Unit definition
Choose a cash value and an effective date. Then use:
Cash stake = units staked * cash value per unit
If one unit equals GBP 5:
| Unit stake | Cash stake |
|---|---|
| 0.5 | GBP 2.50 |
| 1.0 | GBP 5.00 |
| 1.5 | GBP 7.50 |
| 2.0 | GBP 10.00 |
The scale does not make a stake affordable or optimal. Affordability comes from the external budget, not the label.
Profit and return in units
For a one-unit back bet at decimal odds 2.40:
Gross return = 1 * 2.40 = 2.40 units
Net profit = 2.40 - 1 = 1.40 units
If the bet loses, net profit is -1 unit. A void bet normally has zero profit when the stake is returned, subject to the applicable rules.
Expected value is a probability-weighted average across possible outcomes. Reporting a settled unit profit does not show the pre-event expectation unless the forecast and price are also recorded.
Do not hide unit-value changes
Changing one unit from GBP 5 to GBP 10 doubles cash exposure even if a chart still shows a one-unit stake. Preserve:
- unit value;
- date and time the value took effect;
- rule that triggered the change;
- bankroll used to calculate it;
- original cash stake and result.
Record the cash value that applied at decision time; do not rewrite earlier bets into the latest unit value. Keep an immutable cash ledger and derive each unit view from its original version.
A complete unit record
| Field | Example |
|---|---|
| Unit version | U-2026-01 |
| Unit value | GBP 5 |
| Stake | 1.5 units / GBP 7.50 |
| Accepted odds | 2.20 decimal |
| Gross return if won | 3.30 units / GBP 16.50 |
| Net profit if won | 1.80 units / GBP 9.00 |
The cash check is GBP 7.50 * 2.20 = GBP 16.50 gross return, then GBP 16.50 - GBP 7.50 = GBP 9.00 net profit.
Compare records carefully
Compare two +20-unit records by checking total units staked, average stake, maximum stake, odds distribution, open exposure, unit-change history, and cash equivalence. Calculate yield as net profit divided by total stake, then state the complete record and settlement period used.
Continue learning
- Next guide: After a Betting Drawdown
- Related guide: Annual Betting Review
- Definition: Stake
Assumptions and limitations
Examples are illustrative and ignore commission, exchange liability, partial settlement, and currency conversion. A unit is a record-keeping convention, not a recommendation or evidence of skill. Use the budget guide before assigning any cash value.
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