Scripophilist
- 27 Oct 2004 23:40

How would you like to trade a market where you get large regular price swings every 10 minutes in the afternoon, seven days a week. A
market where all prices are set purely by supply and demand, few transaction costs, no middle men and you only pay commission if you win? Where you can freely act as a market maker and where you have direct market access and where you can create a spread for others to take?
Betfair has revolutionised the betting market and created an open platform for exchanging risk on sports events. This market is now viewed much more like a traditional financial risk market than an old fashioned betting market. Smart users have realised that there are huge opportunities on Betfair because they can buy and sell risk in much the same way they would in a normal financial market but without the burden of cost or the restricted access that is usually associated with traditional financial markets.
Click here to learn more
bakko
- 09 Feb 2005 09:34
- 1042 of 10502
Scrip,
I,too, would be very interested in your proposal.
Having been on betfair for the last few months I've recently been trying to second guess what the change in the odds would be during a game especially towards the latter stages as I often try to squeeze out exta ticks during this point.
A more accurate prediction of the odds would certainly be of benefit to me.
Scripophilist
- 09 Feb 2005 11:32
- 1043 of 10502
OK, That's giving me some impetus to push forward. I will trial backtest and trial the formula live. Hopefully I can finish testing by the end of the month. I have been applying the data to some historic matches. The standard error over the course of a match is pretty minor about 0.20% with a tiny STDEV.
One curiousity it has thrown up is I think there is a good opportunity trading extra time. I'll monitor this but as soon as you have an idea on what the extra time is the odds need to be rebased. I really haven't watched the effect of this before but depending on the current score there can often need to be a big re-pricing. I guess if you get a seat near the fourth official at a match you would know ahead of the market what the likely added time would be. A quick call to your mate on Betfair and it would be an easy 10%. Somehow though I guess the market will probably try and price this in ahead of time.
Don't know, but would be an interesting thing to watch.
Harlosh
- 09 Feb 2005 11:34
- 1044 of 10502
Have I missed something here but why are Portugal being offered at 3.1 against the Rep of Ireland? I always thought of Portugal as a pretty good team. Certainly better than the odds currently imply. Maybe many of their key players are missing or something but seems rather strange to me.
Diego
- 09 Feb 2005 11:41
- 1045 of 10502
Scrip,
Slightly off topic - I'm interested in reading a basic book on probability that's relevant to trading and betting, and a friend recommended a book 'An intro to probability theory' Vol 1 by William Feller (Fellow?). What's do you think?
D.
Scripophilist
- 09 Feb 2005 13:21
- 1047 of 10502
Diego, never read that one but will have a look. Richard Haigh, Taking chances is an excellent read if you don't have PHD in maths and want to understand how probability applies to sport.
Doc's web site is useful as well, it's on my bookmarks.
Diego
- 09 Feb 2005 14:14
- 1048 of 10502
Thanks scrip/Doc. Just looking at your site now Doc.
D.
chartist2004
- 09 Feb 2005 14:48
- 1049 of 10502
Afternoon all Betfair traders, Greened up on the ftse daily up/down backed the above @ 2.6 greened on down @ 2.55 for a 57% or 49% profit. My 100.1 back idea did'nt work :o(! pc still on the blink missed the footie OK first thing..
Kayak
- 09 Feb 2005 15:33
- 1050 of 10502
Very good chartist! However you are likely to get better odds by laying the odds under 2 rather than backing above 2. Lay down at 1.63 and green up by laying up at 1.65 would have been the same as your example.
Scripophilist
- 09 Feb 2005 16:23
- 1051 of 10502
I bet Kayak is on the final 1/2 hour Daily FTSE up/down bet. The question is which side?
:)
Kayak
- 09 Feb 2005 16:31
- 1052 of 10502
Both sides Scrip of course :-)
Scripophilist
- 09 Feb 2005 16:33
- 1053 of 10502
Of course!! I am green but not even on both so looking for a down.
Kayak
- 09 Feb 2005 16:36
- 1054 of 10502
Down it is. Well done. I layed either side repeatedly, was slightly greener above.
Scripophilist
- 09 Feb 2005 16:57
- 1055 of 10502
Almost a major upset on the cards on the early footy. Macedonia vs Andorra. Andorra won the corresponding fixture 1-0 last year at 25-1 against. However Macedonia only 1.11 to win at home today.
Some confusion but looks like they scraped through in the final minutes 1-0.
Scripophilist
- 09 Feb 2005 16:59
- 1056 of 10502
Scripophilist
- 09 Feb 2005 17:31
- 1057 of 10502
16:55 Ludlow, Evens fav drifted from 2.1 to 4's, Pulled up half way around. LOL!
Scripophilist
- 09 Feb 2005 17:31
- 1058 of 10502
I am thinking of missing the soccer matches this evening as there is little value out there. Worth laying a few at short odds for a shock result maybe. Will keep an eye on them.
Scripophilist
- 09 Feb 2005 18:21
- 1059 of 10502
Harlosh, Just had a nose at the Rep of Ireland vs Portugal game. Basically the market has resolved such that the odds indicate that Ireland have no advantage over Portugal. There is no goal supremacy between the two teams. The draw could be trading around 2.15-2.20 by half time if the match is still a draw.
Fundamentalist
- 09 Feb 2005 20:50
- 1060 of 10502
Cant believe with 2 overs to go, England need 31 to win with a tail ender facing, yet SA are still 1.11 to win - i would have thought 1.03 would be right - not a trade but a comfortable gamble imo - im on heavily
Fundamentalist
- 09 Feb 2005 21:00
- 1061 of 10502
Well that was the easiest 11% ill ever make