Sports Betting Bankroll Calculator
Calculate optimal unit size, monthly budget, and risk of ruin based on your bankroll, win rate, and betting volume.
The Foundation of Profitable Betting
Bankroll management is more important than picking winners. A 55% bettor with poor bankroll management will go broke. A 52% bettor with disciplined unit sizing will grind profit over time. The core rules: never bet more than 1-5% of your bankroll on a single bet, never chase losses by increasing bet size, and track every bet meticulously.
Unit Sizing Strategies
Flat betting (1-3% units): Same amount on every bet. Simplest and safest. Recommended for beginners. Kelly Criterion: Variable sizing based on edge — larger bets when you have a bigger edge. Mathematically optimal but requires accurate probability estimates. Confidence-based: 1 unit on standard plays, 2 units on high-confidence plays, 3 units on max confidence. Popular but risky if confidence does not correlate with actual edge.
The single most common mistake recreational bettors make: chasing losses by doubling bet size. This is a martingale strategy and it has a 100% probability of catastrophic failure given enough time. After a loss, bet the same amount or less — never more. Your edge comes from selection, not from sizing.
