What Does ‘Bankroll Management’ Mean in Sports Betting?

“Bankroll Management” is your plan for how you manage the money you’ve set aside only for betting. It’s the skill that separates long-term, successful bettors from people who go broke in a week.

1. The Bankroll

This is the total amount of money you are willing and able to lose. It’s your “betting budget” for the season or the year.

• Example: You set aside $500 as your NFL bankroll. This money is only for betting, and if you lose it, you’re done.

2. The Management (The “Unit”)

This is where the magic happens. “Management” means you never bet your whole bankroll on one game. Instead, you break it down into small, consistent bet sizes called “units.”

A “unit” is your standard bet size, which is almost always 1% to 3% of your total bankroll.

Let’s stick with our $500 bankroll:

• Your 1-Unit Bet = $5 (This is 1% of $500)
• Your 2-Unit Bet = $10 (This is 2% of $500)

Now you have a system. When you like a game, you bet 1 unit ($5). If you love a game, you might bet 2 units ($10).

Why Is This So Important?

The goal is to survive the losing streaks (and everyone has them).

• Without a plan: You lose three bets in a row and get frustrated. You decide to bet your last $400 on a “sure thing” to win it all back. The “sure thing” loses. You’re broke.
• With a plan: You lose three 1-unit bets. You’re down $15. It stinks, but you still have $485 left. You’ve survived the bad day and can keep betting.

Bankroll management is what keeps you in the game. It stops you from making emotional decisions and “chasing” your losses.