Whether you're a $10 bettor or a $1,000 bettor, you can take advantage of BetMGM's First Bet Offer for an added level of protection on your first bet. Everyone has a different amount of money they are comfortable wagering throughout the year but by talking in terms of units instead of dollars, this $10 bettor can have the same conversation as someone who is placing $1,000 bets. The $10 number is what will be considered one unit for this bettor’s season.

Making a unit 1% of that amount will make it easy to track bets over time.įor example, if a gambler’s total bankroll is $1,000 for the full NFL season, then this sports bettor should start out by wagering 1%, or $10, on any given game.

With how easy online gambling has made it to deposit money and place wagers, it is important to set a specific amount of money aside and know not to surpass that number. A common rule is that a unit should be equal to 1% of your total bankroll.Ī bankroll is the total amount of money you have set aside for sports betting. Betting with units allows managing a bankroll to become that much easier. Why do sports bettors use units?Ī common question may be “why not just track wagers in terms of dollars?” “Why think in units when the bets that I am placing and the payouts I’m receiving are actual money?” A fair question to ask, but understanding the idea of bankroll management and unit size will allow an entry level gambler more long-term enjoyment.īankroll management is a crucial part of betting whether you are new to the game or have been placing wagers for years. Depending on the sports bettor and their specific bankroll, a unit could be $10 or $100 but they can still share in the same conversation and discuss progress without divulging an amount of money in play. Someone who is a beginner and just getting started with gambling shouldn’t be pressured into discussing bets in terms of dollars with someone who is much more experienced. Regardless of the amount of money placed on a bet, utilizing the idea of units allows anyone wanting to bet on sports a way to track their progress over time. What is a unit in sports bettingĪ unit is a way to measure the standard bet that a sports bettor will make on any given wager. Whether you are wanting to wager $10 or $1,000 on a game, understanding the concept of units can even the playing field for all sports bettors and assist in bankroll management along the way. This new access that fans have to online sports betting has brought plenty of beginners to the table, but learning the basics and nuances of betting can make this experience that much better.

Throughout the past few years, sports betting has become legal in over half of the 50 states with many more on the way.

How to bet smart on sports