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Help/FAQ​

This is the help section/online manual for The Handicapper. You can also find here the most frequently asked questions (FAQ) and answers. If you can't find an answer to your question(s) please don't hesitate to contact the me: hk@eastsidesportsanalysis.com or fill out the form below.

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Eastside Sports Analysis

​Eastside Sports Analysis is a company providing betting tools and picks. The company was founded in 2013 and is based in Helsinki, Finland.

VAT number	FI25944956
Administrator	Harri Kairavuo
Website	www.eastsidesportsanalysis.com
Email	hk@eastsidesportsanalysis.com

The Handicapper

The Handicapper is a desktop application to help you make better betting decisions. The current version is the 6th major release of the software. The first one was released in 2015. The software is free to download and try. To gain access to data updates you will have to subscribe to one of the offered packages (November 2018 onwards). The software only works on Windows operating systems.
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SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS
The software runs in Windows and requires Microsoft .NET Framework 4.6.1 (or newer version) to be installed, which is usually the case with newer versions of Windows. If you have issues with launching the program try installing Microsoft .NET Framework 4.6.1.

SETUP
​The software is ready to use and does not need to be installed. Some (most) antivirus software do not like .exe-files and you might have to make adjustments to the settings of your antivirus software for The Handicapper to work. Read more

LAUNCH
The first time you launch the software you should download the data package by clicking on the refresh icon (1) and after that on the download icon (2) that appears. Once the data package is downloaded the software is launched by pressing the 'Proceed' -button (3).

DATA UPDATE
A data update with game and player stats from the most recent match-day is usually ready 12-24 hours after the last match has finished. Data updates are free of charge during October 2018.
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PROGRAM FILES
All program files, which are included in the data package that can be downloaded/updated on a daily basis, are located in the 'The Handicapper'\data -folder. 'The Handicapper' is the folder the .exe-file (th6.exe) is located in. The data consists of text-files, which holds all the information that The Handicapper needs to run.

USER DATA FILES
User data files are files that are custom to the user, or can be customized, and are created at run-time. These files are located in \user -folder.

SOFTWARE UPDATES
From time to time there will be software updates. These are installed by replacing the th6.exe -file with the new one (which is also named th6.exe). Nothing else needs to be done for the update to take place.

How much does the access to data updates for The Handicapper cost?

There are two options; you can choose from a 30-day subscription (25 euros) or a 7-day subscription (7 euros). Neither option is recurring, so you will have to make a new purchase once the previous one expires. You'll get an email notice  when the subscription is about to expire. The subscription allows you to download data updates for The Handicapper. 

How long does it take for the subscription to be activated?

The subscription is immediately activated and you can download the data package right away.

Can the subscription be canceled?

No. Once the subscription is made it is not possible to cancel. If you feel you are not getting value for your money, the software is not (for some reason) working as supposed or you are having other technical issues, please don't hesitate to contact me: hk@eastsidesportsanalysis.com

How often is the data updated?

There are 3-7 data updates per week depending on league schedules.​

How are the predictions created?

The Handicapper creates probabilities for different game outcomes purely based on data. As there doesn’t exist anything else than HISTORICAL data, the predictions are created with the hypothesis that historical events can explain future outcomes. 

The models within The Handicapper are tested on a regular basis and updated if something changes in the dynamics of the underlying market (rules, equipment etc.) or the explanatory power of some factor diminishes.

You can think of the models for each sport (league) as multi-factor models, where the weights for each feature can be determined by the user. Each feature, which can be chosen by the user, should have at least some correlation with game outcomes.

Even if I am a firm believer in a quantitative approach, practice has shown, that relying purely on quantitative models might not be an optimal path to success. A good model can be superior in many aspects, but things can also go very wrong when blindly following it. That's why my recommendation is to use the predictions The Handicapper creates as just one of several inputs to your decision to place (or not place) a bet.