Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #145946 in Books
• Published on: 2006-07-27
• Released on: 2006-03-23
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 176 pages

Synopsis
Why do you try and beat the bookmaker, without knowing the basics of the business? The bookmaker offers punters prices based on his/her expertise, luring you to invest in a betting scenario from your amateur viewpoint. Yes, you have an opinion and might have even researched previous results and form guides from time to time, but unless you approach betting from a professional viewpoint, you will continue to lose money to the dreaded enemy. "The Art of Bookmaking" explains how 'Turf Accountants' approach any potential betting scenario, and the (simple) mathematics that govern transactions. From a detailed look at 'percentages' through to frame betting in snooker, it shows you how to 'price up' any sporting event in the calendar. And it will show you how the Odds Compilers create prices for tournament betting (World Cup - US Open Golf Championship - Wimbledon etc), and inform you of the mistakes bookmakers have made down the years.

Customer Reviews

Doesn't deliver on the title
Anyone thinking that the author might have something to tell about how a bookmaker arrives at his or her prices - fundamentally, how they derive probabilities for the possible outomes of a sporting event - will be disappointed. Although some of the spit-and-sawdust anecdotes are interesting, there's far too much discussion of bet markets gone bad and gone a long time ago. The author explains little and you do get the impression that that's because he has never really mastered the art and data calculations of odds compiling, for himself or anyone else.

Mmm...
I read this in the hope of discovering how to price up horse races, it is titled The Art of Bookmaking after all. On this count I was disappointed, it only giving fractional odds as percentages. However, once over this it was enjoyable enough and I picked up a pointer or two. Having only paid a few quid for it I am hardly heartbroken.

An Art or a Science?
The title says bookmaking is an art, but the back cover says it is a science... so which is it then? This was a book which promised much but didn't deliver.

Aside from the art/science confusion, it is diffuclt to work out who this book is aimed at - punters trying to get the better of the bookies, or punters who want to turn bookmaker themselves. In trying to be both, it managed neither particularly effectively. The addition of some mildly interesting anecdotes and some quite opiniated rants and ideas for new bets detracted from the bookmaking content.

What bookmaking content there is is reasonably useful, and the author does have some good experience to draw on, but it has been let down by poor editing. There are better books in this genre on the market.