1. Property - unit, house, holiday house, commercial property, a managed property investment fund etc.

2. Shares - stock options, different stock investment sectors such as small capitalisation mining companies, international or local share funds etc.

3. Fixed Interest - bonds, convertible notes, fixed deposits etc

The above are your major investments categories in which you may be looking to invest.

These are 'traditional' type of investments however there are other investment areas which are just as, or more profitable than your main 'stable' of investment options. These alternative investment options include tree crops, vintage cars, wines, art, other collectables and also sports betting and horse racing!

As majority of people do not understand betting industry, they generally scoff at idea of sports/horse race betting as a legitimate investment option. That is because they have only been exposed to one side of business, entertainment side. Of course gambling is generally painted in an ordinary light in media where it is linked to family break downs and suicides. The perception among those who haven't been enlightened is that if you bet often, you must have a gambling problem!

"If truth be known many who play stockmarket are biggest gamblers around."

They are never labelled gamblers, nor do they believe that they are gambling because their gambling vehicle is not horses but shares in companies. They like to think of their random and uneducated decisions as being an 'investment' rather than a bet. In this light, it is OK to lose money because 'it is an investment'. Many are simply betting on price of a share just same as an uneducated sports bettor who makes a decision on likely outcome of a game.

The purpose of this article is to show that gambling can be a serious and profitable business as well as a fun pastime. I decided to write this article after speaking with a good mate of mine who happens to be financial advisor to 'high net worth' clients. You may be surprised and interested to note that he sees sports betting as playing a very important role in his investment portfolio. He knows very little about sports but he sees it as a very serious business and he follows our selections 'to letter'. (Not that he would tell his clients that he invests in sport as I am sure they just wouldn't 'get it'.)

The similarities between more 'traditional' type investments and gambling are many. We are all playing same game, which is to . . .

beat market and optimize our total wealth.

Financial markets such as stockmarket are generally efficient and represent general view of aggregate of those that invest into market. Investing in any financial market (including sports betting market) raises financial questions involving decision making under uncertainty. Many of those that play such markets simply do not understand just what they are up against.

People go to financial advisors for advice on how to best invest their money. They are thought to be experts. They have been to University and have completed courses through Australian Securities Institute to become an advisor. It is same with other specialised services, such as doctors and solicitors. People recognise specialised knowledge that these guys have and understand value of paying such experts for their opinions.

I believe reason to why more aren't successful in gambling is that majority of punters have no idea what they are up against. They believe that they can beat game with no specific specialised knowledge. There is a price you have to pay to gain knowledge and experience required to become successful.

This is very similar for both traditional investment advisors and also in gambling field. Some advisors are better than others, as are some investments and some investment funds are better than others. Some investment funds make excellent returns for their clients however, on other hand, majority can't even beat average based on returns of 'All Ords' index!

I can see myself starting to get off track here.

Professional gambling is not for everyone, however I truly believe that it is within reach of everyone. Now there are two ways in which you can make a living out of gambling.

1. You can spend years studying mathematics and learn ins and outs of your chosen betting field to hopefully build skills necessary to make consistent profits

2. You can pay those that have trodden path above for their specialised knowledge and skill and then focus your attention on becoming an astute gambling portfolio manager.

Both methods will provide very similar betting results. Gambling is like any other profession. You simply cannot become successful without truly applying yourself and spending time (and money), to learn and become proficient. (Contrary to what most 'retail' punters would suggest). It is no different to a financial advisor who studies commerce at university and then completes a Diploma of Financial Markets at Securities Institute. They have paid necessary price (both in time and money), to obtain required information to pursue a career in their chosen field of endeavour.

Most soccer athletes do not have a clear guide of what to eat to prepare for a soccer match, what to eat after a soccer match and how to maintain a rich high carbohydrate diet. There are nutritional guides that soccer players of all level must and should follow in order to put themselves in a beneficial position before matches.

Simple Nutritional Tips

1. Carbohydrates, Carbohydrates, Carbohydrates!!

I cannot stress this enough. Athlete performance in all sports is dependant on a diet that is rich in carbohydrates. As a soccer player it will improve your running performance and stamina on field. The more carbohydrates a soccer player eats, longer a player can perform at a top level.

The recommended time for consuming a large portion of carbohydrates is not day of a match, but day before. Most coaches, players and parents go by old myth to prepare high carbohydrate meals day of game.

A balanced diet of 55-65% carbohydrates, 10-12% protein, 25-30% fat and plenty of fluids.

2. Protein Still Matters

After starting with carbohydrates it is only appropriate to mention protein. Protein is very important in your diet as a soccer player, however where you get it from is very important. Must athlete diets recommend protein, but none really go into explanation of where to get your protein.