How Much Should You Wager on a Bet?

Just starting out as a sports bettor, you may be at a loss as to how much it is typical to wager on a given bet.  Do you think in terms of pounds or percents?  Is there a certain minimum amount you need to wager?  Where should you set the maximum ceiling?

First off, as far as minimum amounts go, that depends on where you decide to wager.  Each UK betting site has its own minimum and maximum thresholds in place.  Many betting sites set that limit as low as £1, and for some it is even less than that!  So thankfully that is something you do not usually have to worry about.  Just make sure you check what the minimum wager is before you join a specific site.

As to amounts, it is smartest to think in terms of percentages.  Why?  Because you should always be asking yourself this question:

How many times could I lose in a row before blowing my account?

In other words, even though there will always be a pound amount that you will be wagering, you must always be asking yourself what percentage of your account that amount is.  And as your account grows or shrinks, you will want to adjust the pound amount you invest accordingly so that you are still trading a comparable percentage.  That way you can stand to take the same number of losses before you lose everything.  This gives you the best chance at success.

In terms of determining a smart percentage to wager, you first need to know what a realistic win percentage is.  If you are doing well, you can expect to be right around 55-57% of the time.  Yes, that is it!  Not 70%, not 80%, not 90%.  This is a win percentage which a professional would make. 

For that reason, you can expect to sustain many losses in a row on a regular basis.  That is why you do not want to invest a large percentage of your account!  Even in much more reliable markets (for example, in investing) where you could expect a win percentage like 80%, you would still get this advice.  That should really underscore how important it is to keep your bets small.

How small is small?  In sports betting, as with other types of financial activities where you are playing a game of risk, an appropriate percentage is around 3%.  That is a tiny number which may take some getting used to when you are new, but once you adjust to thinking this way, you will adapt to it.  This percentage keeps your drawdown much more manageable and gives you your best chance at eventually winning big. 

Always remember that the greatest successes are built out of numerous small, consistent, regular victories.  What you win in one fell swoop you can lose just as quickly.  When you wager 3%, you give yourself more margin for error, and ultimately the space you need to learn, grow, and succeed.