In Episode 97 of the Smart Betting Club Podcast, I am joined for the third time by Anthony Kaminskas, founder of AKBets and a former professional punter turned bookmaker.

Nearly three years on from the launch of AKBets, this conversation takes stock of how the business has grown, how the betting industry has shifted, and why life as a modern bookmaker is far tougher than most punters realise - including a healthy discussion on betting restrictions.

AK speaks candidly about operating under UK regulation, handling restrictions, managing compliance risk, and absorbing rising costs at every level of the business. He also lifts the lid on the real economics of running a sportsbook, sharing hard numbers on payroll, data feeds, duties, levies, payment processing and platform fees.

This is not a marketing interview. It is an honest look at why betting markets look the way they do, why margins are tightening, and why both punters and bookmakers are being squeezed by the same pressures.

Topics covered include

• The early chaos of launching AKBets just before Cheltenham and surviving the first year 
• Growing from a one man operation to a licensed bookmaker with close to 30 staff 
• Why compliance now outweighs trading as the biggest business risk and team 
• How and why bookmakers limit or restrict certain betting patterns 
• The reality behind social media narratives around account closures 
• The impact of rising UK betting and casino duties on prices and offers 
• Why higher taxation almost always leads to worse odds for customers
• The true monthly cost of running a UK sportsbook 
• Why horse racing is becoming harder and harder to offer sustainably 
• The growing risk of black market operators as regulation tightens 
• Whether the future still holds opportunity for sharp bettors 
• Why professional gambling skills transfer well outside betting

If you want to understand how bookmakers actually think, why markets behave the way they do, and where the pressure points now sit in UK betting, this is essential listening.

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

Resources & Mentions

• AKBets
• Smart Betting Club

In this episode, Pete speaks with Andrew Pace, founder of inplayLIVE, a live betting platform built around real time wagering and repeatable edges. Andrew shares his journey from early losing punter to profitable live bettor, then into building one of the most active live betting communities around today.

Andrew explains how watching games in real time revealed repeatable pricing errors, why mindset is the foundation of long term success, how his field goal strategy kickstarted six figure profits, and why tracking and data now shape everything he does. He also gives a candid look at the realities of getting on, dealing with limits and non payments, and why offshore and crypto books are both a risk and a necessity at scale.

The conversation also covers the evolution of inplayLIVE, the role of its education system, how the community compounds edges, and the adjustments needed as markets shift and tighten. 

For those wanting to learn more about inplayLive, you can read a full independent review and take advantage of a 25% saving on both the Light and Pro packages (the latter worth over £450) in Issue 158 of the Smart Betting Club magazine.

Key Talking Points

• Andrew’s transformation: From gambling on instinct to building a structured live betting approach that actually wins
• The lightbulb moment: How spotting repeatable patterns during games led to his first major edge
• Field goals to full markets: The simple live angle that grew into hundreds of 1000's in profit
• Why watching games beats models: Real time information, fast reactions, and knowing when prices are wrong
• Discipline over bravado: How mindset, loss management and volume control separate winners from the rest
• The power of community: Members uncovering edges that became more profitable than Andrew’s own plays
• Inside the live stream setup: Why fast feeds matter and how to avoid being picked off by delays
• Getting on and staying on: Over 500 hundred account closures, six figure non payments, and how he still navigates today’s books
• Risk and reward offshore: What he looks for before trusting a new crypto or grey market bookmaker
• Market evolution: Why edges shift, how corrections happen, and the process Andrew uses to find what comes next
• Education first: How the inplayLive masterclass became the backbone of their entire system
• Betting as a vocation: Why Andrew would still watch every game even without money on the line

Key Quotes 

On getting started live betting...
"My first parlay won, and the next day I was on Craigslist buying TVs so I could watch every game.”

On learning where the edges lay...
“I watched everything with the sportsbook open, and I started to notice patterns. That’s when things changed.”

On the psychological battles bettors face...
“The biggest edge in betting long term is always mindset.”

On the inplayLIVE community...
“We’ve had members find edges that became more profitable than anything I’d been betting before.”

On not getting paid by bookies...
“I’ve been cut off from well over 500 sportsbooks and stiffed for more than $400,000 dollars.”

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

Resources & Mentions
inplayLIVE website 

Recent SBC magazine feature (Issue 158) reviewing inplayLIVE

Listen to the inplayLIVE podcast 'Behind The Lines'

In this episode, Pete speaks with Sharp Betting co-founder David Hipkin, who started out as a boxing trader before pivoting into professional betting, using the same data-led methods that would later form the basis of Sharp Betting to generate over £200,000 in profit from soft bookmakers alone.

David shares his journey from early days in spread betting alongside the likes of Mike Tyson and Lennox Lewis, to betting with AI edge models and the launch of the Sharp Betting platform in 2024. You’ll learn real-world strategies to beat the bookmakers, insights into how to operate like a sharp bettor and what it really takes to escape the limitation trap most punters find themselves in.

We also explore Sharp Betting’s curated tools and member community, including the explosive growth of David’s Daily - a free Telegram tipping feed showing 12.54% ROI from more than 2,600 bets. And if you're an SBC member, you can currently secure a full 12 months of Sharp Betting Premium for just £150 - saving £78 compared to the regular price (offer valid until 30 November 2025).

Key Talking Points

• David’s origin story: From betting with family at the Grand National to trading Vegas title fights
• Turning data into money: How "Frog the Gambler" evolved into Sharp Betting’s global football model
• Why sharp betting isn’t about staking big - it’s about winning small, consistently
• Grabbing value quietly: How multiples (accas, Yankees, Lucky 15s) act as camouflage for sharp bettors
• “If it works, why sell it?” - The real answer behind productising a winning betting model
• Variance vs edge erosion: How to spot the difference and stay profitable
• Dealing with restrictions: Camouflage tactics, priming accounts, and making yourself look like a mug
• Why betting exchanges don't suit every model - Sharp Betting’s experience on Betfair
• Community impact: Why helping everyday bettors build £1–3K banks is as rewarding as six-figure wins

Sharp Betting Highlight:

• David’s Daily (Free) -  2,600 bets logged and verified at 12.54% ROI
• Live Model Access (Premium) - Bet alongside the data in real-time on soft books
• Current SBC member offer: £150 off a 12-month subscription (until 30 Nov, 2025)

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

Resources & Mentions

• Sharp Betting website  
• Recent SBC magazine feature (Issue 157) profiling Sharp Betting
• Follow Sharp Betting on X (Twitter)  
• Follow David on X (Twitter) 

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.