Staking Plans Compared (Flat, Level, Percentage)
Your staking plan matters as much as your picks. Here's how flat, level and percentage staking compare — and why chasing systems are dangerous.
How you stake is as important as what you bet. The right plan keeps you in the game through losing runs and lets an edge compound; the wrong one wipes you out. This guide compares the main staking plans, building on how to build a betting bankroll.
Flat and level staking
Flat staking bets the same amount every time; level staking bets the same amount 'per point' the tipster advises. Both are simple, low-variance and hard to blow up with — ideal for most bettors.
Their predictability makes them the safe default.
Percentage staking
Percentage staking bets a fixed share of your current bankroll, so stakes rise as you win and fall as you lose. This compounds growth and cushions drawdowns, but requires recalculating each bet.
It's a sensible middle ground for disciplined bettors.
Avoid progressive systems
Steer clear of loss-chasing systems like Martingale (doubling after losses). They promise recovery but risk catastrophic loss and are a fast route to a busted bank — pure chasing losses dressed up as strategy.
No staking plan can turn a losing edge into a winning one.
Match the plan to you
Pick a plan you'll actually follow, sized so you survive the expected maximum losing run. Consistency beats cleverness.
The advanced option is the Kelly criterion, for those who can estimate their edge.
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Last reviewed 18 August 2026 · Written and fact-checked against our review policy and scoring methodology.
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