Bankroll Management Guide for Sports Betting

Your bankroll is your betting capital — the money you've set aside specifically for betting. Proper management is the difference between long-term success and going broke.

What is a Bankroll?

A bankroll should be:

• Separate from living expenses
• Money you can afford to lose
• Dedicated solely to betting

Whether playing slots, blackjack, skill-based video poker, or sports betting, proper bankroll sizing is critical for long-term survival and success.

Stake Sizing Methods

1. Fixed Stakes

Same amount on every bet.

Example: $20 per bet, regardless of odds or confidence.

Pros: Simple, prevents overbet Cons: Doesn't account for edge size

2. Percentage of Bankroll

Bet a fixed percentage of current bankroll.

Example: $1,000 bankroll at 2$20 stake After winning, new bankroll $1,050 =$21 stake

3. Kelly Criterion

Optimal sizing based on your edge. Learn more

How Much Bankroll Do You Need?

1 unit = your standard bet size.

Surviving Losing Streaks

Even with a 55% win rate, expect:

• 5-bet losing streak: Very common
• 10-bet losing streak: Will happen
• 15-bet losing streak: Possible

The Math of Losing Streaks

Probability of 10 losses in a row with 55% win rate: 0.45^10 = 0.03% per 10 bets

But over 1,000 bets, it becomes likely!

Rules to Follow

Never Bet More Than 5%

Even on "sure things" — there are no sure things.

Don't Chase Losses

Doubling up after losses (Martingale) leads to ruin. Calculate your risk of ruin before deciding on stake sizes.

Track Everything

Use our Bet Tracker to log:

• Stake and odds
• Sport and market
• Win/loss result
• ROI over time

Take Breaks

After 3-5 losses in a row, step back. Emotions hurt decisions.

Bankroll Building Strategy

Month 1-3: Prove Your Edge

• Small stakes (1% per bet)
• 100+ bet sample
• Calculate ROI

Month 4-6: Scale Up

• Increase to 2% if profitable
• Continue tracking
• Identify best sports/markets

Month 7+: Optimize

• Use Kelly Criterion
• Focus on highest-edge bets
• Consider multiple bookmakers

Tools for Bankroll Management

• Bankroll Calculator
• Bankroll Growth Calculator - Project your bankroll growth over time
• Staking Plan Calculator - Compare all staking strategies
• Kelly Criterion
• Value Bet Finder - Find +EV bets to grow faster
• Bet Tracker
• ROI Calculator

Related Articles

• D'Alembert Betting Strategy - A safer progressive staking system
• Kelly Criterion Explained - Optimal stake sizing
• Martingale vs Fibonacci - Progressive betting comparison
• Risk of Ruin Calculator - Calculate bust probability
• Full Pay Deuces Wild - Bankroll requirements for high-variance positive EV video poker

Common Mistakes

1. No dedicated bankroll — mixing with living expenses
2. Oversized stakes — betting 10%+ per bet
3. Emotional betting — chasing losses
4. No tracking — not knowing true ROI
5. Ignoring variance — expecting steady wins

Conclusion

Bankroll management isn't exciting, but it's essential. The best bettors aren't the best pickers — they're the best at protecting their capital.

Start today:

1. Define your bankroll
2. Set your stake size (1-2%)
3. Track every bet
4. Review weekly