Bankroll

A bankroll is the total amount of money a bettor has set aside exclusively for sports betting.

It represents your betting capital, not your general finances, and is used to manage risk and staking size.

How it works

• The bankroll is divided into units (e.g. 1 unit = 1% of bankroll).

• Each bet stakes a fixed or calculated portion of the bankroll.

• Proper bankroll use prevents chasing losses and overbetting.

Example

• Bankroll: $1,000

• Unit size: 1% = $10

• Typical bet: 1–3 units ($10–$30)

Key characteristics

• Core element of risk management

• Protects against variance and losing streaks

• Essential for long-term profitability

Important note
Even good bets fail. Without bankroll management, a bettor can go broke despite having a positive betting edge.