Bankroll management will not change the odds of any game. What it does is decide how long your money lasts, how much a bad run can hurt, and whether gambling stays something you enjoy.
Step 1: set the bankroll
Your bankroll is money set aside for gambling and nothing else. It should be an amount you could lose completely without affecting rent, bills, savings or anyone who depends on you. Treat it as the price of entertainment, like a ticket to a game. If losing it would cause a problem, the number is too high.
Decide it for a period, such as a month, and do not top it up within that period.
Step 2: size your stakes
Sports betting
Stake a fixed unit of one to two percent of your bankroll on each bet. With a bankroll of 500, that is 5 to 10 per bet. At that size, a losing streak of ten bets, which happens to everyone, costs a fraction of the bankroll and leaves you able to continue.
Keep the unit the same whether you feel confident or not. Raising stakes to recover losses is the fastest way to empty a bankroll.
Casino games
Divide your session budget by the number of rounds you want to play. For slots, aim for at least 200 spins: a session budget of 40 means spins of 0.20 or less. For table games, a minimum bet of one to two percent of the session budget gives you room to ride out normal swings.
High volatility games need smaller stakes relative to your budget, because the gaps between wins are longer.
Step 3: set three limits before you start
- A loss limit. The most you will lose in the session. When you reach it, the session is over.
- A win target. A point at which you stop and keep the profit. Half your session budget again is a reasonable mark.
- A time limit. Set an alarm. Fast games feel shorter than they are.
Write them down or set them in your account if limits are available. A limit decided in advance is far easier to keep than one decided mid-session.
Step 4: keep a record
Note what you deposited, what you withdrew and how long you played. For sports, record each bet with its odds and stake. Memory flatters us. A record shows what is really happening and makes it obvious when something needs to change.
Rules that protect you
- Never chase losses. The next bet does not know about the last one.
- Never gamble with borrowed money.
- Do not play when you are upset, tired or have been drinking.
- Withdraw winnings regularly instead of leaving them in play.
- Take breaks. A week off costs nothing.
If limits stop working: if you find yourself breaking your own rules, hiding how much you play, or gambling to escape stress, read our responsible gambling page. It lists free, confidential support.