Morning all.

Due to the very kind re-tweeting of Sir Michael Cox of Zonal Marking fame, I am aware I have got quite a few more followers than I had this time last week.

As a result, I thought it best I pop up a quick something to explain to people a little bit about both myself and what “Bet of the Week” (BOTW) is all about.

So firstly, let’s get the dull part out of the way.

About me

I currently spend my days working in Corporate Finance in London.  Basically, I spend all day messing around with spreadsheets and it is very, very dull.  Mind numbingly dull.  But it pays well and so for now I guess I just have to lump it and be grateful just to have a job given the economic climate.

Prior to entering the evil world of finance, I was a professional poker player.  I won’t get into that now.  All I will say is, trust me, it is a lot less glamorous than it sounds.

80 hour weeks.  3 computer screens.  Unsociable hours.  No social interaction.

Before that I was a full-time drinking, part-time poker playing Maths student.  I managed to nail down “a drinkers first” which opened the door for me into the boredom of finance.

Away from work I am a polygamist.  My first wife, whom I have been with for over 20 years, is the wonderful game of Football.  My second wife is called Baseball, whom I have been spending my summers with for almost 10 years now.  I love them both very dearly.  Given the limited interest in “Rounders” in the UK, I tend to keep that part of my life to myself.

Whilst (for my sins) I will confess upfont to being a Manchester United fan (and a San Francisco Giant’s fan for those that care), I like to think that my passion for sports betting and my pure love for the game of football keeps me on a very straight, narrow, rational path.

This rationality has seen me develop a number of different football fetishes over the years – including, to name but a few, Crewe Alexandra, Birmingham City , Bolton Wanderers, Notts County, Rochdale, Everton, Millwall and Nottingham Forest.

That is more than enough waffle about me for now.  If you would like to know more about me, come and ask me on Twitter @betoftheweek.  I don’t bite.

About BOTW

You don’t need to be a genius to have gathered the general gist of the site.

I bet on stuff.  Mainly sport, predominantly the beautiful game, and sometimes baseball.

The only other major focus of my attention is reality TV.  Not watching it, just betting on it.

I only watch it so I can bet on it, I promise – that is the story I told them anyway, and I’m sticking to it!

However, as I hope my long time followers will vouch for, BOTW is a bit different to the rash of “sports betting” and “football tips” websites out there.

The main difference is I actually make a profit.  Consistently.

The second major difference is I provide 100% transparency, with every single tip ever made on this site listed in the “Full Bet History” section.  There is no funny business, bank resetting or tearing up of bet slips here.

Unlike 90% of the gamblers in the world, I am most definitely not “about even” and the evidence is there for all to see.

Ah yes, the G word.  I actually detest the word “gambling” and everything I do is geared towards avoiding gambling at all costs.  Gambling is “the wagering of cash at unfavourable odds”.

Betting randomly on the first scorer in a game with no particular insight or rationale is gambling.  Black Jack is gambling.  Slot machines are gambling.

Here at BOTW I strive to do everything but gamble.

Inspired by the poor quality of the vast majority of gambling blogs and website in the t’interweb stratosphere, I set up BOTW back in the summer of 2009.

The aim was to provide profitable tips whilst also attempting to provide analytical and educational pieces to educate the masses on all things “gambling”.  Teach a man to fish and all that.  I also try my best to be mildly entertaining along the way – hopefully stupid northern banter floats your boat.

The general consensus is that sports betting is “a mugs game”.  That isn’t too far off, but if you know what you are doing there is money to be made.  After all, the betting markets are inherently flawed – as they are constructed and managed by people at the end of the day!

Just like the financial markets, there are many, many losers – but a few shrewd winners too.

If you are looking to turn £5 into £100 overnight to pay for a weekend  of sex, drugs and rock and roll, this site probably isn’t for you.

However, if you enjoy your sports, gambling, making money or you simply have an interest in learning a bit more about sports betting and how to become a profitable sports bettor, you have come to the right place.

Stick around and I promise you will be rewarded – with many free beer tokens, a raft of useful information and an ultimately a legitimate, implementable, tax free investment vehicle which you have free access to and can control yourself..

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I thought I would start you off with a quick and dirty example of the potential earning power of sports betting.

Check out the chart below showing the current value of £1000 invested in the FTSE 100 back on 1 January 2000.

Current value of £1000 invested in FTSE 100 on 1 January 2000

Not a pretty sight, is it?  However, for some reason, buying shares is termed “investing” -something only the wealthy or intelligent are apparently qualified to do.  I think I could make a pretty decent case that buying shares is more likely to be “gambling” than betting on sport.

One thing that certainly isn’t gambling is saving.  Check out the chart below which now shows the current value of £1000 that was stuck in an ISA ten years ago:

FTSE 100 versus 5% ISA –  10 year returns

A nice steady return, I am sure you will agree.  But once you consider the negative impact of inflation and a myriad of other factors, it isn’t likely to have you holidaying in the Bahama’s is it.

Now consider a third scenario.

Imagine you had a way to make a 2% per month return on your capital every single month.  So in that first month, you are able to turn your £1000 into £1020.

£20.  You just need to make £20.  That doesn’t sound too infeasible does it?

Well, if you could do just that, after ten years have a look what your £1000 would now be worth:

FTSE 100 versus 5% ISA versus 2% monthly growth vehicle

The impact of compounding returns over such a period is pretty staggering isn’t it?

2% returns never looked so good.

Now, if only you had a way to make a 2% return every single month…

Click here to read BOTW’s 2010 annual review

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New to BOTW? If so, here is some useful background, 4.0 out of 5 based on 1 rating