Is 5 % per game too much?

**mvp123** · 12-23-09, 12:36 AM

yes if you are talking about wagering on a game but i usually wager between 2 and 5 percent myself and it works out fine

**PayTheSnuckaIII** · 12-23-09, 12:44 AM

I think 5% is very very aggressive. Most pros would consider 1% a conservative number and 2% aggressive. I like to play at 1.5% of my bankroll. How many plays are you playing per night? Tonight I played 11 games or 16.5% of my bankroll. So it also depends on if you are playing a lot of games or only a few. If you played 11 games at 5% that would be 55% of your bankroll. I couldn't stomach that for only one night of action.

**LLXC** · 12-23-09, 12:44 AM

5% very aggressive unless you only make about a play or two a day at most.

**wesleysnipes** · 12-23-09, 12:48 AM

Playing anywhere from 2-3 games a day, is 5 % good?

**wesleysnipes** · 12-23-09, 12:53 AM

My strategy is 1-3 games a day= 5 % per game, and 4-6 games a day= 3 % per game. These are selections hitting 57-60 % long term.

**PayTheSnuckaIII** · 12-23-09, 12:55 AM

Originally posted by wesleysnipes

Playing anywhere from 2-3 games a day, is 5 % good?

Everyone is different. Would you be comfortable if you lost 8 to 10 plays in a row? It happens to the best of handicapper (just not Lang

)

**wesleysnipes** · 12-23-09, 01:07 AM

Well if i lost 9 plays in a row, i would lose about 60 % of my bankroll, with the strategy of adjusting my bets according to my bankroll at hand. By the way, if you lose that many in a row, you shouldn't be betting on sports. Now the best handicappers dont lose that many in a row. Maybe around 4-5 in a row, but 8-10 is for the ones who dont know what the hell their doing. But since im only playing very few games, and focusing on quality more than quantity, it would level itself all out. If you're using services such as marc lawrence or maddux sports- and you're only playing a few games a day- you wouldn't lose that many games in a row.

**PayTheSnuckaIII** · 12-23-09, 01:19 AM

Originally posted by wesleysnipes

Well if i lost 9 plays in a row, i would lose about 60 % of my bankroll, with the strategy of adjusting my bets according to my bankroll at hand. By the way, if you lose that many in a row, you shouldn't be betting on sports. Now the best handicappers dont lose that many in a row. Maybe around 4-5 in a row, but 8-10 is for the ones who dont know what the hell their doing. But since im only playing very few games, and focusing on quality more than quantity, it would level itself all out. If you're using services such as marc lawrence or maddux sports- and you're only playing a few games a day- you wouldn't lose that many games in a row.

I know that shouldn't ever happen. I guess when I think things out I always try and figure out what the worst case scenario would be and figure out if I could handle it if it happened. That's what gives me the comfort level in playing more games at a lower % of bankroll. Its worked for me and if I happen to have a bad night its really not that big of a deal. Whatever makes you sleep at night and makes you money is what I'm for

**wesleysnipes** · 12-23-09, 01:38 AM

Yeah- like if you're playing more games as you are- betting 1-2 percent per game is logical. But if you're doing 1-3 games/day- 5 % is fair.

**RickySteve** · 12-23-09, 01:45 AM

It's fine as long as you win 54.75% of your plays.

**blix177** · 12-23-09, 02:51 AM

If you don't have a +EV any number greater than 0 is to large for your bankroll. But losing is ok, if you add the recreational value to it. Making a game more interesting...

**wesleysnipes** · 12-23-09, 07:09 AM

I have read hundreds of articles on sports betting money managment, and 3 % per game seems to be perfect. anyone agrees?

**Hybris** · 12-23-09, 07:47 AM

There is no magic number, but I like 3% alot...

**wesleysnipes** · 12-23-09, 07:49 AM

Yeah i just used that word as a figurative language to say that you can't go wrong. It wouldn't hurt your bankroll through a losing streak, and it would allow you to profit nicely through a winning streak.

**Peeig** · 12-23-09, 11:14 AM

Depends on how big your edge is.......could be too big.....could be too small.

**Ruifgalmeida** · 12-23-09, 11:25 AM

for 2-3games a night 3% seems good but I would lower it to 2% or 1,5%, my rule is never bet more of 10% of your bankroll in a single day

**Sawyer** · 12-23-09, 11:31 AM

Well, it depends on your bankroll & number of games you're playing. If your bankroll is 2000 and you're playing 2 picks/day then it's not much. If you're playing 10 plays/day, then it's too much. If your bank is 50k and you're bettning %5, it's too much.

Me, I like %3-%2.

GL!

**CFA** · 12-23-09, 11:40 AM

Originally posted by wesleysnipes

My strategy is 1-3 games a day= 5 % per game, and 4-6 games a day= 3 % per game. These are selections hitting 57-60 % long term.

Your bet size should be based on your perceived edge on a particular game, and not some predetermined bet size that falls into your "bets per day" guideline.
What sports are you betting? The question you should be asking yourself is whether you think the market is inefficient enough to allow someone to bet 5% on a daily basis even when using fully kelly. If you are betting the main four sports, maybe you should reconsider.

**BigdaddyQH** · 12-23-09, 12:30 PM

Perceived edges mean nothing. Everyone has a perceived edge, or they would not be wagering on a game to begin with. If you are hitting at 57-60%, and playing 3 games a day, you should be wagering 10% of your bankroll on those games. 57-60% is a very high pecentage of wins. I doubt that 20% of the gamblers in here can hit that percentage. Personally, I wager a flat amount on the games that I play. It matters not if I am hot or cold. I believe that a game is either worth playing, or it is not. I try not to read too much into wagering systems. I am comfortable with the amont I wager, and comfortable with the results so far for this year (65% this year posted in here, 67% overall). I find it easier to make better wagers if I do not concern myself with how much I am going to wager on each game. That is just my comfort level. Others will vary. The most important thig is to be comfortable with your wagers. Do not bet the rent money, etc... Wagering is tough enough. You do not want to be uncomfortble with any wager, or the amount that you wager. Confort gives you more confidence, and that is important.

**blix177** · 12-23-09, 01:10 PM

Originally posted by BigdaddyQH

If you are hitting at 57-60%, and playing 3 games a day, you should be wagering 10% of your bankroll on those games. 57-60% is a very high pecentage of wins. I doubt that 20% of the gamblers in here can hit that percentage.

I think if anyone is that good, and wagers 10% of their roll, they would own the sportbook in 2-3 years. Either that or be shown the door.

**statnerds** · 12-23-09, 02:24 PM

i vary between 1% and 2.5% with my most confident plays being 3%. usually have about 10 of those a year. i don't cap my own sports except football, i rely on others to do hoops and MLB. once i find a can that can actually win, i adjust my betting based on the confidence i have in that individual.

and anything over 55% you should be retired by now.

**wesleysnipes** · 12-23-09, 02:27 PM

And as the says, "Sports betting is a marathon, not a sprint." So betting 3 % is just right, and betting that amount shows you are focused on the long-term. And with a nice bankroll, which i dont have yet. lol. Will make the girls scream your name. lol. GO WESLEY SNIPES!

**mmike032** · 12-23-09, 02:32 PM

Originally posted by BigdaddyQH

Perceived edges mean nothing. Everyone has a perceived edge, or they would not be wagering on a game to begin with. If you are hitting at 57-60%, and playing 3 games a day, you should be wagering 10% of your bankroll on those games. 57-60% is a very high pecentage of wins. I doubt that 20% of the gamblers in here can hit that percentage. Personally, I wager a flat amount on the games that I play. It matters not if I am hot or cold. I believe that a game is either worth playing, or it is not. I try not to read too much into wagering systems. I am comfortable with the amont I wager, and comfortable with the results so far for this year (65% this year posted in here, 67% overall). I find it easier to make better wagers if I do not concern myself with how much I am going to wager on each game. That is just my comfort level. Others will vary. The most important thig is to be comfortable with your wagers. Do not bet the rent money, etc... Wagering is tough enough. You do not want to be uncomfortble with any wager, or the amount that you wager. Confort gives you more confidence, and that is important.

is that 65% including the 21 picks you deleted from your spreadsheet?

**masquer** · 12-23-09, 03:06 PM

maybe %2-4

**BobbyBaseballs** · 12-23-09, 03:13 PM

Just looking at all you talk like degenerate stains make me salivate at how much money these books make online...so sad

**poker_dummy101** · 12-23-09, 03:22 PM

Originally posted by wesleysnipes

Yeah- like if you're playing more games as you are- betting 1-2 percent per game is logical. But if you're doing 1-3 games/day- 5 % is fair.

then why are you asking if that is what you think

**wesleysnipes** · 12-23-09, 07:27 PM

I have my own philosophy, im just trying to see other people's strategies. So far from reading all the comments/ and my own knowledge- im probaly just going to stick with 3 % per game. Betting 2-5 games/ day

**Ace_of_Spades** · 12-23-09, 07:47 PM

1-2% Small (Everyday bet)
3-4% Medium
5% Maximum/Really confident bet (these are a must once in a while to get ahead on occasions)

**tltaylor89** · 12-23-09, 07:57 PM

5 Percent suits me and i manage to hit 54 percent every other year .

**cav1x** · 12-23-09, 08:08 PM

is a little too much in the long term imho

**Ace_of_Spades** · 12-23-09, 08:11 PM

Originally posted by tltaylor89

5 Percent suits me and i manage to hit 54 percent every other year .

Need to raise that to 65%

**dalutzlutz** · 12-23-09, 08:52 PM

if only 1 bet/day %5 normally.. no aggresivee

**roasthawg** · 12-24-09, 01:26 AM

Originally posted by RickySteve

It's fine as long as you win 54.75% of your plays.

This is the correct answer.

**DOMINATER** · 12-24-09, 01:33 AM

Man, Iv'e been betting 20 percent and if Ilike a game Ill bet 30 percent. I hit over 60 but I sometimes go into a slide.