Bankroll Management: Maximizing Profits in Online Gambling

There are no guaranteed ways to make money gambling online. However, there are ways to prevent cold streak losses and maximize profits. Having an effective bankroll management strategy is essential to enjoying slot games, online poker or any other form of online gambling.

You’re about to learn the best bankroll management strategies to incorporate into your play.

Guy looking at Poker chips

What is Bankroll Management?

This fundamental betting strategy involves analyzing the amount of money you spend while gambling for maximum benefit. In practice, this means limiting how much you’re willing to lose by capping the amount you wager per bet, spin, hand, etc. on a casino game. All the most successful gamblers practice good bankroll management. Using this strategy won’t make you profitable overnight. That said, it can help improve your chances of winning if you’re disciplined and stick with it.

Putting Bankroll Management Into Practice

Practising starts with establishing your baseline bankroll amount. This should be based on your preferences and risk tolerance. In other words, deciding how much you’re willing to spend over a defined period, e.g., a playing session, day, week, or month.

Your next step is to set a maximum buy-in amount or standard betting unit for all the online bets you place. The easiest way to find this number is to pick a percentage of your total bankroll (1-5% is the standard range).

For example, with a $1,000 bankroll and a 1% betting unit, your bet size will be $10. With this bankroll, you can make at least 100 wagers from your $1,000 budget.

Why Use Bankroll Management When Gambling Online?

Think about it like this. The number of bets you can place on a slot game can vary greatly if you’re constantly changing your bet size and budget. By effectively controlling your bankroll, the minimum number of bets available within your budget is entirely predictable.

Let’s say you have $1,000 with a betting unit of 1% of your bankroll. No matter what, you’ll get a minimum of 100 wagers out of your $1,000 every time.

Effective bankroll management allows you to:

Play within your personal budget
Extend your playing time
Prevent chasing losses
Overcome game volatility
Avoid impulsive betting
Maximize potential profits
Maintain a stress-free experience

Image of dollar bills laying on a laptop keyboard used in a bankroll management guide.

Try These Reliable Bankroll Management Strategies Right Now

Managing your bankroll ultimately comes down to what’s best for your playing preferences and risk tolerance. Here are some strategies you can use to determine what’s best for you.

1. Flat betting

Flat betting is the example we provided earlier and the most common strategy out there. All you need to do is determine the size of your budget and set a betting unit that works for you. For example, wager 1% of your bankroll on each bet you place.

There are two possible approaches to the flat betting style:

The first is to set a unit size for your wagers and never deviate from it.
The other is to develop a strategy for determining the risk level of each bet and spend an appropriate number of units on that wager.

For example, you might choose to invest one unit on a bet with odds of +200 and 3 units on a wager where the odds are -110. The smaller the risk, the bigger the bet you place!

2. Percentage betting

Percentage betting is very similar to flat betting, except you adjust your betting amount according to your current bankroll.

Let’s say you start with a $1,000 bankroll and your unit size is 1%, this means your standard bet would be $10. Now, imagine you lose your first bet. Your new budget is $980 and your new unit size is $9.80.

This is a good betting strategy for conservative players looking to preserve their bankroll during bad stretches. However, it also means placing bigger bets when you’re on a winning run, which has pros and cons.

3. Confidence model

Confidence model betting is the most flexible. Instead of tying your wagers to the amount of money you have available, your bet size changes depending on the confidence you have in the bet.

Of course, this only works if you have some sort of expertise in the casino game, sport, etc. you are wagering on. Some examples might be a profitable online poker strategy or information related to a player being injured that can potentially tilt the odds of a sports bet in your favour.

If you do have some sort of edge on a bet, you should determine your bet size by comparing the odds and implied probabilities to your own assessment.

4. Choose games with a high RTP

All casino games come with a baked-in house edge. This is the casino’s cut for offering the game and ensures they can be profitable in the long term. From the player’s perspective, this margin is called a return to player (RTP) percentage.

RTP describes how much money, on average, you can expect to win for every dollar you wager after millions of bets or spins. For example, a game with a 97% RTP will pay out $0.97 for every $1 wagered by the player in the long term.

Here’s how some popular casino games compare in terms of RTP:

Game	RTP (payout rate)
Blackjack	99.0%–99.6%
Baccarat	98.94%–99.07%
Craps	98.64%–99.17%
Online poker	96%–99.5%
Crash games	96%–98.5%
Roulette	94.5%–97.3%
Online slots	92%–97%
Scratch cards	85%95%
Bingo	80%–95%
Keno online	70%–80%

5. Avoid progressive betting models

If you look up bankroll management strategies, you’ll probably come across progressive betting systems which recommend you increase your bet size with every loss. While there’s some mathematical basis for these progressive models, they are also very risky.

Let’s look at the Martingale System, for example. It says you should double your stake after every loss.

Here’s what it looks like in practice if you start with a $1,000 bankroll:

Bet 1 – $10 ($990)
Bet 2 – $20 ($970)
Bet 3 – $40 ($930)
Bet 4 – $80 ($850)
Bet 5 – $160 ($690)
Bet 6 – $320 ($370)

As you can see, after just six bets, you would lose almost two-thirds of your bankroll. If you went with a 1% fixed unit size instead, this loss would translate to just $60 or 6% of your bankroll after the same number of bets.

6. Take advantage of welcome bonuses

Almost all online casinos have a welcome bonus. Understanding the terms and conditions of the welcome bonus can give you a huge leg up once you start playing. For deposit match bonuses, you’ll get more for depositing larger amounts. In this case, it can make more sense to start with a bigger bankroll than normal. Reload bonuses, cashback offers, free spins, and other promotions can also affect how you manage your bankroll.

Bankroll Management 101: Budgeting for Casino Games

Winning in casino games is mostly determined by luck. Although knowing how to play blackjack and using other strategies can help you succeed, your profits still largely depend on the fall of the reels or cards. This makes casino bankroll management key if you want to come out a winner.

Game rounds in casino games like online slots go quickly, so we recommend being conservative when it comes to your betting unit size. Wagering more than 1% of your total casino bankroll on a hand or spin is generally not a good idea, especially when getting started.

How to Manage a Poker Bankroll Successfully

Unlike other casino games, online poker is very much a game of skill. This makes managing your money a little more complicated.

Poker has tons of variables. The biggest one is you. How you play, your budget, and your favourite games will determine your poker bankroll management plan. How rigidly you follow a system depends on how seriously you take your poker.

If you’re aware a poker pro with lots of experience, you can give yourself a bit of leeway when it comes to following a system. If you’re a newbie, having some rules for yourself and sticking to them can help you get up to speed. HellSpin Casino is one of the best poker site we have reviewed and offer more than 70 variants, try these strategies at this Canadian site.

Which bet size limits can you afford to play?

The number one most important factor to consider when settling on a poker bankroll management system is how much you can afford to play. If you’re a recreational player with a big budget, you can afford to replenish your bankroll regularly. Casual players should rather focus on making their money go as far as possible.

On the other hand, professional players who live solely on their poker income need to be very deliberate with your strategy because a bad month could mean ruin.

Cash games

Tournaments

When entering a cash game, we recommend having 50 times the buy-in in your bankroll to be comfortable. This is a fairly standard amount that most experienced poker players agree on. However, if you’re a more experienced player, 30 buy-ins might be enough to succeed.

Tournament wins are harder to come by than standard cash game wins. This is why you need to have a different poker bankroll management strategy. Generally, you should have double the budget for online casino tournaments than cash games. If you’re a casual player, going in with 100 buy-ins is reasonable, while experienced players can get by with 50-60 buy-ins.

When should you increase your poker bet size?

Your poker bankroll management system should change as you gain experience. This means increasing your wagers when you have better hands. As you move to tables with a larger minimum bet, you’ll be playing against more strategic players. If you feel yourself constantly outclassed at the bigger tables, it makes sense to move down a level. Most important is regularly analyzing your level and tracking your wins and losses.

How should bankroll management apply to live poker?

Poker at live-dealer casinos can connect you to players all around the world. Live poker players typically fall on the weaker end of the skill level, so you can afford to have a less conservative poker bankroll management strategy than with playing standard games.

A $25 buy-in should be enough for casual players. More experienced players can often still be successful with a lower amount. Again, managing poker bankroll depends on your playing preferences and betting style, so keep this in mind before playing any live poker games. 888Casino offers the best live dealer poker games we have seen so far, apply your bankroll strategy by playing at one of their popular game.

How to Manage a Bankroll for Sports Betting

Managing your bankroll is useful whenever you’re gambling, but it’s especially useful for online sports betting. It’s easier for sports bettors to establish a betting strategy than other kinds of gamblers, since sports bettors deliberately pick their wagers.

How much should you wager on a game?

It’s up to you. Anything between 1% and 5% of your overall bankroll is fine. However, if you’re a new or casual bettor, we really would not recommend wagering more than 2% on a single bet.

A number of things can affect how much you wager. For example, if you are backing a fairly safe bet at low odds, wagering more than 2% of your bankroll might be appropriate. For longshots – such as single game parlays – you really should not risk more than 1%.

Betting in units: An easy breakdown

This involves converting your bankroll into equal units. So instead of considering the actual monetary amount, think of your wagers as a percentage of your total bankroll. How much you decide on really comes down to your strategy and risk tolerance.

Some players stick to a standard unit and do not deviate from it, no matter the bet. Others will pick a range, such as 1-5x their standard unit size, and vary their bet size within that range based on the risk or perceived edge of the wager.

Implement These Easy Strategies to Ensure Responsible Gambling

Even with good bankroll management, you can still lose money. That’s why it’s important to always gamble responsibly. Here are some things to try to keep in mind when playing online.

Don’t chase your losses

A sure-fire way to lose money is to chase losses. If your bankroll is down, refrain from placing big bets or longshots to try to make up ground. Rather, stick to your original strategy and grow your account balance slowly.

Don’t bet while under the influence

Another bad idea is to wager when you are not of sound mind. If you’ve been drinking or taking other substances, it’s best to stay away from all forms of online gambling.

Don't bet on bad odds or lines

Sportsbooks have different odds, betting lines, and markets. Before placing a bet, you should shop around. Finding a sportsbook that offers slightly better odds or a 1-point difference in the spread can be the difference between winning and losing.