How my Betfair trading has transformed over time
There are many ways to do your Betfair trading, but I believe there are three key stages if you want to make the most of any Betfair trading strategy.
I still trade manually, but my repertoire of available options and what I do daily has changed a lot over the years.
I’ve regulary traded between 35-50,000 markets per year. I couldn’t do that without following my particular path through the markets. So this is the progression that I had on that long journey.
Step one – Manual trading
Most people start by manually trading.
Doing something in the market that involves opening a position, then closing it and hedging that position. This is really where you should be starting. Get some structure into your trading. Understand what you are doing and why and then look for that opportunity in the market.
In the old days, you would use the website to place bets or trades into the market, but that’s inefficient by modern standards, and therefore, you should be using some Betfair trading software.
Step two – Manual trading with Betfair trading software
Using software like Bet Angel elevates your trading game far beyond the capabilities of traditional websites. On a website, you’re stuck with endless clicks and keystrokes just to open an order, set a stake, and place it in the market. Then you have to repeat the process to close or hedge a position. It’s tedious, time-consuming, and someone else is always going to be faster.
That’s why most modern “manual trading” involves the use of Betfair trading software, like Bet Angel, where you manually activate its powerful functions by clicking and placing trades. When trading this way, you’re actively seeking out optimal entry and exit points, armed with the right tools to act swiftly.
Your Betfair trading strategy might have a detailed process, but the true magic happens when you manually execute those trades. Personally, I’ve always been a fan of manual trading because the right opportunity can arise at any moment, and I’m always ready to seize it.
Even in manual trading, I integrate several advanced elements that enhance my trading process. The only part that remains manual is the actual placement of the trade, but this step is enriched by the tools, options, and real-time data provided by Bet Angel.
The real advantage of Bet Angel lies in its flexibility, allowing you to customise and integrate the information you need directly into its interface. This gives you a strategic edge, acting as your guiding hand in manual trading. With Bet Angel, you not only maintain control but amplify your trading capabilities.
Semi-automated trading
Bet Angel has always offered some level of semi-automation, making trading more efficient and effective. With its powerful Global Settings, you can automate tasks such as offsetting, batching, stops, and fill or kill orders. You simply place one order, and Bet Angel handles the rest, managing your positions seamlessly.
However, the introduction of Servants through Guardian automation has taken this to a whole new level.
Servants are the next evolution in trading automation, offering context-triggered actions that make trading faster and smarter. But what exactly does “context-triggered automation” mean?
The concept of Servants is simple yet revolutionary. You focus on what’s important—whether it’s watching TV, monitoring your trading screen, or analysing data—while Bet Angel takes care of the rest. With just a click of your mouse, a press of a keyboard button, or even a gaming device, Bet Angel springs into action, executing the perfect trading strategy for your chosen position.
Your mouse or keystroke determines which selection you’re active on, but the real magic lies in the rules you’ve set. These rules guide the Servants, telling them precisely what actions to take and when to execute them. This synergy between the skill of manual trading and the speed and precision of automation creates a dynamic trading experience.
In essence, Servants empower you to blend your personal trading expertise with advanced automation, giving you the edge you need to stay ahead in the fast-paced world of Betfair trading.
Fully automated trading
For years, fully automated trading on Betfair was a challenge due to API limitations and exchange restrictions. Despite these hurdles, Bet Angel provided innovative automation solutions, empowering traders to maximise their potential.
The Dawn of Advanced Automation
With Betfair’s API upgrade to enable streaming, a new era of advanced automation began. We re-engineered Bet Angel to harness this capability, opening up endless possibilities for traders.
Automation simplifies trading, allowing a “set-and-forget” approach that provides objective market feedback—something often clouded by the biases of manual trading.
Elevate Your Trading Strategy
Start with a simple strategy or replicate your manual approach, then add complexity with Bet Angel’s intuitive system. It’s designed for ease of use with drop-down menus while offering advanced features for experienced coders.
Beyond executing trades, automation gathers data for analysis and alerts you to opportunities you might otherwise miss. It’s like having a dedicated trading assistant working tirelessly for you.
Embrace the New Trading Frontier
Automation opens a world of possibilities. I run multiple automated strategies simultaneously, each seeking out opportunities. Thanks to Bet Angel, I can trade 24/7—even while sleeping.
Join the revolution and see how Bet Angel can transform your trading into a seamless, round-the-clock operation, ready to seize every market opportunity.
My Journey from Simple Arbing to Advanced Trading
I started with a straightforward approach, trying to arb on the Betfair betting exchange by placing back bets with bookmakers and sportsbooks—what’s known today as matched betting.
My first arb quickly evolved into on-exchange arbing, where I placed both back and lay orders. This shift led me into the world of trading and eventually into developing sophisticated software and advanced strategies. I could never have imagined where this unplanned journey would take me.
Now, I find myself trading nearly 24/7 across a diverse range of sports and markets. Rather than just a manual trader, I feel like a conductor of an orchestra, directing levels of automation and semi-automation while actively participating during key moments.
This evolution feels like a natural progression in understanding the market. You start by manually probing the market, then introduce automation for entries and exits with alerts or semi-automation. Eventually, you’re ready to fully automate, allowing for continuous trading while still refining your strategies based on feedback from your automated systems.
The best part? Even when I’m not actively trading, my strategies continue to work for me, offering the perfect blend of manual insight and automated efficiency. It truly is the best of both worlds!