It’s Safer Gambling Week and over the past few days the Racing Post’s leading tipsters have been sharing their tips on how to 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 to get the message out.

The most common way punters find themselves in financial difficulty is by chasing losses. Remember: there is always another race, another day, another week.

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

I write the winners in red ballpoint pen; the losers with the blue ballpoint pen. Obviously I want to see more of my notes in red ballpoint pen, which acts as a powerful deterrent to chase losses on bets that haven’t been properly documented.

Different things work for different people. Taking notes works for me, but we are not all the same.

Find the method that works best for you and stick to it.

Tomorrow is another day – draw a line in the sand if things don’t go well

By Johnny Dineen, professional bettor

One of the key safety measures I’ve learned over the years is to simply draw a line in the sand showing the maximum amount you can lose in a day.

Once you do this and stick to it, you will be able to 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’s not, find something that is.

By Mark Holder, Professional Bettor

When I read that it was Safer Gambling Week, I wondered how my younger self would have behaved in today’s society bombarded with free bet offers, promotions, bonuses, casinos, etc. And the answer is probably not good.

So what advice would I have given a younger me?

I would have said to trash all forms of gambling that rely solely on luck, because 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 in the long run is to find cases where the majority of bettors were wrong. You don’t stand a chance if you always agree with the majority.

Furthermore, there is no last race, there is always tomorrow, and betting with lucidity and making decisions based on calm logic will always lead to better choices. Above all, if you are doing it recreationally, betting should be fun; if it’s not, find something that is.

That’s exactly what I would have told myself – but I’m not so sure if I would have listened.

There are too many races to be an expert in all of this – stick to what you know

By Paul Kealy, Senior Tipster

Probably the best weapon punters have in their arsenal is that they are not forced to bet on every race like bookmakers do.

This might seem odd coming from someone who regularly places half a dozen bets on Saturday, but this job and my personal preferences mean I tend to focus on the best races, which largely take place on weekends.

Outside of festivals, you’ll rarely find me betting on Sunday, Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday, and I also tend to be less active on Thursdays and Fridays.

I know punters who prefer to focus on the lower class races as that is where they feel they have an advantage, whilst many watch the all weather races in winter rather than the jumps, whilst I don’t look at the sand stuff. .

Everyone has their own taste, of course, and what many good punters do is specialize.

There are simply too many races to be an expert at it all, so focus on what you’re good at and let the rest pass you by.

The key is to talk and there is plenty of support

By Tom Segal, Pricewise

Specialize in certain types of races, never bet more than you can afford to lose, when the fun stops, take breaks, keep records, limit stakes are all good tips that I would recommend to all punters. However, if you get past all of these helpful tips and still find the game overwhelming, then the key is to talk.

It’s amazing how liberating it can be to get rid of things, and there are many professionals and organizations to provide support and help.

Don’t be afraid to close all your accounts and return to the bookmakers with money

By Graeme Rodway, tipster

The gambling industry has changed beyond recognition since I started gambling over 20 years ago, and with the advent of online betting, the temptation to gamble is constantly present.

While this temptation is hard to resist, there is a simple solution: remove it completely by closing all your online accounts and returning to the betting shop with cash.

It’s much harder to take the time to go to the store and hand over the money than it is to click a button online, and you’ll only do it if you really think the gamble is worth it. As a result, I am a more selective and better disciplined punter and that is also the key to success.

Try to keep your evenings away from racing – a replay can wait until tomorrow

By Robbie Wilders, tipster

On a busy day in Britain and Ireland, there is a race to bet on every ten minutes for the best part of nine hours. Our sport is exciting and it can be difficult to get a break.

It won’t be for everyone, and I take a lot of blame at the office for being too health-obsessed, but I find it helpful to distance myself from running when I’m not working and especially in the evening, even if I’ I bet on a horse.

A replay of this race can wait until tomorrow as far as I’m concerned. It’s nice to get away and do something different because this game can take up a big part of your day.

Betting will naturally increase your heart rate and activate your brain. It’s the last thing I want as bedtime approaches.

Read this next:

You may be a savvy gambler, but that doesn’t make you invulnerable to the dangers of gambling.

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