Betting units and staking plans help you size wagers consistently, control risk, and measure performance. This guide explains unit sizing, flat betting vs Kelly, exposure caps, stop-loss rules, and practical examples. For a neutral primer on Kelly math, see Wikipedia: Kelly criterion. For broader bankroll rules, open our Bankroll Management guide.
What Is a Betting Unit?
A unit is your standardized stake size (often 0.5%–2.0% of bankroll). Units let you compare performance without revealing dollars and keep discipline when results swing.
Picking Your Unit Size
- Conservative: 0.5% per bet (new bettors, high-variance props/SGPs).
- Balanced default: 1.0% per bet (most day-to-day singles).
- Upper bound: 2.0% per bet (only for high-confidence edges; avoid routinely staking this high).
Staking Plans (How to Allocate Units)
Flat Betting (Recommended for Most)
Wager the same unit size (e.g., 1u) on nearly every play. It smooths variance and prevents overconfidence. Combine with line shopping to lower break-even.
Proportional / Percentage of Bankroll
Stake a fixed % of the current bankroll (e.g., 1%). It auto-scales down after losing streaks and up after wins; swings can feel larger.
Kelly Criterion (Advanced; Use Fractional)
Kelly sizes stake by edge and price to maximize long-run growth, but requires accurate edge estimates and can be volatile. If used, prefer ½- or ¼-Kelly to reduce drawdowns.
Risk Controls That Actually Matter
- Daily exposure cap: Limit total staked to ≤5–7% of bankroll across all bets.
- Event cap: Don’t stack more than 2–3u on one game via correlated markets.
- Stop-loss guardrail: If down ~3–5u in a day, stop and review—don’t chase.
- Unit floor: If bankroll falls 25%+, consider trimming unit size (e.g., from 1.0% to 0.75%).
- Portfolio mix: Keep most action in low-hold singles; keep parlays/SGPs at 0.25–0.5u “fun size.”
Number vs Price & Why It Affects Sizing
When a half-point around key numbers is available, some bettors bump stakes slightly (e.g., 1.0u → 1.25u) but keep within exposure caps. Always weigh number vs price; see How to Shop Betting Lines and Vig & Juice.
Examples (Step-by-Step)
Example 1 — Setting Units
Bankroll = $5,000. Choose 1.0% → 1u = $50. Most bets = 1u; higher conviction = 1.25–1.5u; props/SGPs = 0.5u.
Example 2 — Exposure on a Busy Saturday
Plan: 5 games × 1u = 5u (10% is too high). Reduce: 5 × 0.8u = 4u total (≤5–7% of bankroll target maintained).
Example 3 — Fractional Kelly (Advanced)
Projection implies 3.0% edge at -110 (~52.38% breakeven). Full Kelly ≈ edge / odds_factor simplifies to ~1.5u for a 1u baseline; use ½-Kelly → ~0.75u to reduce volatility.
Measuring Results (Process over Profit)
- Track CLV: Did you beat the close? See CLV & Line Movement.
- Log every bet: Book, number, price, stake, timestamp, result, and closing line.
- Monthly review: Adjust unit size only after a meaningful sample, not one streak.
Common Mistakes
- Chasing: Increasing stake after losses. Stick to unit rules and stop-loss.
- Oversizing parlays/SGPs: High variance + higher hold—keep tiny.
- Kelly without edges: Overestimating edge leads to outsized drawdowns; use fractional or avoid.
- No exposure cap: Giant slates tempt overbetting; set a % ceiling in advance.
FAQs: Betting Units & Staking Plans
What’s the best staking plan for most bettors? Flat betting at ~1% per play with a daily exposure cap and strict stop-loss.
When should I change my unit size? After a material bankroll change (±25% or at set monthly checkpoints), not mid-tilt.
Is Kelly worth it? Only with credible edges and preferably at ½ or ¼ stakes to tame volatility.
Related Guides
- Bankroll Management
- How to Shop Betting Lines
- Closing Line Value (CLV) & Line Movement
- Vig and Juice Explained
- Parlays, Teasers & Round Robins
Responsible Gaming
Set your unit, set your caps, stick to them. If betting stops being fun, pause and seek help. See Responsible Betting.