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ROI (Return on Investment)
generalA measure of betting profitability calculated as net profit divided by total amount wagered, expressed as a percentage.
Key Takeaways
- 1ROI = Net Profit / Total Wagered × 100
- 23-5% ROI is very good for sports betting
- 3Need 1,000+ bets for meaningful ROI data
- 4ROI is more meaningful than win rate alone
What is ROI in Betting?
ROI (Return on Investment) measures your betting profitability as a percentage of total money wagered. It's the most important metric for evaluating long-term performance.
The Formula
ROI = (Net Profit / Total Wagered) × 100
Example
- Total wagered: $10,000
- Total returned: $10,350
- Net profit: $350
- ROI: ($350 / $10,000) × 100 = 3.5%
What's a Good ROI?
| ROI | Rating |
|---|---|
| 1-3% | Solid recreational bettor |
| 3-5% | Very good, approaching sharp |
| 5-8% | Elite, professional level |
| 8%+ | Exceptional (or small sample) |
Important Context
- Sample size matters — 100 bets is meaningless. You need 1,000+ bets for ROI to stabilize.
- Odds matter — A 5% ROI on -110 bets is different from 5% on +200 bets
- Closing line value is a better predictor than short-term ROI
ROI vs. Win Rate
ROI is more meaningful than win rate because it accounts for odds. A 55% win rate at -110 is better than a 60% win rate at -200.