At its core, a “unit” in betting refers to the amount of money a bettor wagers on each bet. Units allow bettors to think about their bankroll and wagers in percentage terms rather than getting caught up in the specific dollar amounts. Using units provides structure to betting activity and can prevent reckless betting behaviour that often leads to losing money. Units are an important concept that every bettor should understand in order to bet responsibly and strategically over the long run.
Defining a Unit
A unit can be any amount of money that a bettor defines for themselves based on their available bankroll. There are no set rules on what a unit must be. For a bettor with a $1000 bankroll, a reasonable unit size might be 1% or $10. For a bettor with a $5000 bankroll, 1% would equate to $50. The bettor gets to decide their unit amount based on their total funds. The key is to define a unit in a way that allows for many bets over a season without going broke. Units are generally recommended to be between 1-5% of a total bankroll.
Advantages of Using Units
There are several important advantages that come with betting in units rather than dollar amounts:
- Maintains discipline and prevents overbetting. Defining wager sizes in units helps restrain a bettor from exceeding their predetermined limits based on emotions or hunches.
- Allows for flexibility and scaling. As a bankroll grows or shrinks over time, unit sizes can be adjusted accordingly. Bettors do not have to be locked into specific dollar amounts.
- Simplifies tracking and analysis. Thinking in terms of units makes it easier to track results and betting patterns over time. This allows for detecting leaks and making adjustments.
- Fosters bankroll management. Units structured around 1-5% of total funds help bettors avoid betting too large a percentage of their available capital on any single wager. This prevents bankrolls from being wiped out suddenly.
- Promotes level-headed decisions. Units help take some emotion out of deciding bet sizes, leading to more rational wagering based on set criteria.
How to Determine Unit Size
When getting started with units, the first step is determining an appropriate unit size in proportion to your bankroll. Here are some guidelines around sizing units:
- For recreational betting, 5% of total bankroll is a commonly recommended unit size. This allows some room for losses while leaving enough capital for many bets.
- For those betting more seriously and want to be more conservative, a 1-2% unit size may be more appropriate. This takes an even more disciplined approach to protect the bankroll.
- High bankrolls $10,000+ can potentially handle larger unit sizes of 5% or more if greater wagering volumes are desired. But caution is still warranted.
- A $1000 bankroll would equate to a $10 unit size at 1% or a $50 unit size at 5%.
- Be prepared to lower unit size if bankroll takes a hit over a losing stretch. Protecting the remaining capital should be the priority.
No matter how it is defined, the key is picking a unit size in which losing a single wager will not devastate the bankroll. It should allow for continued betting even after taking losses.
Determining Bet Sizing with Units
Once a bettor has defined their base unit size, units are used to determine how much to wager on any given bet based on the level of confidence in that wager. This helps manage both risk and potential returns. Some guidelines on using units to size bets:
- 1 Unit: A 1 unit bet is used for wagers with moderate confidence. This could apply to a standard straight bet.
- 2 Units: A 2 unit bet shows higher confidence in the wager. This may be suitable for a perceived “lock” with high expected value.
- 3 Units or more: Wagers deemed to be extremely high confidence can warrant 3+ units to capitalise and maximise returns. But these should be rare.
- 0.5 Units or less: A wager with low confidence or that is more speculative may only deserve a 0.5 unit wager or less. This substantially limits exposure.
The power of units is being able to scale wager sizes fluidly based on the level of confidence and potential payouts. This allows betting strategically and maximising returns while mitigating downside risk.
Effective Unit Betting Strategies
Simply using units alone does not guarantee betting success. Units must be applied effectively as part of a comprehensive betting strategy:
- Have strict betting criteria: Units should only be wagered when certain clear criteria are met rather than betting randomly. This can involve factors like line value, trends, or statistics that provide an edge.
- Bet small frequently: Wagering 0.5-1 unit across many contests allows capitalising on small edges while mitigating risk. Losses are absorbed while even modest wins accumulate.
- Maintain bet diversity: Units should be allocated across many different wagers including varying sports, leagues, bet types, and timeframes. This diversification avoids overexposure to any one outcome.
- Adjust unit size dynamically: Unit sizes should be recalibrated over time based on bankroll fluctuations, betting performance, and changes in confidence level. Keeping units aligned with available capital is key.
- Track units meticulously: Meticulous tracking of units wagered, results, and ROI over time helps detect leaks and informs adjustments to strategy. Detailed records are invaluable.
Proper application of units as part of the right overarching strategies provides structure, restraint, and flexibility to betting. This allows playing the long game successfully.
Units Usage Example
For example, consider a bettor with a $1000 bankroll who has defined their unit size as $10 or 1% of total capital. They are looking to make wagers on an upcoming NHL game between the Washington Capitals and New York Rangers. The bettor likes the Capitals at -1.5 (+170) believing they have a strong chance to win by 2 or more goals. However, the bettor only has moderate confidence in this wager, so they decide to bet 1 unit or $10 on the Capitals -1.5 line. Later, upon examining the over/under for total goals scored, the bettor feels very confident that the over 5.5 goals (-110) will hit based on the offensive firepower of both teams. With high conviction in this wager, the bettor decides to bet 2 units or $20 on the over. Using units in this manner allows the bettor to scale bet sizes based on confidence levels while maintaining structured bankroll management.
All in all, units in betting are more than just a term; they are a fundamental tool for bettors to gauge success, manage their bankroll, and communicate with peers. While the concept might seem intricate initially, understanding units can significantly enhance one’s betting experience, making it more structured and informed. Remember, betting is not about getting rich but about enjoying the process and making sports events more engaging.
No Comments