A strategy in sports betting with the nearest neighbours search and genetic algorithms

Abstract

The point of sports betting is not merely to correctly predict the outcome of a game, but to actually win on a bet. We propose a model of sports betting that uses the nearest neighbours search and genetic algorithms to do the job. It uses data on the teams playing, their respective formations, individual players, results of previous games, as well as odds offered by bookmakers. The model has been trained using the data from the seasons 2002/03 until 2008/09 of the English Premier League and tested against the already played games of the seasons 2009/10 and 2010/11.