Bankroll management is what keeps a good bettor alive long enough for their edge to matter. If you control risk, you survive variance. If you survive variance, your strategy can compound.
Answer-first
Bankroll management is using a dedicated betting budget and a consistent staking plan (units) so you can handle losing streaks, avoid emotional decisions, and maximize long-term profitability.
Define Your Bankroll
Your bankroll is a dedicated betting fund you can afford to lose without impacting rent, bills, or life essentials.
Treat it like business capital: separate account, separate mindset.
- Do: Pick a fixed bankroll amount and commit to it.
- Don’t: Reload impulsively after losses to “get it back.”
Use Units and Fixed-Percentage Staking
The simplest, strongest approach for most bettors is a fixed percentage stake per bet.
Units let you scale risk automatically as bankroll changes.
EXAMPLE: FIXED PERCENTAGE (UNITS)
Bankroll: $1,000
Unit Size: 2%
Bet Amount: $20
> If bankroll drops to $900, next unit becomes $18. Risk scales down automatically.
Want to go deeper on staking? Pair this with understanding positive EV (+EV)
and how odds imply probability in implied probability.
Plan for Variance and Drawdowns
Even great strategies experience losing streaks. That is variance, not failure.
Your job is to make sure losing streaks don’t knock you out of the game.
- Use small units so a bad run is survivable.
- Avoid “all-in” thinking. One bet should never decide your future.
- Understand variance properly via this guide.
When to Use the Kelly Criterion (and Fractional Kelly)
The Kelly Criterion sizes bets using your estimated probability advantage.
It is powerful, but only when your probabilities are genuinely accurate.
Many serious bettors reduce volatility using Fractional Kelly (like half-Kelly).
This keeps you mathematically grounded while smoothing swings.
Bet Better’s models exist to help you estimate probabilities more objectively, so staking becomes more disciplined and repeatable.
Tracking and Review
If you don’t track, you don’t improve. Track every bet: market, odds, stake, result, closing line, notes.
Over time, you’ll identify what you do best and where leaks exist.
- Track bets by league (NFL, NBA, AFL, Soccer).
- Track by bet type (moneyline, spread, totals, props).
- Review mistakes via common betting pitfalls.
FAQ
What is bankroll management in sports betting?
It’s using a dedicated budget and consistent staking plan to control risk, survive variance, and enable long-term profitability.
What unit size should I use as a beginner?
Many bettors start around 1% to 2% per bet. It reduces volatility and helps you avoid bankroll damage during losing streaks.
What is the safest staking strategy?
Fixed-percentage (units) is usually the safest and simplest. Your stake scales automatically as bankroll changes.
Should I use Kelly Criterion?
Only if you have accurate probabilities. Many bettors choose Fractional Kelly (such as half-Kelly) to reduce variance.