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WHY BOOKS?
The best weapon to have when battling the bookmakers is information.
Spending time reading previews on websites and posting to betting forums are a good way to get current information on teams, players and up to date news.
RESEARCH
But it also helps to have a decent library of betting information, such as statistical books, and also betting guides written by (reasonably) successful authors.
None of these things are going to make you an instant super-punter, but the more you learn about a subject the better you'll be, and the less likely it is that you'll make a mistake.
WHAT'S THE CATCH?
There's no catch. Here is a selection of betting books and sports gambling concepts that we have personally purchased and refer to on a regular basis. We learned from them and think you will too.
OUR CUT
If you buy a book after clicking through from one of our links then we will get about 5% of the purchase price. Each month we sell 2 or 3 books to smart punters which helps to pay for the site.
THANKS
Thank you for reading this far. And if you do purchase a book I'm sure that you'll reap the rewards in your future betting.
WARNING - DO NOT BUY THIS BOOK
This book was published in October 2004.
It's called
Lay,Back and Think of Winning : Guaranteed Winning Systems for the Betting Exchange and is written by Nigel Paul.
It claims to be a guide to exchange betting - and winning systems for Sport - but spends 90% of it's time on horse racing looking for small movements in prices.
The author then walks through several examples - usually buying a stake and selling for a minute profit minutes later - or vice-versa.
His "systems" provided are not systems at all - just general guidelines. And while the worked examples all show a profit - I'm simply not convinced about it working in real life.
If you REALLY know nothing (I mean nothing) about exchanges then this might be worth a couple of quid - otherwise forget it.
RATING : 0 (out of 5) - NOT RECOMMENDED
It's a poor book in my opinion - lightweight and simply trying to turn a buck on sales before the word gets around. Do Not buy this book !! :(
GENERAL FOOTBALL BOOKS
Amazon.co.uk reckon these are the top selling betting books.
Yearbooks are always popular early in the season - and are a good source of stats and info.
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Learning from mistakes is always a good idea - and learning from other peoples mistakes are even better (and a lot cheaper).
So I always find that reading a betting book is "value" even if I argue about some of the ideas with the author I
always find it money well spent.
Here are a selection of betting books that I have in my library ...
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(all links take you to Amazon.co.uk so you can get more details about the particular book)
NEW - FOR BETTING EXCHANGE FANS
The Definitive Guide to Betting Exchanges - Paul Kealy
This book is another in the Racing Post Expert Series - so you know it's going to be worth tens times the spend if your an exchange punter.
From small beginnings in 2000, to more than GBP 23 million traded on a single cricket match in January 2005, Betfair - the dominant exchange - can now arguably be called the world's largest internet betting site.
Published in October 2005 - it's just over 300 pages and is aimed at helping you to avoid the pitfalls and make the most of this new form of betting.
Experienced punters will have no problems with the general layout of betting exchanges, but the Betfair screen can be a little intimidating to first time users as there are several options and choices to make.
Bearing in mind that you'll be punting hundreds of £££'s on the exchange - isn't it worth a tenner to make
sure that your choosing the best options - and getting the best prices?
This book is the essential publication to explain person-to-person betting. You'll be an expert in no time!!
RATING : 5 (out of 5)
Buy yourself this book to improve your betting.
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RECOMMENDED READING !!
The Definitive Guide to Betting on Sports - Bruce Millington (Editor)
This one is put out by respected betting newpaper "The Racing Post" as part of their Expert Series.
Written by the Racing Post's expert journalists, these books promise to quickly establish themselves as the 'Bibles' on their subjects.
It was published in Oct 2004 - and I am STILL happy to give it the thumbs up.
There are nearly 400 pages (39 chapters) and the first 200 are on football. It's got plenty of good advice - aimed at different levels - and I learnt some new information from it.
Particularly useful was Chapter 15 - Kevin Pullein's Football Masterclass with a series of tables comparing opponents and then across several betting styles looking for best profits.
An interesting idea - and one that I've already put to good use in the last fortnight - to find better value at my online bookmakers.
It's a good read - and the short chapters are useful to re-read and remember. I think that this book will make you a better punter.
RATING : 5 (out of 5)
Buy yourself this book to improve your betting.
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MY FAVOURITES - BOOKS FROM MY LIBRARY
Successful football Betting - By Geoff Harvey
Instead of the usual half-baked schemes one usually encounters in books of this nature this is a personal account of how the author maintains a modest success rate in 'beating the bookie' when gambling on football.
It assumes some knowledge of gambling already so it is not really a beginners guide but it's not too hard going and some interesting stuff.
The author discusses his views on staking plans, cup upsets, using different form systems as potential guides, as well as looking at more exotic markets such as corner betting, and betting on bookings.
FourFourTwo, May 2002 said :
- The bible of football betting discovered. Lucidly describes areas of bookmaker vulnerability.
A good football betting book, and one that I happily recommend. Good value at list price of £9.95 and great value currently at £6.99 !!
RATING : 4 (out of 5)
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Profitable Football Betting - By Paul Steel
The hardback version was a pricy volume (at £29.95) but it's come out in softback in the last 12 months and at £9.95 this one was well worth it.
This book provides detailed analysis of 15 tried and true statistical systems, the recent forms guide, homes vs aways, adjusted values, etc and has some surprising results.
It also provides a detailed breakdown of the statisitics for EVERY English side in the top four divisions over the last five years, with goal scoring, HT-FT, winning runs etc.
I was happy with the hardback version - so I reckon the paperback is a bargain for a tenner - just to get an insight to all his different systems. The ideas around the betting systems are still sound.
The statistics are a little dated now - they need to re-release an updated book (although that would cost £30 again I guess) - but my current copy is opened up at least once per month.
RATING : 3½ (out of 5)
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"Taking Chances - Winning with probability" by John Haigh
This is another betting book that I really like. But This is NOT a football betting book.
Produced by Oxford University press - the guy is into maths and statistics - but writes well and shows how to use probability in everyday games of chance.
Very useful to see how to apply stats and averages and how not too. You will need a good grasp of English and like playing with numbers - but I constantly re-read pieces of it even a couple of years later.
Probably better aimed at players of Roulette and Blackjack, but he also applies his numbers to gameshows and regular things like card tricks and birthdays.
Very interesting book - and will definately help you to avoid the pitfalls of incorrectly estimating chances.
RATING : 3½ (out of 5)
( If you're a punter into numbers and thinking hard about your punting )
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Fixed Odds Sports Betting : Risk Management by Joseph Buchdahl
This book looks at the risk management side of things - an essential part of making a profit consistently from gambling.
Many people give no real thought to how much to stake on their bets and the risk to their bank roll, and potential returns over the long run.
This book is essential reading for any serious punter who wants to learn about a variety of staking plans, and how each affects the risk of losing your bankroll, or maximising your gains ...
It's not the first betting book you'll buy - or even your 5th book. But eventually you'll come around to wanting to treat your punting like a business - and then this book will suit you.
RATING : 3 (out of 5)
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AMAZON BEST "FOOTBALL BETTING" SELLERS
Here is a selection of "best sellers" from Amazon.co.uk around the topic of Football Betting.
It's automatically generated ... so some of the titles will be the same (see we told you they were good) ... and some will be new releases or books we haven't seen yet.
Click on any of them that interest you.
FOOTBALL BETTING BOOKS
FOOTBALL DVD's - CELEBRATING THE GREATEST GAMES
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