Bankroll basics

Set money aside that you can afford to lose, size bets as a small share of it, and keep honest records.

A bankroll is money set aside only for betting, separate from rent, bills and savings. It should be an amount you can afford to lose entirely.

Simple rules most careful bettors follow

• Size bets as a share. Many people stake 1–2% of their bankroll per bet (a "unit"), so a bad week doesn't empty it.
• Don't chase. Raising stakes to win back losses is how bankrolls disappear.
• Track everything. Honest records beat memory. The free Coconuts tracker shows P&L, ROI and CLV, privately.
• Set limits. Decide time and money limits in advance. Coconuts has a built-in cool-off and self-exclusion.

Formulas like the Kelly criterion exist, but they depend on probability estimates that are usually overconfident. Small and steady is calmer.