What Are Units in Sports Betting?

Whether you follow a hunch or track the leading tipsters, it’s vital to understand units in sports betting.

So, what are units in betting, and why are they important?

They’re a way to divide your total bankroll, regardless of its size. A tipster might be confident enough in a prediction to place three units on it. To them, that might be $300. To you, it might be just $3.

You’ve both placed the same bet, but the size changes based on the available amount, all thanks to units. Here’s how to use them.

How to Set Your Units in Sports Betting

Let’s say you have $100. You might decide to split that total into 100 units of a dollar each. You’ll determine a bet range, often based on confidence or a sports betting model. The more certain an outcome, the shorter the odds, so you place a bigger bet to make the most of what’s available.

That could be three units, indicating a high-confidence pick.

At the other end of the scale, you might fancy a long odds outsider. The outcome is less clear, and the odds are much bigger. Nevertheless, you can still make a tidy profit if the unlikely proves possible. As such, you’ll place just one unit or less.

Using Sports Betting Units to Track Your Picks

If you’re serious about sports betting, it’s time to start tracking your bets. It will help you stay on top of your bankroll, and you might begin to spot patterns for even better-informed wagers in the future.

As well as knowing where you stand, you’ll also benefit from the flexibility of units. They’re a proportion of your funds rather than a fixed dollar amount, meaning they help massively with consistency.

If you’re doing well, your bankroll might quickly rise from $100 to $1,000. One unit is now worth $10, boosting returns on the same bets ten times over. Of course, even in a rough patch, using units can ensure you remain focused and don’t panic.

If you’re on a poor streak, sticking with units will adjust your bet sizes to ensure you don’t exhaust your bankroll altogether. That gives you plenty of time to return to winning ways without going broke.

Final Words

You might not put $50,000 on MMA fights like Floyd Mayweather, but everyone has to start somewhere. Using units in sports betting can be the first step towards consistently and strategically building your bankroll.

Of course, there’s more to successful betting than following hunches and hoping for the best.

Sports betting is easy to start but challenging to master, but we’re here to help. If you want to learn to bet correctly and profitably, we’re here to help. We cover everything from choosing the right betting site and managing your money to advanced techniques like betting models and theory.

Enroll in our free betting course today to find out how to turn a pastime into something more serious and far more profitable!