is the sportbook the mainsite nowadays for betfair?

[Euler]

I didn't like the introduction of a sportsbook because I feared it would become front and centre stage and detract from the ground-breaking exchange proposition. Having touted the benefits of an exchange and clearly stood for that, it seemed to be a retrograde step. However, I was assured it was just a way to drive business to the exchange by appealing to your average joe who didn't understand the exchange. Fair enough.

IMHO the sportsbook in its current form undermines the many benefits of the exchange, to punters it just feels like Betfair is just a normal bookie, there is little understanding of what is possible. It's created quite a bit of confusion: -

https://www.theguardian.com/money/2015/ ... l-winnings

The simple thing to do was to skin a sportsbook and drop the bets into an exchange, that was a perfect model. Everybody would win. I think this is what the other exchanges will do eventually. They can do that and undermine Betfair's current position and know that Betfair will not respond because they are hooked on the sportsbook margins.

I think you can see evidence of this in the way the sportsbook has evolved. Initially, Betfair said that cash-out on the sports book was an example of exchange technology being used but slowly cashing out was done internally. Then they introduced, to great fan-fare, price rush. This was also thanks to the benefit of the exchange, but again that slowly got phased out and rushes were done internally then phased out altogether. When the PP takeover happened it was just sportsbook all the way and they went 2 years or so without a single exchange advert being run. It's good to see that change now, but to average joe it's just a sportsbook I reckon. There is a lot of work to be done.

When I log into Betfair it defaults to the sportsbook, I can't seem to stop it from doing that despite not being the slightest bit interested in it. Most visitors will probably not find the exchange unless they actively seek to do so. It's up to us to tell people about the benefits of the exchange.

[Euler]

I always thought the best strategic fit would be to use the brand flutter as a sportsbook and betfair as the exchange. Nice and neat and easy to play to both strengths.

[JTEDL]

I'm sure the figures are out there somewhere, but does anyone know how much profit Betfair make from Sportsbook compared with the Exchange?

[Euler]

I'm sure the figures are out there somewhere, but does anyone know how much profit Betfair make from Sportsbook compared with the Exchange?

Betfair decided a few years ago after Paddy Power took over to consolidated the figures into one group, so it's impossible to know. Prior to that, they used to split them out.

[spreadbetting]

I can never understand why people moan about Betfair wanting to make money any way they can from 'regular' punters. So long as they continue to spend on IT and marketing in the way they do it's in our interests for them to have deep pockets.

If the sportsbook didn't make the money it does, exchange fees would have to be higher and professional users (not just traders) would suffer. It's a fallacy that without the sports book the exchange would be busier, it's aimed at a totally different type of customer. That's like saying Harrods would be busier if you closed Lidl.

You are being a devils advocate, Shaun.
Betfair's sportsbook taking away all new blood, regulars loose interest and leave and as a result, we see liquidity reduces every year, even bf admitted it and intensified exchange's advertising.
Really strange to hear such a nonsense from a pro like you.

I don't think Shaun's playing devil's advocate it's probably just easier to assume some kind of 'moral high ground' when your wife's picking up the tab for your follies. I'm sure if he ever finds himself in the 60% bracket we'd have some turnaround.

[napshnap]

Most visitors will probably not find the exchange unless they actively seek to do so. It's up to us to tell people about the benefits of the exchange.

It's ridiculous that we should do the bf's job to teach and attract newcomers to exchange and pay bf for that at a same time, BUT lets assume we decided to do that: we identified countries with biggest exchange's share (we can dig old statistics available), then identified major internet platforms (sites, social networks), then prepared good and clear explanation and instructions, FAQ, videos. Eg "when you got to the bf's site find exchange link, click here click there", instruction for idiot.
Will all that work or our efforts will be buried by another questionable momentary bf's initiative?

[Anna List]

I can never understand why people moan about Betfair wanting to make money any way they can from 'regular' punters. So long as they continue to spend on IT and marketing in the way they do it's in our interests for them to have deep pockets.

If the sportsbook didn't make the money it does, exchange fees would have to be higher and professional users (not just traders) would suffer. It's a fallacy that without the sports book the exchange would be busier, it's aimed at a totally different type of customer. That's like saying Harrods would be busier if you closed Lidl.

You are being a devils advocate, Shaun.
Betfair's sportsbook taking away all new blood, regulars loose interest and leave and as a result, we see liquidity reduces every year, even bf admitted it and intensified exchange's advertising.
Really strange to hear such a nonsense from a pro like you.

I don't think Shaun's playing devil's advocate it's probably just easier to assume some kind of 'moral high ground' when your wife's picking up the tab for your follies. I'm sure if he ever finds himself in the 60% bracket we'd have some turnaround.

I'm with Shaun on this one.

Companies are in business to make money.

AFAIK, Betfair are doing it legally.

Morally?

That's a different matter.

I did not like the fact that Betfair introduced PC. So I voted with my feet and shall not return until it withdraws PC.

If people don't like the way that a company operates, vote with your feet. If sufficient people vote in this manner, Betfair will get the message and change or go bust. Sufficient people don't so Betfair continue to use and abuse their customers.

I've never understood anyone who bitches and moans about a company and still uses them.

Maybe it's me. Dunno.

[Jukebox]

Yes its you

[ShaunWhite]

I don't think Shaun's playing devil's advocate it's probably just easier to assume some kind of 'moral high ground' when your wife's picking up the tab for your follies. I'm sure if he ever finds himself in the 60% bracket we'd have some turnaround.

?What 'moral high ground'? I was just saying that without the sportbook income, it would have to come from somewhere, most likely from the likes of you, which would be unfair. And I was also creditting people with the necessary intellegence to get to the web site they actually want. Also pointing out that the 2 BF products suit 2 different types of customer. Hardly controversial or deserving of that attack.

Devils advocate?....occasionally, but that's because nothing is a binary, and I get bored with two-bob traders assuming they have genius ideas for BF business models, convinced by nothing but their own ego that multi-million pound Betfair have got it wrong.

btw You've no idea what my/our personal situation has been for the last 23yrs. We've never had the concept of "my money" and "her money", and even if we did, my credits would be well over 7 figures more, but so what. The concept of a married couple having separate pots of cash is ridiculous anyway, both put in what you can, both take what you want, nobody takes the piss. I have years off, she has years off and life could not be sweeter. If that's not your situation then I don't give a fck, and I'd appreciate it if you didn't give a fck about mine either, ditto anyone else who feels the need to chip in.

[ShaunWhite]

I've never understood anyone who bitches and moans about a company and still uses them.

Self interest and greed, they can't make more elsewhere and aren't prepared to miss a pound to make a point.

[Derek27]

I heard a story in an old Irish film set prior to the troubles in Northern Ireland.

There were two neighbouring farmers who hated each other's guts. One of them was visited by a fairy who granted the farmer anything he wished. The excited farmer was thinking whether to ask for a large sum of money or thousands of acres of land when the fairy told him whatever he wishes for, his neighbour will get twice as much. So the farmer said,

"cut off one of my arms".

Much the same situation with the Betfair premium charge. Unless you have a viable alternative you just have to bite the bullet.

[spreadbetting]

Self interest and greed, they can't make more elsewhere and aren't prepared to miss a pound to make a point.

I doubt many see the need to make a point by cutting off their nose to spite their face, but if you've other sources of income to prop you up it's probably a lot easier to afford those pyrrhic victories.

[Anna List]

Yes its you

How so?

[Anna List]

I've never understood anyone who bitches and moans about a company and still uses them.

Self interest and greed, they can't make more elsewhere and aren't prepared to miss a pound to make a point.

Seems two-faced to me.

If you can't make more elsewhere, then stay with Betfair and stop slagging them off.

If you can make more elsewhere, then by all means, slag them off, but then go elsewhere.

Bleedin' 'ell. It ain't rocket science.

[Anna List]

Self interest and greed, they can't make more elsewhere and aren't prepared to miss a pound to make a point.

I doubt many see the need to make a point by cutting off their nose to spite their face, but if you've other sources of income to prop you up it's probably a lot easier to afford those pyrrhic victories.

If you are in this game, you'd better have a back-stop. That way, when it comes to making a decision for the long-term good, you have the leeway to take the decision. If not, little wonder that Betfair can do as it pleases with its customers.