Saying that I trade on betfair at a betfair owned company inteview

[Vladimir CC]

I'm looking to apply for a summer intership at FanDuel in Edinburgh.
How they describe themselves: "FanDuel Group is an innovative sports-tech entertainment company that is changing the way consumers engage with their favourite sports, teams, and leagues. The premier gaming destination in the United States, FanDuel Group consists of a portfolio of leading brands across gaming, sports betting, daily fantasy sports, advance-deposit wagering, and TV/media, including FanDuel, Betfair US, DRAFT, and TVG." Looking on their wikipedia i've seen they've been acquired by betfair in 2018 too.
Would raise my profile telling them that I'm a betfair customer myself, i'm into trading the exchange and looking to improve the product of betting exchange and blabla? Or I'll look like a "good for nothing gambling addict" or anything else? I think that I might know the answer. Anyway, any advice from the wisdom of the forum is welcome.

[Derek27]

I wrote on a C.V. horse racing as my main interest back in 1987. Nothing was said at the interview but later when I started working for the company I was told that the two guys who interviewed me had a laugh about it and thought, what a brave man putting that on his C.V.!

Somebody with experience as an interviewer might have a better idea but I would have thought if they understand the exchange it shouldn't be a problem. When I use language such as buying, selling, trading, stock market, instead of bets, gambling, people treat me as though I'm intelligent.

[ShaunWhite]

Sounds completely relevent to the job so I'd mention it if the situation arises. If I was going for a job in insurance then I definately wouldn't.
But it also depends on your lifetime balance a bit, being in steady profit would go down better than being $10k down every month.

[Derek27]

Sounds completely relevent to the job so I'd mention it if the situation arises. If I was going for a job in insurance then I definately wouldn't.
But it also depends on your lifetime balance a bit, being in steady profit would go down better than being $10k down every month.

The company I was referring to was an insurance firm, but at the time I was oblivious to people's attitudes towards betting. I reckon if it's a skilled and in demand job you're applying for it's less likely to be dwelled upon. If you're working behind a till and have access to cash/company funds, don't admit to placing a bet, ever.

[Vladimir CC]

Sounds completely relevent to the job so I'd mention it if the situation arises. If I was going for a job in insurance then I definately wouldn't.
But it also depends on your lifetime balance a bit, being in steady profit would go down better than being $10k down every month.

I wrote on a C.V. horse racing as my main interest back in 1987. Nothing was said at the interview but later when I started working for the company I was told that the two guys who interviewed me had a laugh about it and thought, what a brave man putting that on his C.V.!

Somebody with experience as an interviewer might have a better idea but I would have thought if they understand the exchange it shouldn't be a problem. When I use language such as buying, selling, trading, stock market, instead of bets, gambling, people treat me as though I'm intelligent.

Interesting. Totally opposed from what I expected to hear. I had met once a guy that was working for a bookmaker and told me that he wasn't allowed to have an account. That would be my second concern: to be asked to close my account because of inside information(which means that I'll have to find another job ) But, like Derek said, it's trading not blind betting, and given the fact that they profit from commisions, they might be positive about it.
Ugh, regarding my balance, I'm more in an even to small loss position. But I guess they'll consider the profitability as a bonus and not as a must.

[ShaunWhite]

Like Derek has mentioned it's the case that you're considered a bigger risk if you have direct access to money. We'd never hire anyone in investment IT if they'd shown any kind of irresponsible attitude to money in the interview and that extended to credit score checks, and anyone with a bankruptcy was a definate nono. It's harsh but the way it is, even saying you understand risk can be interpreted as you being the sort who would weigh up the risk of being caught.

I think if it's not in the experience requirements for the job then maybe keep it to yourself. Unless the interview is going badly and you can use it as a last ditch attempt to get them interested!

[ShaunWhite]

Btw... Good luck.

[Derek27]

I can understand a bookie not allowing employees an account with them but I'd be surprised if Betfair has that policy. I think I've read in Betfair for Dummies that people who worked for them were also trading. Obviously, if you're offered the job it's up to you whether you accept it so there's no harm in going for it.

[Vladimir CC]

I'm applying for a back-end software engineer. So I have access to betting&odds algorithms, not funds. Anyway, looking a second time on the job description, it's for the sportsbook side. So yeah, you're right to keep that for me. At least if i get it, i get to look at something.

[Vladimir CC]

Obviously, if you're offered the job it's up to you whether you accept it so there's no harm in going for it.

Absolutely. There's no question bout that.

[ShaunWhite]

I'm applying for a back-end software engineer. So I have access to betting&odds algorithms, not funds.

People in dev are considered as having access to funds. Presumably somewhere in the systems there's routines for moving money and it wouldn't take a genius to skim 0.01p from every rounding calc and squirrel it away under a cost centre that can be flushed periodically to a bank account. In fact people in dev are the most dangerous people in the business, once you have access to the source code library you're essentially the master of the universe and what you've done can still be in there long after you've left. That might be fraudulent or just a malicious piece of code to cause harm in the future. It's why that when dev people are fired they go straight from the bollocking to the bus and aren't even allowed to empty their own desk let alone be allowed to touch a computer.

[LinusP]

Pretty much everyone at betfair uses betfair so I wouldn’t be concerned about mentioning you are a client, you even get 1.6% (or is it 1.8%?) commission rate!

[Derek27]

It's why that when dev people are fired they go straight from the bollocking to the bus and aren't even allowed to empty their own desk let alone be allowed to touch a computer.

Not true, I was asked to give a briefing on what stage of each project I was at, and then offered a coffee (which I declined) before being accompanied out of the building.

[Vladimir CC]

Pretty much everyone at betfair uses betfair so I wouldn’t be concerned about mentioning you are a client, you even get 1.6% (or is it 1.8%?) commission rate!

nice. i currently stand at a 6.5% ripoff.

[Vladimir CC]

https://www.betfair.com/aboutUs/Terms.and.Conditions/
"Specific Conditions relating to betting on the Exchange
3.Operation of the Exchange
[...]
Employees of Betfair and its group companies are permitted to place bets on the Exchange. Such bets are placed in accordance with Betfair's company policies. Employees have no advantage over other customers when placing bets and they place the bets in the same way that a normal customer would place them."