Reading this triggered a small reorganisation of my own thinking on the topic, and a stop at thedemocracyroadshow furthered that reorganisation, content that affects the shape of my mental model rather than just decorating it with new facts is content with structural rather than informational impact and this site provides that.

Now thinking I want more sites built on this kind of editorial foundation, and a stop at xelra extended that wish into a broader hope, sites built on substance and care rather than on metrics and growth are the kind of sites I want to see more of and this one is a small example worth supporting.

Started a draft response in my head and ended without publishing it because the post said it well enough, and a look at easydigitalretail produced the same effect, content that satisfies my urge to add to it by being complete enough on its own is rare and represents a particular kind of editorial completeness here.

So — been using this thing for maybe five months now and I keep coming back, so thought I’d write something up since a lad on another thread asked me last week. I’m UK based, mostly stick to footie and the horses, nothing mad, for context.

The reason I started using it was honestly embarrassing — I never could figure out what an ew return actually was when the place terms changed. I’d just eyeball it and get a shock. These days I punch the numbers in first, every time, even a straight one-selection punt.

Their single bet calculator tool is the part I open most — type in your stake, the odds and it shows returns straight away, fractions or decimals. There’s also the bigger stuff — acca and treble maths, lucky 15s, patents and yankees, which is where most people I know lose track. If you fancy a poke about, it’s over at vig calc — free, no signup.

One thing that actually made a difference is the geekier tools. The odds-to-probability thing and it makes obvious the overround, plus a kelly tool — I use half kelly as the full version is far too aggressive. The dutching one gets used a fair bit when I’m splitting a race.

It’s not perfect mind. The design feels very functional, let’s say — zero polish, looks like it was built by someone who cares more about maths than colours. On my phone it’s fine but the bigger tables need a bit of scrolling. And no app, just the site — doesn’t bother me but you asked.

Right, that’s me. Costs nowt, no ads shoved in your face, works. Anyone who even now does the maths on paper, try it — saved me plenty of dumb bets I’d have regretted.