What is a UNIT in Sports Betting?

MyTopSportsbooks Guide to ‘Units’ in Sports Betting

Unit betting is an approach that allows bettors to take control of their bankroll management. This guide will lay out the details on this bankroll management strategy, which relies on consistency and patience over time. You may have heard the term ‘unit’ being discussed by your friends or colleagues who place online sports bets on NFL, NBA, NHL, or MLB fixtures, but you might be confused as to what it really means. You may be asking yourself ‘What is a unit in betting?’, ‘Where can you get these betting units?’ and ‘Is it an amount of money?’ Read on to find out the answers!

When you first start gambling, the chances are you will have more questions than answers. Many bettors won’t make the effort to find out what units are in betting, and this is a mistake made by countless losing sportsbook bettors every year.

This beginner’s guide from the online sports betting experts at MyTopSportsbooks will ensure you have a complete understanding. Learn what a unit is and how to apply this to your sports betting strategy. This article will tell you how much is a unit in gambling, how to use units in sports betting, and what does ‘1u’ mean in betting?

What are Sports Betting Units?

Let’s start at the beginning, way before placing your first bet. What is a unit in sports betting?

A unit refers to the cash amount placed on a wager, with the value remaining consistent on each bet. Each unit, or bet, should be one percent of your starting bankroll. Effective bankroll management is essential for profitable gambling, and breaking down your bankroll into betting units makes this easier.

While the amount wagered can vary from bettor to bettor, the value equates to one unit, or one percent, of their bankroll. Using the term ‘unit’ allows everyone to speak universally without divulging how much money the bettor has at risk. It can be used for any betting market, including moneyline on college football.

Therefore, while the dollar amounts may vary between the bettors, the level of risk being assumed is the same. One unit may be $10 for some and $100 for others. For the real big hitters, a unit may even be as much as $10,000.

So, now you know what units mean in betting and how much is a unit in betting!

Risking Multiple Units

Now, let’s proceed to the more exciting stuff: how to use a unit bet.

As a show of confidence, a bettor will commonly risk more than one unit per bet. In other words, when the confidence is high, the unit size follows suit.

Many professional gamblers work off a one to five points system for their units in betting. They might wager one unit, or point, on a match that they are viewing on TV for entertainment. One example might be backing the underdog in the Kentucky Derby. At the other end of the scale, a five-point bet would be a maximum wager, commonly referred to as “going all in”. This approach would be used on a bet you are confident will win.

As with any style of betting, there’s a risk involved. But knowing and understanding units, saving the highest for your best bets, could limit the danger of developing a gambling problem.

Units = confidence

What’s a unit in betting?

Betting multiple units is risky as a bettor can get caught up in trying to reach for results. If a two-unit bet loses and is then countered with a 5 unit bet size next, it’s not good. You can see how you would lose an entire bankroll in a hurry. Additionally, predicting that one result is more of a guaranteed winner than another is also quite tough.

That said, despite some concerns, sports handicappers will release plays at varying unit sizes. The increase in units is driven by confidence. Confidence will always play a role in determining the unit size for any given bet. But you can always use a betting units calculator.

Are you sure the Broncos will win this weekend? They may attract a decent unit at Caesars sportsbook or Fanduel. Heard a whisper about the weekend college basketball? That could be a max bet if it’s from a sound source.

Risk vs Reward

Risking multiple units with success is how a bettor can have a losing record but be up money. If the big unit-sized bets are winning, then it will make up for a bunch of small unit-sized bets losing. The flip side can also be true for those that win small unit bets but lose out on cashing their big unit-sized bets. This will result in a winning record but a diminished bankroll.

Parlays are about as common as a weekly trip to the grocery store, but bettors generally risk fewer units on these. That is because of two factors. The increasing difficulty of the bet winning due to multiple events within one singular bet and the increased payout will necessitate a common bet size of a half unit, for example.

Armed with the confidence to manage your bankroll through units, we wish you good luck! This was what does units mean in betting and how much is a unit in sports betting. But there’s plenty more. Remember to check out our other guides for more sports betting knowledge

Use the Payout and Odds Calculator

Whether using the unit approach or some other system, it is always a good idea to have an odds calculator handy. It works on every bet from every sports team, including the New York Yankees.

This way, you can be smarter about the unit that you are using. Your unit strategy should be constantly informed by using the betting odds calculator. That makes it quicker and easier to tell a one-unit bet from a three-unit bet. It’ll also speed up the process of handicapping or using point spreads.

Do not forget about the parlay calculator. You can still apply the unit approach to parlays. Parlays can make each unit bet even more profitable. Of course, they all come with even more risk as every leg of the parlay must carry to earn the payout.

Unit Betting FAQs

Find answers to common questions bettors like you have when researching which sportsbook to join.

In sports betting, a unit is essentially a way to measure the size of a bet relative to your overall bankroll. One unit should be 1% of your bankroll, or at least that’s what’s generally recommended. So, if you have $1000 set aside for sports betting, your unit size should be $10. This helps to manage your bankroll and reduce the risk of losing it all on one bad bet. It also allows for consistent betting over time, regardless of the size of your bankroll. Each bettor’s unit size differs depending on personal preference, experience level, and betting strategy.

Why is the term used in gambling?

The term “unit” is used in gambling to create a standard measurement for the size of bets. By using a percentage of your bankroll as a unit, you can manage your money better and avoid losing everything on one bet. It also allows you to share your strategies and results with other players, without revealing the exact amount of money you are betting.

What is a multiple unit bet?

A multiple unit bet is simply a bet where you risk more than your typical 1% unit. Some bettors use multiple units when they’re especially confident in a pick. For instance, if someone has a strong conviction about a particular NFL game, they may elect to bet 2-3 units on the spread. Of course, betting more than your usual unit size is inherently riskier. While it can lead to bigger profits if you win, it can also have a more significant impact on your bankroll if the bet loses.

What is the best way to bet with units?

To bet with units effectively, set a percentage of your bankroll as a standard unit size and stick to it. As said before, a commonly used unit size is 1-2% of your bankroll. Only bet one or two units per wager, and increase your unit size as your bankroll grows. Avoid increasing your unit size when on a losing streak. Don’t let emotions dictate your betting strategy; bet based on value, not instinct!

How many units should you bet?

The number of units you should bet ultimately depends on your bankroll and your confidence level in a particular bet. As a general rule of thumb, most smart bettors recommend betting between 1-2% of your bankroll per bet. With a bankroll of $1000 and a unit size of $20, for instance, a 1-unit bet would be $20 and a 3-unit bet would be $60. Ito keep the risk level relatively consistent, you should stick to 1-3 unit bets.

How do you calculate unit size betting?

To calculate unit size betting, you first need to determine your starting bankroll. From there, you can determine what percentage of your bankroll you are comfortable risking on each bet. This percentage is your unit size. For example, imagine you want to risk 2% of your bankroll per bet. To calculate your unit size, you would multiply your total bankroll by your desired percentage, like this:

$5,000 x 0.02 = $100

So, in this case, your unit size would be $100. Each bet you make would be a certain number of units, based on your unit size. If you’re betting $50 on a particular game, that would be a half unit bet (50 / 100 = 0.5). If you’re betting $200 on a game, that would be a two unit bet.

What is betting units won?

Betting units won is a measure of profitability. It’s calculated by subtracting the total number of units lost from the total number of units won over a period of time. For example, if you made 50 bets and won a total of 25 units while losing 20 units, your net profit would be 5 units. Betting units won is a better measure of profitability than simply looking at your overall profit or loss, as it accounts for differences in the size of your bets.

What is a good ROI for a professional gambler?

A good ROI for a professional gambler varies depending on the sport and the level of competition. However, a common benchmark is 5-10% ROI. This means that for every $100 wagered, the smart gambler would expect to earn $5-10 in profit. Of course, the higher the ROI, the more successful the gambler. And yet, ROI is not the only measure of success. A gambler may have a high ROI, but if they are only winning a small number of bets, they may not be making enough money.

Is unit betting good?

Unit betting is a good strategy for managing your bankroll in sports betting. By using a percentage of your bankroll for each bet, you can avoid placing large bets that would put your entire bankroll at risk. It also helps you to stay disciplined and avoid making large bets to recover losses quickly.

What are the disadvantages of unit betting?

While unit betting can help manage bankroll and reduce the impact of losing streaks, it also has its disadvantages. For one, it can be time-consuming to calculate the unit size for every single bet. It can be hard to adjust unit size if your bankroll changes. Additionally, many bettors struggle with sticking to a consistent unit size and make the mistake of increasing or decreasing unit size based on emotional factors like confidence or recent wins/losses.

What is a UNIT in Sports Betting? | The Complete Guide 2025