Sports Betting 101: What is a Unit?

What Is a Unit in Sports Betting? 

I’m sure you’ve heard the word “unit” thrown around when people talk about betting on sports. We already discussed what a bankroll is in sports betting, but what about a unit? A unit helps you determine the amount of money you’re going to risk on a wager. Since everyone’s bankroll is different, your unit size depends on the size of your bankroll. Generally speaking, a single unit should equal 1% of your bankroll. 

How Much Is a Unit in Sports Betting? 

Since everyone has a different sized bankroll, a unit lets others know how much you’re risking on a bet without disclosing the exact dollar amount. Now, if your bankroll is $100, a unit (1%) would equal $1. If your bankroll is $1,000, your unit (risk amount) is $10, and so on. Someone with a limited bankroll may not want to risk as little as $1 on a wager, but it’s important to bet responsibly. You can begin to risk more on your wagers once you build your bankroll.  Units are an easy way to figure out if someone is a grifter. If you see someone posting “100-unit lock” or “250-unit whale play” you can go ahead and stop taking their advice. It’s the easiest way to spot someone who isn’t really risking real money on their own wagers. Becoming a winning sports better takes time and discipline. 

Tracking Your Bets

Tracking your wagers is a great way to learn about your own strengths and weaknesses when it comes to sports betting. Putting all your bets in a tracking sheet — and tracking them by sport, bet type and bet amount — is sound advice for both novice and experienced bettors. Once you have a large enough sample size, you’ll be able to go through your own tracker and see which sport or type of bet you’ve had the most success with, or which type has cost you the most money.