| The subject of financial investment is such a wide and | | | | price (both in time and money), to obtain the required |
| varied area. We all know (or should know), that | | | | information to pursue a career in their chosen field of |
| investing surplus funds is a sound idea; nothing new | | | | endeavour. |
| there. If you make the decision to invest, what | | | | The thing with sports/horse racing is that punters |
| investment options do you have? | | | | expect wealth and success to come to them while |
| 1. Property - unit, house, holiday house, commercial | | | | they are doing nothing to improve their skills. I believe |
| property, a managed property investment fund etc. | | | | this is largely due to the fact that they do not |
| 2. Shares - stock options, different stock investment | | | | understand what they are up against and how tough it |
| sectors such as small capitalisation mining companies, | | | | is for your average casual punter these days to turn a |
| international or local share funds etc. | | | | profit. |
| 3. Fixed Interest - bonds, convertible notes, fixed | | | | Anyway, back to the purpose of this article. It is well |
| deposits etc | | | | and truly possible for anyone to become a successful |
| The above are your major investments categories in | | | | and highly profitable gambler. |
| which you may be looking to invest. | | | | As we saw above, there are two choices that you |
| These are the 'traditional' type of investments | | | | could make. One requires years of study to develop |
| however there are other investment areas which are | | | | the required specialised knowledge to allow you to |
| just as, or more profitable than your main 'stable' of | | | | become successful; the second option can be thought |
| investment options. These alternative investment | | | | of as being the easier path. |
| options include tree crops, vintage cars, wines, art, | | | | Just as you may well pay a financial advisor for their |
| other collectables and also sports betting and horse | | | | advice, you have the option to pay an expert in |
| racing! | | | | gambling for their betting advice. Doing so will leave |
| As the majority of people do not understand the | | | | you as purely a manager of your investments. |
| betting industry, they generally scoff at the idea of | | | | If you have ever been to a financial advisor, you will |
| sports/horse race betting as a legitimate investment | | | | realise that they love their pie charts and love to talk |
| option. That is because they have only been exposed | | | | about diversification and asset allocation. They split |
| to one side of the business, the entertainment side. Of | | | | your total investment wealth up into different areas |
| course gambling is generally painted in an ordinary light | | | | with the aim of reducing risk. |
| in the media where it is linked to family break downs | | | | Well consider doing something similar with gambling. |
| and suicides. The perception among those who | | | | There are a number of excellent sports/racing |
| haven't been enlightened is that if you bet often, you | | | | services which show high returns and have been |
| must have a gambling problem! | | | | showing high returns for a good period. You may like |
| "If the truth be known many who play the stockmarket | | | | to build a portfolio of gambling investment options |
| are the biggest gamblers around." | | | | based around the good services. How you allocate |
| They are never labelled gamblers, nor do they believe | | | | your resources for the different services you may use |
| that they are gambling because their gambling vehicle | | | | is up to you. For example your gambling portfolio may |
| is not horses but shares in companies. They like to | | | | comprise of two horse racing approaches, two tennis |
| think of their random and uneducated decisions as | | | | approaches, one AFL, one NRL and one Super12's for |
| being an 'investment' rather than a bet. In this light, it is | | | | example. |
| OK to lose money because 'it is an investment'. Many | | | | After sourcing your betting information from a service, |
| are simply betting on the price of a share just the | | | | you have the task of managing your portfolio to |
| same as an uneducated sports bettor who makes a | | | | maximise the rate of growth of your bank and to |
| decision on the likely outcome of a game. | | | | minimise your risk. For those that take the time to look |
| The purpose of this article is to show that gambling | | | | at the possibilities of sports betting investment, you can |
| can be a serious and profitable business as well as a | | | | understand why it makes a lot of sense from an |
| fun pastime. I decided to write this article after | | | | investment angle. You invest your money for a whole |
| speaking with a good mate of mine who happens to | | | | year in say the stockmarket hoping for a standard |
| be financial advisor to 'high net worth' clients. You may | | | | 10% return. You can make that on every single dollar |
| be surprised and interested to note that he sees | | | | that you outlay in some sports! |
| sports betting as playing a very important role in his | | | | Investing in a conservative manner can easily see you |
| investment portfolio. He knows very little about sports | | | | double your original investment capital within one year. |
| but he sees it as a very serious business and he | | | | Returns unheard of in other 'traditional' methods of |
| follows our selections 'to the letter'. (Not that he would | | | | investment and yet contrary to what most believe it is |
| tell his clients that he invests in sport as I am sure they | | | | unbelievably safe if you find a reliable source to |
| just wouldn't 'get it'.) | | | | purchase your advice from. |
| The similarities between the more 'traditional' type | | | | In sports betting you can use mathematics to calculate |
| investments and gambling are many. We are all playing | | | | very accurately worst case scenarios and no, that is |
| the same game, which is to . . .beat the market and | | | | not generally a total loss of starting capital. We have a |
| optimize our total wealth. | | | | simulation program available on the website which you |
| Financial markets such as the stockmarket are | | | | can access from the following link Punting Ace |
| generally efficient and represent the general view of | | | | Simulation Program which will give you an excellent |
| the aggregate of those that invest into the market. | | | | idea of what you can expect to achieve based on |
| Investing in any financial market (including the sports | | | | certain criteria. |
| betting market) raises financial questions involving | | | | We also have programs which will simulate your |
| decision making under uncertainty. Many of those that | | | | projected performance based on certain bankroll |
| play such markets simply do not understand just what | | | | settings. To simulate a year of our tennis package, |
| they are up against. | | | | select the following link Punting Ace Tennis Simulation |
| People go to financial advisors for advice on how to | | | | or to simulate a year of our AFL betting package, |
| best invest their money. They are thought to be the | | | | select the following link Punting Ace AFL Simulation. |
| experts. They have been to University and have | | | | Summary |
| completed courses through the Australian Securities | | | | If you are not happy "putting all your eggs in one |
| Institute to become an advisor. It is the same with | | | | basket", why not consider sports betting as an |
| other specialised services, such as doctors and | | | | "alternative investment" similar to tree crop |
| solicitors. People recognise the specialised knowledge | | | | investments or hedge funds. Any prudent financial |
| that these guys have and understand the value of | | | | planner will explain to you the benefits of diversifying |
| paying such experts for their opinions. | | | | across a number of different markets and investment |
| I believe the reason to why more aren't successful in | | | | products. Indeed, investment products such as options |
| gambling is that the majority of punters have no idea | | | | and instalment warrants (and to some extent margin |
| what they are up against. They believe that they can | | | | lending), are designed to "enhance" your overall |
| beat the game with no specific specialised knowledge. | | | | portfolio returns and as such, traditional investment |
| There is a price you have to pay to gain the | | | | advisers may allocate a "percentage" of your overall |
| knowledge and experience required to become | | | | portfolio to these products. |
| successful. | | | | With risk adjusted returns far in excess of "main |
| This is very similar for both traditional investment | | | | stream" investment products, why wouldn't you apply |
| advisors and also in the gambling field. Some advisors | | | | a percentage of your portfolio to sports betting? As |
| are better than others, as are some investments and | | | | your financial adviser will agree, sports betting is not |
| some investment funds are better than others. Some | | | | correlated with any main stream investment markets, |
| investment funds make excellent returns for their | | | | and indeed given the disappointing recent performance |
| clients however, on the other hand, the majority can't | | | | of the stock market (with the exception of last years |
| even beat the average based on the returns of the 'All | | | | return of approx 25%) the current investment markets |
| Ords' index! | | | | are awash with products that are non-correlated to |
| I can see myself starting to get off track here. | | | | the stockmarket. For example, hedge funds, tree |
| Professional gambling is not for everyone, however I | | | | investments, caravan park property trusts and chicken |
| truly believe that it is within reach of everyone. Now | | | | farms (yes that last one is actually true). Therefore |
| there are two ways in which you can make a living | | | | sports betting should at least be considered as part of |
| out of gambling. | | | | a prudent "diversified" investment portfolio. |
| 1. You can spend years studying mathematics and | | | | Sport Betting Investment Steps |
| learn the ins and the outs of your chosen betting field | | | | 1. Decide from day one that you have the discipline to |
| to hopefully build the skills necessary to make | | | | follow your plan through and that you will operate in a |
| consistent profits | | | | business like fashion and will keep records and the like. |
| 2. You can pay those that have trodden the path | | | | 2. Find a reputable information provider for your |
| above for their specialised knowledge and skill and | | | | selections. Remember the goal is for you to be only |
| then focus your attention on becoming an astute | | | | the portfolio manager. You don't want to have to |
| gambling portfolio manager. | | | | come up with the selections; leave that to those that |
| Both methods will provide very similar betting results. | | | | have proven track records and are experts in their |
| Gambling is like any other profession. You simply | | | | fields. You may wish to start by looking at |
| cannot become successful without truly applying | | | | 3. Decide on how you will divide up your total starting |
| yourself and spending the time (and the money), to | | | | capital over the information provider(s)/sport(s) which |
| learn and become proficient. (Contrary to what most | | | | you have gathered. |
| 'retail' punters would suggest). It is no different to a | | | | 4. Now follow through with your plan setting aside time |
| financial advisor who studies commerce at university | | | | for constant reflection and self evaluation in an attempt |
| and then completes a Diploma of Financial Markets at | | | | to maximise your returns whilst minimising your risk. |
| the Securities Institute. They have paid the necessary | | | | |