The Poorhouse is well aware that his claims of being a successful & balanced citizen who just happens to run thousands of pounds through bookies is a statement unbelievable to many. But it's true, trust me, you can profit. Guaranteed. Well, except via things more akin to "acts of god" than simply picking a 3 legged horse.

The Poorhouse refers of course to the technique of matched betting (with perhaps a little arbitrage betting thrown in, but that's more for people with a concentration span of over the Poorhouse's 10 minute limit).

Thanks to the recent betfest that is Cheltenham, Poorhouse just passed a notable £5000 profit benchmark, so thought it was time to bring it up again for you skeptics. Although of course I might still be lying just to trick you into...ermm...giving your money to someone else for no good reason.

Vice-like it may be, but the Poorhouse is always up for a flutter - especially when he always wins. However, the below might be the finest sure bet he's had the pleasure of placing.

The Poorhouse has a penchant for games and gambling, and where better to combine than poker? Actually, so far, online poker doesn't appear to have quite the fun that real live poker does, but it passes the time better than say an extended GMTV session, plus you can make money. In theory. If you're lucky. Unlike certain forms of betting manipulation, there's no guarenteed wins to be had (that the Poorhouse discovered yet anyway), but there is a quick way to profit in the cash value of items if you're into poker at all.

2plus2, publishers of poker books, have an offer where if you sign up to a poker site and complete certain obligations you get to pick 5, count 'em, 5 books.