This paper presents a β type multi-variable generalized predictive control method for control and synchronization of chaotic systems. Using this method, the chaotic Lorenz system, Rossler system and Chua's circuit system can be controlled to track the discretionary reference signal. The effectiveness of the proposed method is verified by numerical simulations. The advantages of the proposed method are that it can realize effective control and synchronization of chaotic systems without the knowledge of its precise model.