strategy

What is a Unit in Sports Betting?

By Andrew D

August 25, 2022

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Sports betting units, or indeed any betting units, are very straightforward.

A betting unit is an unspecified amount of money that represents one “unit” of your entire bankroll. Typically, many bettors will describe the amount of one unit as one percent (1%) of their bankroll.

It is not really important if bettors choose to vary the percentage that one betting unit represents.
What is important is that the units remain consistent across their betting exploits.

WHY REFER TO UNITS INSTEAD OF THE DOLLAR AMOUNT?

People can be very cagey when it comes to talking about money.

Nobody likes to be asked how much money they make, or how much certain things cost unless they happen to enjoy showing off.

Referring to individual betting units allows bettors to discuss their sports betting exploits without revealing the size of their bankroll.

The amount that is wagered is clearly going to depend totally on bankroll size.

Whether you are dropping 2 units worth $30 each or 2 units worth $500 each, it levels the conversation between bettors and avoids any awkwardness.

All that we know is that each person is raising 2% of their total bankroll on the bet in question. The risk is effectively the same.


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HOW OFTEN SHOULD GAMBLERS RISK MULTIPLE UNITS?

Let’s imagine a sports betting enthusiast who has progressed beyond the level of dropping a handful of nonchalant bets at the weekend when watching the game with friends. Nothing serious. Just another level of attention and effort begin put into their gambling.

Even the most casual of sports bettors should have a bankroll management system. It is essential for any kind of longevity, let alone profit.

If you only make one effort in this regard, then make it this one.

Read – How to manage your bankroll in sports betting – and heed the advice therein.

You will see that the main rule of bankroll management is NEVER to bet more than 2% of your whole amount on any given bet.

No matter what

You had a tip. You’ve got a gut feeling. It’s your favorite team and they’re on a roll of wins.

NOBODY CARES. IT’S IRRELEVANT. ALL OF IT.

The rule says that you cannot bet more than 2% and you have to stick to it. If you do, you will increase your chances of success many times over. Read the article for a better understanding.

Suffice it to say that you can risk more than one unit per bet if your unit = 1% and your maximum stake = 2%.

Your ability to bet multiple units rests solely on the amount that each unit represents. If you have chosen to (sensibly) stick to 1% then you can bet 2 and that’s it.

Imagine that you risk five units on a “hunch” that you’re due a big payout (this is, sadly, not an exaggeration for artistic purposes. We’ve heard people spout this kind of nonsense time and again)

Your bet falls flat and your bankroll is reduced by 5%.

MAKE JUST SEVEN BETS LIKE THAT AND 25% OF YOUR ORIGINAL BANKROLL IS ALREADY GONE


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7 bets don’t go far. We can put those on one NBA game. Easily

11 bets and you’re at 60% of your original amount

Dropping closer and closer to half all the time.

That same bankroll has to get you through a full season without having to refill your account.

Vary your wagers in other ways but not the amounts or unit sizes. If you do well and are winning more than you lose then your bankroll is growing and you automatically get to wager more dollars each time.

Plus, one bet can never wipe you out if you only bet low amounts each time. Want to play longer?

YOU KNOW WHAT TO DO…

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FINAL THOUGHTS

As ever, we encourage everyone who participates in online sports betting to pay close attention to their wagering.

Sports betting is fun. It’s exciting. It livens up any sporting encounter and gives us reason to stay glued even when the action wanes.

However, it is imperative that you view it as something to be done for entertainment purposes only.

Unless you are a bettor who is prepared to put in thousands of hours of hard graft and research, then you are highly unlikely to make enough money to give up your day job.

Because that’s what “sharp” sports bettors do. They treat sports betting as a business. It’s not just a cheeky pastime to spice up a boring game.

It’s a livelihood. They are professionals.

It’s quite likely that they don’t even support any particular team.

Much less bet on them through some twisted sense of loyalty…

They have hard, fast rules and the discipline to maintain them no matter what.

DO YOU HAVE THAT?

It’s ok if you don’t. Most casual bettors are nowhere near that level. And – here’s the thing – maybe they don’t want to be. Surely some of the entertainment value is lost if you’re treating sports betting as nothing more than a means to make money?

WOULD WE PREFER TO WIN MORE BETS THAN WE LOSE? OF COURSE

Are we prepared to give up everything else and sacrifice our enjoyment of placing bets by reducing it to betting units and money management? Probably not…

Let’s face facts, most bettors are probably going to be unsuccessful more times than they win.
That’s how it works. The system is stacked against you. If winning were easy then everyone would be at it. No sportsbook would survive if the odds were against them instead of you.

When the fun stops, stop

If you think you might have a gambling problem then please seek help.

Ask family members or friends if they think you might have a problem.

ASK YOURSELF THESE QUESTIONS:
  • Could I stop gambling right now if I wanted to and never bet again?

  • Am I trying to make up for previous losses by making more and more bets?

  • Can I always afford to lose the amount of money that I wager?

  • Have my betting habits changed? Am I risking more?

  • Have my relationships been affected by my gambling?

  • Can I handle wins and losses equally well?

If you think that you really might have a negative relationship with gambling then you are not alone.

It is a serious problem faced by millions of people every day

The National Council on Problem Gambling site is a great place to start.

You can chat there with someone, judgment-free.

LOOK AFTER YOURSELVES AND EACH OTHER

It’s a crazy world out there.

Peace

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