Dealing with cash bonuses

[SharpeShooter]

viewtopic.php?f=3&t=251

Just downloaded to check links are still live.

I am excellent at Mental arithmetic and have A levels in Pure Maths & Statistics but the spreadsheet method is so much better for speed. It's important to understand the logic behind how and why an offer works, but why waste time calculating stakes when a sheet will do it for you?

If you want an even more indepth sheet I have a more complicated one, but from what I've read I think you'd have no problems with it. I can upload it if you want?

[Elyss2]

Thanks, but I'm getting an error on SkyDrive with the first link and a 'not authorised' message for the second!

Same as you on the mental arithmetic and 'A' level thing, except applied maths rather than statistics. I'm sure you're right; I was thinking more about getting a confident feel for the process and its many variables in terms of how different bookie offers should be handled (the logic you mention), so that I can mentally 'see' which approach is appropriate instead of guessing and checking out the figures to confirm or deny. I'll get there, and when I do I shall certainly let technology handle the legwork for me:-)

I've steered well clear of any form of gambling all my life for various reasons so I really have no clue about how the markets work: which move quickly; which I can take my time over, etc. I've already become aware of instances where I could consistently have had better lay odds by waiting a bit after placing the back bet, and I know there's still a huge amount to learn. To my surprise I'm finding it fun (as well as profitable:-) )

I'd be very interested in seeing your sheet - thanks.

[SharpeShooter]

I didn't write this and I take no credit for it, but this is the sheet I use with instructions. I switched to it when I had 100+ bookies so it was a lot of work to set up, but for someone just setting out it's invaluable as it tracks everything

http://www.sendspace.com/file/x06tyg

Usually I would advise anyone new to the game to take whatever odds are available at the time they are placing the bet. Anything else and you are gambling on which way the odds will go and risking money. Odds at exchanges are pretty stable on any market where you can see £1,000's queued on both sides of the market. If there's only a few hundred or worse tens then that money can go very quickly, as your placing your back bet sometimes. It's something you get a feel for after a while. At the start of the EPL season you'll see markets with £100,000+ queued, as you'd imagine it takes some momentum to shift those odds, but they do move nd not always the way you would think.

Odds at bookies are very volatile and often don't refresh, you only find out they're cut when you add to your betslip. William Hill will offer you lower odds if they've been cut but offer the odds you clicked if they've drifted so make a habit of refreshing odds before placing bets.

[Elyss2]

Sound advice - thanks.

And thanks very much for the file! It looks great, and I'm now going off line to set it up. I may be gone some time......

[natsky]

Elyss2 Can I ask when you repeated the bet with the bookies did you just use the initial deposit and bonus or did you include your profit from the first bet? If you didnt use the profit and lost with the bookies would you be able to withdraw the profit from the intial bet?

[danica]

Hi, i'm all new to this but learning as i go along. With regards to the file SS posted above, when i try it, it says 'uploaded incorrectly' and not available. Is it that it's just not there anymore or is it still available and i'm just doing something wrong? When i click to download, it just starts loading toolbars and stuff like that. Any ideas? Thanks Alan

[Admin]

Hi and welcome
The file is probably no longer available. It's simple and arguably better to create your own simple spreadsheet to keep a record of your own transactions. Include the below as a minimum:
Bookies joined, username, passwords, balance, email details used during sign up, terms of the offer (minimum odds, expiry of free bet etc)
Date of qualifying bet, odds at the bookie and betfair, selection (good for tracking bets at betfair)
Profit or loss involved for qualifier
Date etc as above for the free bet giving you a gross and net profit
A running total of net profit

There may be others but these are what I started out with. As you get more confident you'll do several bookies at once, place arb bets when you find them on our odds matched and generally have loads of things going on at the same time, so your book keeping will be ESSENTIAL