How To Manage Your Sports Betting Bankroll

While the flashing lights of the casino floor attract millions, sports betting has exploded into a massive global industry.


Treating your betting funds like a professional investment portfolio is the only way to survive the long, grueling sports season.

Why Professional Bettors Use Units

Professional sports bettors never talk about how many actual dollars they bet; instead, they exclusively use the term 'units'.


If your total betting bankroll for the NFL season is $1,000, then one unit (1%) is exactly $10.

A conservative bettor will risk 1% of their bankroll per game, while an aggressive bettor might risk 3%, but almost never moreNever increase your unit size simply because you are on a winning streak; this is a classic psychological trap called 'overconfidence'Conversely, never increase your unit size to 'chase' losses after a bad day; this is the fastest way to bankrupt your account
The Importance of ROI and The Juice

To truly manage your bankroll, you must aggressively track every single bet you make in a detailed spreadsheet.


When you bet on a standard point spread, you usually have to risk $110 to win $100 (odds of -110).

Starting BankrollConservative Unit (1%)Aggressive Unit (3%)$500$5.00$15.00$2,000$20.00$60.00

Sports betting should be viewed as a slow, methodical grind, not a get-rich-quick scheme.