Automation

[Ambrose Ackroyd]

I have developed a gambling system for a certain gambling activity which works like a dream.

So much in fact that I have ditched full-time trading for systematic gambling whcih some might argue are one and the same.

Anyway. what I would like to know is, is there anyone out there who could tell me approximately how much it would cost to hire a computer specialist who could produce a bot for me which would totally automate my system.

My system is reasonably complex ( but not overly so ), it has easily definable decision points and has a 100 % mathematically based approach.

I reckon it wouldn't be a massive task to get this thing done.

All I need to know is what kind of computer geek to approach and his, her or its likely fee.

 

[Blaiserboy]

I have developed a gambling system for a certain gambling activity which works like a dream.

So much in fact that I have ditched full-time trading for systematic gambling whcih some might argue are one and the same.

Anyway. what I would like to know is, is there anyone out there who could tell me approximately how much it would cost to hire a computer specialist who could produce a bot for me which would totally automate my system.

My system is reasonably complex ( but not overly so ), it has easily definable decision points and has a 100 % mathematically based approach.

I reckon it wouldn't be a massive task to get this thing done.

All I need to know is what kind of computer geek to approach and his, her or its likely fee.

I have seen some automated betting type programs on the web...

and I have seen sites where you can seek out bids to code your program.

There is probably someone on this board who can do it for you and they can probably incorporate superior methods in their coding.....

The only problem that I see that you have is to entice these programmer/ coder type peeps to see your request in here.

 

[Ambrose Ackroyd]

Yeah you are right.

Gotta keep this thread alive.................

 

[Blaiserboy]

Yeah you are right.

Gotta keep this thread alive.................

you have been on the board a long time so you probably have a good idea as to who the skilled coders are

 

[HowardCohodas]

I have developed a gambling system for a certain gambling activity which works like a dream.

So much in fact that I have ditched full-time trading for systematic gambling whcih some might argue are one and the same.

Anyway. what I would like to know is, is there anyone out there who could tell me approximately how much it would cost to hire a computer specialist who could produce a bot for me which would totally automate my system.

My system is reasonably complex ( but not overly so ), it has easily definable decision points and has a 100 % mathematically based approach.

I reckon it wouldn't be a massive task to get this thing done.

All I need to know is what kind of computer geek to approach and his, her or its likely fee.

You could probably get someone to do it for free provided they have a right to trade it but not to market it. I've done that before myself.

Your tough task will be sorting out the computer hacks from the professional software engineers. You may end up giving away your IP (intellectual property) before you discover he/she is not competent.

 

[Ambrose Ackroyd]

Howard

So, what you are effectively saying is that I might be well advised to consult a lawyer first ?

 

[HowardCohodas]

Howard

So, what you are effectively saying is that I might be well advised to consult a lawyer first ?

You have two areas that require your due diligence. Protecting you intellectual property and protecting you assets and time by not engaging a dud for a programmer. If you lack skills in either of these two areas you will need to seek professional advice.

 

[Hotch]

I would suggest doing it yourself. Won't take more than a month, and you don't have to worry about the issues HC brought up.

 

[Blaiserboy]

I found a Black Jack simulator on the net....

http://lslwww.epfl.ch/~anperez/BlackJack/classes/RLJavaBJ.html

Apparently they can use a neural network and make all sorts of good things happen....

"They' can, I didn't do very well playing the game.lol

 

[DionysusToast]

Ambrose

You don't need a whizz kid to do it, although it does depend on where you will place the bets. I presume it's on line, in which case it's probably best to get a C# programmer on the case. If the on-line source(s) have APIs this is fairly easy. If the on-line source(s) don't, then you will need to 'screen scrape' and that means you will need a programmer to hand forever as the screens tend to change which means the screen scraping will change.

I'd advise that you design this in such a way that the programer does not know the rules. You can either do this by making it modular (i.e. you have 2 programmers develop half each) but this would require some design skills on your behalf. The other way is to design something MORE complex than you need and have various elements switched on or off via parameters. In this way, a certain set of parameter settings represent your system but other combination are just blind alleyways. This is the best approach for someone that is not savvy in designing systems.

In terms of cost - go to vworker.com, there's loads of Indians who will work for $50-$100 a day. I can't tell you actual cost as there are too many unknowns but a lot of the guys will do fixed price based on your detailed spec.

PM me if you want to pick my brains off-line.

DT

 

[trendie]

hi AA,

I agree with DT with his analysis of best approach.
You need perhaps to obscure your intentions by asking for something similar, or getting it done in a modular fashion.
What you need to do is deconstruct your specific idea by asking for a generalised idea, where you can then add in your specific variables to make it your own.

This would be the equivalent of wanting a bot that trades at 7am when RSI>70. (for example)
You would ask for a bot that trades at time X (user-defined) when RSI>Y (user-defined).
The general product has no intrinsic value without the specific user-defined values. etc.

I have had work done for me in this way. Unfortunately, my experience of coders is that the work is mediocre. The good ones are hard to find.
Make sure you have full access to the code. If you do what DT suggests, the Intellectual Property issue becomes irrelevant since without the specific settings its worthless to anyone but you.

Good luck!

EDIT: elance.com.
googling for "coders" etc gives a host of options. mostly from India at rates of £10 an hour, etc.
http://www.codersforhire.com/

 

[SAH]

goodluck

 

[Getafix]

Hi Ambrose,

I have written and employ several betting bots, so here are some guidelines:

1) Betfair/Betdaq offer a free api so bet placement is helped greatly if these platforms used. If your betting can be done at either then you should use them (as you will always get best prices also (betfair)). If you require multiple bookies then I would say do not automate as it is a almost impossible to keep up with the forever changing bookie websites (as you would need to scrape the html and decipher the order placement routines, this could be dangerous on a website change!)

2) If I were your coder, I (personally) would certainly want to see your ideas and see if I could use them, therefore as the above poster mentions, use variables that the coder cannot see. Though the coder may still get an inkling by the use of variables so splitting project up between a couple of coders may work. Another option could be offering some kind of profit share with coder. The best option would be to learn a language such as C# and do it yourself.

3) I suspect the input variables (unless a purely trading system) will be some kind of historic form. This will require a database backend...Here is where imo the most of the coder's work would lie. They would have to supply you with the past data and also the ability to grab end of day results and also the future fixtures. I would suggest you get a coder to do this for you. Trouble again here is, the data will often be found by scraping websites and sites do often change, so you would probably need a reliable coder who could fix at the drop of a hat.

 

[Ambrose Ackroyd]

Thanks for the advice.

I have looked at this in detail and I have concluded that the strategy I employ is so intricate and complicated, that it would be a nightmare to automate.

I have detailed rules for 3 separate systems which run side by side and make up the overall strategy.

In addition to this there are overall money management rules as well as detailed money management rules for the 3 separate systems.

Writing an intelligble ebook for this would probably blow my mind let alone setting up a workable bot.

So I have decided to keep it as a manual system which is fine because I can make a significant amount of money playing manually in just a few hours per day.

No problem ... so I think I will leave it there.

But thanks anyway.