Question 1

What is Starkov (starkov-app.vercel.app)?

Accepted Answer

Starkov is a quantitative sports telemetry, order-book microstructure, and visual bot-simulation sandbox (SaaS) for sports prediction markets. Unlike basic odds comparators, Starkov provides a 4-pillar MindMap Bot Studio (01 Target, 02 Trigger, 03 Order, 04 Exit) that evaluates real-time optical and play-by-play telemetry across Tennis, Soccer, NBA, NFL, NHL, and MLB against de-vigged fair probabilities and Level-2 order book depth.

Question 2

How does the Starkov 4-Pillar MindMap Bot Studio work?

Accepted Answer

Every Starkov bot evaluates live sporting events through four sequential pillars: 01 TARGET filters eligible circuits, court surfaces, weather conditions, and historical matchup profiles; 02 TRIGGER monitors live scoreboard states, optical telemetry (such as live xG pressure in Soccer or 1st Serve % and Markov hold delta in Tennis), and mathematical +EV thresholds; 03 ORDER manages position sizing (Fixed, Bankroll %, or Fractional Kelly), contract side, hedging, and Maker/Taker order book routing; and 04 EXIT resolves positions via Odds Convergence, Take-Profit, anti-wick Stop-Loss, dynamic trailing stops, sport-specific game-state exits, and daily drawdown circuit breakers.

Question 3

What does +EV mean in sports betting in simple terms?

Accepted Answer

In simple terms, +EV (Positive Expected Value) means placing a trade or bet where the actual probability of winning is higher than what the current odds imply. Executing +EV positions over hundreds of matches generates a positive mathematical expectation of long-term profit regardless of short-term variance.

Question 4

How do sports prediction markets differ from traditional sportsbooks?

Accepted Answer

Traditional sportsbooks act as the house where you bet against the operator, who charges a 5% to 10% fee (vig) and limits winning bettors. Sports prediction markets (like Kalshi) operate like a financial exchange: traders buy and sell binary contracts (priced 1¢ to 99¢) directly against each other on a central limit order book without house margins.

Question 5

What is paper trading in sports betting and why should beginners use it?

Accepted Answer

Paper trading is simulated strategy execution using virtual currency that tracks real-time live prices, order book fills, slippage, and fees. It allows traders to verify whether a quantitative strategy has a genuine edge over a large sample of matches before risking real capital.

Question 6

How does Starkov calculate positive Expected Value (+EV) and remove bookmaker vig?

Accepted Answer

Starkov strips out the bookmaker overround (vig) from raw decimal odds by normalizing implied probabilities across all mutually exclusive outcomes (P_fair = (1 / Odds_i) / Σ(1 / Odds_j)) so that fair probabilities sum to 100.0%. It then compares P_fair against the live binary prediction market contract price (0¢ to 100¢), firing +EV triggers when the de-vigged fair probability exceeds the effective acquisition price by the user's configured edge threshold and persistence duration.

Question 7

What is the difference between Maker limit orders and Taker market orders in Starkov?

Accepted Answer

In Pillar 03 ORDER, a Taker Market Order crosses the bid-ask spread immediately to buy at the Best Ask for guaranteed execution during fast live triggers (such as a conceded break point or opening goal), while a Maker Limit Order places a resting bid inside or at the spread (0% Maker Fee) with configurable Time-in-Force (GTC, 30s, 120s, IOC) and Level-2 order book spread/depth guardrails.

Question 8

How does Fractional Kelly Criterion position sizing work in Starkov?

Accepted Answer

When Kelly Criterion sizing is selected in 03 ORDER, Starkov computes the full Kelly fraction f* = (P_fair - P_ask) / (1 - P_ask) and scales it by a user-selected multiplier (0.25x Quarter-Kelly, 0.50x Half-Kelly, or 1.00x Full-Kelly) capped by a maximum USD per-match exposure guard to protect the bot bankroll against short-term variance.

Question 9

Is Starkov a sportsbook or a real-money gambling platform?

Accepted Answer

No. Starkov is strictly a Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) quantitative analytics and virtual paper-trading simulation sandbox. Starkov is not a bookmaker, sportsbook, gambling operator, prediction market exchange, or financial custodian. It never accepts real-money wagering deposits and all wallets, bankrolls, stakes, orders, and PnL metrics on the platform are 100% simulated paper-trading figures for strategy research and benchmarking.