What is Proofing?

How proofing works

When a tipster issues a selection, a proofing service or independent verifier logs the details immediately: the event, selection, advised odds, stake in points, and the exact time the tip was sent. The odds recorded are those available at the moment of issue, not the odds that existed hours earlier or later. This timestamp is crucial, because odds can shift significantly in a short space of time.

Several independent proofing services operate in the UK, and some tipster review sites run their own proofing directly. A tip is typically considered proofed only if it is recorded before the event starts and before any substantial market move has taken place. Results are then logged once the event settles, building a running record of profit and loss in points, yield, and return on investment over time. Without this process, a tipster could cherry-pick results retrospectively, claiming winners they never publicly advised.

A worked example

A tipster emails subscribers at 09:15 on a Saturday morning advising a 1-point win bet on a horse at 5/1 (6.00 decimal). A proofing service receives the same email and logs the selection at 09:17 at those odds. By the time the race runs at 14:30, the horse has drifted to 8/1. The proofed record correctly shows 5/1, not the starting price.

If the horse wins, the proofed profit is +5 points at the advised odds. Had the tipster later claimed the bet was struck at 8/1 for a +8 point profit, the proofed record would contradict that claim. Over a full season of, say, 200 bets, the difference between advised odds and actual obtainable odds can have a meaningful effect on the overall yield figure presented to prospective subscribers.

Why proofing matters when judging or following a tipster

An unproofed record is almost impossible to trust. Without independent verification, a tipster has every incentive to remember winners and forget losers. Even well-meaning tipsters can unconsciously recall their record more favourably than reality supports. When evaluating a tipster, always check whether their results have been proofed by a named third party, how long the proofed record runs, and whether the sample size is large enough to be statistically meaningful.

Proofing also exposes the gap between advised odds and achievable odds. A tipster who consistently advises prices that are only available for minutes before shortening sharply may produce a strong proofed record that is difficult or impossible for subscribers to replicate. Look for services that record not just the advised price but also the best available price at a reasonable time after the tip is issued. This gives a more realistic picture of what a typical follower could have obtained.

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