Hi, I’m Martin. I’ve been interested in sports betting and iGaming for more decades than it would be decent to share. But it might give you a clue if I tell you that the first horse racing winner I backed was Red Rum when he won his first Grand National in 1973. That amazing race gave me a lifelong love of the sport, and a similarly enduring interest in gambling in all its forms.
I spent more than 20 years working on the sports desks of UK national newspapers. One of my roles, while I was deputy sports editor of the Sunday Mirror, was as the paper’s racing tipster. I’m proud to say I put up hundreds of winners over the years; less proud of the thousands of losers. I subsequently spent some time in B2C roles in the gambling industry.
I’ve always loved casinos, and once doubled my holiday spending money in Monte Carlo by putting it all on red on the roulette wheel.
I’ve relished bringing my long experience of casino gaming to this particular party. My most recent projects were writing definitive expert guides to two of my favorite casino games, baccarat and craps.
What I most enjoy is being able to see games like that from both sides of the old rivalry. I’ve worked in the industry, so I know how the games are operated; but I’ve sat at enough tables to be able to see things from the gambler’s point of view.
I was always extremely good with words, so it seemed the right subject to read. And the location was close to some great English football grounds and racecourses…
You name it, when it comes to gambling I’ve probably tried it, written about it, and wagered on it - always responsibly, of course.
From the same Thunderkick stable as my top choice, Esqueleto Explosivo 3 is my favorite from the three versions of the game released so far. Great to look at, excellent bonus offerings - and I have a soft spot for slots that make you laugh out loud.
It just looks so different from every other slot game out there. The graphics, on a nautical theme, are out of this world and the exceptionally high RTP gives you a chance for extended play.
There’s a short answer to that… probably watching sport.
I’ve been actively supporting Chelsea since 1970. That means I went through a quarter of a century of cheering on a team that won nothing, then another 25 years watching them win everything. Repeatedly. Following the fortunes of the Famous CFC through all that time has been a ride, for sure.
The sport I bet on most frequently is still, and probably always will be, horse racing. I’m a particularly big fan of jump racing, and get to places like Sandown and Plumpton as often as I can.
I enjoy books about, surprise surprise, sport, but I also enjoy skimming my way through a good business book every now and then. My other favorite subject is history, particularly military history. I strongly recommend the Flashman books of George Macdonald Fraser. Some of the language in them is a bit outdated, but they are brilliantly written, rollicking reads.
Whether you think you can, or think you can’t, you’re right
I still remember reading those words on a board outside a cafe and being rooted to the spot in awe. The line is attributed to Henry Ford, and it encapsulates everything about mindset - in business, in sport, and in life. If you approach things with a positive attitude, there’s no limit to what you can achieve. And the opposite is true too. Whenever anybody asks me for a great quote to live by… that’s the one.