How to Build a Sports Betting Bankroll

Detailed Explanation

Bankroll management is the most important skill in sports betting, more important than picking winners. A bettor who picks 60% winners but has no bankroll management will go broke faster than a bettor who picks 54% winners with disciplined unit sizing. The math is clear: variance in sports betting is extreme, and proper bankroll management is the only way to survive it.

Step 1: Set your bankroll. This should be money you can afford to lose entirely. Not rent money, not savings, not bill money. A separate amount designated specifically for betting. Common starting bankrolls range from $100 to $1,000 depending on your budget. The exact amount does not matter — the discipline matters.

Step 2: Divide into units. Split your bankroll into 50-100 units. If your bankroll is $500 and you use 100 units, each unit is $5. Bet 1-2 units per game. Never bet more than 3 units on any single game, even if you feel extremely confident. Confidence is not the same as certainty, and one bad beat should never wipe out 5% of your bankroll.

Step 3: Use flat betting. Bet the same amount on every game regardless of confidence level. Some bettors use a tiered approach (1 unit for leans, 2 units for strong picks, 3 units for locks), but flat betting is simpler and more mathematically robust. The 99¢ Community's confidence tiers can help you identify which games to focus on, while flat betting protects your bankroll from the variance inherent in any prediction model.

Step 4: Track everything. Record every bet with the date, game, pick, odds, unit size, and result. After 100+ bets, analyze your data. What sports are you most profitable in? What confidence tiers perform best? What bet types (moneyline, spread, over/under) are working? Data-driven adjustments based on your own track record are more valuable than any advice you will read online.