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There have been books written on this subject.

Here are my thoughts.

Firstly, I would say if you have your own way of working, and it works for you, then still to what you do. Each to their own. To be honest, I wouldn’t advise anyone to do anything without serious consideration of the pros and cons.

From my horse racing betting perspective I’m not keen on any betting staking system that’s just too elaborate. I think anyone can make something difficult. As the saying goes: ‘Keep it simple, stupid.’ Not sure if that should have a comma, as it looks like an insult. It was Kelly Johnson who coined that phrase. I think he worked on spy planes. If it works for him then perhaps it can work for you.

From my experience, it is easy to tie yourself up in knots with complex staking plans, irritated by the consequence of something that is meant to improve your lot and ultimately finances.

My problem with staking plans is how on Earth do you pick between the lines of a good and bad bet? I guess it is based on perceived value. The method may vary from one person to the next so I don’t want to surmise. I would think that most punters would consider a short priced favourite has more hope of winning than an outsider or speculative punt. Who knows? That’s the logic I would consider. But does this work well in practice? After all it is what puts the most money in your pocket rather than win percentage or anything else. I can appreciate why it’s a difficult thing to pin down and why some punters have a variety of strategies. If they have clear data to prove their point then good for them.

However, it makes me wonder if someone is so good a betting most effectively and efficiently then they should, perhaps, bet even more on those selections. Perhaps that’s what they are doing.

I have an issue with the accuracy of most punters selection of best bet compared with a lesser hope.

For example, some of the best bets I have had came from betting on a big prices winners. Let’s say, you have a 50/1 you give half a chance. What do you bet? A fraction of that you would on a 6/4 shot? Is the reality of the winning hope based on the price or assessment of the horse?

Can you pick between the lines?

I don’t think so. In fact, I would suggest that most punters would find more success if they bet level stake across the board. You may think that is a ridiculous idea and to be fair it does depend on your style of betting. That’s why you need to review your selections to have a better idea. It may be a positive to write a diary to consider the thought process.

I’ve found that the best money I have ever made comes from betting level stake when a giant priced winner pops up. It seems much to easy to conclude you should bet more on a favourite and less on an outsider. Perhaps that thought process itself should be questioned. Because I think it lacks logic or understanding.

How many times have those half hopes won at big odds and that banker failed miserably?

Assess your staking strategy by reviewing how you would have fared if betting level stake. If the profits were bigger then it might be a worthwhile option. Also, you save a lot of time and irritation by questioning how much to bet on each selection. It seems an approach which creates problems and builds annoyance. When you have a winner you will be saying: ‘I wish I had put more on that!’ When you have a loser you will be saying: ‘I wish I had put less on that!’

Level stake you say: ‘It is what it is.’

There’s a lot to be said for keeping it simple, stupid.

Assess your data so you’re not the fool.

Photo: Pixabay (free)

I must be getting old because when I played slots as a child they were called one-armed bandits. I was a 70s child. It was a time parents encouraged their children to gamble. I’d change a couple of quid into two pences and try my luck. Penny shove, one-armed bandits and God knows what else.

I had the time of my life.

My brother and I budding gamblers who loved the smell of copper on our hands. We must have been 10 years old. I say that, if you’re thinking, because we are twins.

Mum and Dad smoked, but they wouldn’t allow us to do that or drink alcohol. However, gambling wasn’t barred and it was an important part of our early life. I’m not sure if we were addicted but we enjoyed a good bet.

In those days the fruit machines, one-armed bandits, whatever you called them, didn’t pay out a big big prizes. However, you shouldn’t underestimate their appeal. At the Caister-on-sea holiday camp, run by Ladbrokes, they had a fruit machine which paid either £50 or £100. It may have been £75. Pretty sure it was 10p a go. Four reels. Not sure the theme but remember this one had four black cats.

The holiday camps had a bit of a captive audience. The club was heaving. Our September holiday coincided with Great Yarmouth’s Eastern Festival (three days of top-class horse racing) there were plenty of gamblers in town. Cash on the hip and Lady Luck was everywhere. Lots of belly bearing and easy flares. In the evening, catsuits and the classic bob. I’ve never seen so many people queuing up to go on a fruit machine.

There must have been a line of 20 people.

You’d wait a couple of hours or so to get even a look in. It was literally wait as long as someone’s money lasted or until their willpower cracked. As a child, waiting with my Dad, I was willing each and every person to lose as fast as they could so we would get our turn. Perhaps the adults were thinking the same thing. When our time finally come round, Dad would put the money in and I would press the buttons. It was all good fun. I really loved those fruit machines. It was a special time, father and sons.

I wonder in Las Vegas if people line up to play these progressive slots which pay out millions? If they had one of those at Caister-on-sea the line would have stretched to Great Yarmouth’s Britannia Pier.

We loved our holidays at Caister. Dad went to the horse racing and we’d be about the camp site with mum, eating candyfloss and playing the fruit machines.

I remember we used to go to our local social club in our home town. It was a Buffalo club. It was pretty small and very crowded. We started going there from a similar age with mum and dad. I guess it was cheaper to buy us a couple of cokes than pay for a babysitter. That was back in the day when smoking in pubs and clubs was allowed. The fumes from cigarette and cigar smoke was so thick you couldn’t see across the room. The place had a yellow look about it. I think there was some form of ventilation but it wasn’t up to the job. Smokers revelled in the smog-llike conditions. I’m sure many smoked more to bring it down to zero visibility just to grope the barmaids ample breasts. My eyes stung. It must have been the equivalent to smoking a packet of 20 John Player Special. My clothes literally stunk of nicotine. Stale smoke lingered on your clothes for weeks. People must have thought I was both a heavy smoker and gambler at the age of 10.

Uncle Roy used to go to the club too. He was Dad’s youngest brother and truly a lovely man. Sadly he passed away in his early 40s from a heart attack. I remember he loved a gamble. When he got a win he used to love to press the gamble button to double his payout. We must have had some element of conservation (of money) as I used to keep pressing the collect button. Much to his annoyance.

Uncle Roy would say: ‘Don’t do that!’

It stopped me for a one or two goes but as quick as a flash, I’d press the collect button. I just couldn’t help myself. I’m sure in the end I was made to sit down.

It’s a funny thing that in my older age I don’t enjoy playing fruit machines or slots (an American term). I must have got it out of my system along with smoking and drinking to excess.

Good times.

Photo: Coote 2022

If you’ve never been to a casino then I would suggest to give it a try.

You may be saying: ‘I’m not a gambler. Why would I want to go to a casino?’

I’ve been to a number of casinos and not bet a penny. Obviously, other times I have put my hand in my pocket. Never have I bet more than £60. In fact, I am winning money betting on roulette. You’re probably saying: ‘Are you losing a grand on the slots?’

No.

The first casino I went was Great Yarmouth’s Grosvenor down Marine Parade, a stones throw from Caperdown. There are lots of hotels around that neck of the woods, restaurants and it’s not so far from the pleasure beach.

I do like the venue. Shadingfield Lodge is a Grade II Listed building and it really offers an atmosphere which more modern clubs don’t.

They have a splendid restaurant and a couple of bars. The gaming room is a decent size but not sprawling. Plenty of slots and roulette terminals. Two live roulette tables, three-card poker and blackjack. It is run a very professional manner and the staff are attentive. They have security staff and I have never seen any trouble.

Even if you aren’t into your gambling, I’d pop in for a meal. The menu is good and they have special offers such as a three-course Christmas dinner for £22. The room is elegant, beautiful high ceilings, a bar that sits perfectly in this Victoria setting. As I’ve said plenty of times, join the mailing list and you will get a free bet offer, match bet or discount of some kind which tempts you to give the place a try.

What I would say if you go to the casino is just take it in your stride. Don’t drink too much alcohol. Keep your wits about you and definitely bet small change. Remember, you are responsible for your own actions. Don’t blame your losses on anything other than the house edge or your lack of discipline (if you lose your shirt). It should be pleasurable and it should be.

I can’t remember of I won the first time I went to the casino but I was impressed by the location and venue. I wish my Dad had been alive to go with us as he would have loved it too.

Great Yarmouth is a good place to go fro a gamble. You have the racecourse, casino, arcade, and a lovely circus which is a treat. Plenty of class hotels such as Andover House Hotel and the Ocean Hotel on the front.

Whether a virgin bettor or pro gambler I’d say get to the casino and experience the James Bond life style. Even if you don’t win you may be able to have a brilliant night on a budget. The Grosvenor Casino at Great Yarmouth is a place I would recommend.

What a beautiful place to enjoy win or lose.

Good luck.

Photo: Pixabay (free)

It was Christopher Hitchens (1949 – 2011) who coined the phrase: ‘Everyone has a book in them and that, in most cases, is where it should stay.’

Harsh!

He’s not even read my book.

I say that tongue in cheek because Hitchens wrote or edited over 30 books and clearly knew what he was talking about.

In truth, my secondary education was limited. Later in life, I gained an Hons degree reading Psychology as a mature student with The Open University. 

I’ve never been a gifted writer.

I had an opportunity to publish a gambling book: In A Class of their Own but it didn’t get out of the starting blocks. To be honest, I feel a little embarrassed by the whole episode as I was lacking and naive. It wasn’t a lack of knowledge on the subject matter but it was the art of writing.

We live and learn.

The possibility of a book came about through groundbreaking research into Pattern race entered two-year-olds racing in the UK. This was undertaken by my brother, Tony, who detailed the worth of this information back in 1986 (when he was just 16-years-old). The data was published in The Weekender, Nick Mordin’s Systems, a very popular read. I can’t remember the date of publication but will find it and put a link to the post at the bottom of the page. Mordin was complimentary about the research and two articles were published, the first titled: In A Class of Their Own.

The manuscript took a couple of months to write. I forwarded it to Aesculus Press Limited. I can’t remember the name of the gentleman who replied. However, I almost feared his perfect written English. It wasn’t good news although considerate in his use of words.

He didn’t want to crush my spirit but needed to get the message across plain and clear.

I’m sure a ten-year-old child could have made a better effort.

He didn’t say that but may have thought it.

I think the whole manuscript was written in capital letters, racecourse maps I’d stolen from another publication. Not a good starting point. I would hate to imagine what he thought, other than passing it around the office as if he’d found a script from Tommy Cooper’s archive. 

Tommy Cooper says: ‘Police arrested two kids yesterday, one was drinking battery acid, the other was eating fireworks. They charged one and let the other one off.’

If the news got back to Nick Mordin he was probably questioning the authenticity of my brother’s research. Perhaps we’d sent both for a laugh. Sadly not. What can you say? Do the crime, pay the time. I feel quite embarrassed thinking about the poor quality of that manuscript. The good side, the information and insight into this unique research still holds strong to this day.

I often say: ‘You don’t wake up one day and find you’re a professional gambler and it’s the same for writing a book.’

Pretty sure if I’d asked Christopher Hitchens he’d have said: ‘You’ve done a lot of damage in those 280 characters.’

[Twitter]

‘Please don’t send the manuscript.’

‘Everyone has a book in them and that, in most cases, is where it should stay.’

It plays on a loop in my brain.

What can I say?

I was foolish to think writing a book to a professional standard was something I could achieve. Not to say it wouldn’t be a possibility but I was working on being a professional gambler not an author.

Nick Mordin, Dave Nevison and Harry Findlay (the latter two didn’t need any writing skills but still found great success) sold lots of books. Perhaps their stories were just a bit more interesting.

Fame and fortune didn’t beckon for me. Not in the writing stakes.

As long as I have some success in the horse racing stakes I’ll be happy winning on that score.

You need ability to meet the level of requirement.

Good luck to all.

Photo: Pixabay (free)

Resource: In A Class of Their Own

Each to their own. Classic last words. Perhaps.

Social media influencer. TV. Radio. Podcast. There are plenty of platforms for those who want to be in the limelight. I guess those of an audio nature just deliver sound bites, hey. I can imagine most ‘celebrity punters’ are looking for ways to make money. I can’t blame them for wishing to monetise their knowledge. You see hundreds and thousand on YouTube making vast sums of money. I know what you are thinking and saying: ‘They don’t do anything special.’ In fact, most knowledgeable people know more.

As Simon Cowell would say: ‘It’s all about the X-factor.’

‘Celebrity punters’ are out there. Twitter, Facebook, YouTube… I don’t know all the platforms.

Influencer.

Do they live up to the reputation, fall short or chancers?

I could name a few names. You know who I mean. One in particular on Twitter and YouTube.

The horse racing world is a pretty small niche when it comes to the popularity stakes. Where Rate My Takeaway can get hundreds of thousands of subscribers the likes of Mr. Berry, perhaps 100,000. I haven’t looked to check. It really doesn’t interest me to listen to many ‘celebrity punters’ in all their forms.

Why?

Because I simply work on myself and in my niche of 2yo horse which – even though I say it myself – I know more than anyone else. Sounds like the kind of bloke who needs to be a ‘celebrity punter’ if not influencer.

To be fair, unless being in the public eye makes a lot of money, I’d rather be a mysterious shadow or someone who simply pleases myself.

No doubt if someone come along and said: ‘I will give you ‘hell and all money’ to have an opinion I would give it serious consideration.

Time will tell.

I would much rather be interested in my own world, not reliant or need to please others and the pressure or hassle which comes from being in the social media.

For many of those trying to get to a point of being a name it can be a difficult path. You have a swarm of trolls to hassle you or the odds nutcase who thinks he’s saving the world from ‘you’ because he thinks you’re selling tips for horses without legs.

As the song goes: ‘People are strange when you’re a stranger…’

I’d rather show most people the door.

I don’t think there is much demand for ‘celebrity punters’ because there really isn’t the demand.

Dave Nevison has always come across as a decent bloke and I enjoyed his publications. A Bloody Good Winner (2007). An absolute gem of a book. He kind of served his apprenticeship and evolved into a ‘celebrity punter’.

I’m sure they would much prefer making lots of money gambling without the need to be on TV but money talks and I don’t knock anyone for earning a living.

Harry Findlay is a mouthy character with an opinion. I can’t knock the man as he’s gambled all his life and had the ups and downs. I’m not sure he’s my kind of personality as I am a pretty quiet and reserved person but we can learn something from everyone. I’ve yet to read his publication Gambling For Life (2017) but looking forward to it. 

I take my hat off to anyone who ‘Bets like a man’. It takes some balls.

In truth, I like the quiet life and keeping myself and my knowledge to myself. Sure, I’d help anyone on their journey and point them in the right direction. I have done and still do. But whether I’d enjoy being a ‘celebrity punter’ I don’t think so. All that glitters isn’t gold and I think unless you are very clever you may replace one problem with another.

Sometimes it is better to let someone else answer the question. Not because they know more. Simply because it can often save you problems you don’t need. 

Often it’s better to live your own quiet life and let the populous consider what, when and where.

Good luck.

Photo: Coote 2022