Calculate optimal stake sizes based on your bankroll, staking method, and risk tolerance.
Proper bankroll management is arguably more important than your bet selection. Even bettors with a genuine edge can go broke through poor staking.
Bet a fixed amount per bet regardless of bankroll changes. Simple, low variance, good for beginners. Typical recommendation: 1–5% of starting bankroll per bet.
Bet a fixed percentage of your current bankroll. Naturally scales up as you win and down as you lose. Harder to go broke, but profits compound more slowly. Common range: 1–3% per bet.
The mathematically optimal stake size given your edge and the odds. Maximizes long-term bankroll growth. Many bettors use "quarter Kelly" (25% of the full Kelly stake) to reduce variance.
In 2026, one of the easiest ways to tell if your bankroll strategy is actually working is to log closing line value (CLV), not just wins and losses. If you bet +145 and the market closes +128, you likely made a good long-term wager even if that ticket loses. A common mistake is increasing stake size after a short hot streak without checking whether you’re consistently beating the close. Add a simple CLV column to your bankroll tracker before raising unit size.