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Proportional Betting Strategy: How to Use Fixed Bets & Staking

Publish Date: 30/05/2021
Fact checked by: Mark Lewis

There are different types of staking strategies used by sports bettors today, and there are some strategies that players prefer over others. Some rely on a fixed bet staking strategy, while others prefer more dynamic strategies.

Some bettors wager the same amount each time, regardless of their past successes or failures, and others adjust their wager amount based on their previous results. It’s difficult to say which approach is superior, but we’ll explore the different options used by players down below to help give interested players a look at some of their options to consider.

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Staking Strategy Take-Aways

  • Adopt a strategy that feels right
  • Use fixed wagering for stable results
  • Use variable betting for more dynamic results

What is a Staking Strategy?

A staking strategy is a pattern of wagering that sports bettors can use to control the outcome of their wagers more. It could be betting the same amount each time they place a wager on a match. It could be placing a wager that’s adjusted depending on the bankroll that’s available at the time. The amount wagered could fluctuate in other ways as well, and that’s what the strategy is. Finding out what the best staking strategy is for you is the key to being more effective while sports betting and is part of the sports betting basics.

Proportional Betting

Proportional betting is an advanced variable betting strategy that adjusts wager size based on bankroll size and the odds of winning any particular wager. As bankroll increases, so does the bet amount. As odds increase, so does the bet amount. The strategy is designed to maximize the payout for positive feats while minimizing the cost of losses. To learn more about proportional betting, see our overview of the Kelly staking strategy here.

Fixed Versus Percentage Based

AspectFixed WagersPercentage-Based Wagers
DefinitionThese wagers are the same every single timeA specific percent of the overall bankroll amount
Profit PotentialGenerates substantially more profit on a winning streakAllows players capitalize on winning streak and start making more and more dramatic wagers
ProtectionBettors are somewhat protected during a serious losing streak as wellBigger losses are common after a winning streak using percentage-based staking
RiskWagers drop down accordingly resulting in lesser risksWagers will be higher resulting in higher risks
ResultsFor more consistent results, fixed staking strategy is the way to goFor bigger swings and more dynamic play, percentage based wagering is the way to go.
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Going with a Fixed Bet

Fixed bet wagering is one of the most common recommendations for new sports bettors that want to level out their play and the results they get from multiple wagers. The key to making this strategy work as a long-term sports bettor is to choose a wager amount that’s appropriate for success over time. To do this, players should start by taking a percentage of their overall bankroll. The recommended amount is between 1% and 5% of the total bankroll amount. This is the fixed wager amount to stick with the entire time unless a substantially larger bankroll is created over time.

Players that win huge amounts from sports betting can consider raising their fixed wager amount over time, but should keep the amount the same until reaching a serious earning milestone to maintain fixed betting odds over time.

Considering different Staking Strategies

A fixed bet/ staking strategy is the simplest approach to successful sports betting and consistently winning. It’s not the only way to approach staking though, and not always the most optimal either. That’s why it’s important to explore alternative staking strategies. Below are some of the most common alternatives to think about. Each one works a bit differently, and looking at the options will help make it clear which is right for a specific person.

Percentage Staking

While fixed staking relies on a percentage to get the initial amount, the wager amount doesn’t change from one wager to the next. With percentage staking a percent of the bankroll is taken with every single wager. That means the amount adjusts slightly with each win or loss. Percentage staking swings betting amounts up or down with success and failure, and has the ability to improve positive outcomes, while minimizing losses. Percentage staking also makes it more difficult to recover after a losing streak because more feats are required to get back to the starting amount than with fixed staking.

Bet it All

For the heavy gamblers among us the bet it all strategy is a simple, and sometimes highly effective method to use. The system is simple to use. Just wager the entire bankroll every single time. Some players use this strategy to great effect and come away with huge privileges after a winning streak.

Martingale System

The Martingale betting system is a powerful tool that can create winners effectively as long as bankroll limitations and maximum wagering limitations don’t get in the way. The concept is simple. Start with a wager amount that’s low compared to the overall bankroll, and prepare for the amount to grow dramatically. It’s best to start with a wager amount around 1% of the overall bankroll to get things going with this system.

To use the system properly you double your wager after each loss, and return your wager amount to the starting wager amount after a win.

So if the base wager is $2.00. After two losses the wager amount would go to $4.00 and then to $8.00.

Getting a win with the higher wager amount should help recoup those losses and get you back on track to an exciting experience again. That’s how the system works, and it works very well as long as betting limits or your bankroll size don’t get in the way. For more information about the Martingale betting strategy, see our overview of the system here.

Fibonacci Sequence

Many people believe that the Fibonacci betting strategy is the best staking strategy. With this strategy players move their wager amount through the Fibonacci sequence backwards or forwards depending on success.

The sequence starts at 0, then the base amount, then each number after is made by adding the last two numbers together. With the base number as 1 the sequence looks like this (0, 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13) and so on.

When wagering with $1 as your base, you would start with a $1 wager, and remain at the base amount until you get a loss. After a loss you move ahead in the sequence first to $1, then $2, then $3 and so on until you get a win.

After a win you move back two spaces in the sequence or back to the base, whichever is closer. The sequence works well for keeping players enriched over time.

Deciding on a Staking Method You Prefer

After getting familiar with different staking methods it’s important to test them out and to decide on one that speaks to you and falls in line with the betting lines tips you have learned. Players should test out multiple staking strategies and stick with the one that feels the best to them. This requires trial-and-error and means placing tens or hundreds of different sports bets before finding a favored strategy.

Win More - Start Practicing to Master Staking

Some staking methods feel better to players than others. Bettors that want to be successful should begin comparing different sports betting platforms and join a site as soon as possible. As members of a new site players can start testing out different staking strategies and find the one that works best for them. Join today and begin testing things out to improve success over time and find a working strategy.

Please be aware that there are age restrictions on sports betting. You will need to make sure that you are old enough to gambling in your state before you can practice any strategies for real money. You can refer to our "Sports Betting Ages by State" guide to learn all the necessary details.

Conclusion: Learning Proper Staking Helps with Bankroll Management

Different fixed bet or staking strategies change the way that sports betting feels and performs over time. Some players find success with one type of strategy, while others prefer another.

It’s important to take the time to find a fitting strategy for yourself, and that requires a great deal of testing. Test enough, and you’ll end up with a betting strategy that feels comfortable and that might also be fascinating.

🧐What is an example of proportional betting?

For instance you decide to bet 2% for each game and your present bankroll is &10,000, the first  bet will amount to $200. Immediately after the wins and losses are returned to bankroll, you have to re-calculate the size of a bet again.

😯Is proportionate betting method the best?

It is very advisable to use proportionate because, by using proportional betting, you are safeguarding your bankroll. Betting a little percentage of bankroll should theoretically imply you never lack funds.

😐Who needs the Proportional Betting Strategy?

Proportional betting is very vital to anyone that desires to survive and profit from betting. Despite the method of bankroll and staking you adopt, proportional betting is basically about betting what you and your bankroll can afford regularly, and you often have to take into consideration whether or not a losing run would be of risk to your bankroll or your life to a severe extent.

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