Bankroll Management: How Much Should You Bet Per Game?

Bankroll management is the most important skill in sports betting. Learn flat betting, unit sizing, and why most bettors go broke.

01What Is a Bankroll?

Your bankroll is the total amount of money you have set aside specifically for betting. It should be money you can afford to lose. Never bet with money you need for rent, bills, or essentials.

Proper bankroll management means betting a consistent, small percentage of your bankroll on each game. This protects you from variance and losing streaks, which are inevitable even for winning bettors.

02The Unit System

A unit is your standard bet size, typically 1-2% of your bankroll. If your bankroll is $1,000, one unit might be $10 or $20.

Flat betting means betting the same number of units on every game, regardless of confidence. This is the simplest and most disciplined approach. Most professional bettors use flat betting or a conservative variable system.

We use flat 1-unit betting for all our picks. One unit on every game, no exceptions. This makes our record transparent and easy to follow.

03Why 1-2% Per Bet?

Betting 1-2% per game means you can survive long losing streaks. Even the best bettors lose 40-45% of the time. At 2% per bet, you would need to lose 50 bets in a row to go broke, which is statistically almost impossible.

At 10% per bet, just 10 consecutive losses wipes you out. And 10-game losing streaks happen regularly, even to winning bettors. The math is unforgiving if you bet too much.

04The Kelly Criterion

The Kelly Criterion is a formula that calculates optimal bet size based on your edge. In theory, it maximizes long-term growth. In practice, most bettors overestimate their edge, which leads Kelly to recommend bets that are too large.

Many professionals use fractional Kelly (betting half or quarter of what Kelly suggests) to be conservative. For most bettors, simple flat betting at 1-2% is easier and safer than trying to calculate Kelly.

05Common Bankroll Mistakes

Chasing losses is the #1 bankroll killer. After losing, bettors often double their next bet to win it back. This leads to even bigger losses. Stick to your unit size no matter what.

Increasing bet size during winning streaks is also dangerous. Your edge has not changed just because you won a few in a row. Stay disciplined.

Betting on too many games dilutes your edge. Focus on your best plays, not every game on the board. Quality over quantity.