Units and staking explained: flat stakes, ROI and bankroll sense

Units are how tipsters keep score without money: one unit, same stake, every pick. Here's what units mean, why flat staking keeps records honest, how ROI is calculated from them, and the bankroll rules that keep betting fun.

Units on 1x2.social are tracking units only — never money. 18+. If betting stops being fun, see where to get help.

What a unit is

A unit is a fixed stake size — often 1% of a bankroll — used so results can be compared whatever anyone's budget is. Saying "+12 units" means 12 stakes of profit, whether a unit is pocket money or serious money to the person saying it. On 1x2.social every pick carries units for confidence, and the leaderboard's ROI assumes one unit per pick. Also defined in the glossary.

Why flat staking keeps records honest

Variable stakes let a record lie without technically lying: stake big on short-odds favourites that were always going to win, stake small on the long shots that lose, and report profit in money. Flat stakes remove the trick — one unit each, so only picking skill shows. That's why 1x2.social calculates leaderboard ROI flat-stake, and why you should ask any tipster quoting profit for the flat-stake version. (More red flags.)

How ROI is calculated

ROI = profit ÷ total staked × 100. Eleven 1-unit picks with 6 winners at average odds 2.00: returns 12u on 11u staked = +1u profit = +9.1% ROI. There's a worked 11-pick example you can check by hand. Two caveats from the same page: ROI only appears after 20 settled picks, because tiny samples produce fantasy numbers.

Bankroll rules that work

• 1–2% per pick, maximum. Even good tipsters lose 8 in a row; small stakes make that survivable.
• Flat until proven otherwise. Vary stakes only with a written plan, never to chase.
• Judge in hundreds, not weekends. 200+ picks before conclusions — why sample size comes first.
• Set limits before you start. Deposit, loss and time limits; see responsible gambling.