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Return on Investment

Also known as: ROI

A percentage that measures the profitability of your betting relative to the total amount wagered. Formula: ROI = (Total Profit / Total Staked) x 100. For example, if you bet $10,000 total and made $500 profit, your ROI is 5%. A positive ROI indicates long-term profitability. Professional bettors typically achieve 2-10% ROI.

Related Strategies Terms

Fading
A contrarian strategy of betting against the public or popular opinion. The theory is that bookmakers shade their lines toward the popular side, creating value on the less popular outcome. Fading works best in high-profile events where public money heavily influences the line in one direction.
Poisson Distribution
A statistical probability distribution commonly used to model the number of goals, points, or events in a sports match. By estimating the expected average (lambda) of events, the Poisson formula calculates the probability of exactly 0, 1, 2, 3, etc. events occurring. It is the foundation of many football betting models.
Regression to the Mean
A statistical phenomenon where extreme results tend to move closer to the average over time. In betting, a team on a long winning streak is likely to see their performance normalize. Understanding regression helps bettors avoid overreacting to short-term results and identify value where the market has overcorrected.
Value Betting
A strategy where the bettor identifies and bets on outcomes where the bookmaker's odds are higher than the true probability warrants. A value bet exists whenever the offered odds exceed the fair odds. Over time, consistently placing value bets leads to profit regardless of individual results. This is the core principle behind professional sports betting.
Dutching
A strategy where you back multiple selections in the same market with different bookmakers, distributing stakes to ensure the same profit regardless of which selection wins. Unlike arbitrage, Dutching does not guarantee a profit on every outcome but can distribute risk while targeting specific outcomes you consider underpriced.
Unit Size (Unit)
A standardized bet amount used to measure and compare betting performance. One unit typically represents 1-2% of your total bankroll. Using units allows bettors to track performance consistently regardless of the absolute amounts wagered. For example, being up 50 units conveys a clear picture of profitability.
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