Cash Is King

It is fair to say that, in many respects, the punter has never had it so good. If you have any doubt, take a glance at the Pricewise table in the Racing Post every Saturday. In recent weeks, it is not uncommon to find the best odds percentage at under 100%. For those who are not aware, that means that you could back every horse in the race at the best available prices and guarantee yourself a profit.

The so-called Big 3 bookmakers, Ladbrokes, William Hill and Coral, are using these headline races to entice customers into their shops by offering top prices on the fancied horses. They do this in the hope that you will then place other bets on races where they bet to a higher margin, or better still you will put some money in the roulette machines while you are in there.

If you choose to place your bet on their standout prices on the phone or the internet, and are smart enough to only bet when you spot a decent price, don't expect your account to last long before you are heavily restricted. It is a fact that winners are not welcome, and anyone who shows even some signs of having half a clue about what they are doing is not entertained for long. Your account will be marked up in next to no time and you will find your maximum bet reduced to pennies.

Fortunately, there are still several thousand betting shops in this country, and with a bit of time and effort it is still possible to get bets on at advertised prices when you spot a decent price. However, you can expect your bets to be monitored closely by the shop staff if you are selective, and it is only a matter of time before things get much harder.

The best way to enhance your chances of getting bets on is to look after the shop staff when you back a winner. You may be surprised how well spent that tip you give them might turn out to be in the long run. Many shop staff are happy to tell you what their limits are before they need to phone bets through to their traders, and this information is extremely valuable. Make sure you stay under the limits, look after the staff, and you will last a lot longer.