Imagine you’re on 1xBet, scrolling through upcoming matches, and you see an English Premier League game: Wolverhampton Wanderers vs Crystal Palace. The odds are out, the pressure is rising, and your heart beats fast as you think of betting on the visiting team, Crystal Palace. But before you tap “Bet Now,” there is something more important than predictions or hot tips: your bankroll.

While many people talk about who will score or which team has the better tactics, smart bettors think about one thing: “How much of my betting money should I risk?”

This simple question and the discipline to follow it separates responsible bettors from those who lose everything quickly.

Bankroll and stake management may not look exciting. They don’t give you a guaranteed win. But if you ignore them, even your best prediction can make you lose your whole betting fund.

This article will show you how to manage your bankroll, how to choose your stake to bet safely and wisely.

Understanding Your Bankroll

What Is a Bankroll?

Your bankroll is the money you set aside only for betting. It is not for rent, food, transport, or anything else only betting.

Example

You deposit 50,000 FCFA in your 1xBet account and decide this is your bankroll for the month. This is the money you will use to place your bets.

How to Manage Your Bankroll

Here is a simple way to control your money:

• Set a Budget: Decide how much you can lose. Example: 50,000 FCFA for the month.

• Use a Percentage Rule: Bet only a small part of your bankroll each time — usually 1% to 5%.

• If you choose 2%, your normal bet (unit) is 1,000 FCFA.

• Stay Consistent: Whether you win or lose, keep betting the same percentage (2%).

• Review Often: Every few weeks, check if your bankroll increased or decreased. Adjust your 2% stake if needed.

• Set Limits:

• Stop betting if you lose 15,000 FCFA in a week.

• You can withdraw some profit when your bankroll grows by 30%.

Why Bankroll Management Is Important

1. It Prevents Chasing Losses

Let’s say you lose two bets in a row. Without control, you might try to place a bigger bet to win your money back.

Good bankroll management stops you from doing this.

• It helps you keep your bets the same size, even when you feel emotional.

• It stops you from putting all your money into one “must-win” bet.

2. It Helps You Last Longer in Betting

No bettor wins every time.

If you manage your bankroll well, you can survive losing streaks without going broke.

• When you use only a small part of your bankroll per bet, a bad weekend cannot destroy your whole fund.

• You will still have money left for the next games.

3. It Helps You Grow Your Profits

If you bet too much when you’re winning, you can lose all your profit in one bad bet.

Good bankroll management lets you:

• Grow your betting fund slowly and safely

• Avoid losing big chunks of your profit

4. It Helps You Stay Disciplined and Calm

Betting is not only about the match it is also about self-control.

A good bankroll plan helps you stay calm and avoid emotional decisions.

Understanding Your Stake

What Is a Stake?

Your stake is the amount of money you place on one bet.

When betting, you choose the event (example: who wins) and the money you want to risk (stake).

Why Stake Size Matters

• It controls your risk and your possible reward.

• Smaller stakes protect your bankroll from big losses.

• Choosing your stake before betting helps you avoid emotional decisions.

Examples

Let’s go back to the Wolverhampton Wanderers vs Crystal Palace game on 1xBet.

Assume:

Bankroll = 50,000 FCFA

Stake rule = 2%

Your stake (2%) = 1,000 FCFA

Odds for 1X2: W2 (Crystal Palace to win) = 2.053

Scenario A: Safe Stake (2% Rule) You bet 1,000 FCFA on Crystal Palace to win.

If Crystal Palace wins: 1,000×2.053=2,053 FCFA payout

Profit = 1,053 FCFA

New bankroll = 51,053 FCFA

Scenario B: Risky Stake (10,000 FCFA) You ignore your rule and stake 10,000 FCFA.

If you lose, you lose 20% of your bankroll instantly.

Two or three losses like this can destroy your betting fund.

If Crystal Palace wins: 10,000×2.053=20,530 FCFA payout

The potential reward is higher, but the risk to your bankroll is extremely high.

Different Staking Strategies

Here are three simple ways to choose your stake:

1. Flat Betting

You always bet the same amount (e.g., always 1,000 FCFA).

• Very stable

• Easy to follow

• Good for beginners

2. Percentage Betting

You bet a fixed percentage of your bankroll (e.g., 2%).

• Stakes go up when bankroll goes up

• Stakes go down when bankroll goes down

• Keeps risk steady

3. Confidence-Based (Low Kelly)

You bet a little more when you are very confident, but still stay within limits.

• Needs discipline

• Can grow your bankroll faster

NB: If you are new, start with 0.25 Kelly multiplier. It’s a widely accepted low risk approach that smooths variance.

Final Thoughts

Bankroll and stake management might seem simple, but they play the biggest role in helping you stay safe, disciplined, and confident while betting. When you decide how much to risk, stick to your percentage, and stay consistent no matter how exciting or stressful the match becomes, you protect yourself from unnecessary losses and enjoy betting as a fun experience rather than a financial struggle. With the right bankroll strategy and smart stake size, every match becomes clearer and more enjoyable because you always know exactly what you’re risking and why.

REFERENCES

Bet442. (n.d.). What does stake mean in betting?

OddsFantasy. (2025). Bankroll and stake.

OddsFantasy. (2025). Bankroll management.

PGA Tour. (2023). Five keys to bankroll management GolfBET betting responsibly.

SharpStakes. (n.d.). Bankroll management: The lifeline of successful betting.

The Betting Professionals Desk. (2025). What is a stake in betting? Meaning, types & how it affects your winnings.