Bankroll management
Set aside a betting bankroll, bet a small fixed share of it each time, and a losing run won't end your season.
Key points
- With a $1,000 bankroll and 2% units, each bet is $20 and 10 straight losses cost 20%.
- Winning half your bets, you'll lose 8 in a row at some point in 500 bets about 62% of the time.
- At -110 you need 52.4% wins to break even, so even a good bettor has long losing runs.
On this page
Start with a separate bankroll
A bankroll is money set aside only for betting: an amount you can lose without it touching rent, bills or savings. Every stake is then a share of that number, not a feeling about the game.
If losing the whole bankroll would hurt, it's too big. Only bet what you can afford to lose, and if betting stops being fun, call 1-800-MY-RESET.
Pick a unit size
A unit is your standard stake, a fixed percentage of the bankroll. Flat units of 1% to 3% keep any single loss small and make losing runs survivable.
| Unit | Stake on $1,000 | Losses for -20% |
|---|---|---|
| 1% | $10 | 20 |
| 2% | $20 | 10 |
| 3% | $30 | 7 |
| 5% | $50 | 4 |
How long losing runs get
Losing runs are longer than most people expect, even for a bettor who wins exactly half the time. Here's how often a bettor who wins exactly half the time hits a run of straight losses at least once.
| Bets | 6 in a row | 8 in a row | 10 in a row |
|---|---|---|---|
| 100 | 54.6% | 17.0% | 4.4% |
| 250 | 86.8% | 38.4% | 11.2% |
| 500 | 98.3% | 62.5% | 21.5% |
These are exact probabilities for independent bets at a 50% win rate, worked out step by step over every possible sequence. With a 3% unit, a 10-loss run costs 30% of the bankroll; with 1%, it costs 10%.
Rules that keep a bankroll alive
- Keep the unit fixed for a set period, such as a month, and resize it only then.
- Don't raise stakes to win back losses. Chasing turns a normal losing run into a lost bankroll.
- Keep a record of every bet: date, price, stake and result. The price matters as much as the result; our closing line value guide shows why.
- Count parlays and futures in units too. A long-shot parlay at 0.5 units is still a bet.
Better prices stretch a bankroll
Every bet at a worse price costs a little more of the bankroll than it needs to. At -110 you need 52.4% wins to break even, at -105 only 51.2%. Over a season of flat units, taking the best price is the cheapest way to make the bankroll last; see line shopping.
Frequently asked questions
How big should my betting bankroll be?
An amount you can afford to lose entirely without it affecting your bills or savings.
What unit size should I use?
Flat units of 1% to 3% of the bankroll are common. At 2%, ten straight losses cost 20%.
How long can a losing streak be?
Longer than it feels. Winning exactly half your bets, a run of 8 straight losses happens at least once in 500 bets about 62% of the time.
Should I bet more after a loss?
No. Raising stakes to win back losses is how a normal losing run becomes a lost bankroll.
21+ only. Sportsbook offers and availability vary by location. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-MY-RESET.