In sports betting, your staking plan complements your strategy. It influences how you manage risk, absorb variance, and protect your bankroll over time. But there’s no one-size-fits-all solution — your staking method should reflect your betting style.
Are you cautious and consistent? Flexible and data-driven? Focused on long-term structure? This article compares three of the most widely used staking strategies — flat staking, percentage staking, and the Kelly Criterion — to help you decide which one best fits the way you think and bet.
If you’re looking for a complete guide to bankroll setup, budgeting, and avoiding staking pitfalls, start with our Bankroll Management & Staking Plans Guide. This article builds on that foundation to help you tailor your staking approach to suit your style.
Article Contents
What Do These Plans Actually Do?
Each staking plan determines how much of your bankroll you risk on each bet. But they differ in how they respond to wins, losses, and your confidence in your selections.
| Staking Plan | Stake Adjusts Based On | Risk Level | Requires Edge Estimation? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flat | Nothing – it’s fixed | Low | No |
| Percentage | Current bankroll size | Moderate | No |
| Kelly Criterion | Estimated value (edge) | High | Yes |
Flat Staking: For Consistency and Control
Flat staking is the simplest form of bankroll management. It involves placing the same fixed stake on every bet, regardless of the odds, market, or your confidence in the selection. This method keeps risk consistent and removes the temptation to scale bets emotionally.
Example
You decide to stake £20 per bet — no matter the odds. This £20 represents 2% of your £1,000 bankroll. Whether you’re backing a 2.0 shot or a 6.0 outsider, your stake stays fixed at £20.
When It’s Suitable
- You’re testing or refining a betting strategy
- You want to remove emotion from stake sizing
- You prefer stability and simplicity
Advantages
Because stakes never change, flat staking limits the impact of both winning and losing streaks. It promotes discipline and makes it easier to track long-term performance objectively. If you’re prone to chasing losses or increasing stakes impulsively, this plan imposes needed structure.
Drawbacks
Flat staking doesn’t allow you to scale up during strong periods or adapt to high-confidence bets. It’s a conservative approach that prioritises longevity over flexibility — which is exactly why it works well for new or risk-averse bettors.
As we’ve outlined previously: no staking system will fix a flawed strategy — but flat staking is still the basis of a solid foundation.
Percentage Staking: For Adaptability and Balance
Percentage staking scales your stake to match the size of your bankroll. This means your exposure automatically increases during a good run and decreases during a downturn — helping to protect your capital while still allowing growth.
Example
- Bankroll: £1,000 → Stake = £30 (3%)
- Lose bet → Bankroll = £970 → Stake = £29.10
- Win bet → Bankroll = £1,030 → Stake = £30.90
When It’s Suitable
- You want your risk to adjust automatically with bankroll size
- You follow a consistent, system-based betting strategy
- You like compounding the effect of winning periods
Advantages
This method encourages structured risk control. It reduces stake sizes during losing spells and grows them naturally when you’re doing well. It suits bettors who think long term and want their staking to reflect current performance.
Drawbacks
If your bankroll fluctuates quickly, your stakes will too — which can be unsettling. Reacting emotionally by changing your chosen percentage undermines the system. Some bettors cap the stake (e.g. max £50) or use flat staking until confidence is built.
Overall, percentage staking offers a responsive, disciplined way to manage your risk — especially when backed by consistent rules.
Kelly Criterion: For Variable Confidence Levels
The Kelly Criterion is aimed at maximising bankroll growth and calculates your stake based on the value you believe exists in a bet. The greater your perceived edge, the larger the recommended stake — making it a dynamic model that responds to bet quality.
The formula looks like this:
- Stake % = (BP − Q) / B
Where:
- B = decimal odds minus 1
- P = your estimated probability of success
- Q = 1 − P
Example
- Odds: 2.10
- Estimated chance of success: 60% (P = 0.60)
- B = 1.10 → Stake = (1.10 × 0.60 – 0.40) / 1.10 = 7.1%
When It’s Suitable
- You use value betting or predictive models
- You’re confident in your edge estimation
- You want long-term risk efficiency
Advantages
Kelly adapts to the quality of each bet. It recommends larger stakes for higher-value opportunities and smaller stakes for marginal ones. Over time, it’s mathematically efficient — provided your edge is real and well measured.
Drawbacks
It only works if your edge is real and accurately measured. Overestimating probabilities can lead to oversized stakes and increased volatility. That’s why many bettors use fractional Kelly (e.g. 25–50% of the calculated amount) to smooth out results. This method is better suited to advanced bettors with a proven, data-driven approach.
Platform Flexibility
Your staking plan doesn’t operate in a vacuum. The platform you choose can either support or obstruct how effectively you apply it. While mainstream sportsbooks often offer a wide range of betting markets and features, they may also limit your stakes, delay withdrawals, or flag successful bettors for review — all of which disrupt consistency.
That’s why many strategic bettors look beyond traditional bookmakers. Some turn to “winners welcome” sites that accept sharp action without penalising success. Others prefer betting exchanges, where you can set your own odds and avoid stake limits altogether. More advanced bettors may use bet brokers to access high-volume Asian markets or consolidate multiple sportsbook accounts under one interface.
Some platforms also offer enhanced flexibility around payments — including crypto-friendly bookmakers that support instant deposits, faster withdrawals, and a broader range of currency options. These features appeal to those seeking autonomy and minimal friction.
However, with fewer KYC checks and limited onboarding, these types of platforms can carry legal or regulatory risks, especially depending on your jurisdiction. It’s a trade-off that value-seeking bettors must weigh carefully. These trends have been highlighted by Poker Scout as part of the growing demand for more agile betting environments. But even when prioritising convenience, safety, licensing, and long-term account security should always come first.
Different staking plans also work better with certain platforms:
- Flat staking suits accounts where limits are in place, such as restricted sportsbooks or recreational platforms.
- Percentage staking fits regular bookmaker accounts or structured betting portfolios where bank size is variable.
- Kelly Criterion is best used on exchanges or through brokers that allow uncapped staking and efficient execution.
If your betting style values speed, flexibility, or liquidity — whether via exchanges, crypto platforms, or broker access — choosing the right platform can be just as important as choosing the right staking method.
Which Plan Fits Your Style?
This isn’t about which plan is “best” — it’s about which one fits how you operate. The best staking method is the one you can apply consistently without drifting off course.
- Flat staking is best for those who value simplicity, control, and a consistent risk profile.
- Percentage staking offers structure with some flexibility, and works well for portfolio-style bettors.
- Kelly staking is ideal for confident, data-driven bettors who can accurately estimate probability.
Think about how comfortable you are with fluctuating stakes, whether you track your edge, and how reactive you tend to be after wins or losses. Your staking method should reflect your temperament as much as your strategy.
Discipline Is What Supports a Sound Strategy
No staking plan can fix a strategy that lacks value. If your selections don’t have an edge, no amount of discipline or clever staking will turn long-term losses into success. The foundation of any effective betting approach is placing value bets — where the odds are better than the true probability of the outcome.
Discipline helps you apply that strategy consistently — not perfectly, but with enough structure to stay on course. Whether you use a flat, percentage, or Kelly-based system, staying disciplined ensures that you manage your bankroll sensibly, avoid emotional decisions, and maintain control through inevitable ups and downs.
Chasing losses, randomly altering stakes, or deviating from your plan only increases volatility and undermines your process. If you do have a value-based edge, then discipline turns your staking method into a powerful tool — not a liability.
Adapt, But Don’t Overreact
Your staking plan doesn’t have to remain static. As your betting strategy evolves — or as your bankroll grows or contracts — it can make sense to adjust your approach.
That said, changes should be made deliberately, not emotionally. Don’t switch methods based on a few wins or losses. Instead, treat any change as a strategic recalibration in response to evolving probabilities. Done properly, it enhances your long-term structure without undermining consistency.
For example, you might begin with flat staking while trialling a new system. As results stabilise, you may switch to percentage staking to allow your stake to scale with your bankroll. Eventually, if you develop confidence in your edge estimation, you might introduce fractional Kelly sizing.
Final Thoughts
Choosing a staking plan isn’t about chasing bigger returns — it’s about creating a structure that matches your mindset and keeps you focused.
If you’re unsure where to begin, ask yourself:
- Do I want simplicity, or flexibility?
- Am I confident estimating probabilities?
- How comfortable am I with bankroll fluctuations?
- Do I need a cap or safety net built into my staking method?
For many bettors, starting with flat or percentage staking is a solid first step. From there, your plan can evolve — but only if your process remains consistent and disciplined.
If you’re still shaping your approach to staking and bankroll discipline, take a look at our complete bankroll management guide.
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