Your First Bet

Pick an amount you can afford to lose - that's your bankroll (definition). A common starting unit (definition) is 1-2% of it. You don't have to enter it anywhere: every number on the site works without it. Saving it in Bankroll Tracker settings just adds your own dollar figures.

Start with a team or sport you already follow. Open today's slate and click a matchup to see the research - records, starters, injuries, and the Bottom Line summary.

A good pick at a bad price loses money. EV Game Edges compares every major book against the fair price and shows where one pays more - look for your game there, or at minimum compare prices in Best Lines. Line Movement shows how the price has moved since it opened; a fast move across several books (steam) is one more input to weigh, not a signal to follow.

Keep every stake the same size - 1 unit - rather than more when you "feel good" about a game. Staying in the game long enough to learn matters more than any single result. If you skipped step 1, treat 1 unit as whatever fixed amount you're comfortable losing per bet. For the math on how much a price is worth staking, see the Kelly (definition) calculator.

Log it in the Bankroll Tracker before the game starts - include the odds you got. After it settles, mark it W, L or P. Over time this shows your real win rate, ROI (definition), and CLV (definition), which tell you whether you're actually good or just lucky.