A Unit in betting is the standard of measurement for your betting stakes to track profits and losses and manage your bankroll. One Unit is typically 1% of your bankroll, but it can be more or less depending on your strategy – but it should never be more than 2% of your bankroll.
Unit betting can and should be applied to any form of gambling, including sports betting and horse racing.
How Do I Calculate My Unit Price?
You can calculate your Unit price by dividing your bankroll by 100 (if using the 1% strategy).
For example, if your bankroll is $100, then $100 / 100 = $1, so your unit size is $1.
If your bankroll is $1,000, then $1,000 / 100 = $10, so your unit size is $10.
Why Do People Use Units?
There are two main reasons people use units when betting; the first is for bankroll management, and the second is for privacy around your betting stakes.
Bankroll management is one of the most important aspects of gambling responsibly, so betting relatively low stakes compared to your bankroll means you will never lose it all in one go – and potentially begin a cycle where gambling starts to become a problem.
Units are also often referred to in betting tips and when people talk about their bets publicly because you don’t have to use an exact dollar amount, and everyone’s unit price will be different. By referring to units instead of a dollar amount, you can still communicate your confidence (or lack of) in a pick without giving away how much you are actually betting.
You will see a unit staking strategy in all of GoBet’s horse racing tips.