There is an old saying: “The early bird gets the worm.” In present times, this saying is true when it comes to turning your bets into a profit. If you’re the type of punter who likes to have your breakfast in the morning, wander down to the shop for your newspaper, and then complain when – by the time you get to the betting shop – all the best prices are gone, you need to wake up, get up, and get online!

The quicker you can get online, the more likely you are to assure the best prices available for your sports betting from the betting sites. Every major bookmaker now has a website, and in the case of some, prices for the following day’s racing and sport are available throughout the night. William Hill will, in the case of horse racing, generally hold the odds until early in the morning, but not all betting sites will do this. Others will perhaps not issue their odds until the next morning, but one thing is for sure – the best odds on events will not last much longer than the time that bets are accepted from, which can range from 8.30am to 9.30am.

So the lesson is very clear: get up early and be online at the right time. Have a list of your selections and who is offering the best prices ready (you can get the info from the Racing Post daily, or from sites like www.oddschecker.com), so that you know exactly who with, and when, to place your bets quickly.

Aug 29 2010