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Just How Serious is Insider Trading? An Evaluation using Thoroughbred Wagering Markets

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  • Les Coleman

Abstract

This paper quantifies the extent and changes in insider trading in the Melbourne racetrack betting market using a unique, long term dataset. Wagering markets share many of the characteristics of other financial markets, and are simple, with good data and a designated endpoint. Thus they are an excellent natural laboratory to study what is probably happening in qualitatively similar conventional markets. Results of this paper provide statistically significant support for hypotheses supporting the existence and increase in level of insider trading, and suggest that around two percent of betting is by insiders.

Suggested Citation

  • Les Coleman, 2007. "Just How Serious is Insider Trading? An Evaluation using Thoroughbred Wagering Markets," Journal of Gambling Business and Economics, University of Buckingham Press, vol. 1(1), pages 31-55, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:buc:jgbeco:v:1:y:2007:i:1:p:31-55
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Les Coleman & Adi Schnytzer, 2008. "Shorting the Bear: A Test of Anecdotal Evidence of Insider Trading in Early Stages of the Sub-Prime Market Crisis," Journal of Prediction Markets, University of Buckingham Press, vol. 2(3), pages 61-69, December.
    2. Glenn Boyle, 2008. "Do Financial Incentives Affect The Quality of Expert Performance? Evidence from the Racetrack," Journal of Gambling Business and Economics, University of Buckingham Press, vol. 2(2), pages 43-59, September.
    3. Adi Schnytzer & Avichai Snir, 2011. "Herding in Imperfect Betting Markets with Inside Traders," Working Papers 2011-08, Bar-Ilan University, Department of Economics.
    4. Ruud H. Koning & Renske Zijm, 2023. "Betting market efficiency and prediction in binary choice models," Annals of Operations Research, Springer, vol. 325(1), pages 135-148, June.
    5. Boyle, Glenn, 2007. "Do Financial Incentives Affect the Quality of Expert Performance? Evidence from the Racetrack," Working Paper Series 19055, Victoria University of Wellington, The New Zealand Institute for the Study of Competition and Regulation.
    6. repec:vuw:vuwscr:19055 is not listed on IDEAS

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    INSIDER TRADING; STRONG MARKET EFFICIENCY; WAGERING MARKETS;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • L83 - Industrial Organization - - Industry Studies: Services - - - Sports; Gambling; Restaurants; Recreation; Tourism

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