Safer Gambling Week: leading Racing Post tipsters share their words of wisdom when it comes to betting

It's Safer Gambling Week and in recent days leading Racing Post tipsters have been sharing their advice on how they keep their betting safe and fun. Here's what they had to say.

I write winners in red and losers in blue – why keeping notes works for me

By Richard Birch, tipster

Safer Gambling Week is an important time for the entire betting industry in getting the message across.

The most common way in which punters get into financial trouble is by chasing losses. Remember: there is always another race, another day, another week.

Every bet I place is written down in a notebook. It helps me focus on keeping bets to a minimum and not making desperate decisions at the end of a long, losing day.

I write the winners in red biro; the losers in blue biro. Obviously, I want to see more of my notes in red biro, which acts as a strong deterrent to chase losses on bets that haven't been properly researched.

Different things work for different people. Keeping notes works for me, but we're not all the same.

Find a method which works best for you and stick to it.

Tomorrow is another day – draw a line in the sand if things aren't going well

By Johnny Dineen, pro punter

One of the main safety measures I have learned over the years is a simple drawing of a line in the sand on what your maximum losses can ever be in one day.

Once you do that and stick to it, you can sleep much easier at night. And a good night's sleep always helps. Tomorrow is another day.

Recreational betting should be fun – and if it isn't then find something that is

By Mark Holder, pro punter

When I read that this was Safer Gambling Week, I wondered how my younger self would have fared in today's society being bombarded by free bet offers, specials, bonuses, casinos, etc. And the answer is probably not well.

So, what advice would I have given a young me?

I would have said to bin all forms of gambling that rely purely on luck, as these games can never be beaten. I'm sure I would have mentioned that in games of skill the only chance you have of winning long-term is by finding cases where the majority of punters have got it wrong. You have no chance if you always agree with the majority.

Also, there is no last race, there's always tomorrow, and betting with a clear head and making decisions based on a calm rationale will always lead to better choices. Above all, if you are doing it recreationally, betting should be fun; if it isn't, find something that is.

That's exactly what I would have told myself – but whether I would have listened, I'm not so sure.

There's too much racing to be an expert on all of it – stick to what you know

By Paul Kealy, senior tipster

Probably the best weapon punters have in their armoury is that they don't have to bet on every race and bookmakers do.

This may sound strange from someone who routinely puts up half a dozen bets on a Saturday, but this job and personal preference mean I tend to focus on the better racing, which largely takes place on weekends.

Outside of the festivals you will rarely find me having a bet on Sundays, Mondays, Tuesday or Wednesdays, and I tend to be less active on Thursdays and Fridays too.

I know of punters who prefer to focus on the lower-class racing as that's where they feel they have an edge, while plenty look at all-weather racing in the winter rather than jumps, while I don't watch any of the sand stuff.

Each to their own, of course, and what many good punters do is specialise.

There's simply too much racing to be an expert on all of it, so focus on what you're good at and let the rest pass you by.

The key is to talk and there is lots of support out there

By Tom Segal, Pricewise

Specialising in certain types of race, never betting more than you can afford to lose, when the fun stops stop, taking breaks, keeping records, limiting stakes is all good advice that I would recommend to all punters.However, if you get past all those helpful hints and still find gambling overwhelming, then the key is to talk.

It's amazing how liberating getting things off your chest can be, and there are loads of professionals and organisations out there to give support and help.

Don't be afraid to shut all your accounts and return to the bookies with cash

By Graeme Rodway, tipster

The gambling industry has changed beyond recognition since I started playing more than 20 years ago and, with the advent of online wagering, the temptation to bet is constantly there.

If that temptation is proving difficult to resist then there is one simple solution: remove it altogether by closing all your online accounts and returning to the betting shop with cash.

It's far harder to make time to go to the shop and hand over the money than it is to click a button online, and you'll only do it if you really think the bet is worth having. I'm a more selective, better disciplined punter as a result and that is the key to being a successful one too.

Try to keep your evenings clear of racing – a replay can wait until tomorrow

By Robbie Wilders, tipster

On a busy day in Britain and Ireland, there's a race to bet on every ten minutes for the best part of nine hours. Ours is an all-absorbing sport and it can be tough to get any respite.

This won't be for everyone, and I take plenty of stick in the office for being overly health-obsessed, but I find it useful to distance myself from racing when I'm not working and particularly in the evening, even if I've had a wager on a horse.

A replay of that race can wait until tomorrow as far as I'm concerned. It's nice to get away and do something different as this game can consume so much of your day.

Having a bet is naturally going to increase your heart-rate and activate your brain. That's the last thing I want anywhere near bedtime.

Read this next:

You may be a shrewd punter but that does not make you invulnerable to gambling harm 

If you are concerned about your gambling and are worried you may have a problem, click here to find advice on how you can receive help.