The first thing to make clear when discussing staking plans is that no staking plan can turn an inadequate bettor from a loser into a winner. There are innumerable staking plans in existence, the vast majority of which are simply implausible attempts to win money through a magical mathematical formula without any expertise in the market in which the individual is investing.

As discussed in our ‘Betting Guide: Pricing up Before you Bet’ article, it is essential to have a successful method of predicting a sporting event(s) aligned to the principle of value betting. Without expertise in a chosen betting field, a staking plan is irrelevant.  However, armed with the necessary skills in betting, a staking plan is essential to ensure the potential to win money is both fulfilled and maximised. The staking plan is, in effect, your personal risk management.

A staking plan should be simple and geared to long-term profit making. The first step is professionalism, to that end it is essential to log every bet you make; not only is bet-logging a necessary function of a staking plan, it will instil discipline into your betting. A glance at one’s betting records will be extremely painful when viewing a stupid bet made purely for a quick thrill. Moreover, personal areas of strength and weakness will be revealed.

A betting log, using either an excel file, or simply pen and paper for the proud luddites amongst us, should detail: the stake/price taken, the bet type (an Over/Under, Asian handicap etc), the combatants (Huddersfield v Leeds) the event (League One/Champions League), the result, profit or loss, and running-total for the year. A running total of profit on turnover can also be included:

£250-£200: Over 2.5 gls:   Huddersfield-Leeds: JP Trophy: 2-1:  Won £250:  RT +£250: 

£190-£200: Asian DNB Away: Leeds at Huddersfield JP Trophy: 1-2  Lost £200: RT +£50: P/T 12.5%

A betting bank should be established at the beginning of the year/season and the staking plan strictly adhered to. We suggest the maximum bet should not exceed 10% of the betting bank, with the value on offer dictating the size of the bet. The 10% maximum should only be used when outstanding value is unearthed, with our system, detailed below, the majority of bets will involve using between 5-7.5% of the betting bank. 

It is also important to use the initial bank amount as a constant rather than the actual amount sitting in the account once the season commences, otherwise the system is hostage to the vagaries of how the winners and losers fall. Exact betting patterns are impossible to forecast and early winnings will mean higher stakes invested on oncoming losers and reduced profits. The bank (as opposed to the account) should be re-aligned only after a substantial period, preferably at the start of each season, or at the very least after six months.

With the increase in two-way betting fostered by the increase in Asian handicap and Over/Under betting, an increasing number of sports/football backers find that the majority of their bets are around the even-money mark, and this staking plan is ideal for such backers. Moreover, considering that the chance of a genuine even-money shot (the heads/tails scenario) losing ten times in a row is more than 1,000-1, a 10% maximum of the betting bank provides plenty of security (we would suggest a different pastime/employment should your bank suffer a complete wipe-out).

You will note that the staking plan will reward bravery, with value essential to successful betting, stakes should be increased in line with the level of value offered, not in line with the amount you are aiming to win  from each individual bet. Long-term profit is everything.

Let us assume a bank of £4,000; a 2.50 shot considered to be at least a genuine 1.70, (if not shorter) chance requires a maximum bet of £400. As the value decreases, let us say that you consider the 2.50 shot should really be around 2.0, then reduce the bet to around 7.5% of your bank, £300 here, dropping to a final amount of a round 5% of the bank (£200) for the 2.50 bet that you consider to be a genuine 2.30 chance.

Maintain consistency and bet to the same figures and bank throughout the season; re-evaluate your bank size, for betting purposes, at the start of a new season; think long-term profit, and do not increase stakes during successful periods or decrease stakes during poor runs, or vice-versa (though by all means abstain from betting if your confidence is temporarily affected).

The table below consists of the price on offer, followed by your own valuation, and the stake required (both percentage-wise and to a £4,000 bank). We have included only the likely range found in two-horse race events such as Over/Under and Asian handicap, and a sample of longer priced bets, though it is a straightforward task to fill in the betting price gaps when needed. Maintain discipline and reap the rewards.

2.00         1.80    £200 (5%)           2.20   2.00    £200 (5%)               2.50      2.30  £200 (5%)
                 1.65    £300 (7.5%)                   1.75    £300 (7.50%)                        2.0   £300 (7.5%)
                 1.50    £400 (10%)                    1.62    £400 (10%)                           1.70 £400 (10%)


2.75          2.40    £200 (5%)          3.0    2.70  £200 (5%)                   6.0        4.50  £200 (5%)
                 2.10    £300 (7.5%)                 2 .40  £300 (7.5%)                             4.0    £300  (7.5%)
                 1.85    £400 (10%)                  2.10 £400 (10%)                               3.50  £400  (10%)

11.0          9.0     £200 (5%)         21.0    16.0   £200 (5%)                 1.80       1.65  £200 (5%)
                 7.50   £300 (7.5%)                  13.50  £300(7.5%)                             1.57  £300 (7.5%)
                 6.0     £400 (10%)                   11.0   £400 (10%)                               1.50  £400 (10%)