Bankroll Management & Units
The discipline that keeps a good handicapper from going broke.
Picking winners is only half the game — how much you stake is the other half.
Bet in units, not dollars
A unit is a fixed, small percentage of your bankroll — typically 1–2%. Betting in units instead of "whatever feels right" keeps one cold streak from wiping you out and one hot streak from making you reckless.
Flat vs proportional
- Flat staking — the same 1 unit on every play. Simple, robust, recommended for most.
- Kelly / proportional — stake scales with your estimated edge. Mathematically optimal if your edge estimates are accurate, but full Kelly is volatile — most pros use a fraction (quarter- or half-Kelly).
Rules that save bankrolls
- Never chase losses by sizing up.
- Don't bet more games than your research supports.
- Keep a log so you know what's actually working.
Sports betting is a marathon. Survive the variance and the edges compound — and always bet responsibly.