Online sports betting is a fast, exciting, and fun hobby that is enjoyed by millions of people worldwide each year. The emergence and growth of online gambling ensures millions more people bet on professional sports today than they did just a decade previously.
However, betting online can be confusing. With terms like 'parlay', 'line', and 'spread', you may find yourself getting caught up in jargon.
One such term is 'unit'.
If you're betting on sports then you will definitely have come across the term unit multiple times. And, while you may understand that it is related to how much money you wager, you might not be sure how to use units in your own betting strategy.
In this article we will explain what betting units are, why they are important, and how to decide on your unit.
What is a Unit in Sports Betting?
The term unit is widely used in online sports betting. In its simplest form, a unit in betting refers to the value of cash a bettor will use to gamble. It is the measurement of the size of a given bet.
The term unit is used because everyone's bankroll is different, and a unit is the percentage of that bankroll. For example, the general rule of thumb is to have one unit equal to 1% of your bankroll. Suppose you have a sportsbook bankroll of $1000 - one unit is equal to $10. But if your friend has a bankroll of $5000, their one unit is equal to $50.
The unit, or value of a bet, helps professionals and dedicated gamblers manage their bankroll and track their profit and loss. Following units helps identify where a bettor finds success and earns a profit, as well as costly sports, markets, and bets. It is a great way to help bettors stay consistent with their stakes, and it also helps promote responsible gambling.
You always bet what you can afford and what you think the selection is worth. You can change your bankroll or unit at any time, but smart bettors like to stick hard to a rigid bankroll and unit over a year or sports season.
Why are Units So Important When Betting?
Now that we know what a unit is, how to calculate one, and how to use it in betting, let's focus on why it's important. There are a few reasons why using units will improve not only the strike rate of your bets but also your understanding of responsible gambling.
Consistency
We've already touched on how using units helps bettors manage their bankroll, but it's also great for developing other good habits, including consistency. Whether you are tracking your sports bets or discussing strategies with other gamblers, units provide a common understanding. There's no need to mention the size of your bankroll or the value of a unit, meaning you can keep this information private. A unit to you might be $10, while a unit for another gambler could be $1000.
Risk Management
As you'll likely know, sportsbook gambling comes with many risks, not least of all the risk of losing your stake to the bookie or betting exchange. Working off units successfully limits the chances of you overspending on a bet or allowing emotions to creep into your predictions.
Remove all emotional ties when betting and work off units to ensure you place the right stake for the right bet and reduce the risk of losing more than you budgeted for when betting online.
Tracking
Another useful benefit of using units is that they help you track and analyze your performance over a week, month, or year. Serious gamblers don't bet for fun but for profit, and keeping track of their spending and return means they can focus on the sports and markets that bring them the most joy. Units are much easier to track than cash.
How to Select a Unit Size
The best unit for you in betting may differ from the ideal unit for me when gambling. How do you determine the right unit for you as a sports gambler? Here are some quick and easy snippets of advice that work regardless of the sports you bet on or the amounts you wager.
Decide on a bankroll by analyzing and agreeing on how much you can afford to lose to betting each week or month. Let's say you decide you could lose $100 a week to betting, and it wouldn't put you in overspending or developing problems with your gambling. You then divide your bankroll by the amount of bets you wish to place in that timeframe to arrive at a unit that works for you.
Betting is all about taking risks, but how much risk do you want to take? Do you like betting for small stakes on outsiders with big odds, or do you prefer to raise your stakes and wager on favorites? If you really fancy a bet to win, you might boost the number of units afforded to that selection. If you're unsure, you can reduce the units.
Sports Betting Tips and Tricks
We now know what a unit is in betting, why they're used, and how to calculate and manage your units. We'll finish with some other useful tips and tricks when betting on professional sports.
- Set limits on a maximum bet. If you have 100 units to use for the month and you have the strongest selection of the week, how many units would a max bet be? Most gamblers work on a 1 - 5 unit scale, with five units being all-in gambles.
- Stick to your agreed limits, and don't chase losses. If you have lost your last five bets, don't increase the value of your unit or bets in an attempt to claw that money back.
- Also, never bet when angry, sad, or frustrated, as that's the most common way bettors get into trouble and lose more than they planned.
Bet Responsibly
Always record your bets and revisit the results as often as possible. If you've been foolish and bet too much or gambled on a sport you don't know too much about, tracking your bets with units will help you learn from your mistakes. Making mistakes is OK in betting, but repeating those errors often is a bad idea and could result in serious problems quickly.
Remember to bet responsibly, never wager more than you can afford to lose, and leave your emotions on the sidelines when gambling.
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