Unusual market activity

[Lynskey888]

I couldn't understand it at any rate.

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/esdAqjtWj2Q

At 10 o'clock last night, only a couple of hundred pounds had been traded on this women's Super Smash market . The video shows the tail end of £70K being matched at one price point, a little at a time.

This activity was preceded by £90K being matched on the other team in the market in exactly the same fashion: all at one price, a stream of money, a little at a time, over several minutes.

There was another women's Super Smash market on the exchange last night and it saw similar activity. Can anyone shed any light on this?

[Fugazi]

A load of tennis games said they were in play when they weren't also - Betfair issue not BA

[Lynskey888]

This was all pre-off, more than 24 hours before the toss.

[BFDon]

There was another women's Super Smash market on the exchange last night and it saw similar activity. Can anyone shed any light on this?

Yes, someone self matching across accounts, possibly to avoid PC but given the figures involve probably to generate commission and/or generate market interest. Seems to happen often in the cricket markets

[Kai]

There's been a lot of shenanigans on footy lately too

Or maybe just started noticing it more *shrug*

[jamesedwards]

...but given the figures involve probably to generate commission...

There's an interesting thought.

Buddy up with another PC payer, create a couple of opposite 100% book markets, and exchange a load of money bit by bit with each other to generate commission. Nothing in the Betfair rules to stop people doing that that I am aware of.

[Leb]

More likely just syndicate dumping tax free profits to owners personal accounts

[Lynskey888]

I thought the activity looked more like a cash transfer between accounts than normal gambling or trading. Whatever the reason behind it, the first Super Smash match on Thursday was rained off so all the money will have ended up back in the accounts where it started.

In past cricket markets I’ve noticed huge, conspicuous amounts matched at one price point. I always thought it was money from Indian third-party betting sites - a massive order walloped into the market and matched bit by bit over time. This changes my view now I’ve seen the matching in action.

The market in the video traded about £220K pre-off. Less than 30% of that was from “normal” market activity.

Thanks for your replies, everyone.

[Dublin_Flyer]

I was thinking more along the lines of transfer of cash to avoid inheritance tax etc, or just plain money laundering.
Profits from gambling are tax free in the UK and Ire, so if you can do a withdrawal from BF to bank account after all the money is across it's legit accounted for money.
Go away Mr Taxman, all clean cash here

[napshnap]

Intercept them, "steal" chunk of their bets and then place a hedge bet for some (5-10%) profit. If bf'll suspect that you involved in illegal activity tell them that you're Batman and you're fighting for justice and cleanliness of markets ecosystem.