SPORTS BETTING INDEX was founded in 2000 to help punters with all aspects of internet betting as the phenomenon of online gambling took off. Whilst the site has changed and developed over time the core beliefs remain the same – being independent, honest and open. Everything here is free and will remain that way but we do ask that you use the links to open accounts with the most reputable bookmakers online. The founder of the site was professional gambler Ian Richards and you can read his daily blog here and follow the ups and downs of his battle against the bookmakers. Over the years Ian has put various bets and tips up on the site. Here are some of the highlights... August 04: Summer Olympics, Mens Coxless Pairs Rowing – World Champions Australia should have been odds on favourites. Sportingbet went 10/1 and we cleaned up very easily. October 04: Miss World, Peru – Bookmakers didn’t really follow pageant news in the early days and we got on the winner at 50/1. We also won on Russia in 2008 who was gambled from 20/1 to 2/1. February 06: Golf – it wasn’t quite the Transatlantic double as the European tour was in Australia but in the same week I tipped up Oberholser at 50/1 for the AT&T and Stadler at 125/1 for the Johnnie Walker. Autumn 06: SPOTY – in a weak year I went for Zara Phillips before and again during the World Championships at 66/1 and 80/1. She went on to scoop the award just like her mother did 35 years before. November 06: Golf – Probably one of my favourite golfers, YE Yan. I tipped him for the HSBC at 125/1 and the Australian books opened at 350/1 so we topped up. I’ll never forget him holding off Woods down the stretch. August 07: Athletics, World Championship womens’ marathon – This was probably the strongest bet ever given out on SBI. Ndereba had run in 17 marathons, she was 6th in the first and then was on the podium in the next 16 winning 8 of them including on the course. Opening up at 9/1 we backed her e/w all the way down to near favouritism and she won comfortably. June 08: Golf, US Open – The “Battle of Wounded Knee.” Even though Rocco Mediate didn’t actually win, he ended up being my biggest ever financial winner – e/w at 500/1, top 10 40/1 and top US without Woods at 175/1. Many a Paddy Power account was shut after this one!