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Actually the most successful parimutuel syndicates and HNWI bet programmatically through API’s. They consistently win and they do not make their money from pick

Actually the most successful parimutuel syndicates and HNWI bet programmatically through API’s. They consistently win and they do not make their money from picking a single winner. They bet on exotic bets that have much higher odds and are easier to box. For instance picking two winners or order of the first three horses. Source: I worked on those APIs to integrate with 20+ exchanges over three companies and 10 years. The syndicates and HNWIs were always the same people over that decade.

gricardo99 8y ago
That sounds fascinating. I don’t suppose you have a blog, or any other write up about that world? Even perhaps a link to one of these betting APIs, if they’re generally available to the public?
- deleted 8y ago
  [deleted]
- shaunray 8y ago
  Betfair has a public API, but they are not parimutuel: https://docs.developer.betfair.com/display/1smk3cen4v3lu3yomq5qye0ni/API+Overview https://docs.developer.betfair.com/display/1smk3cen4v3lu3yom... Tabcorp is an Australian Wagering Company that offers real-time horse racing APIs: https://studio.tab.com.au/ https://studio.tab.com.au/ Others are a little less public and you need to sign up with an account and prove you are a syndicate. Hong Kong Jockey Club, UniBet, Amtote. I don't normally talk about this history as I was active in this industry until four years ago. There are however people who have come out in public: Bill Benter: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2018-05-03/the-gambler-who-cracked-the-horse-racing-code https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2018-05-03/the-gambl... Jelko: https://www.smh.com.au/national/meet-the-joker-the-australian-who-is-the-biggest-gambler-in-the-world-20180515-p4zfhi.html https://www.smh.com.au/national/meet-the-joker-the-australia... Most of the other families and players are extremely private or are of Eastern European I wont talk about them publicly. This is a list of common bet types that are targets for these types of players: - Trifecta - Big Six - Quadrella - First 4 Here is a blog on working the combinations of the Big Six: https://practicalpunting.com.au/pp-online/a-z-of-betting/exotic-betting/big-six/my-formula-to-beat-the-big-6-20090404 https://practicalpunting.com.au/pp-online/a-z-of-betting/exo...
  - malbs 8y ago
    hah, how funny I almost copied your post word for word ;) What are you up to now Shaun? Are you still in Hobart?
- shoo 8y ago
  not horse racing, but there's also a book by Steven Skiena titled "Calculated Bets: Computers, Gambling, and Mathematical Modeling to Win" -- it's about the author's interest in betting on jai-alai matches. there's a bit of stuff about parimutuel betting & understanding how the structure of jai-alai round robin tournaments can produce pretty unusual odds in some scenarios, which can be exploited. technologically the book is a couple of decades out of date, but it's probably worth a read.
- malbs 8y ago
  Betfair API is 100% free for customers with a lot of code examples in various languages. Tabcorps TABStudio - http://studio.tab.com.au/ http://studio.tab.com.au/ (You need to register as a tabcorp customer but it's "free"). Its basically a JSON REST API NZ TAB have their batch mode, at filebet.tab.co.nz, which is nothing more than a file upload system. The ATG, and the other Scandinavian totes provide coupon upload systems (where you generate a coupon file with your selections in it, using third party software), but if you win they will end up banning you. Most providers keep their APIs hidden or require signing NDAs or other types of contracts, I'm referring to companies like Amtote, Churchill Downs, PMU, BetFred, PGI, LeTurf etc Usually they're quite surprised when you contact them about doing "integration work", a lot of the APIs are designed for retailer shops to integrate with. For example, I've done some integration work with BetFred, where my client never wants to cancel a bet (placed at the last possible moment), however in order to pass their integration tests, I have to fully support cancelling a wager, just like any retail shop would. On a side note, I have used (at least one of) the APIs shaunray was referring to that he had worked on.
downandout 8y ago
The most successful such syndicate in the world is run by a purported billionaire by the name of Zeljko Ranogajec. He made most of his money beating horse racing. Here’s a fascinating article on him and his exploits: https://www.smh.com.au/national/meet-the-joker-the-australian-who-is-the-biggest-gambler-in-the-world-20180515-p4zfhi.html https://www.smh.com.au/national/meet-the-joker-the-australia...

gricardo99 8y ago

That sounds fascinating. I don’t suppose you have a blog, or any other write up about that world? Even perhaps a link to one of these betting APIs, if they’re generally available to the public?

deleted 8y ago
[deleted]
shaunray 8y ago
Betfair has a public API, but they are not parimutuel: https://docs.developer.betfair.com/display/1smk3cen4v3lu3yomq5qye0ni/API+Overview https://docs.developer.betfair.com/display/1smk3cen4v3lu3yom... Tabcorp is an Australian Wagering Company that offers real-time horse racing APIs: https://studio.tab.com.au/ https://studio.tab.com.au/ Others are a little less public and you need to sign up with an account and prove you are a syndicate. Hong Kong Jockey Club, UniBet, Amtote. I don't normally talk about this history as I was active in this industry until four years ago. There are however people who have come out in public: Bill Benter: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2018-05-03/the-gambler-who-cracked-the-horse-racing-code https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2018-05-03/the-gambl... Jelko: https://www.smh.com.au/national/meet-the-joker-the-australian-who-is-the-biggest-gambler-in-the-world-20180515-p4zfhi.html https://www.smh.com.au/national/meet-the-joker-the-australia... Most of the other families and players are extremely private or are of Eastern European I wont talk about them publicly. This is a list of common bet types that are targets for these types of players: - Trifecta - Big Six - Quadrella - First 4 Here is a blog on working the combinations of the Big Six: https://practicalpunting.com.au/pp-online/a-z-of-betting/exotic-betting/big-six/my-formula-to-beat-the-big-6-20090404 https://practicalpunting.com.au/pp-online/a-z-of-betting/exo...
- malbs 8y ago
  hah, how funny I almost copied your post word for word ;) What are you up to now Shaun? Are you still in Hobart?
shoo 8y ago
not horse racing, but there's also a book by Steven Skiena titled "Calculated Bets: Computers, Gambling, and Mathematical Modeling to Win" -- it's about the author's interest in betting on jai-alai matches. there's a bit of stuff about parimutuel betting & understanding how the structure of jai-alai round robin tournaments can produce pretty unusual odds in some scenarios, which can be exploited. technologically the book is a couple of decades out of date, but it's probably worth a read.
malbs 8y ago
Betfair API is 100% free for customers with a lot of code examples in various languages. Tabcorps TABStudio - http://studio.tab.com.au/ http://studio.tab.com.au/ (You need to register as a tabcorp customer but it's "free"). Its basically a JSON REST API NZ TAB have their batch mode, at filebet.tab.co.nz, which is nothing more than a file upload system. The ATG, and the other Scandinavian totes provide coupon upload systems (where you generate a coupon file with your selections in it, using third party software), but if you win they will end up banning you. Most providers keep their APIs hidden or require signing NDAs or other types of contracts, I'm referring to companies like Amtote, Churchill Downs, PMU, BetFred, PGI, LeTurf etc Usually they're quite surprised when you contact them about doing "integration work", a lot of the APIs are designed for retailer shops to integrate with. For example, I've done some integration work with BetFred, where my client never wants to cancel a bet (placed at the last possible moment), however in order to pass their integration tests, I have to fully support cancelling a wager, just like any retail shop would. On a side note, I have used (at least one of) the APIs shaunray was referring to that he had worked on.

downandout 8y ago

The most successful such syndicate in the world is run by a purported billionaire by the name of Zeljko Ranogajec. He made most of his money beating horse racing. Here’s a fascinating article on him and his exploits: https://www.smh.com.au/national/meet-the-joker-the-australian-who-is-the-biggest-gambler-in-the-world-20180515-p4zfhi.html https://www.smh.com.au/national/meet-the-joker-the-australia...