Tom Waterhouse - Smart Betting & Sharp Investing

In the latest SBC Podcast episode, I sit down with Tom Waterhouse, Australian betting guru, ex-CEO of William Hill Australia, and founder of Waterhouse VC.

Tom lifts the lid on how professional syndicates really operate, where today’s biggest betting edges can be found, and what the rise of new markets like crypto and contracts means for sharp players.

He also shares how Waterhouse VC is investing in cutting-edge suppliers, betting technology, and even syndicates themselves, with a focus on option-based deals that limit risk but maximise upside.

HOW WATERHOUSE VC FINDS AN EDGE

• From on-course bookmaker to running William Hill Australia to launching his own VC fund
• Why Waterhouse VC backs technology suppliers instead of operators
• The option-based model Tom uses to limit downside while chasing outsized returns
• Success stories: turning small options into multi-million-dollar exits

SYNDICATES – WHAT PROS DO DIFFERENTLY

• Inside Waterhouse VC’s investments in tennis and blackjack syndicates
• Spotting the difference between scalable edge and short-term variance
• How Tom’s father, with 45 years of unbeaten syndicate betting, helps evaluate opportunities
• What everyday bettors can copy from syndicate discipline and structure

DISCIPLINE, MINDSET & SHARP PLAY

• Why betting less often is often the key to winning long term
• Tom’s blueprint for knowing when to strike and when to sit tight
• Advice on finding overlooked markets like challenger tennis or smaller cricket leagues where edges still exist

REGULATION, MINIMUM BET LAW & THE BLACK MARKET

• Australia’s minimum bet law: why some syndicates love it and others hate it
• How restrictions and affordability checks are pushing punters away from licensed firms
• The surge of crypto-based black-market betting and why it’s so hard to police
• Why Tom believes regulation moves in cycles and what might trigger the next reset

NEW TECH & WHERE THE GAME IS MOVING

• High-frequency betting, crypto products, and contract markets shaking up the industry
• How platforms are bypassing regulation and partnering with giants like Robinhood and X
• Why user experience and retention now matter more than sign-ups

Tom also explains why patience and selectivity matter more than constant action, how pros adapt to tougher markets, and why sharp players will always gravitate to where they can bet at scale.

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