Level Staking Plan
The Level Staking Plan, is also commonly referred to as flat betting. Level Staking involves betting a fixed amount on each bet, regardless of previous outcomes or changes to the overall betting bank. Level Staking is the benchmark for all selection systems. If a selection system does not make a profit at level stakes, then it does not have an egde. Long term, irrespective of whatever staking plan you choose, you will not make a profit without an edge.
Determining Stake Size:
Stake size can be established using a ‘points’ system. Sometimes also referred to as ‘units’. For instance, with a starting bank of £200 divided into 200 points, each point equates to £1. Consequently, wagers can be set at 1 point (£1), 2 points (£2), or more, depending on the bettor’s strategy.
Advantages of the Level Staking Plan:
- Simplicity: The plan’s straightforward nature facilitates easy implementation and tracking.
- Risk Management: By maintaining consistent stakes, bettors can effectively manage risk and prevent significant losses during unfavorable periods.
- Performance Assessment: Utilising level stakes provides a clear metric for assessing a selection system’s profitability without the influence of variable stake sizes.
Available Settings in The Staking Machine (TSM):
TSM provides customisable settings to tailor the Level Staking Plan to individual preferences:
- Start Bank: Defines the initial start bank.
- Percent % to Bet: Specifies the percentage of the starting bank allocated per bet. For example, 1% of a £100 bank results in £1 stakes.
- Re-Calculate Every: Allows for periodic adjustment of stakes based on the current bank total after a predetermined number of bets, enabling stake increases during profitable streaks and reductions during downturns.
- Use Ratchet Mode: Ensures that stakes only increase as the cumulative total grows, preventing stake decreases during losing periods.
Frequently Asked Questions
Answer: If your selection system does not show a long-term profit using level stakes, it does not have a genuine edge. Any staking plan will ultimately fail without an underlying positive edge from your selections.
Answer: A common method is to divide your starting bank into “points” or “units.” For example, with a £200 bank and 200 points, each point = £1. You can then bet 1 point, 2 points, etc., based on your risk tolerance.
- Start Bank – Sets your initial betting bank.
- Percent % to Bet – Defines the % of the start bank used per bet (e.g., 1% of £1000 = £10 stakes).
- Re-Calculate Every – Adjusts stakes periodically based on the current bank after a set number of bets.
- Use Ratchet Mode – Stakes only increase (never decrease) as your bank grows.
Answer: Yes. Because stakes remain fixed, you avoid the rapid bank depletion that can occur with aggressive recovery or percentage-based plans during losing streaks. This makes it one of the safest and simplest approaches for risk management.
Answer : Yes. There is a dedicated Lay Level Staking Plan that works exactly the same way — you simply lay to a fixed stake amount.
Answer: Absolutely. Its simplicity makes it ideal for new bettors. It’s easy to track performance and helps build discipline without the complexity of recovery or compounding systems.
Answer: This option lets you periodically review your current bank and adjust the stake size accordingly. For example, you could re-calculate every 50 bets so your stakes grow with profits or shrink after losses.
Answer: Ratchet Mode locks in increases to your stake as your bank grows but prevents decreases during drawdowns. It’s useful if you want some compounding effect while still protecting against big losing runs.
Answer: It may not maximise profits compared to more aggressive plans, but it provides the clearest picture of your selection system’s true performance and offers excellent long-term sustainability.
Answer: Level Staking keeps the absolute stake amount fixed (or manually adjusted), while Percentage Staking adjusts the stake with every change in bank size. Percentage staking can grow faster in winning runs but also drops faster during losses.
