Bankroll Management: The Foundation of Successful Sports Betting

Proper bankroll management is the difference between long-term success and inevitable failure in sports betting. Even the best handicappers will go broke without disciplined money management.

The 1% Rule

Never risk more than 1-2% of your total bankroll on a single bet. This conservative approach ensures you can weather losing streaks without going broke.

Unit Sizing

Establish a unit system where:

• 1 unit = 1% of your bankroll
• Standard bets = 1 unit
• High confidence plays = 2-3 units maximum

Bankroll Requirements

Start with at least 100 units to properly manage variance and drawdowns. This gives you the cushion needed to handle inevitable losing streaks.

Common Mistakes

Chasing Losses

Never increase bet sizes to recover losses. Stick to your predetermined unit sizes regardless of recent results.

Overconfidence

Even "sure things" can lose. No single bet should risk more than 5% of your bankroll, regardless of confidence level.

Emotional Betting

Remove emotion from bankroll decisions. Set rules when you're thinking clearly and stick to them when emotions run high.

Building Your Bankroll

Start small and grow gradually. Focus on consistent profits rather than home run bets. Compound growth over time is more sustainable than chasing big scores.

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