Having value isn't enough. Without staking discipline, even an excellent bettor can lose everything during a bad run. Your bankroll is the tool that keeps you in the game long enough for the EV to show.
Rule no. 1: a dedicated bankroll
Your bankroll is a sum kept separate from your everyday money, which you accept you could lose in full without it affecting your life (rent, bills, savings).
Rule no. 2: flat staking
The simplest method to start with: always stake the same amount, expressed in units.
- 1 unit = 1% to 2% of your starting bankroll.
- With a €500 bankroll, 1 unit = €5 to €10.
Why such small stakes?
Because losing streaks are normal, even with value. With a 45% chance of winning, a run of 10 consecutive losses happens about 1 time in 400 from any given point. Over 1,000 bets, there's roughly a two in three chance of going through at least one. With 1% stakes, that streak costs you 10% of your bankroll. With 20% stakes, it wipes you out.
Rule no. 3: record everything
Log every bet: date, sport, market, odds taken, stake, result. Without a history, there's no way to know whether you're really winning.