Trading Bot

[Shaun]

I built a trading bot from excel today, if anyone is interested in sharing some ideas i could test them out.

[UselessBettor]

I built a trading bot from excel today, if anyone is interested in sharing some ideas i could test them out.
I assume by trading you mean laying lower and backing higher before the race. Are you using the free API ? Its fairly limited for trading potential.

[Shaun]

No, Using Gruss software, i use formulas and triggers so i can do off-set bets greenup, fill and kill, keep in play or pre race, there software is great for manual trading but like anything else you need a strategy for it to work.

Trying a simple one to start, backing the fav and laying one tick lower, do this for between 3-5 minutes before the race then greenup just before the off.

I understand there are some issues with excess charges on betfair, might have to check that out but UK markets are fine to work with.

Next job, Automated Bookie Bot.

[mattio]

Hi Shaun,

I'd be interested in a bookie bot for sure. Do you have the ability to record price high and low points? I think a trading bot that knows the high and low price points would have a better chance to lay low and back high consistently.

[Shaun]

Would be easy enough to program but you would have to be active on the market, with races so close you would have to limit your action to spend more time on each event, unless i can import a chart from betfair, but how accurate would that be early in better.

[Shaun]

Here is a shot of the bot.

http://i1333.photobucket.com/albums/w630/shaun2166/TradingBot_zps6df392d3.png (http://s1333.photobucket.com/user/shaun2166/media/TradingBot_zps6df392d3.png.html)

[UselessBettor]

The easiest method I know is to :

Compare to a bookies price. Any bookie will do. If you look at the market at least 10 mins before it races then set a price in there at least 25% less then the bookie price.

With 1 min to go check what bets have been taken. Lay them off at the higher prices.

Move to next market.

Its an easy method that works for a few bets each day but watch out for data charges and limits on requests for bets matched, etc.

For example if a horse is at $20 with a bookie then you lay it $15.00. You will likely find betfair has prices like $10 on the back side and $30 on the lay side. Your just looking to pick up the cheap lay and then trade it out.

[SpeedyBen]

Very impressive look, Shaun. Do you require Gruss software for it to work?

[stugots]

SpeedyBen, you could do worse than check out the gruss free trial, it's a great bit of software.

[SpeedyBen]

I built a trading bot from excel today, if anyone is interested in sharing some ideas i could test them out.Shaun
Here is one that I would like to get my hands on. It is not trading so no restrictions. Using the software I have now I can offer the same low lay price on each horse in running which will only be taken up as the race gets to its pointy end. I now cancel all other offers manually as soon as I see that one horse has been backed with me. I would dearly love software that cancels all remaining offers automatically.
Is it possible?

[SpeedyBen]

SpeedyBen, you could do worse than check out the gruss free trial, it's a great bit of software.I agree. Very reasonably priced too.

[Shaun]

Gruss has a cancel-all trigger, they also have it on the software as well,set up a formula to monitor bets taken, as soon as one is the rest are cancelled.

[Shaun]

The only issue i see is wouldn't you always be laying the winner, i guess depends what price you offer.

[beton]

Can you set a lay price for each horse IE horse #1 $10 @$54 liability, #2 $2 @ $30 liability, #3 $4 @ $30 Liability #4 $20 @ $120 liability etc for the whole field. To be cancelled say 1 minute before jump if not matched. Those that are matched can be backed at SP. And set the lay prices an hour plus before the off.

[Shaun]

Yep, but there is minimums with SP bets so you have to make sure you have them all high enough amounts to cover that.

[beton]

That is why I have increased the liability at each stage to provide a $6 payout starting with the minimum $30 liability. If I get matched early at my price I will accept backing the same horse at SP or have the option of getting a higher fixed price at the bookies.

[SpeedyBen]

The only issue i see is wouldn't you always be laying the winner, i guess depends what price you offer.Au contraire, Blackadder. The first one backed at a short price is just as often not the winner, hence the option to cancel. I have often laid 3 horses at 1.60 in the one race within seconds of each other in the UK. If you get two or more you can't lose on the race.

[Chrome Prince]

Shaun that looks like a great bot. Have you considered what happens with late scratchings races that jump early etc?

I found it very hard to profit from lay the field in running at $1.60, without live pictures. Too often I was laying a winner and it was going easily in front and saluted. The number of times I got matched on up to four horses (Happy Days) still didn't outweigh the losses.

I think there are certain types of races to avoid and those to target though, but wanted something automated.

I totally back up what's been said about Gruss, it's unbeatable value for money with all the features it has. I have had dealing with both Gary and Mark Russell and they've coded custom spreadsheets for me for reasonable prices and great customer service to ensure I was happy. Other than that, I have no affiliation with them, just a long time user.

[SpeedyBen]

I have the luxury of live pictures for most of the UK program and at a reasonable time in WA. I haven't made a large profit from 1.6 lays but it's hard to make a loss also.

[Chrome Prince]

That explains your success, you're a lucky man!
I need matchsticks in the eyelids and best guess, no wonder it doesn't work for me. :(

[SpeedyBen]

Just out of interest, CP, I was able to lay three at 3.0 in the 2.35 at Leic last night and collected on them all. I have been experimenting with a wider price offer on jumps races. Doesn't happen often, but it does happen.
I agree that WA is well placed timewise.

[newpunter]

Hi Shaun,
Could your bot collect in-play prices for a certain horse in the race ,if not is it possible to set up a sheet to do this?????