Stake

Your stake is the money you put on the line—the amount you're willing to lose on a single bet. While everyone focuses on picking winners, professional bettors know that stake sizing is equally important. Bet too much and a losing streak can destroy your bankroll. Bet too little and winning bets don't grow your funds meaningfully. Finding the right stake is the science of balancing growth against risk, and it's often the difference between recreational gamblers and profitable bettors.

Table of Contents

• Understanding Stakes
• Stake vs Return vs Profit
• Staking Methods
• The Unit System
• Stake Sizing Mathematics
• Common Staking Mistakes
• Stake Limits

Understanding Stakes {#understanding}

The stake is simply how much money you put on a bet. Everything else—potential return, profit, risk—flows from this number.

Basic Stake Calculation

Stake Example

Stake vs Return vs Profit {#vs-return}

These terms are often confused:

Why This Matters

Decimal odds of 2.00 show return per unit staked.

• Stake $100 → Return$200 → Profit $100

American odds of +100 show profit per $100 staked.

• Stake $100 → Profit$100 → Return $200

Same bet, different perspective.

Staking Methods {#methods}

1. Flat Staking

Same amount on every bet, regardless of odds or confidence.

Example: $20 per bet, every bet

Best for: Beginners, recreational bettors

2. Percentage Staking

Fixed percentage of current bankroll.

Example: 2% of bankroll

Best for: Serious bettors, long-term approach

3. Kelly Criterion Staking

Mathematically optimal stake based on edge.

Where:

• p = probability of winning
• q = probability of losing (1-p)
• b = odds - 1

Example: 55% win probability, 2.00 odds

Kelly = (0.55 × 1) - 0.45 / 1 = 0.10 = 10% of bankroll

Best for: Advanced bettors with proven edge

4. Confidence-Based Staking

Variable stakes based on confidence level.

Best for: Experienced bettors with calibrated confidence

The Unit System {#units}

Units standardize stakes across different bankroll sizes.

What Is a Unit?

Why Use Units?

Communication: "I bet 2 units on Liverpool" works regardless of bankroll size.

Tracking: Results in units allow comparison over time and between bettors.

Discipline: Thinking in units removes emotional attachment to dollars.

Unit Tracking Example

Standard Unit Ranges

Stake Sizing Mathematics {#math}

Expected Value and Stakes

Your expected profit from a bet:

Where p = win probability, q = lose probability

Example: 55% chance to win, 2.00 odds, $100 stake

EV = (0.55 × $100) - (0.45 ×$100) = $55 -$45 = +$10

Optimal Stake by Edge

Stake and Variance

Higher stakes = higher variance in results. Stake size is the primary determinant of risk of ruin—small changes have dramatic effects on survival probability.

Example: 100 bets at 2.00 odds, 52% win rate

Same edge, wildly different outcomes.

Fractional Kelly

Most professionals use 25-50% of full Kelly to reduce variance:

Common Staking Mistakes {#mistakes}

Mistake 1: Betting Too Much Per Bet

Problem: Staking 10%+ of bankroll on single bets

Result: Few losing bets can destroy your bankroll

Solution: Cap individual bets at 5% maximum

Mistake 2: Chasing Losses

Problem: Increasing stakes to recover losses quickly

Four bets, bankrupt.

Solution: Stick to your staking plan regardless of recent results

Mistake 3: All-or-Nothing Bets

Problem: "Going all in" on "sure things"

Reality: Nothing is certain in betting. Even 80% favorites lose 20% of the time.

Solution: Never stake more than 5% on any single bet

Mistake 4: Inconsistent Stakes

Problem: $10 on some bets,$200 on others with no system

Result: Big losses on random high-stake bets

Solution: Use a consistent staking system (flat, percentage, or unit-based)

Mistake 5: Ignoring Odds When Staking

Problem: Same stake on 1.20 favorites and 5.00 longshots

Issue: $100 on 1.20 odds risks$100 to win $20. Poor risk/reward.

Solution: Consider odds in stake decisions (Kelly accounts for this automatically)

Stake Limits {#limits}

Bookmaker Stake Limits

Why Limits Exist

Bookmakers limit:

• Winning bettors
• Sharp money
• Arbitrage bettors
• Bonus abusers

Working Within Limits

Related Calculators

Plan your stakes:

• Bankroll Management Calculator - Overall strategy
• Kelly Criterion Calculator - Optimal stake sizing
• Stake Calculator - Quick calculations