Skip to main content
Log in

Kelly criterion revisited: optimal bets

  • Topical Issue on Physics in Society
  • Published:
The European Physical Journal B Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract.

Kelly criterion, that maximizes the expectation value of the logarithm of wealth for bookmaker bets, gives an advantage over different class of strategies. We use projective symmetries for a explanation of this fact. Kelly's approach allows for an interesting financial interpretation of the Boltzmann/Shannon entropy. A “no-go” hypothesis for big investors is suggested.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • H. Busemann, P.J. Kelly, Projective Geometry and Projective Metrics (Academic Press, New York, 1953)

  • T.H. Cormen, C.E. Leiserson, R.L. Rivest, C. Stein, Introduction to Algorithms (MIT Press, Cambridge MA, and McGraw–Hill, New York, 2001)

  • J.L. Kelly, Jr, Bell System Technical Journal 6, 917 (1956), in http://www.arbtrading.com/kelly.htm

    Google Scholar 

  • E.W. Piotrowski, Physica A 324, 196 (2003)

    Article  MATH  ADS  MathSciNet  Google Scholar 

  • E.W. Piotrowski, J. Sładkowski, Geometry of financial markets – Towards information theory model of markets, talk given at APFA5 Conference, Torino, 2006, e-print arXiv:physics/0607236

  • W. Poundstone, Fortune's Formula: The Untold Story of the Scientific Betting System That Beat the Casinos and Wall Street (Hill & Wang, New York, 2005)

  • E.O. Thorp, The Kelly criterion in blackjack, sports betting, and the stock market, paper presented at The 10th International Conference on Gambling and Risk Taking, June 1997, revised May 1998, in http://www.bjmath.com/bjmath/

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to E. W. Piotrowski.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Piotrowski, E., Schroeder, M. Kelly criterion revisited: optimal bets. Eur. Phys. J. B 57, 201–203 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1140/epjb/e2007-00126-3

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1140/epjb/e2007-00126-3

PACS.

Navigation