Gambling and Renyi Divergence


Abstract in English

For gambling on horses, a one-parameter family of utility functions is proposed, which contains Kellys logarithmic criterion and the expected-return criterion as special cases. The strategies that maximize the utility function are derived, and the connection to the Renyi divergence is shown. Optimal strategies are also derived when the gambler has some side information; this setting leads to a novel conditional Renyi divergence.

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