Less recreational punters are being directed towards the exchange. I've been sat today with money at the front of snooker and darts markets and not a penny matched. While Champions League - like you say - is a premium market and liquidity is so much better, the same impact will be seen as on the lesser markets, which like you say will bring more sharks against sharks.

I can certainly envisage that possibility.

As has just been pointed out, liquidity per se isn't in big decline, it seems to be at the margins there's been a cataclysmic drop off.

There are plenty of smaller sports and markets where I'd have bets matched during the week leading up to the event but now there is literally 0 matched on the market at all until the hour before the start.

Yet larger markets/events have much greater liquidity than ever before.  So, overall, liquidity is higher and it's this Betfair points to when saying liquidity is fine.

I can't determine what's causing this.  It feels like a sharp drop in the number of mug punters which is causing some of the professionals to leave markets and concentrate their time/money in the larger markets where liquidity is ok.

For me, I noticed a much bigger drop with the introduction of the sportsbook than the Premium Charge.

Yep, Price Rush will only affect the main markets (for now) and only results in increased liquidity in already liquid markets as you're only price rushed when the odds on here are significantly higher than on the Sportsbook.  it will do nothing to solve the issue of empty markets.

They have begun to seed some markets with prices a cut below the Sportsbook, which has its pros and cons.

They say they'll use the Sportsbook to educate customers about the exchange but let's see.  They clearly are focussing on a short-term revenue maximisation strategy.

Like you, I've completely given up on market-making on a number of smaller markets that I'd have previously played religiously.

I'm afraid I still don't get price rush. 83% of correct score bets were rushed last week. So the vast majority didn't know what odds they were getting until afer placing their bets. A nice bonus but how many people were put off by the lower odds in the first place. On oddschecker betfair sportbook has awful correct score odds, almost never top price - keeping the true odds hidden can't be good for business from them.

Re: Liquidity rising in main markets

My take on this is that in order to generate the same level of profits, premium charge payers are turning over more in the main markets and neglecting the smaller, less liquid ones as they are no longer worthwhile.

From the outside this looks like Betfair is growing but I strongly suspect that a smaller number of players are making up a larger % of matched turnover.

At least from my own experience this would seem the case. For example, in a one day cricket match I can now make-up between 1-5% of the matched turnover on a market (much more than it used to be). So on the face of it, there only needs to be between 20-100 people in the same boat to cover the whole market. It's worrying as the pool of players needs to be getting bigger rather than a small group bashing each other with larger stakes.

This is all due to the premium charge and is a result of the situation. Technically, I've been forced into a corner to turnover more and take less risk which is pretty much the opposite of what Betfair and myself want.

So frustrating, and I really hope Betfair wake-up asap before it's too late. In my opinion, it's getting very very close to going over the edge and there would be no way back.

To funkymonkey re Matchbets. This link was kindly sent to me my another member of this forum;


http://www.oeclaw.co.uk/news/17791/high-court-dismisses-dishonest-claim-for-breach-of-software-licence-and-development-agreement

Is this the company your refer to in your recent post?   Cheers and GL!

does matchbook just clone betfair's prices with a fraction more spread?

Is it a real market or are the prices provided by a company market maker?

Well you said "To funkymonkey re Matchbets" and you talk about his recent post.
In his recent post he talks about Matchbook, and this other bunch aren't even mentioned, hence the confusion... unless some posts have been removed or something.

You are perfectly right Investor and i apologize for that! So where the hell did the Matchbets come into it then?
I even Googled them as i have heard of Matchbook. Oh well never mind, old age creeping up on me i suppose. Must put a brave face on it.

JonHig.....sorry, only just seen this thread again today

As TheInvestor mentioned, my comments were purely in regard to Matchbook....I have never had any dealings with a company called Matchbets.

Liquidity in this televised Liverpool match has been shocking. Really, really quite dreadful.

Most BT matches are Sat lunchtime which are usually poorer no matter the channel.  That probably is playing a part I guess.

Have BF announced the date for the funeral  ? - Death of the exchange ,by way of a coffin paraded through the streets of west London

No apology needed FM

Would be a great way to go for Betfair with a coffin paraded through the streets of west London.
To exit the same way as they entered the exchange business.If they don't do it soon
the people on here will do it for them.R.I.P. the exchange.

I feel like I'm being stalked. Every time I try to market make or place a bet I have bots jumping me.

yes winner verses winner and paying 40 percent premium charge, the only winner is betfair

(bar the O'Sullivan match) That's had a bit matched in play.