The Economics of Sports Gambling and Prediction Markets

About

This course is aimed at students that are interested in learning more about financial markets and sports gambling. We will cover investing and betting terminology, principles, and strategies. We will also look at the similarities between sports betting and investing in the market. The course will involve using current, real world data involving actual betting lines, and other investment instruments. The aim of the course is to help you develop your knowledge and skills to make informed financial and betting decisions.

We will examine the role of oddsmakers, linesmakers, and professional bettors, and explore both the market based and quantitative signals that they use. We will also examine the evolving global policy landscape concerning issues related to wagering. Finally, we will study the emerging phenomenon of “prediction markets,” and their unique blend of wagering markets with more traditional financial markets.

Topics will include the following:

The Mathematics of Gambling
Odds, Lines, and pricing;
Pre-game vs. in-game wagering
Different types of gambling markets
Quantitative modeling of wagers
Differences between sportsbooks and prediction markets
Derivate and Proposition bets;
Data gathering in gambling markets;
Policy issues in gambling markets
Differing regulations in gambling markets

Course leader

James Francisco

Target group

To apply for the course you must either be enrolled in a bachelor's degree, have a bachelor's degree or have passed a qualifying entry examination.

It is required that students have completed courses in: Microeconomics and Business Statistics

Fee info