Arbitraging / Generous Odds services

[stebbo]

Hi All,

trawling the 'Net over the past few days I've come across a number of sites that offer services to alert their subscribers to arbitraging opportunities, and also to bookies who are offering overly generous odds on certain events.

I'm wondering if there's anyone on these lists who have used or are using any of these services, and who might care to share their experiences (either on or off list).

Cheers,
Chris.

http://www.users.bigpond.net.au/stebbo/sem.gif

[becareful]

Chris,

I was on one of those mailing lists for a while but the problem is you need literally dozens of different accounts with the various overseas sports bookmakers to take advantage of the stuff they send. The average opportunity seemed to give a profit of around 2% and to me it just didn't seem worth the risk in having lots of funds sitting in offshore bookies accounts waiting for the opportunities. If you didn't leave the funds in the accounts then the fees most of them charge for deposits & withdrawals would eat up all the profits but if you do leave the funds in the accounts if one bookie went bust you could wipe out a whole years profits! No doubt some people make a decent amount of money out of it but you would need a rather large bankroll to make it worth the hastle at only 2% per "trade".

[Gamblor]

In aussie betting sites I once saw an arbitrage but it was very low (only a couple of percent).

[Mark]

Give me .5% on Betfair, I'll grab it every time.

[stebbo]

Hi Mark,

how do you take advantage of this? do you have a software program which places the bets for you? I've seen an occasional race here and there where I thought I could get the advantage, but the market seems to be moving very quickly, and if I did it manually I think I'd lose the advantage before I was finished. Is this just a case of being ready for it to happen, or is there some other method?

Cheers,
Chris.

[Mark]

Stebbo

You must be one of these young'ens

[Mark]

Sorry pressed submit too soon.

No offence meant by the word "youngen's", just that everyone these days assumes that you need some sort of program or spreadsheet to do things.

Quick mind, (maths was the only subject I passed in year 12), quick typing, and a calculator by my side, these are my tools.

As an example...a 3 horse race, with plenty of $$$ available to lay at say $2, $2.50, & $9.40, (100.64%),lay $250, $200, & $53, takeouts = $500, $500, & $498.20...hold = $503. Guaranteed $3 profit. Now before anyone says that's not worth it, consider doing it 5,6,7 or 10 times, soon becomes worth it. Also works backing the lot when you can.

:smile:

[stebbo]

Hi Mark,

I'm happy to be called a youngen :smile:

I can see that the smaller the field the easier it would be... I normally don't even look at small fields from a punting perspective, so I must start taking note now.

Cheers,
Chris.

[Mark]

Stebbo

I just managed to lay 3 runners in a 4 horse field at 108%, during the running !!!!!
Bless those 2.5 mile hurdle races.

:grin:

[crash]

The best arbitraging oppurtunities will be found on the dogs and harness. Regular as sunsets.

Cheers.

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: crash on 2003-11-11 09:15 ]</font>

[michaelg]

Hi, Mark and Crash.

I assume you are referring to non-Australian races?

As a matter of interest, I have been looking at the English football on Betfair where the pools are huge but have never found any arbitraging opportunities. Do you know of any sports where this might be available?

Thanks.
Michael.

[Mark]

Michaelg

Most of my books are made on UK races because of the larger & more stable pools. Can't comment on dogs, harness or other sports as I rarely check them. Maybe I should be?
I did manage to catch Zazzman short last Saturday & back it when it blew out.