The Biggest Key to Success in Sports Betting

"Bankroll Management" by Betrics Co. Author Mike Noblin

If I asked you the #1 reason why most sports investors lose money in this business, what would you say?

Not a high enough winning percentage? Not being knowledgeable enough about sports? Lack of “inside information”?

WRONG, WRONG, and WRONG!

The most common reason why most sports bettors lose is due to poor bankroll management.

Not sure how to effectively manage your sports betting bankroll?

Our guide on Bankroll Management is for you! This article will discuss how to responsibly manage your bankroll, how much you should bet per game, and other tips regarding this critical topic!

Defining a Bankroll

A bankroll is the amount of money a sports bettor has set aside strictly to invest in the outcome of sporting events. Your betting bankroll should be an amount of money that you are comfortable with losing! Yes, I know that is crazy to say out loud (or even type). It is not impossible to make money wagering on sports, but it is definitely NOT a “get rich quick” endeavor! There will sometimes be long losing streaks, and your bankroll and the bet amount per game should be sized accordingly.

Remember the 3 Commandments of Bankroll Management

Here are some helpful keys below about managing your sports betting bankroll. These “commandments” will help you weather the storms of cold streaks that will occur so you can still have plenty of bankroll available when the HOT streak happens!

Commandment #1: Bet with your head, NOT over it!

There is no such thing as a “Lock”! Truthfully, the word “Lock” should be considered a cussword by everyone involved with the sports betting industry! Sure, things never exist in sports, or life for that matter.

Commandment #2: Never bet more than 5% of your bankroll on any game!

This means that if you have $1,000 set aside as your sports betting bankroll for the year, then your absolute maximum bet would be $50 per game! Professional sports bettors usually bet 1% on most of their plays, maybe 2% if they really want to “step out” on a game. The people who win in this crazy business of sports betting are insanely disciplined when it comes to their bankroll. They treat this business as an investor instead of a gambler. How a well-diversified stock investor would not want too much “exposure” on one company, a winning sports bettor does NOT want too much of their betting bankroll on the outcome of one game (yes, even the Super Bowl, hahaha)!

Commandment #3: (gonna get a little Biblical here LOL) Thou shalt NOT Chase, EVER!

I know, I know! It is super tempting to try and “get even” on Monday Night Football at the end of a losing weekend. This is a losing strategy in the long run and adds too much stress to what is supposed to be an entertaining hobby for most regular folks.

Last Key: Keep Reasonable Expectations

I could give you the most profitable sports betting system ever created, but it would not make you a long-term winner if you don’t follow a sound bankroll management system. Even some of the most successful sports betting syndicates of all-time won games at a 55-60% clip per year. You must win at a 52.4% clip against the online bookmaker’s standard (-110) odds to break even in sports betting.

What I am getting at is even if you’re a hardcore sports junkie who spends countless hours researching trends, statistics, and angles, your long-term “edge” over the house is only about two to five percent. It is vitally important to remember this and keep realistic expectations when it comes to betting sports. This is NOT a get-rich-quick endeavor.