again with Dylan, co-founder of Pinnacle Odds Dropper, to take a deep dive into sharp betting, market efficiency, and the results of our detailed August 2025 review of POD.

We explore how the software helps advantage bettors track steam moves, why Pinnacle remains the barometer for bookmakers, and the lessons from analysing 345,000+ logged bets. Dylan and I also share insights on CLV, market limits, niche sports, and the growing challenges facing US bettors under new tax rules.

HOW POD WORKS & WHY IT MATTERS

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

WHICH SPORTS DELIVER THE BIGGEST EDGES

• Basketball’s “killer combo” of ROI and strike rate
• Soccer’s vast sample size, overs vs unders trends, and higher ROI on away sides
• Tennis as a two-outcome sport and why sharp bettors gravitate toward it
• High ROI surprises in baseball and volleyball vs the pain of betting NFL

CLOSING LINE VALUE & MARKET LIMITS

• Why CLV is the best early indicator of profitability
• Analysis: positive CLV bets returned +7.7% ROI vs –8.38% on negative CLV bets
• How Pinnacle market limits act as a proxy for confidence and edge significance
• Should you apply filters or follow Franco’s “bet everything” approach?

SHARP BOOKS & MARKET EFFICIENCY

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

PRACTICAL BETTING STRATEGIES

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

FUTURE TECH & REGULATION

• The role AI might play in pricing, advantage betting, and POD’s future
• Why sharp players need to keep experimenting with new tools and markets
• US betting tax changes under Trump’s “Big Beautiful Bill” and the risk of pushing players offshore
• How bettors adapt to regulatory friction, from crypto books to PPH's

Dylan also shares why Pinnacle still leads the way for sharp betting, how bettors can avoid leaving money on the table, and why adaptability is the hallmark of long-term winners.

You can also support the SBC Podcast by visiting our podcast sponsor, Matchbook. Get 150 days commission free via this link: https://welcome.matchbook.com/SBC150

For more on Dylan & POD 

• Website: https://pinnacleoddsdropper.com
• Twitter/X: https://x.com/pinnacleoddsdrop

In the latest SBC Podcast episode, I sit down with Tom Waterhouse, Australian betting guru, ex-CEO of William Hill Australia, and founder of Waterhouse VC.

Tom lifts the lid on how professional syndicates really operate, where today’s biggest betting edges can be found, and what the rise of new markets like crypto and contracts means for sharp players.

He also shares how Waterhouse VC is investing in cutting-edge suppliers, betting technology, and even syndicates themselves, with a focus on option-based deals that limit risk but maximise upside.

HOW WATERHOUSE VC FINDS AN EDGE

• From on-course bookmaker to running William Hill Australia to launching his own VC fund
• Why Waterhouse VC backs technology suppliers instead of operators
• The option-based model Tom uses to limit downside while chasing outsized returns
• Success stories: turning small options into multi-million-dollar exits

SYNDICATES – WHAT PROS DO DIFFERENTLY

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

DISCIPLINE, MINDSET & SHARP PLAY

• Why betting less often is often the key to winning long term
• Tom’s blueprint for knowing when to strike and when to sit tight
• Advice on finding overlooked markets like challenger tennis or smaller cricket leagues where edges still exist

REGULATION, MINIMUM BET LAW & THE BLACK MARKET

• Australia’s minimum bet law: why some syndicates love it and others hate it
• How restrictions and affordability checks are pushing punters away from licensed firms
• The surge of crypto-based black-market betting and why it’s so hard to police
• Why Tom believes regulation moves in cycles and what might trigger the next reset

NEW TECH & WHERE THE GAME IS MOVING

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

Tom also explains why patience and selectivity matter more than constant action, how pros adapt to tougher markets, and why sharp players will always gravitate to where they can bet at scale.

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

Returning guest Harry Stewart-Moore, betting lawyer and partner at Gardner Leader, answers listener questions and pulls back the curtain on the toughest legal issues facing bettors in 2025.

MULTI ACCOUNTING CHAT

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

BETTING DISPUTES

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

MONITORING, OMBUDSMAN & BLACK MARKET

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

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

Discover More:

• Learn more on the Smart Betting Club and how we help winning bettors at https://smartbettingclub.com/ 
• Harry Stewart-Moore at Gardner Leader 
• Harry's email: [email protected]
• Harry on Twitter
• Podcast feedback - contact SBC on twitter

From starting out behind the counter at Ladbrokes to leading the British Horseracing Authority and advising the UK Gambling Commission, Nick Rust OBE has seen the betting world from every angle.

In this candid, hour-long conversation, Nick reflects on his journey through the sharp end of UK betting—sharing what he’s learned about punters, bookmakers, racing politics, regulation, and even his own quest to bet profitably as an SBC member.

In this episode, you’ll hear about:

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

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

🙌 Episode sponsored by Matchbook – grab 150 days commission-free via: matchbook.com/sbc

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.

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. 

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

(00:00) Intro & Jeevan’s Role
(02:00) Career Beginnings & Super Soccer Origins
(05:30) Rise of Goal Scorer Market
(08:30) Abelson’s Reach & Bookmaker Clients
(11:30) Custom Pricing & Bookmaker Strategies
(13:30) Data Collection and the Human Edge
(15:30) Adding New Markets & Role of Modelling
(18:30) Player Expectancies & Real-World Examples
(21:30) In-Play Pricing Adjustments
(24:30) Value in Pre-Match Windows
(27:30) The Penalty Taker Dilemma
(30:30) Goal Scorer Profiles & Outliers
(34:30) Pricing Successes and Mistakes
(38:30) Player Markets vs. Match Odds
(43:00) Punters & Perceptions
(47:00) Bet Builders & Market Evolution
(51:00) Brazilian Booking Loophole
(54:30) What’s Next at Abelson

It’s a fascinating episode for bettors interested in the mechanics behind player props and the value spots to target in today's dynamic markets.

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!

For a limited time only, you can save 20% on the ​Value Machine​ by using the 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​.

(00:00) Introduction
(00:45) A life in betting - what does Kieran do - what is his history in the betting world?
(04:40) Bottom-up vs. top-down betting and issues with Betfair's reliability
(06:18) Getting on, tipping vs. betting and Kieran's high-volume betting strategy
(08:00) Kieran Ward: a day in the life!
(11:20) Just racing or does Kieran dabble elsewhere?
(12:10) 'The Value Machine' and Kieran's other tipping services - developing, maintaining and innovating
(18:30) Attainable returns using Kieran's software & dealing with volatility
(23:13) The Value Machine Exchange Profits: teaming up with Allan Darke
(25:00) Betting into exchanges late - a different challenge to take on
(29:24) Adapting to the markets and liquidity
(30:35) Affordability and bureaucratic issues with operators
(33:00) Kieran's expansion plans
(34:05) Where to find Kieran

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

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

The growth era during regulatory relaxations in the US defined his earlier career experiences and progression has left him where he is today - at the cutting edge of a new era, with technology and cultural trends helping to pool 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 here: https://promos.betdex.com/sbc

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). 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 [email protected] and his Telegram ID is @varunsudhakar.

(00:40) An introduction to Varun
(02:00) Varun's work at FanDuel
(03:50) Hypergrowth in US betting: regulation, marketing wars and a Flutter takeover
(06:10) Co-founding BetDEX - a different vision for a betting operator
(08:20) What makes BetDEX different from other bookmakers and exchanges?
(10:38) Growth areas, where customers are coming from and why
(13:40) BetDEX's markets and the 'chicken and egg' of customers and liquidity
(17:13) The challenges of hosting horse racing on the platform
(18:50) BetDEX's brokerage service and meeting the demands of larger-staking bettors
(20:35) The types of bigger bets that BetDEX are facilitating
(24:30) Cryptocurrencies, their growing prevalence and challenges/opportunities vs. fiat money
(27:50) Regulators and choosing which jurisdictions to operate in
(30:00) Plans to improve the BetDEX platform and broadening the customer offering
(32:05) Varun's vision for BetDEX in both the medium and long-term
(33:25) How to find Varun and a special 0% commission offer for SBC Podcast listeners!

You can support the SBC Podcast by visiting our brand-new podcast sponsor, Matchbook. You can get 150 days commission free with them via https://www.matchbook.com/promo/sbc-150

To find out everything you need to know about the Smart Betting Club, please visit www.smartbettingclub.com. For up-to-date news, commentary and direct contact links, our Twitter/X handle is @SBCInfo - if you have any questions about what we do, please get in touch!

In the latest SBC Podcast I am joined by Josh to talk about a project that we have launched in February to help punters everywhere.

Bookmaker disputes are the most common complaint that we receive here at the SBC and Gambling Commission in the UK have highlighted it as a major frustration for punters too (they haven't done anything about it but that's another story!).

To help, we have created a brand-new guide that can help walk you through what to do in spots where bookmakers create friction at withdrawal. You can get your FREE SBC Bookmaker Dispute Document here: https://smartbettingclub.com/bookmaker-dispute-guidance/.

In this podcast we discuss the whats and whys of the guide, with some of our personal experiences and opinions intertwined into the chat. Please feel free to share the guide with anyone you feel could benefit from what is inside - it's free for everyone and despite being 'UK-centric' - many of these firms are international companies and apply similar policies in different jurisdictions.

You can support the SBC Podcast by visiting our brand-new podcast sponsor, Matchbook. You can get 150 days, commission free with them via this link.

(00:00) Introduction

(01:31) Why Are We Here?

(04:03) Just A UK Problem?

(07:09) Withdrawal Woes & Loose T & Cs

(13:21) Big Brother Is Watching You!

(19:51) Prevention

(27:34) Disputes - How To Handle Them

(37:45) Showing You Know What You're Doing

(39:15) ADRs - Are They Worthwhile?

(42:42) Considering Court Action

(47:25) Court Claims For Larger Amounts

(51:20) Other Tips & Tricks

(52:20) The Guide & Final Thoughts