Instructions

This page should help get you up and running with the Discombobulator. If you are having problems starting the program, please go back and read the download page instructions. Double-clicking the Discombobulator.jar file should start the application.

When Discombobulator opens, it will show the next UK/Irish horse race that hasn't yet started. The odds display should be familiar to all Betfair users - hopefully there's no need to explain what all the numbers mean!

Logging in

To place real bets using Discombobulator, you will need to log in to your Betfair account through the program - simply being logged in on the Betfair website is not enough, as the login details are not shared. You can try out the program without being logged in, but remember that you won't be making any money on the 'pretend' bets that it will make!

Picking a race

When it starts, Discombobulator will automatically show the next UK / Irish horse race. If you wish to pick a different race, open the 'File' menu at the top left. You can step between races with the 'Next' and 'Previous' options, or pick a race by using the 'View races...' option. You can view non-UK races by selecting this in the options menu. However, most non-UK races do not go in-running. The race time display in the bottom corner of the screen will show if the race will not turn in-running.

Betting on other sports

Instead of negotiating Betfair's menu of events, Discombobulator lets you search for a particular markets. Select the 'Find event' option from the file menu. Enter a search term, e.g. 'FTSE' to find the financial markets, and the program brings up a list of matching events. If you still can't find the right event, try using a more specific search term - only a limited number of results are displayed. For example, don't just search for 'Tennis' to find the match you want, try searching for the name of one of the players.

In-play betting

At the off, the name of the event will be highlighted in green, to show that the betting is now in-play. For horse races, the race time display will begin timing the duration of the race (and show an estimated end time). When the race is over, or if the event is suspended, the event name is coloured red.

One click betting

The main difference between using Discombobulator and the Betfair website is that there is just the one button to click to place your bet. This lets you prepare your bets beforehand and then click the button the instant you want to execute the bet.

Before the event starts

Betting pre-race is not quite one-click. You must first click on the runner's name on the left hand side of the window to select who you want to bet on. This will enable the 'bet' button, and you can then click on it to place the bet when you are ready.

If you click on the name with the left mouse button, the name is highlighted in dark blue, and you are choosing to back this selection. If you click using the right mouse button, the name is highlighted in dark pink, and you are choosing to lay this selection. The text inside the bet button will describe the bet that you will be about to place.

If you click on the same name twice, the bet will be unselected and the bet button will be de-activated.

The odds that you back and lay at are pre-set, and can be changed by clicking on the buttons on the right of the window. Lays can also be set to be at a fixed liability - i.e. you will lay at the current odds to risk a set amount of money.

Betting in-running

Betting in-running works in the same way as pre-race, but with one slight change. If you have not manually selected a runner to bet on, then the runner with the shortest odds will be highlighted in light blue. Clicking the bet button will back this selection, i.e. you will be placing a bet on what appears to be the leader in the race. In this way, the program makes it easy for you to quickly back the soon-to-be winner at the very end of the race (we hope!)

Remember, if you do not log in to your Betfair account, Discombobulator will still allow you to place bets, but these will be faked, i.e. the program will emulate placing a bet and will report the odds and money that you could have won (or lost!) by placing a real bet at that time.

Cancelling bets

If you have any unmatched bets on the current market, the 'cancel bets' button will be activated. Clicking this will cancel all your outstanding bets.

Laying off

Discombobulator also includes a helpful tool to make 'laying off' bets easier. If you have backed a selection and then the odds shorten, or if you have laid a runner and its odds are now bigger, there is the potential for you to reverse your original bet and lock in a profit, no matter who eventually wins.

Your bets will be regularly compared against the current odds to spot when this is possible. If there is the potential to lay-off your bets, the 'take profit' button will become active and will show how much money you could gain. Clicking the button will automatically make the right bets for you.

Please note:

The 'take profit' can work in two ways. The default is to spread the profit so that you will gain whatever the outcome of the race. Alternatively, it can give you a 'free bet' - i.e. you will still win money if your original selection wins, and will lose nothing if the bet loses. You can select the mode from the options menu.
The profit taking is calculated based on the currently available odds. In fast-moving markets, these odds may not be around for long, and the bets that the program makes may not be matched. (Remember that Betfair delay bets by one or more seconds in in-play events). You may also be matched at better odds of course, for more profit!
The 'take profit' option does not take into account any unmatched bets. Between the time of you pressing the button and making the 'lay-off' bets, your unmatched bets might be matched and your potential winnings/losses could change! To minimise this risk, pressing the 'take profit' button will also cancel any unmatched bets.
Some bets may not be possible to lay off, because the 'reverse' bets might require too much or too little money (e.g. bets less than Ł2).

Automated betting

The 'BetBot' is an automated robot that can analyse the betting patterns of an in-running horse race, and place a bet in the closing stages of the race on what it determines is the likely winner. This is not enabled by default - it won't bet your money unless you ask it to! See the BetBot page for full details of how to use this helper program.

Bet history

All bets placed using the program are recorded. To view your bets, select the 'Bets...' option from the File menu. This will show all bets on the current event (including any bets placed on the normal Betfair website). The 'All bets...' option shows all your bets on all events.