Thursday, 28th May 2026 – Main Event

Welcome to Smart Bash 2026 – Conference Day

Our main event will feature a full day of expert-led seminars, panel discussions and focused industry conversations. Designed for serious bettors and professionals, the 2026 programme will explore the realities of modern betting, from market dynamics and data-led strategy to regulation, psychology and exchange ecosystems.

The full conference agenda is currently being finalised and will be released shortly. Expect candid insight, practical takeaways and direct access to experienced operators working at the highest level of the industry.

Further details coming soon.

Friday Speakers

Betting 2.0: Inside the Digital Bookie’s Playbook:

Presenter: Simon Nott
Simon Nott is a seasoned freelance journalist and media creator specializing in horse racing and betting. Renowned for his #BettingPeople interview series with Star Sports, he also contributes betting ring reports and columns to various publications, including Racing Ahead magazine.
Stephen Darbyshire

Stephen goes to the races around 150 days of the year punting, up and down the length of the country. He has become known to viewers of Races Now with his idiosyncratic style for his daily selections, YouTube videos and betting ring reports with “friends of the channel”.

Michael Cannon

Michael Cannon, with 40 years of on-course experience, is a respected bookmaker and form judge, now sharing his betting insights through popular pre-race videos on X.

James King

James King is Global Head of Trading at Racing and Sports. A lifelong racing fan, he has over 20 years’ experience in the betting industry, including 12 years at Kambi, where he led racing strategy across multiple sportsbook brands.

High Stakes & Head Games: The Art of Betting Psychology

Presenter: Tom Brownlee

Tom Brownlee is a seasoned professional bettor and founder of Bookie Bashing, known for blending algorithmic modelling and hands-on sharp advantage play across football, horse racing, golf, darts, and more

Tom Dry
Tom Dry is a professional bettor with a background in football analytics and data science, including time working for Tony Bloom’s betting operation. He has built a highly profitable tennis betting model and is backed by Waterhouse VC.
Jack Adcock

Jack has worked in various trading roles at bookmakers and now runs a worldwide gambling syndicate primarily focused on the U.K. market for a private investor.

Betting on Politics: Inside a Growing Market

Presenter: Adrian Smith
Adrian Smith is a professional sports and political bettor with more than a decade of experience in the markets. Having worked at Star Sports and operated independently, Adrian is a data-driven trader with a sharp instinct for identifying mispriced odds — particularly in high-stakes elections and leadership contests.
 
Sir Philip Davies
A former Conservative MP for 19 years, Sir Philip is a prominent advocate for individual freedoms, including the right to bet. As Chairman of Star Sports and a key figure in the betting industry, he offers valuable political insight into regulation, reform, and public policy.
Paul Krishnamurty
One of the pioneers of political betting, Paul Krishnamurty has been analyzing elections and leadership contests, large and small, across the world, for over 20 years. He’s currently chief political oddsmaker at BetOnline”. 
Will Kedjanyi
Head of political content at Star Sports, delivering sharp insights on market trends and election outcomes. Regular contributor to the Racing Post Weekender, blending astute analysis with engaging commentary.
 
 

Betting’s Big Questions: Regulation, Disputes, Black Markets, and Bettor Rights

Presenter: Tanya Stevenson
Tanya Stevenson is a highly respected betting broadcaster, journalist, and former Channel 4 Racing presenter, known for her deep expertise in horse racing and betting markets.
 
Nick Rust

Nick has had a long career as an executive in the betting industry, from shop floor to boardroom. He also led the British Horseracing Authority as Chief Executive from 2015 to 2021. Amongst other activities, he is currently Chair of the Starting Price Regulatory Commission and Chair of the Industry Forum at the Gambling Commission (an advisory group).

Richard Hayler
Richard Hayler is Managing Director of IBAS, the UK’s leading gambling dispute resolution service. He’s currently spearheading efforts for IBAS to become the official Gambling Ombudsman.
Brad Enright
Brad Enright is the Director of Strategy at the Gambling Commission, overseeing key regulatory initiatives and sector reforms. With a career spanning from retail operations at Ladbrokes to senior leadership roles at the Commission, he brings two decades of hands-on experience in the betting and regulatory sectors.
 

Market Makers to Data Scrapers: The New Dynamics of Betting

Presenter: Varun Sudhakar
Varun Sudhakar is CEO and co-founder of BetDEX, a decentralised betting exchange focused on low fees and transparency. He also runs the BetDEX brokerage, helping high-stakes bettors and syndicates move large volumes efficiently.
 
Mark Hill

Mark is the Trading Director at Amelco, a sports betting end-to-end platform provider servicing operators such as Hard Rock, Fanatics, BET99, Fitzdares and the Tote. A former researcher and analyst for just under 10 years at Starlizard, Mark transitioned over to the other side of the counter in 2021, specialising in North American sports and products but with a rich history in football betting behind him.

AK Bets Live Podcast Recording

Presenter: Matthew Trenhaile

Matthew Trenhaile is the founder of Anubis Trading, a consultancy specializing in decision-making systems for speculative markets. With a background in odds compilation and trading at firms like Mustard Bet and Pinnacle, he brings over two decades of experience in the betting industry.

Anthony Kaminskas

Anthony is the founder of AK Bets, a growing independent bookmaker known for its sharp pricing and transparency. With experience on both sides of the counter — as a professional bettor and former Paddy Power trader — he brings a unique perspective to the betting world. Anthony is also a regular voice in industry discussions and media.

Harry Stewart-Moore
Harry is a partner at the law firm Gardner Leader, with a speciality in cases related to the betting industry. Harry regularly acts for some of the leading names in the gambling world in both High Court proceedings and before various sports regulatory panels.
 
Tony Calvin

Tony is a well-known broadcaster and horse racing pundit, best known for his regular appearances on ITV Racing and contributions to Betfair. With decades of experience in the betting industry, he combines sharp insight with a straight-talking style that has earned him a loyal following among punters and racing fans alike.

Betting Camouflage: How Sharp Bettors get on at Scale

Presenter: Jose

Jose is one of the most well-connected figures in betting, known for working closely with serious punters and syndicates around the world to help them get on and stay under the radar. Rather than modelling himself, he focuses on leveraging relationships, understanding market mechanics, and guiding profitable bettors toward long-term sustainability.

David Hipkin
David Hipkin is a seasoned betting professional with decades of experience across both punting and trading roles. David is also the co-owner of the SharpBetting app and website.
Luke Paton

Luke Paton is a long-time bettor and betting industry professional with deep experience across both the punting and operational sides of the game. Known for his sharp insights into value, market dynamics, and bookmaker behaviour, he brings a grounded, practical perspective to everything betting-related.

Varun Sudhakar
Varun Sudhakar is CEO and co-founder of BetDEX, a decentralised betting exchange focused on low fees and transparency. He also runs the BetDEX brokerage, helping high-stakes bettors and syndicates move large volumes efficiently.