The Smart Betting Club Podcast Smart Betting Club

In this episode, SBC Editor, Peter Ling is joined by the CEO of the Gambling Commission, Andrew Rhodes for an exclusive interview on some of the crucial issues facing the UK betting market.
With so many important topics on the agenda from affordability checks to open banking through to bookmaker behaviour and the black market, there was lots to discuss.
Andrew sought to set out the Gambling Commission's stance on each of these topics - many of which have been the focus of extensive criticism across the betting sector, including from us here at SBC. 


All told it's a fascinating chat and provides insight into his organisations approach to regulating the very challenging UK betting market in 2024.


(00:00) Introduction
(01:34) What does the Gambling Commission do?
(04:15) Andrew's personal betting
(06:17) Affordability Checks and the current state of play
(08:59) Checks - are they frictionless or not? Who will be affected?
(12:55) Public criticism of the Affordability Checks and Andrew's reaction to it
(16:42) Horse racing and the impact that checks could have on it
(18:50) Why is clarity on Affordability Checks taking so long?
(22:10) Can bookmakers be trusted? Didn't they get us here?
(25:35) Open Banking and more obtrusive checks
(29:34) Why Andrew thinks Affordability Checks are a viable solution
(34:37) ADVERT Event announcement - SmartBash!
(37:12) Open banking and its place in the industry
(39:00) The black market, its scale and the Gambling Commission's plan to tackle it
(47:35) China and international lessons that we can learn about the unregulated market
(50:44) Bookmaker behaviour in the regulated market
(54:54) Licence conditions and operators' transparency
(59:11) Social media criticism of The Gambling Commission
(01:02:28) Restrictions and why it's not in the Gambling Commission's remit
(01:03:16) The 2020 survey results
(01:03:55) A shift in dialogue from the Gambling Commission moving forward?


Discover More:
Learn more on the Smart Betting Club and how we help winning bettors at https://smartbettingclub.com/ Gambling Commission: https://www.gamblingcommission.gov.uk/Podcast feedback and media enquiries - contact SBC on twitter @sbcinfo or info@smartbettingclub.comRead more about each SBC Podcast episode: https://smartbettingclub.com/the-smart-betting-club-podcast/

A short announcement about Smart Bash 2024 — an exclusive one-day gathering crafted by and for betting enthusiasts, set to take place at Chelsea Football Club on Friday, July 19th.
Learn more about this special event and how you can secure your tickets now in this short announcement podcast.
Get your tickets now at www.smart-bash.com

With Cheltenham being centre stage at the time of recording, we discuss horse racing as a betting medium, with our personal experiences and recent ‘Black Market hullabaloo’ around the sport being touched upon. This feeds nicely into our latest Horse Racing Tipster Profit report, with Andy Holding, Sys Analyst and many more providing different angles into the market. 
Next, we look at Oddschecker’s new ‘unlimited’ service and try to work out what’s going on at the UK’s leading odds comparison site. The introduction of a charge may also alter expectations on the detail expected when it comes to tipster records – we explain why. 
Geoff Banks and a mysterious email take up the next portion of the show before we discuss Chasing Steamers and some very worrying reports around exchange balances disappearing from customers’ accounts. 


To finish up, exchanges are on the agenda as we talk about BETDAQ, their offering and why it is worth shopping around, with some concerns about other operators’ practices raised on the back of a previous podcast. 


We also managed to squeeze in a listener question as we thought that our response would be beneficial for everyone!

(00:00) Intro
(00:50) Horse Racing – still viable as a betting medium?
(02:50) Bungling Black Market Bookies
(08:42) Horse Racing Tipster Profit Report: The very best evolving with the times
(14:30) Recent Podcasts – Pete ‘Michael Parkinson’ Ling
(15:45) Andy Holding Speed Figures – clocking the winners?
(18:08) Oddschecker Unlimited – what’s going on?
(21:30) What about Oddschecker’s tipster records?
(26:55) Geoff Banks
(32:58) Chasing Steamers
(34:55) Missing: what is going on with exchange balances?
(38:45) BETDAQ, introductory offers and tips on unique markets
(42:56) Exchanges and sustainable ecosystems
(46:20) Answering a listener question

Discover More
Learn more on the Smart Betting Club and how we help winning bettors at https://smartbettingclub.com/ Podcast feedback - contact SBC on twitter @sbcinfoRead more about each SBC Podcast episode: https://smartbettingclub.com/the-smart-betting-club-podcast/

Andy Holding is a genuine racing expert having operated at the sharp end of the racing world for over 2 decades. Starting out working in a bookmakers, he made the leap to being a professional punter at the age of 30 and in more recent years has become best known through his work tipping on the Oddschecker website and on William Hill Radio.
He also oversees his own Andy Holding Speed Figures website with colleagues Sam Turner and Andy Bate, which was the focal point of a recent in-depth SBC tipster review in February 2024 as we explored the service and tips on offer.


Using the data from his speed figures to highlight value bets for members of his service and via his Oddschecker column, Andy outlines how speed figures work, how he uses them and just why they are so useful to accurately pinpoint the relative strengths and weaknesses of a horse and when you should back it.


Alongside that, Andy also openly discusses his own betting, the issues facing the racing industry and most revealing of all - names the 4 major bookmakers that still use him as a 'mark' and allow him to get bets down with them. There are some names that might surprise you here!


We also get into his Oddschecker column, how he picks these bets and their performance, plus how he copes with the pressures of being a prominent tipster, especially during a bad run.


And for those of you listening to this ahead of the 2024 Cheltenham Festival, he picks out a trio of big value bets to follow and back.
Andy was a fascinating guest, full of insight on his specialist subject and with a long track record of beating the bookmaker.

(00:00) Intro
(02:12) Andy's grounding in racing (and betting)
(03:50) A mentor who changed everything
(04:28) Time!
(06:00) Going professional and how Andy 'got in' at the right time
(07:10) Opportunities that have arrived along the way
(10:35) Speed Figures and how they can provide an objective view
(14:30) Market reactions to speed figures and sectionals and how they are still underestimated
(17:00) The work that goes behind the scenes at Andy Holding Speed Figures
(20:10) Irish Racing and Andy's daily podcast
(22:10) Tipping for Andy Holding Speed Figures and Oddschecker (and the differences between the selections)
(26:25) Price contractions
(28:30) Dealing with losing runs as a tipster
(31:00) Andy's betting activity and how he gets on!
(33:00) The firms that Andy has a relationship with and restrictions that turn punters away
(37:40) Affordability Checks and Andy's thoughts on the future of horse racing
(40:55) Some tips from Andy for betting at Cheltenham (with some early selections!)
(44:40) General advice for betting on horse racing
(47:35) Andy's football allegiances!
(49:40) How to find Andy and a special SBC discount


Discover More:
Learn more on the Smart Betting Club and how we help winning bettors at https://smartbettingclub.com/ Andy Holding Speed Figures: https://andyholdingspeedfigures.co.uk/Andy Holding Speed Figures Twitter: https://twitter.com/figuresAndyAndy Holding Twitter: https://twitter.com/Holding_AndyAndy's Oddschecker page: https://www.oddschecker.com/tips/andy-holdingPodcast feedback - contact SBC on twitter @sbcinfo
Read more about each SBC Podcast episode: https://smartbettingclub.com/the-smart-betting-club-podcast/

I have a very special guest for Episode 70 in the form of lawyer, Harry Stewart-Moore, who is a partner at the law firm Gardner Leader, with a speciality in cases in the betting industry. Harry regularly acts for some of the leading names in the gambling world in both High Court proceedings and before various sports regulatory panels.

With a preference to represent those on the punting side of things including many professional bettors in the past, Harry explained the type of cases he takes on and some of the issues and grievances brought before him.

Many of them do focus on bookmaker behaviour alongside issues created by the industry and its regulator, the Gambling Commission, about whom he has very many concerns as to the way they operate.

We also expand on the black market, its growth and the legal challenges that creates as well as why frictionless affordability checks just wont work and the problems with many bookmakers terms and conditions.

Nothing was off the agenda in this wide-reaching chat and Harry was a fascinating guest, happy to share his thoughts and experiences on all things betting from a legal perspective.

(00:00) Introducing Harry
(01:20) Harry's father's impact on his career choice (& love of gambling!)
(02:44) Gambling and what Harry has learnt working with successful gamblers
(03:45) Cases, clients and the life of a gambling lawyer
(06:30) The increase in punter vs. bookmaker cases and the possible reasons for this
(07:32) The most common disputes that Harry deals with
(09:40) The lengths that bookmakers will go to to avoid paying liabilities
(12:55) The anatomy of a gambling dispute case
(13:47) AML and other regulatory checks and how bookmakers weaponise them
(19:15) The Gambling Commission
(22:50) The National Lottery & the Gambling Commission's attitude towards it
(25:50)The regulatory future in the UK & the growth of the black market
(30:50) Criminal elements' hold on certain gambling jurisdictions
(32:15) The law and how it relates to black market betting
(34:50) The White Paper and Harry's take on 'frictionless' affordability checks
(40:45) How issues with law and regulation keep reappearing
(41:12) The competitive advantage that major firms have when dealing with onerous checks and regulation
(44:00) IBAS, eCogra and how dispute resolution services just aren't working
(46:30) Bookmaker Terms and Conditions and how some are drafted to shaft punters
(48:30) How treating 'skilled' and casino/fixed odds betting differently could well help with regulation and dealing with problem gambling
(55:50) How to access Harry's legal expertise!

Discover More:
Learn more on the Smart Betting Club and how we help winning bettors at https://smartbettingclub.com/ Harry at Gardner Leader: https://www.gardner-leader.co.uk/team_members/harry-stewart-moore-2/Harry on Twitter @HarryStewartMo1Podcast feedback - contact SBC on twitter @sbcinfoRead more about each SBC Podcast episode: https://smartbettingclub.com/the-smart-betting-club-podcast/

Betting Clever ep 69 features both Pete and Josh from SBC and is split into two parts, with 'gambling chat' making up Part 1 and a Q & A with the Head of Exchange at Matchbook, Ronan McDonagh, making up Part 2.
Part 1 starts with Pete and Josh discussing our gambling plans for 2024, before we move on to explore the perils of betting social media after being alerted to some strange goings on with some of Flutter's affiliates. Andy Robson Tips is one of many affiliate tipsters who likes to present himself as a regular guy looking to make his followers a few quid. The reality it seems is quite different.
We also touch on our brand new SBC Free Tipster, Account Agent. This service is designed to prolong bookmaker accounts using a three-pronged approach. It doesn't guarantee 'immortal' betting accounts, but these strategies are proven to keep you away from the 'eye in the sky' at bookmakers' HQs!


In 'Part 2' we are joined by Ronan McDonagh, Head of Exchange at Matchbook.
Matchbook are looking to expand and wrestle market share away from the dominant exchange. We talk about how they are doing this, their plans for the future and how they are targeting specific markets.
We also quiz Ronan on the topics that we feel that you, as smart bettors, will want answered. How they treat winners; commission rates; prices; liquidity; additional features not traditionally found on exchanges - we talk about all of them!
To top our chat with Matchbook off, we also have an exclusive offer - 150 days on the Matchbook platform, commission free!

(00:00) Intro
(01:30) Pete and Josh's plans for 2024: slight alterations or major changes?
(03:40) SM Affiliates: a murky world with questionable vested interests
(13:10) SM Tipsters: BOOM! A bit of fun or predatory?
(17:20) Account Agent: SBC's new free service that helps maintain bookmaker accounts
(23:10) Golf Betting: our second place curse in 2024!
(25:20) Golf Betting Club: SBC's new Premium Service with an excellent in-play edge
(27:10) New Magazine Format: Monthly updates with everything all in one place
(29:25) BetInAsia & Broker Options: Pete's experiences getting the best prices from across the major exchanges

Part 2
(31:35) Introducing Ronan McDonagh from Matchbook and recent developments at the Matchbook Exchange: Building products bit-by-bit
(34:40) Matchbook's focus on the 'personal touch' and how they have looked to grow market share
(36:50) Horse Racing: Liquidity, pricing & what the data tells us (& scandalous Industry SPs!)
(41:25) Established players trading on Matchbook: Why big fish are swimming in the Matchbook pond
(45:25) Football; liquidity, secondary markets, growth areas and multiples
(48:27) American Sports: Matchbook's 'bread and butter' and how they compete in the market
(49:28) Golf Betting: Liquidity differentials across tours, popular products and massive bets (on Denny McCarthy!)
(52:45) The Regulatory Environment: AML, SOW & affordability checks and how Matchbook want to balance customer service with their licensing requirements
(57:24) Winners: How Matchbook negotiate with customers individually rather than apply arbitrary commission rates on winning punters' action
(59:50) 150-days on Matchbook commission free for SBC Podcast listeners!


 Discover More:
Matchbook Data & SBC Analysis (with sign up offer info)Account Agent's SBC pageSign up for a SBC Membership Podcast feedback on twitter @SBCInfoRead more about each SBC Podcast episode