Sports betting bankroll management
Bet a small, steady share of your bankroll: 1% to 2% per bet is common, or a fraction of Kelly sized by the edge. Small stakes keep you in the game through losing runs that even good bettors go through.
Set a bankroll
Your bankroll is money set aside for betting that you can afford to lose. Every stake is a share of it, so it grows and shrinks with results instead of with mood.
Flat units
A unit is a fixed share, often 1% to 2% of the bankroll. Every bet is one unit. Simple and safe, but it bets the same on a 1% edge as on a 6% one.
Kelly sizing
Kelly stakes in proportion to the edge (Kelly calculator). A quarter Kelly on a +8.7% bet at +150 is 1.45% of the bankroll; on a +2% bet it's much less. Cap any single bet at a few percent.
Losing runs are normal
A bettor with a 3% edge on even-money bets still loses money over 100 bets roughly a third of the time. Bet sizes that survive those runs matter more than squeezing out growth.
Several books, one bankroll
Money split across books is still one bankroll. Count open bets at every book before sizing new ones, and keep separate bankrolls when books pay in different currencies. The daily plan sets bets, books and amounts from your bankroll.
Questions
How much of my bankroll should I bet?
1% to 2% per bet with flat units, or a fraction of Kelly (often a quarter) sized by the edge, with a cap of a few percent per bet.
What is a unit in sports betting?
A fixed stake used to size bets, usually 1% to 2% of a bettor's bankroll.
Is Kelly better than flat betting?
Kelly grows a bankroll faster when edge estimates are accurate. With uncertain estimates, fractional Kelly or flat units are safer.
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Updated 2026-10-26