Bankroll Management: How to Size Your Stakes Without Guesswork
A bankroll plan will not make losing bets win — but it controls how fast you can lose, and it takes emotion out of stake sizes.
Table of contents
Quick answer
Bankroll management means setting aside a fixed amount you can afford to lose and staking a small, consistent percentage of it — commonly 1–3% — on each bet. It limits the damage of losing runs; it does not create profit.
What a bankroll is
A bankroll is money set aside only for betting. It is not your savings and not your bill money. Decide the amount before you start and treat it as spent.
Percentage staking
The simplest robust plan is to stake a fixed percentage of the current bankroll on every bet.
Source: Calculated: 1,000 bankroll, stake re-calculated after each loss.
The higher the percentage, the faster a losing run does damage — and losing runs are more common than most people expect.
Flat stakes vs percentage
Flat staking — the same amount every time — is simple and disciplined. Percentage staking automatically shrinks your stakes during a downswing, which protects the bankroll.
Rules worth writing down
- Fix the bankroll and the percentage before you place a bet.
- Record every bet.
- Never raise stakes to win back losses.
- Use your operator’s deposit limits to back the plan up.
Bankroll Calculator
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Frequently asked questions
How big should my bankroll be?
Only as big as an amount you could lose entirely without it affecting your life.
Should I raise stakes after a win?
Percentage staking does this gradually and automatically. Big jumps after a win are a common mistake.
Sources & references
- BeGambleAware — safer gambling advice www.begambleaware.org
- National Council on Problem Gambling www.ncpgambling.org
We check every figure against the source listed. Spotted an error? Request a correction.
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