Frequently asked questions

What's this .jar file that I download? How do I open it?

It's a Java program. If you can't double-click it to start it up, please download the Java Runtime Environment from Sun Microsystems.

Does the Discombobulator work with Apple computers?

Yes, it works fine.

Discombobulator runs, and I can see the odds for a race, but I can't login.

Almost all login problems are caused by old/incompatible versions of Java. Please try downloading a later version of Java.

How do I use this for sports other than horseracing?

Use the 'find event' menu item to search for any event on Betfair.

The 'window on top' option is greyed out. Why?

This feature is only available if you have a recent version of Java. 1.5 or greater is required. If you want this feature, please download the Java Runtime Environment from Sun Microsystems.

Can I use this program to earn millions of pounds on Betfair?

You may need to increase the default bet size of £2 first...

How much money can I expect to make using this?

No profit can be guaranteed. It all depends on whether you back winners or losers!

You keep talking of pounds - does the Discombobulator only work with this currency?

Yes, it has been tested with euros and other currencies. If you are betting in another currency, it will probably just get the currency symbol wrong.

I heard that bots are ruining Betfair's site. Are these robots bad?

The 'BetBot' in the Discombobulator does nothing more than an ordinary user watching races on Betfair, so it won't stress their site. It only places a maximum of one bet per race. The betting program also does not inundate Betfair, because it is careful to read the odds for a race at a reasonable interval (a maximum of once per second near the end of a race, and much less frequently at the start and before the race.)

If this 'BetBot' is any good, why are you giving it away for free?

I did make a fair amount of money on Betfair using the same strategy and automated betting as the BetBot. However, you must remember that its bets are not 'free money'. Over time, it will (most likely) make lots of small winning bets and the occasional large loss. This rollercoaster ride of bets can be profitable, but it is very disheartening when your week's profit is almost wiped out by a single bad bet! I now bet on Betfair using a completely different strategy, giving me a more regular income. I'm not giving that strategy away!

What settings should I use for the Bet Bot?

Try some settings with it making 'fake' bets and see how you get on. Remember that the bot doesn't guarantee that you will be making huge (or any) profits - you have to adjust the risk levels and monitor it to see if you are happy with the results.

How can I see my open bets? How can I modify bets?

Use Betfair's web pages. The Discombobulator doesn't try and re-create all the features of Betfair, although it does seem to be suffering from feature-creep, so it may eventually get these options!

Why 'Discombobulator'? Why 'gubbed.com'?

If you read Betfair's horse racing forums, you'll know! If you've backed a certain winner of a horse race in-running at odds of 1.01, and it then loses, you've been 'gubbed'!

If you have any other questions, please contact me and I will do my best to answer them.