How many traders vs betters ratio?

[Ryanolifelix]

Just wondering what people thoughts are on the ratio between traders and betters on the exchange.

How many people trade?

How many people just bet?

thanks. Ryan

[alexmr2]

I'm sure someone on here once posted that something like 80% of the money matched is from software users but I don't know if that's true or how they found out.

I'd guess that most (around 95%) of exchange users just use the normal website/mobile. Most people don't know what trading is or have the patience to learn it, they just want the buzz of a gamble and have no intention to set their ego aside to properly learn how to make money on Betfair with a mathematical edge. Most people aren't going to pay for software never mind take the time to set it up and learn it.

BUT the majority of the total volume matched comes from traders IMO.

The average person probably bets £5/£10 per market or per day whilst even a beginner trader with a small bank can quite realistically turn over 50x this in one market when you add up all the backs and lays of money going in and out

[ANGELS15]

I'm sure someone on here once posted that something like 80% of the money matched is from software users but I don't know if that's true or how they found out.

I'd guess that most (around 95%) of exchange users just use the normal website/mobile. Most people don't know what trading is or have the patience to learn it, they just want the buzz of a gamble and have no intention to set their ego aside to properly learn how to make money on Betfair with a mathematical edge. Most people aren't going to pay for software never mind take the time to set it up and learn it.

BUT the majority of the total volume matched comes from traders IMO.

The average person probably bets £5/£10 per market or per day whilst even a beginner trader with a small bank can quite realistically turn over 50x this in one market when you add up all the backs and lays of money going in and out

I agree. I believe the vast majority of the money nowadays is from traders and also bookmakers. I've been using betfair since it started and intially was just a bettor. I used it because of the possibility to get better odds and being able to have what you liked on your selections.

I believe there are many of the new generation of punters that don't really know about the exchange so stick mainly to sportsbooks betting mainly on football, cricket etc. There are a few older punters that use mobile apps but not the exchange.

The exchanges have not really promoted themselves very well over the last 15 years.

[alexmr2]

I believe there are many of the new generation of punters that don't really know about the exchange so stick mainly to sportsbooks betting mainly on football, cricket etc. There are a few older punters that use mobile apps but not the exchange.

This is another point I was going to mention, desktop PCs and even laptops seem more and more like a thing of the past with the average person using mobile apps/tablets to do everything nowadays.

IMO no one is trading professionally from a phone or tablet (except maybe courtsiders). In theory the "lazy money" from the next generation betting on their phones should give traders more of an advantage but at the same time markets seem to be getting more competitive (more experienced traders and bots). Like you said the exchange isn't well promoted and the vast majority still use bookies so in the end all this probably just evens out