FoG

Geoff has had a couple of pops at matched bettors/arbers/value bettors on his blog recently.  Unlicensed and untaxed layers. They are not genuine customers, and in actual fact their activities have an extremely damaging effect on the ‘recreational punters,’ by having their accounts unfairly factored.   Right up there in the highest echelons of the Betfair forum. The place for unlicensed individuals to vent their spleen anonymously. Be as rude as you like and say what you like when no one knows your name can’t you?   The last time I tested these laws was with one particular idiot who thought it would be amusing to describe me as a cokehead on Twitter. That little escapade cost him damages and expenses approaching fifty grand. That’s fifty grand for opening your mouth and letting your tongue wobble Rob.   I’m not here to support their activities and I do not have to justify not laying them a bet, or restricting such traders to pennies because I see them as simple parasites

When the big festivals roll around the big bookies offer big value on each way bets. Have a look at Bet365 enhanced terms offer for Cheltenham today. They are offering 4 places at 1/4 odds on the first race. Let’s see how we can turn this offer into real cash. Notice the price offered on Debuchet. They have him at 33/1 or 34.0 in decimal odds. This is a good price when you consider that the same horse is available to lay on betfair exchange for the same. So in theory you can back at the bookie and lay the same bet on the exchange and break even (in practice you lose a little commission charged at betfair). Now if you go each way on Bet365 then you get 1/4 odds on the place. One quarter of 33 is 8.25 - or in decimal odds 9.25 for your horse to place in top 4. Betfair are well aware of this value and like to offer markets on 4 to be placed etc to create action and therefore commission for themselves. Who wouldn’t lay off on the 4 to be placed market where the true value is 7.0