Gambling Bankroll Calculator: Survive the Swings

Proper bankroll ensures you can weather variance without going broke. Our calculator shows how much you need for different games, what risk of ruin you're accepting, and how to size sessions for your total gambling budget.

What Is Bankroll Management?

Bankroll is the total money you've set aside for gambling. Bankroll management means sizing bets so short-term variance doesn't deplete your funds before the long term plays out. Even positive EV players go broke without proper bankroll.

Quick Answer: General rule: 20-30× your average session for recreational play. Serious players: 100-300× average bet for their game. Blackjack counting: 200-400× max bet. Poker: 20-30 buy-ins. Slots: 200-500× bet depending on variance. Your bankroll must survive losing streaks—which are mathematically certain to occur.

How to Use Our Calculator

Use the Gambling Bankroll Calculator →

Enter your game and goals to see bankroll requirements.

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Select Game Type: Slots, blackjack, poker, etc.

2. Enter Average Bet: Per hand/spin

3. Set Risk Tolerance: Acceptable ruin probability

4. View Bankroll Need: Recommended amount

5. See Session Size: How much per visit

Input Fields Explained

Field	Description	Example
Game Type	What you play	Blackjack
Average Bet	Typical wager	$25
House Edge	Game disadvantage	0.5%
Variance	Game volatility	Medium
Risk Tolerance	Acceptable ruin %	5%
Bankroll Needed	Recommended	$5,000

Bankroll by Game Type

Slot Machines

Variance	Bankroll per Bet
Low variance	200×
Medium variance	300×
High variance	500×

Example: $1 high variance slot = $500 bankroll

Blackjack (Basic Strategy)

Play Style	Bankroll
Recreational	50× average bet
Regular player	100× average bet
Card counter	200-400× max bet

Example: $25 average bet = $2,500 recreational bankroll

Craps

Bet Type	Bankroll
Pass + odds	50× line bet
Don't pass + odds	50× line bet
Mixed strategy	75× average

Roulette

Bet Type	Bankroll
Even money	50× bet
Dozens	75× bet
Straight up	150× bet

Poker (Cash Games)

Stakes	Buy-ins Needed
Recreational	10 buy-ins
Regular	20-30 buy-ins
Professional	50-100 buy-ins

Example: $1/$2 ($200 buy-in) = $4,000-$6,000 bankroll

Poker (Tournaments)

Format	Buy-ins Needed
Recreational	20 buy-ins
Regular	50 buy-ins
Professional	100+ buy-ins

Risk of Ruin

What Is Risk of Ruin?

Risk of Ruin (RoR) = Probability of losing entire bankroll

Factors:
- Bankroll size
- Bet size
- House edge/player edge
- Variance

RoR by Bankroll Size

Bankroll	Conservative RoR
50× bet	20-30%
100× bet	10-15%
200× bet	5-8%
300× bet	2-5%
500× bet	<2%

Calculating RoR (Negative EV)

For negative expectation games:
RoR approaches 100% eventually

Short-term survival:
More bankroll = longer play
But eventual ruin is certain

Key: Play for entertainment
Accept expected loss

Session Sizing

Session vs Total Bankroll

Total bankroll: $3,000
Sessions per year: 12

Conservative session: $200-250
Aggressive session: $300-400

Never bring entire bankroll to one session

Session Bankroll Rules

Play Frequency	Session Size
Monthly	10% of total
Weekly	5% of total
Daily	2-3% of total

Stop-Loss Guidelines

Per session stop-loss:
50-100% of session bankroll

Example:
$300 session budget
Stop-loss: $200-300
Win goal: 50-100% ($150-300)

Variance Explained

Why Variance Matters

Same house edge, different variance:

Low variance (video poker):
Small wins/losses
Longer sessions
More predictable

High variance (slots):
Big swings
Shorter sessions (often)
Less predictable

Variance by Game

Game	Variance Level
Blackjack	Low
Baccarat	Low
Craps (pass line)	Low-Medium
Video poker	Medium
Roulette (even)	Medium
Roulette (straight)	High
Slots (low var)	Medium
Slots (high var)	Very High

Real-World Examples

Example 1: Recreational Blackjack

Profile:

• Plays 6× per year
• $50 average bet
• 3-hour sessions (200 hands)

Bankroll calculation:

Session exposure: 200 × $50 = $10,000 wagered
Expected loss: $10,000 × 0.5% = $50

Session bankroll: 50× bet = $2,500
Total bankroll: 6× session = $3,000

This allows for variance while
limiting total annual gambling budget

Example 2: Serious Poker Player

Profile:

• Plays $2/$5 (500 max buy-in)
• 20 hours/week
• Winning player (+$40/hour)

Bankroll calculation:

20 buy-ins (conservative): $10,000
30 buy-ins (standard): $15,000
50 buy-ins (safe): $25,000

Even winning players have downswings
$15,000 handles most variance

Example 3: High Variance Slots

Profile:

• Plays $2 spins
• Megaways-style (very high variance)
• Monthly sessions

Bankroll calculation:

Per spin: $2
High variance multiplier: 500×
Session bankroll: $1,000

Monthly budget: $1,000
Accept possibility of total loss
Or occasional big win

Example 4: Card Counter

Profile:

• $25 minimum, $200 max spread
• 1% edge estimated
• Full-time pursuit

Bankroll calculation:

Max bet: $200
Required: 300× max = $60,000

Risk of ruin at this level: ~5%
Can withstand significant downswings

Common Bankroll Mistakes

1. Insufficient Bankroll

Mistake: $500 for $50 blackjack bets Problem: 10× bankroll means high ruin risk Fix: Either lower bets or increase bankroll

2. Bringing Entire Bankroll

Mistake: All $5,000 to one session Problem: One bad session = game over Fix: Session = 10-20% of total

3. Chasing Losses

Mistake: Exceed session budget after losses Problem: Accelerates bankroll depletion Fix: Hard stop-loss, leave when hit

4. Ignoring Variance

Mistake: Same bankroll for all games Problem: High variance needs more cushion Fix: Adjust by game volatility

Bankroll Replenishment

When to Add Funds

Recreational approach:
Monthly/quarterly entertainment budget
Replenish to starting level
Track total annual spending

When NOT to Add Funds

Warning signs:
- Exceeding planned budget
- Chasing losses
- Borrowing to gamble
- Emotional decisions

If these occur: Stop, don't replenish

Bet Sizing Formulas

Percentage Method

Bet = X% of current bankroll

Conservative: 1-2%
Moderate: 2-3%
Aggressive: 3-5%

Example:
$3,000 bankroll × 2% = $60 bet

Fixed Unit Method

Unit = Bankroll ÷ Session units

$3,000 ÷ 100 units = $30/unit

Bet in units:
1 unit = small bet
2-3 units = medium bet
Never exceed 5 units

Frequently Asked Questions

How much should I bring to the casino?

Bring 50-100× your average bet, or 10-20% of your total gambling bankroll. Never bring money you can't afford to lose.

What if I run out mid-session?

Leave. Don't visit ATM, don't borrow. A session end is a session end. You can return another day.

Should I increase bets when winning?

Optional. Conservative: keep bets flat. Aggressive: slight increase with wins. Never dramatically increase.

How do I know if my bankroll is too small?

If losing one session significantly impacts you emotionally or financially, your bankroll (or bet size) is too large.

Is bankroll different for positive EV play?

Yes. Positive EV players need larger bankrolls to survive variance until the edge manifests. Larger edge = smaller bankroll needed.

What about gambling addiction concerns?

Strict bankroll management can help, but if you struggle to maintain limits, seek help. Bankroll rules don't cure addiction.

Pro Tips

• Separate gambling money: Don't mix with living expenses

• Track everything: Know exactly where you stand

• Respect stop-losses: The most important rule

• Adjust for variance: More volatile = bigger bankroll

• Long-term thinking: Bankroll is marathon, not sprint

Related Calculators

• Expected Value Calculator - EV analysis
• House Edge Calculator - Edge comparison
• Kelly Criterion Calculator - Optimal bet sizing
• Gambling Loss Calculator - Track losses
• Slots RTP Calculator - Slot variance

Conclusion

Proper bankroll management is the foundation of responsible gambling. Our calculator shows how much you need for your preferred games, what risk you're taking, and how to size sessions for longevity. Underfunding leads to frustration; proper funding lets you enjoy the entertainment.

Calculate Your Bankroll Now →

Bankroll isn't about winning—it's about surviving variance long enough to enjoy the game. Whether you're a recreational player setting an entertainment budget or a serious advantage player managing risk of ruin, our calculator provides the numbers to gamble responsibly and sustainably.