Stake

The stake is the amount of money risked on a single bet. With decimal odds the maths is direct: total return equals stake multiplied by the odds, and profit is the return minus the stake. The stake is the one variable a bettor fully controls — you cannot change the odds or the result, but you decide how much to risk — which is why disciplined staking, not selection alone, is what separates survivors from those who go broke. Worked example: a £20 stake at decimal odds of 2.50 returns £50 in total (20 × 2.50), of which £30 is profit. If the same £20 goes on odds of 1.50 it returns £30, a £10 profit. Sizing matters as much as price: betting a flat 2% of a £1,000 bankroll means a £20 unit, so even a run of ten consecutive losers costs £200 and leaves you with £800 still in action — survivable variance. Stake 25% per bet instead and four losers in a row nearly wipe you out. The sensible approach is a consistent unit size as a small percentage of the bankroll (commonly 1–3%), occasionally scaled by edge using the Kelly criterion, which sizes stakes in proportion to perceived value rather than emotion. The common and most dangerous mistake is increasing the stake to chase losses — doubling up to 'win it back' — which accelerates ruin precisely when variance is already against you. Keep stake size decoupled from recent results and from how confident you feel. Compare with bankroll, the Kelly criterion and each-way betting, and never stake money you cannot afford to lose.