Select Odds Display Type
  • +125 US
  • 6/9 Fractional
  • 2.25 Decimal
Blog image

Kelly Strategy

Advanced

Today we are going to take a look at one of the most interesting betting strategies out there. Many bettors have always wondered what the best betting strategy for them is, and how to apply it in order to generate good profits. Despite looking challenging, the Kelly betting strategy is one of the most well-developed systems. With the help of our team, you are going to learn how to use it in no time.

What is the Kelly Betting Strategy?

As mentioned previously, the Kelly betting strategy is one of the few systems that can get you a consistent profit, considering the mathematical reasonings behind the strategy.

It has been developed by John Kelly, an American scientist, who came up with this system in order to analyze pieces of information in his scientifical research. For many bettors, Kelly’s system might look like a tough cookie at first glance. 

Despite this, we are convinced that we can analyze the Kelly betting strategy, so you can picture a bigger image of his system.

In essence, the Kelly betting strategy is a mathematical formula that determines how much money you need to invest in your bet, depending on the probability of that respective bet.

A very interesting aspect of this strategy is that this system is one of the most versatile out there. For example, it is widely known as a very well-developed strategy for investments, as it can guarantee a profit in the long term, especially if the budget allows you to invest for longer periods of time. There are also claims that well-known investors like Warren Buffett or Bill Gross used the Kelly betting strategy.

Furthermore, having the formula to determine how much you should invest, based on the probability of the prediction, might get you to keep a better record of your budget and not bet instinctively, risking losing large sums at once.

If someone was to describe the Kelly betting strategy in one word, it should be ‘’optimal’’. Moreover, the fact that it’s very well developed to be a football betting strategy, can make bettors give it a shot, especially considering how popular football betting has become nowadays. Nevertheless, it's essential that you check out all the other betting strategies covered on BetBrain, for a better perspective. Last but not least, don't forget to take a look at our predictions and free tips if you'd like to see how a professional bettor or seasoned punter approaches betting.

How does the Kelly Betting Strategy work?

As mentioned previously, the Kelly betting strategy is, in essence, just a mathematical formula that determines the optimal amount that you will need to bet, depending on the probability of the prediction.

To get you a bigger picture, we are going to imagine a situation in which we are going to use the Kelly betting strategy. First of all, in order to fully understand the calculus that we are going to use, we need to see how the formula looks before applying it to a bet. If it seems like it’s a tough cookie, don’t worry, as we are going to explain to you how it works and what every character means. This is the main formula we are going to use:

  • f=p-(1-p)/b

In this formula, these are the meanings for each character used:

  • f is the fraction that will determine how much of your budget you will need to use.

  • p is the probability of winning.

  • b is the proportion you could get with a win. In essence, the odds.

Let’s now imagine that we are going to bet on a match where our prediction will have odds of 2/1. The formula would look like this:

f=0.33-(1-0.33)/3=0.08

The fact that we got a 0.08 result means that we are going to have to bet 8% of our budget on this match. A bet like this won’t probably fill your bank, but it will provide small but consistent wins that are going to grow in the long term. On the other hand, if this respective prediction won’t come out as true, our budget will still be high enough that we will be able to continue with our bets.


PROs and CONs of the Kelly Betting Strategy

The bettors that already reviewed the other articles dedicated to betting strategies have observed that no system is flawless. Despite being one of the betting strategies that rely the most on mathematics and science, the Kelly betting strategy has its own ups and downs.

Therefore, we decided to note down the most notable pros and cons, so you can picture a bigger image of the Kelly betting strategy and decide if it fits your style:


PROs

CONs

  • It will not drain your budget if you will lose some of the bets

  • Can be profitable in the long term if your budgets allows you 

  • It can show you what predictions are worth the most

  • It can suffer modifications if the bookmakers will alter the odds later

  • It can affect you psychologically, as profit can take a longer time



It’s the Kelly Betting Strategy worth a shot?

As with every other betting strategy, this might not fit everybody. However, if you did not find any significant problem in this article about the Kelly betting strategy, you should give it a shot.


Furthermore, this system is versatile and can be used in various sports. It can work as an online betting strategy as well, considering you don’t have to be at a bookmaker’s place or casino to use it. It can also be used in your favorite sport, so if you are looking for a tennis betting strategy, for example, don’t hesitate to give it a try.


Other Articles

Author