Staking Plans: Flat, Percentage & Kelly Criterion

Staking Strategies

Flat Staking (Recommended for Beginners)

Bet the same amount on every bet regardless of confidence. If your unit is R20, every bet is R20. Simple, safe, and effective.

Percentage Staking

Bet a fixed percentage of your current bankroll. As your bankroll grows, your stakes grow. As it shrinks, your stakes shrink — providing natural protection.

Example: 2% of R1,000 = R20. If bankroll drops to R800, your bet becomes R16.

Kelly Criterion (Advanced)

A mathematical formula that calculates the optimal stake based on your edge. Formula: Stake % = (bp – q) / b, where b = decimal odds – 1, p = probability of winning, q = probability of losing.

Most professionals use a “fractional Kelly” (25-50% of the full Kelly amount) to reduce variance.

Which Plan Should You Use?

• Beginner → Flat staking at 1-2% per bet
• Intermediate → Percentage staking at 2-3%
• Advanced → Quarter Kelly with tracked probabilities