Bankroll questions and recommendations

**why** · 08-12-05, 12:53 PM

1)You should bet what you are comfortable with, not what anyone tells you. Hence, that decision falls squarely on your shoulders.

2)There are times to bet more and times to bet less and the decision comes with experience. Example: Many bet less at the beginning of football or not at all until they determine what the hell is going on.

3)Much of betting is streaky, have to learn to roll with the hot streaks and lay low when in a cold streak.

4)There is no set way to gamble, you have to find out what works best for you. There will be games you love and some you like, you have to sort out how you want to bankroll them.

5)Its called "gambling" for a reason and it can be "humbling" more often than not, few can make a living doing it, most lose and some can have fun with it. Be smart, start conservative and find out what you expect from it.

**Mudcat** · 08-12-05, 12:53 PM

I'm going to jump in here. I know you and I have talked about this a bit so you already know my thoughts but, just for the sake of general discussion, I'll chime in.

1. What percentage of my bankroll should I bet on each game. I plan to stick to 2% of my bankroll. I feel that is really good but I’ve seen people recommend playing 5% of their bankroll on one play. That seems rather high to me. Is there a right answer here or is this something you have to get a feel for and know your own skills as a handicapper.

2% is a good conservative number. Nothing wrong with being conservative at all. The answer to this question depends quite a bit on your psychology and how freaked out you get from the inevitable losing streaks. 2% basically protects you from a 50 game losing streak (or any stretch where you lose 50 more games than you win). I’m not sure where you’re getting your picks from but even if you’re just flipping a coin, it is not easy to go on a streak where you lose 50 more than you win. Plus unit size can be readjusted at any time.

Personally I don’t mind going 3 or 4% on football spreads and totals because I know I’m going to hit about 57% long-term so a 25-33 bet losing streak just doesn’t happen. But I also bet big moneyline dogs and keep those lower.

2. Let’s say, hypothetically, I have a $10,000 bankroll and I dispense $2000 into five different sportsbooks. Now, 2% of a $10,000 bankroll is $200. Is that my play on each bet or should I vary it according to the $2000 in each book…hence each play is $40 rather than $200 because $2000.00 x .02 is $40.

IMO, you should use 2% of the total amount, not the amount per sportsbook.

3. Let’s say I had a rough couple weeks to start off football and my bankroll is down to $8,542.71 total. Do I continue playing 2% of my bankroll or do I start to adjust and play a new amount according to what is in my account (i.e. $8,542.71 x .02 = $170.85).

Personal decision. I am so confident in the fact that I will win long-term, that I would just stick with the original amount. But I have years and years of experience to back that up. If you're just starting out, it would be very easy to start second-guessing yourself during the first big losing streak.

So that's a question I can't answer for anyone else.

4. I was always taught never to vary your bankroll size whether you are up or down…so do I always stick to the same percentage for each bet. I operate under the assumption that each game I bet is an independent event. I don’t believe things like if I am on a hot streak I should increase slight and conversely if I am struggling I should decrease slightly. I am content to stick with the same percentage each game regardless…is this good thinking or am I missing something here.

Regarding what you said about streaks, that's good thinking in my book. That is my philosophy exactly. I set my unit size and stick with it. I re-evaluate it periodically (once a month or so) to see if it should be increased and that's it.

No gambling gods and no voodoo. Everything is science.

**raiders72001** · 08-12-05, 01:13 PM

I agree with most of what mudcat just said. Must recommed 2-3% betting of bankroll on total bankroll. My personal preference is to bet 2 to 4% of my bankroll depending upon how strong that I consider the play. Also I like to bet the 2-4% of my current bankroll. This increases my unit when winning and decreases when losing.

**Illusion** · 08-12-05, 01:19 PM

I usually bet 2-3% of my bankroll on any given day. Just like everybody else, I increase my bets when I am hot and decrease them when I am cold.

**jjgold** · 08-12-05, 01:28 PM

2% is just about right and you cannot bet parlays or other gimmicks or it will throw system right off.

There is no such thing as liking a game more than another and putting more on it

Each bet has the same chance of winning.

**ericc** · 12-15-09, 10:48 AM

when do you withdraw from your BR?

**20Four7** · 12-15-09, 07:08 PM

Originally posted by ericc

when do you withdraw from your BR?

The correct answer is never, or when you intend to retire in Costa Rica.....