Email from Betfair about 3 minute delay

[chris_smith]

Hi All,

This is my first post on the forum but have been using it as a resource for quite sometime now and it has been an asset to my trading. The Example Automation Rules especially have been instrumental in teaching me how to get the best out of the system.

I've now got to the point where i have a profitable system in place which though wont make me rich, its enough to live modestly off of so that i can stay at home and look after my two disabled kids.

All was well until i recieved the following email yesterday :

Dear Christopher,

We’ve increased the delay to Betfair Exchange odds for customers that are not logged into their account.

Odds are now delayed by a variable delay of up to 3 minutes (previously this was up to 1 minute) for customers that are not logged in (this applies to all Exchange channels – web, mobile and API) – so please ensure that you always log in to your account to receive the latest Exchange odds.

Please click here for more information.

If you have any questions regarding this issue then please do not hesitate to get in contact with our customer service team here.

Betfair

So does this means my account has been restricted? If so is this game over for my automation files? In truth i don't really understand the technical side ... i'm better with the maths etc. I've checked with some friends who also use BA and they too received this email yesterday.

Anybody who can help explain what this means it would be very, very appreciated - i'm hoping all my work wont now go to waste.

Many thanks all -

Chris

[Euler]

Betfair are making it harder for people to screen scrape the site by delayed odds if you are not logged in. If you are logged in, then no problem.

I never seem to get any messages from them for some reason.

[chris_smith]

Thanks so much for your reply Euler Your time is really appreciated.

Sorry im a bit of a dinosaur when it comes to computer jargon ..lol. I dont really understand what screen scraping is ..lol.

So if i log into betfair account on my browser and then use Bet Angel as normal then i wont experience any delays?
Or can i now only make bets through the Betfair website?

[cybernet69]

Betfair are making it harder for people to screen scrape the site by delayed odds if you are not logged in. If you are logged in, then no problem.

I never seem to get any messages from them for some reason.

Because you are a VIP and they don't want to piss you off but they are quite happy to piss the rest of us off.

[welshboy06]

I think the issue is with people loading the BF website and doing the old school screen scraping to get the odds. No API, no login etc...

[LeTiss]

What is happening exactly, who are falling into the net?

I have to be honest, even I'm getting confused and a little concerned.

It appears BF just make their own rules up as they go along

[cybernet69]

What is happening exactly, who are falling into the net?

I have to be honest, even I'm getting confused and a little concerned.

It appears BF just make their own rules up as they go along

I think your find its Paddy Power flexing their muscles.

[welshboy06]

Same thing happens whenever any company buys another...
Trim the fat and make it a more efficient money printing machine.
Simple fact of the matter is, they don't make money from people scraping data.

[LeTiss]

What's their definition of scraping data though, as this seems very unclear

[welshboy06]

The above user is referring to loading up the website and actually scraping the data from the page using some sort of software.

But they seem to be limiting heavy duty users of their API and also ones using software like BA to just export to excel.

They need to define a ratio of commission to data that they are happy with. So we know that for every £x of commission we pay, we're allowed X amount of requests.
Currently it seems to just be whatever level they're happy with on any given day. Which is bad for us users, since no one knows if they are responsible safe

[cybernet69]

I think the days of using BA and other software to test strategies is over. Hell, the BDP chief has already pointed one individual towards using other software as it doesn't impact on the BF severs directly.

[jimibt]

The above user is referring to loading up the website and actually scraping the data from the page using some sort of software.

But they seem to be limiting heavy duty users of their API and also ones using software like BA to just export to excel.

They need to define a ratio of commission to data that they are happy with. So we know that for every £x of commission we pay, we're allowed X amount of requests.
Currently it seems to just be whatever level they're happy with on any given day. Which is bad for us users, since no one knows if they are responsible safe

having had my account restricted twice (and luckily got it back both times), i can offer some insight here. Neil at BDP informed me that betfair will not tolerate usage patterns that appear to fit a commercial profile. In essence, if you are heavily testing automation and not placing an appropriate number of live bets, you will come under the radar. In my case, i had been running quite a few instances that were purely laboratory rules testing, plus one live session. I'd say that so long as you are placing bets regularly and are not going crazy (like me) with numerous lab sessions, you should be fine. that said, Neil did link a lot of info to me regards betfair data services plus other software links for apps that can work with historical data.

Might be a money spinner for BA if they were to revisit the suggestion to incorporate historic market data for safe testing into the mix!!

Have a read thro, it really would mitigate account restriction and bring extra revenue to BA: http://www.betangel.com/forum/viewtopic ... 20&t=11983

[chris_smith]

Haha now im really confused is screen scraping related to using Practice Mode?

I've only ever used Betfair with Bet angel never any other programs and I've always been really careful with regards to making sure my account is funded and limiting the use of practice mode. I've had thousands of pounds worth of live bets so i don't really understand why I've received this mail?

Does this mean now i will no longer able to use BA and just have to make my bets via the BF website?

[LeTiss]

It would be nice if PW could get some information from the horse's mouth, as to who are getting flagged and what they are doing exactly to piss BF off

[jimibt]

chris - don't worry about this 3 minute delay email. It's only informational and is not a user specific warning.