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man celebrating win on phone

Single Bet Strategy

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Single bets are an oft-neglected part of many bettors routines as they chase big wins in accumulators or parlays.

However, single bets can actually be the most effective tool to use and generally represent the best value.

Most professional bettors focus on single bets and many bet exclusively in singles. We’ll have a look at why this is and some strategies for betting in singles below.

 

What is a Single Bet?

A single bet is a wager placed on the outcome of one event. This could be a horse to win a race, a team to win a football match or a golfer to win a tournament.

A single is not combined with any other event or reliant on any other outcome. It is the most simple bet there is.

Examples could be:

  • $10 on Liverpool to beat Manchester Utd in the Premier League @ 2.10; or
  • $10 on Uncle Joe to win the Kentucky Derby @ 5.00; or
  • $10 on Naomi Osaka to win the US Open @ 7.00

These are all individual events and each one is an example of a single bet.

Each-way bets are also classed as single bets, even though technically they are two bets – one on the horse to win and one on the horse to place. The reason each-way bets are classed as singles is that they are still placed as one bet as a whole and as one bet on a betslip. 

 

 

Single Bet vs Multiple Bet

It is often debated in betting circles as to which is better – a single bet or multiple bet strategy. 

The principal advantage of a multiple bet is that it returns can be much higher. Putting together a parlay or accumulator means you are multiplying odds together and therefore can get huge odds. Gambling is full of stories of people who have landed massive winners through multiple bets and it certainly is enticing when you hear about such successes.

On the other hand however there is a disadvantage to multiple bets. The problem is that you are generally multiplying the bookies’ edge over you. If you presume the bookies have a 5-15% edge on each bet, then multiplying those together means the bookies are getting a huge edge over the punter. That is why bookies love to promote accumulators with special offers and free bets.

The problem is even more acute once you consider that it is rare to find one bookie who is best price on all your selections – normally you will have to take odds that are slightly below the best odds for one or more of the legs of your accumulator. So in effect you are being forced to take bad odds for at least some of your bets.

The only way around this would be to manually place your accumulator – essentially taking the stake and winnings from each bet and rolling it onto the next leg. In this case you can ensure you are getting the best odds for each leg – and can even use the exchanges to maximise your position. 

However, that presumes of course that the events do not cross over time-wise and each one finishes with enough time before the next one starts for you to put the next leg of your accumulator on.

In summary, multiple bets sound glamorous and exciting with the prospect of returning a big win, but in reality they are normally poor value and just increase the bookies’ advantage over you.

Single bets on the other hand avoid all of this. You are just focused on one bet and can seek the best odds for it via an odds comparison site and the exchanges.

Most successful tipsters and professional gamblers we have come across use just single bets and we believe that is the most sensible option to take. Maybe have the odd accumulator/parlay occasionally just for fun if you really want to but the focus should just be on single bets if you want to maximise your returns.

 

Single Bet is the Professional Choice

As we say, single betting is the choice of the vast majority of top tipsters and professional bettors we have come across and reviewed here on the site.

Whether that’s in:

They all just use single bets.

That is down to the dynamic we have described whereby it is much harder to obtain value on multiple bets that on singles.

So if that’s what the pros do, probably best to follow them!

 

How to Utilise A Single Bet

As mentioned, it is crucial if you are using a single bet strategy to ensure that you give yourself the best chance of succeeding.

To make a long-term profit from betting, you need to ensure that you overcome the bookies’ margin (sometimes referred to as the “overround”) which is often 5%-15%, or the exchanges’ commission, which is typically 2-5%.

To do that is actually quite hard and does require a large degree of skill and hard work. However, unless you use an odds comparison site like Oddschecker to find the best odds for your single bet, you will really struggle to make a profit in the long run.

At the same time, it is a good idea to compare the bookies’ best odds with those of the exchanges like Betfiar and Smarkets.

Often the exchanges will offer better odds, particularly if you are going in-play. You do need to factor in the exchange’s commission though when comparing their odds with the bookies’.

 

 

 

 

Celebrate 8 Years of Beating the Bookies with Special Offer!

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Our number one recommended horse racing tipster is celebrating eight years of being a tipster this month – and has got a special offer to celebrate!

Yes, Quentin Franks Racing has been going for a full eight years now (how time flies!) and has been clobbering the bookies throughout his career.

Having made just under 1800 points profit in total, he stands apart as one of the most successful tipsters in any sport, not just horse racing.

There are very few tipsters who have managed to break through the 1,000 point barrier so to be closing in on 2000 points is simply stunning.

That would be £18,000 profit at just £10 per point stakes or £45,000 profit at £25 per point stakes.

With a rock solid return on investment of 16% and a decent strike rate of 22%, there really isn’t much more you could ask for from a service.

And to celebrate eight years of beating the bookies, Quentin is offering a month’s trial for just £4 (normal price £47), or £479 for a lifetime subscription (saving hundreds of pounds per year).

Grab this Special Offer Here.

Quentin is coming off an excellent start to the summer, with £968 profit in May and £84 profit in June.

With the flat season in full flow it’s a great time to join with some top class racing action coming up.

And with eight years of massive profits behind him, Mr Franks will be targeting many more years of success to come.

Get a month of Quentin Franks Racing for just £4 here.

 

 

 

Get Free Tennis Trading Guide for Wimbledon!

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The summer of sport continues next week with the start of Wimbledon on Monday.

Regardless of whether you’re a tennis fan or not, Wimbledon offers a HUGE number of profit-making opportunities for us punters.

Most of them are ‘hidden in plain sight’ *if* you know where to look for them, and few people know where to look better than Paul Shires.

Paul has made a full-time living from tennis for over a decade.

And today, he is going to share some of his best tactics with you, for FREE.

Get your FREE guide for trading tennis here.

They all start from a basic psychological weakness almost all professional tennis players (and most humans) have, and he’s included three of his favourite ways to exploit it for profit:

– LtDB

– SaaB

– MMBC

He’ll also share some important ‘setting up’ information that really can make all the difference between massive success and frustrating failure. These are simple steps that anyone can follow.

And finally, Paul will pull back the curtain on the exact information source he uses to know more about some players than they know about themselves!

Get your FREE tennis trading guide here.

It’s all in a fantastic FREE guide he’s put together which is only available right now in the run up to Wimbledon next week.

Not only could this be your most enjoyable – and lucrative – Wimbledon ever, but it could also be the start of a new approach to turning a profit from watching sport. Who knows, you might even be able to take this full-time, like Paul.

Click here to get your FREE ‘Profit from Tennis’ guide.

 

 

 

Man City’s tame opening fixtures hand Pep Guardiola’s men potentially decisive title advantage

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At some point or other, someone would have told you that the Premier League is a marathon and not a sprint.

Of course, this is true in almost every situation as the world’s most competitive football league meanders through nine months, four seasons, and makes up 38 grueling games. In this sense, you can see why this is a phrase that is repeated so often when talking about any possible outcome in England’s top flight.

The 2022/2023 season, however, could be over before it ever began which is why it’s perhaps best to disregard this particular one-liner over the summer.

Indeed, Manchester City’s tame opening fixtures will hand them a huge title advantage, which frankly, they probably don’t need as the latest betting markets will indicate with the latest football odds pricing Pep Guardiola’s men at 4/7 to make it a hat-trick of Premier League trophies.

Now, you would have to say that this is a generous price when considering that City could well win the opening six games of the season and incredibly, open up a gap at the top of the table before the autumn solstice arrives. 

Indeed, City will play West Ham, Bournemouth, Newcastle, Crystal Palace, Nottingham Forest, and Aston Villa, before their very first test of the season arrives in the shape of Tottenham Hotspur coming to the Etihad Stadium on September the 10th.

The clash with Antonio Conte’s men aside, you do get the feeling that City could rack up 18 points from their opening six fixtures with no team realistically looking capable of causing the Premier League’s reigning champions too much trouble. 

Perhaps, if pressed, you could point to the world’s richest club, Newcastle, potentially giving City a bloody nose at St James’ Park on the 20th of August but then you have to keep in mind that Guardiola’s charges have netted eight goals in their last two trips to Tyneside.

Put another way, they don’t tend to struggle when the Toon host them which, again, means that City are well set up to enjoy a maximum points return before the visit of Spurs. 

City’s title challengers set to struggle

By contrast, nearest title rivals Liverpool have to go to Old Trafford on matchday three and you would expect the Red Devils to put up a much-improved fight under the management of new boss Erik ten Hag.

Chelsea, meanwhile, have to host a rejuvenated Spurs on matchday two which will be far from straightforward as a determined Conte returns to Stamford Bridge. Furthermore, at odds of 12/5 on a Spurs win, you do get the sense that this will be a fixture where value can be found with Chelsea a bit at sea following the departure of former owner Roman Abramovich. 

In general, however, you can all of a sudden see that City have been handed seemingly safe passage until mid-September which should ensure they enjoy some kind of points advantage after six games. In reality, that may be all the Premier League champions need to ride off into the sunset for the third year in a row.

 

 

 

Get Top Royal Ascot Tips Here!

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It’s the start of Royal Ascot tomorrow, one of the world’s biggest race meetings.

Cotswold Racing smashed it at Royal Ascot last year, making a MASSIVE 59.5 points profit.

That’s £1,190 profit to £20 stakes for just one week’s work!

And it came at a phenomenal return on investment (ROI) of 110%.

You can view last years results HERE.

It is not a flash in the pan either as Cotswold Racing has made profit in 16 of the last 17 months and 400 points profit to BSP.

The Royal Ascot Festival Special is available for Honest Betting Reviews members at a special discounted rate of £11.99 for 5 days access – just use code HBRROYALASCOT2022 at checkout.

Even better, get 3 months access to Cotswold Racing for £55 (normal price £87.50), which will include daily tips and coverage of other upcoming major festivals – use code HBRCOTSWOLD55 at checkout.

Good luck with your Royal Ascot bets this week and let’s hope for plenty of winners!

 

 

 

horses running in race

Does the Dutching Betting System Really Work in Horse Racing?

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The phrase ‘go Dutch’ generally means to share the cost of something equally, whether it’s when settling a restaurant bill or taking a taxi home following an evening out.

In a betting context, Dutching is the act of sharing out your stake across two or more runners in a market, whether that’s equally or on a proportionate basis to their odds or your prediction as to which is the most likely winner.

Dutching is perhaps best observed in horse racing. We know that there can be only one winner of a race, but by backing two or more runners we can increase our chances of finding that elusive champion, albeit at the cost of eating into our potential profit margin.

Dutching: In Application

Let’s take a look at this summer’s racing, where punters will be placing their Royal Ascot bets with relish in the year of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee. A renewal like the King’s Stand Stakes has, at the time of writing, two outstanding favourites – Golden Pal and Nature Strip – with the rest of the field priced at odds of 10/1.

Assuming we wanted to somehow bet on both of the market principles, is Dutching the right way to go about it?

Playing the Percentages

You could, of course, back either Golden Pal or Nature Strip if you had a particular fancy about one or the other. The former has, after all, recently been described as an ‘awesome specimen’ by trainer Wesley Ward. However, that accepts the risk that you might pick the wrong horse and lose, so maybe there’s a sharper way to play it.

We can Dutch the two horses together at their current odds of 7/4 and 11/4, and rather than staking 50/50, we might bet a little more on Golden Pal (the ante-post favourite) and a little less on Nature Strip – let’s say 0.6 units on the former and 0.4 on the latter.

Now let’s work out where we stand on the numbers front:

  • If Golden Pal wins, we make 1.05 profit from our 0.60, minus Nature Strip’s 0.40 = 0.65 net.
  • If Nature Strip wins, we make 1.65 profit from our 0.40, minus Golden Pal’s 0.60 = 1.05 net.

So, as you can see, we can net a similar return with split staking across the pair, and while there’s a chance we could lose on both fronts if an outsider takes the spoils, Dutching can work where two selections in a market are head and shoulders above the rest.

In our King’s Stand Stakes example, Golden Pal has an implied probability of winning of 36.4% from odds of 7/4 and Nature Strip 26.7% from 11/4, so we can cover more than half of the book and still profit. But, as we know, horse racing can be unpredictable, and an outsider taking the line in first place scuppers the whole thing.

What About Forecast Betting?

If you are having a flutter on Royal Ascot, or any other sport/event where there are two clear market principles, then forecasting is another possible option. A straight forecast would require you to back the 1-2 in the correct order, which naturally increases your risk but also pays out a greater rate than prescribed in the Dutching example above. So, a 1.00 stake on Golden Pal to finish first and Nature Strip second would yield a net of 6.38, but our stake is lost should the latter win or any other horse in the field finishes first or second.

With a reverse forecast, we can back both possibilities in a 1-2 combination. We have to place two bets – so, in this example, that would be 0.50 units apiece – but yield a profit in two potential ways:

  • 1st – Golden Pal, 2nd – Nature Strip = 0.50 pays 3.19 net
  • 1st – Nature Strip, 2nd – Golden Pal = 0.50 pays 3.69 net

So, there are a few betting systems that can work – mathematically speaking – where there are two favourites that are likely to dominate. But, as ever, the success of any system is in being able to spot where the market principles are worthy of such an accolade while avoiding those ‘weak’ favourites that can derail a punter’s ambitions.

 

 

 

Bill Benter: Gambling’s Racetrack King

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Here at Honest Betting Reviews we are commencing a series of articles looking at the greatest professional gamblers of past and present.

Partly we are doing this to see what we can learn, partly to draw some inspiration and partly just because most of them are fascinating stories!

These guys have not only managed to succeed where 98% of gamblers fail in actually making money, but have taken things to a whole other level in making large amounts of money – many of them in doing so changing the face the gambling as we know it. 

The first in our series certainly did all of those things – and more. We hope you enjoy this article and the series.

Bill Benter – a global gambling phenomenon  

The geography of Bill Benter’s life spans the globe, from his hometown of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania to Hong Kong, where he made a fortune and, as a professional gambler, revolutionized racetrack betting. Benter has feet firmly in both areas: he is a charitable contributor to multiple organizations in Pittsburgh and several years ago was married in Hong Kong in a Tibetan Buddhist ceremony.

Why does the title of this article call Benter a racetrack king? Two reasons: 1) he is simply incredibly successful at gambling and 2) he is one of the bettors who has computerized the sport of betting, making it, in the words of Wired magazine, “more and more like a stock market model…horses should be thought of as Dell or Microsoft – their past performances are the equivalent of economic charts.”

Hong Kong High Roller

First, let’s talk about the success. Benter makes an estimated $10 million per year from his Hong Kong betting activities. Hong Kong is an incredibly lucrative market. Two racetracks alone bring in an estimated 71 billion in Hong Kong dollars. The amount bet on each race in Hong Kong is simply “the largest in the world” according to Wired.

Benter moved to Hong Kong, in a sense, after Las Vegas threw him out for being too successful—and for having a system that worked. When he was a young man, Benter read a book beloved by many a gambler, Beat the Dealer. He was mesmerized, and put the book’s principles in play in blackjack at the tables in Las Vegas. Beat the Dealer was oriented around mathematical analysis, essentially crunching all the variables and translating them into mathematical probability. Benter, starting with a relatively small stake, found it not only mesmerizing, but a great way to precisely calculate probability—and thereby make large amounts of money.

Fast forward to Hong Kong, where in the mid-1980s, with only a $150,000 bankroll, Benter and his then-partner set up shop in gambling on horse races. Hong Kong is not only a staggeringly lucrative gambling market, it is known to be clean, run and maintained by the Hong Kong Jockey Club, a not-for-profit organization that maintains a limited pool of competing horses. The aboveboard nature and the limited pool created ideal conditions for a mathematically oriented model.

Success was not instantaneous—Wired estimates that Benter lost his shirt once if not more—but when it came, it came big. Many have dubbed him the world’s pre-eminent sports bettor—the most successful and the most disciplined.

Revolutionising Betting

Second, let’s talk about the revolution he helped make. The computerized gambling that Benter and his group represent have made gambling more than a sport that relies on bets and hunches. Working with a group of employees, the Benter horse racing system essentially analyzes probabilities in a way not tremendously differently than Beat the Dealer advises—but instead of cards and other players, it is the horses, the jockeys, the track, and more.

They analyze multiple variables from the track. Horses are assigned grades on such factors as how they come out of a turn, how they recover, how they finish, the jockey’s past performance, and the condition of the track. When Benter started, it is believed that he analyzed roughly 30 variables. Now, all told, roughly 130 variables are graded minutely via specially designed software, put into a database, and utilized to predict the outcome of a given race.

More than a Professor or President – a King

Benter has gathered accolades from all over the world for his success and his system. He has been invited to lecture in mathematics departments and served as president of a Hong Kong Rotary Club. But, as the title says, in the world of which the Hong Kong racetrack betting is a part, he’s more than a professor or a president—he’s a king.

The system from our winning systems list that sounds most similar to the methods used by Benter is Back Lucrative – let’s hope they can emulate some of the success achieved by Bill 🙂

 

 

 

Casino Games & Their Live Options: What’s The Difference?

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With the seemingly endless list of casino games on the internet that are repackaged and repurposed in all sorts of ways, it can be overwhelming for new players, in particular, to get their bearings. When you throw into the mix the addition of live options, it’s even more confusing, especially as many players will undoubtedly be wondering what the key benefits of this variation are exactly. 

The online gambling industry is positively booming. From gameplay changes to alternate bonus options, we’re here to walk you through what sets live and non-live options apart, to better steer you in the right direction. We’re going to go over three game types and take examples from each to show you the differences between them. 

“vintage bingo turner and numbered balls” by starsantiques is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 2.0.

Bingo

As one of the most straightforward games out there, it doesn’t take long to explain the basic premise. You’re given a board with numbers on it. Numbers are then randomly called and if you line up the called numbers on your board, you win.

Little is changed from that basic premise when you play bingo live: in some bingo rooms, your numbers are called by a live dealer, and in others, you will be able to enjoy the additional benefit of a chatbox. Within this, you can communicate with other players, which definitely contributes to the interactive and immersive element of the game. Also, some of the bonuses will be enhanced now that you’re competing against other players. 

In the example of The Voice live bingo, you play bingo as normal. However, if you match all four numbers that are displayed on the coach chair while you win, you also win an extra jackpot prize. There are also bonuses for being the first to match a chair number or spinning a chair. While this has you competing against more than just the game, it also gives you additional payouts.

 

 

Slots

If anything is arguably easier to understand than bingo, many would argue that it would be slot games. Essentially, you pull a lever or push a button and wait for the spinning symbols to stop spinning. If they match up in specific ways, you win money based on the odds of the match. 

With live slots, a presenter commentates a live game that all watchers are betting on. There is a chat bar that players can communicate with and the presenter reacts in real-time to the happenings of the game. That is essentially the biggest spin on the live take as well as the presenter spinning for the possibility of free spins when that comes up on the screen. At the end of the day, the live variant of slots is for those who want to share the experience with like-minded players. 

 

 

Roulette

Roulette is all about picking one or more numbers and hoping a spinning ball lands on one of those numbers. It’s one of the showier games in a casino and typically attracts crowds. Online is no different as people love to watch live dealers doling out spins. But with many live roulette games, there’s a catch: certain numbers can be multiplied. For example, 2, 7, 12, 24, and 30 are picked to receive multipliers at the start of the round.

If you picked one of those numbers and it’s landed on, the amount of money you win will be doubled, tripled, etc. depending on the multiplier. It adds an extra layer of complexity to the game for the sake of bonuses. Of course, you can also chat with other players and the sets are always luxurious looking, but we’re more interested in the multipliers. 

So there you have it. If you want to maximize your winnings in online casinos, consider our advice on live games and you should be able to up your knowledge and refine your strategy. 

 

 

 

Golf Tipster Lands 50/1 and 40/1 Winners in One Weekend!

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Followers of our number one ranked golf tipster the Golf Insider were celebrating at the weekend, as he landed not one, but two huge winners on the same day! First up was the 50/1 tournament win for VICTOR PEREZ in the Dutch Open on Sunday…

It was a nervy affair as the Frenchman, Perez, prevailed in a 4-hole play-off to defeat Ryan Fox. He certainly holed some big putts did Perez en route to a second win on the European Tour.Which was added to later in the day with the 80/1 (Dead Heat) success of DANNY LEE in the final round of the Charles Schwab Challenge.Lee shot a final round 5-under-par 65 in the “Lowest R4 Score” market, tied in 1st place alongside the eventual tournament winner, Sam Burns, to be a dead-heat winner (so paid as a 40/1 winner).

Another Winner for Pre-Round 4 Updates

That 40/1 triumph was the latest in a line of successful tips for the new “pre-round 4 updates” that have been added to the Golf Insider service this year.

In short these are tips for the final 18 holes – not for who is going to win, but who is likely to have the best 18 hole score on the day.

And so far in 2022…

There have been winners at 25/1, 50/1, 40/1 and, best of all, Jonathan Byrd winning at 100/1 on the final Sunday at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am in California.

And to accompany these winners, a number of EW places at 45/1, 28/1, 18/1, 50/1 and more.

Over £20,000 Profit in Total

Those success have just added to the superb overall profit figures for the Golf Insider.

In total they have made over £20,000 profit at advised stakes (£10/point) since starting up in 2014 at an ROI of 27%, which is sensational tipping. 

They absolutely crushed it in our live trial as well with winners at prices of 250/1,150/1, 20/1, 30/1, 12/1 and 50/1.

It’s also worth pointing out that membership comes with an initial 30-Day Risk-Free Money Back Guarantee, so you can sign-up with total peace of mind, knowing that you have a safety net in place.

And the Golf Insider has some big bets lined up for this week when they will be aiming to land yet another huge winner (or two!) for members.

You can get a 30-Day Risk-Free Trial with the Golf Insider here.

 

 

 

bingo

Betting the “House”: Why Bingo is popular (and should you play it?)

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It’s easy to be snobbish about bingo. For most casino games, there are ways to be good at them and get better, but with bingo, you’re entirely at the mercy of two things – the numbers on your card, and the numbers that get drawn.

You can’t choose the former, and you have no control over the latter, either, so from the first time you sit down to play to the hundredth, you won’t get any “better” at the game.

So that begs the question: why is bingo so popular? And it is popular in both the online and offline versions.

Whether you’re in an airy hall with a sound system or sat at home playing bingo sites not on Gamstop, you are going to have a large number of people playing against you. And believe it, they will be against you. Given the size of some of the jackpots you’ll find around the world, winning at the bingo table is something everyone who plays it is deeply determined to do.

It’s relaxing

Fairly simply, bingo is not a stressful game at its core. If you’re holding cards in your hand trying to make them look like a winning hand, it’s easy to get exasperated. If you’re at the roulette wheel betting on red, it can feel like the world is against you when it lands on black four or five times in a row.

As we noted above, in bingo the numbers come out as they come out; you don’t have any say in the matter, so there’s really no pressure on you. If you’re doing something for leisure, that’s a big plus point.

It’s social (online or offline)

Although everyone wants to win the jackpot, the level of jeopardy in bingo is what it is. Nobody’s realistically going to be cheating, you won’t get any hustlers turning up looking to use their skills to dupe everyone out of their cash, so there is a feeling of social relaxation to be found with bingo.

This is even more the case when there is no cash fee for entry, which is increasingly the case on social casino sites. Once you’re signed up to those, you can find yourself chatting away with other players like they’re old friends. Try doing that at a high rollers’ poker night.

It has cross-generational appeal

There is a cliche about bingo and its popularity among the senior community, but if you walked into a bingo hall tonight, you would not see a big crowd of elderly players – or at least, not exclusively.

Bingo is increasingly attracting a more evenly spread demographic, and you might just as easily find yourself sat next to a hen night of women in their 20s, a bunch of students who didn’t fancy a bar crawl, or a work night out. And yes, you’ll probably find quite a few older players; they’re part of that cross-generational demo too.

For all the things that some people don’t like about bingo, there are plenty of people who find those things enjoyable. So why not take the chance to get involved yourself and see how you like it?