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.

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I totally agree. Looks like these "layabouts" have a few bob to throw around too.

Not in on this game but will keep it running in the background and get in if an opportunity arises

BTW, Welcome to the thread Bakko. Good to see you here.

Scrip, thanks for the welcome too. As mentioned earlier I will contact you in due course when I find a spare moment as I work full time.

I've looked at other sports and possible opportunities. As you're the guru, I'd like to see if they're viable or not

Sure, I continue to do work on other events so may have some new pointers in the future.

Couldn't resist the tennis, 6.6m traded, Because it is a cracking game and so close I have just been making a book on the event overround 2% at a time. The closest thing to printing money you can get IMHO.

Sorry to burden with such a simple question BUT what is the difference between spread betting and CFD's, and what advantage (if any) has one over the other?

Thanks
Steve

Scrip, did you capture a .csv from the tennis match ? I haven't looked at tennis yet and am interested to see how it behaved.

Yes, Email me.

Whyallasteve,

Your really on the wrong thread here but don't wish to ignore you.
The answer to your question is rather complex. Too long I think to give an answer on here.

If you go to one of the compay's that trade both (D4F, Finspreads etc) you should find the information you are looking for there.

Better still, if you get hold of a copy of Shares magazine, give them a ring and try and order recent back issues. They have been doing a lot of very informative articles on S/B and CFD's just recently. The articles will tell you everything you wish to know.

Hope that helps.

Harlosh

Thanks for acknowledging me and many thanks for the advice.

Stick with this thread and go on Scrip's course. You'll be better off short term and probably longer term also.

Football available from 5pm tonight. Anybody know any excercises I can do sat at my PC?

For anybody interested:

CFDs vs. Spread Betting


Going hand in hand with the rise of CFDs, has been the increasing popularity of financial spread betting. Spread betting and CFDs are very close cousins but they are slightly different, with the most obvious example being that one is a bet and one is a trade. With a spread bet the customer is basically taking somebody else's price, no different to walking into a bookmaker who's chalked up a two-way price on the board. More people currently spread bet than trade CFDs and the key reason behind this is the issue of tax. At the moment a financial spread bet is literally seen by the Inland Revenue as a bet, meaning there is no tax payable on it, income tax or capital gains tax (40% on short term investment profits above the 7200 threshold). The non-payment of tax on spread bets is a huge benefit financially compared to other forms of financial tools.

whyallasteve

Just as a point of note, the above gives a CGT threshold of 7200. The current limit is 7900 and raises to 8200 next year

Harlosh

youve been quiet of late. fancy haydock on thursday feb 24th? quite happy to pick you up

I won't be able to do any of the matches tonight as going to the Man U v Chelsea game later. I have a gut feeling that laying the draw might be worth a punt.

Bakko

are you going as a neutral or are you the enemy (either way) lol

bakko, Spot on, I agree the laying the draw looks tempting.

Hope you enjoy the match. You can now trade Betfair over a smartphone so no need to worry about at home behind you screen. Not quite the same feeling or visibility of the platform though.

Fundy,

Unfortunately, for you, as the enemy!

But tonight, I can't care less whether we win or not as it's a mickey mouse cup competition. However, a ManU win may psychologically derail their championship agenda which would in turn benefit both our teams.

Need to leave now so catch up with you guys later

Fundy,

Haven't been around much lately, what with my few days away and tax returns to complete (no I haven't done it yet).

Believe it or not I have to go for an MRI scan on the 24th. Just a check that the nasty thing in my head hasn't begun to grow again. Can't believe the coincidence. When they ask for my availability next time I'll have to give them the dates of the Haydock meetings!

Contrary to Scrip and Bekko I would rather back the draw. Both good defences. Can't see many goals,at least til 2nd half, if any. I'll wait though.

Might go on the Milan match while I'm waiting.

No money on the Milan game.

Harlosh, I checked the odds on to qualify and match odds. The curious and unusual thing about them is that Chelsea are odds on to qualify but 3.15 for the match. This is a strong indication that the market expects the match to go to extra time.

I think the rationale behind laying the draw was that somebody has to score. But I doubt in the first. I didn't lay the draw before the match started.