What Is ROI and Yield in Betting?
ROI (return on investment) is your profit ÷ total staked × 100, and yield often means the same. If you stake ₦10,000 and lose ₦700, your ROI is −7%. Most bettors have a negative ROI over time.
ROI example: Gor Mahia vs AFC Leopards
Say you stake (the money you bet) KSh 100 on Gor Mahia to beat AFC Leopards at 2.00 (example odds).
Profit is what you get back minus what you staked. ROI is profit ÷ total staked × 100.
| If the match ends... | Return | Profit |
|---|---|---|
| 2–1 to Gor Mahia | KSh 200 | +KSh 100 |
| 1–1 draw | KSh 0 | −KSh 100 |
| 0–1 to AFC Leopards | KSh 0 | −KSh 100 |
A win doubles your stake and a loss wipes it out. So the ROI of one bet is always extreme, and it tells you almost nothing. ROI only becomes useful over many bets. Check single returns with the payout calculator.
What is profit in betting?
Profit is the money you get back minus the money you staked. A loss is a negative profit.
- Return = stake × odds, if the bet wins. It is 0 if the bet loses.
- Profit = total returns − total stakes.
If you win ₦2,000 back from a ₦1,000 bet, your profit is ₦1,000. If you lose the bet, your profit is −₦1,000. Always count every bet, not only the winners.
The ROI formula
ROI is profit as a share of all the money you staked. The formula is:
- ROI = profit ÷ total staked × 100
The answer is a percentage. An ROI of −7% means you lost 7 out of every 100 you staked, on average. An ROI of +3% means you gained 3 out of every 100.
ROI does not care how big your stakes are. That makes it a fair way to compare two bettors.
What is yield in betting?
In betting, yield is often used the same way as ROI. Both usually mean profit ÷ total staked × 100.
Some people use the words in slightly different ways. So if a tipster shows a "yield", ask how they worked it out. It should come from the full list of tips, with every loss included.
Worked example: a 10-bet log
Here is a made-up log of 10 single bets. Each bet uses the same stake: KSh 100 or ₦1,000. All odds are example odds.
| # | Match | Odds | Result | Profit (KSh 100) | Profit (₦1,000) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gor Mahia vs Tusker | 1.80 | Won | +80 | +800 |
| 2 | Enyimba vs Kano Pillars | 2.10 | Lost | −100 | −1,000 |
| 3 | Simba vs Young Africans | 1.50 | Won | +50 | +500 |
| 4 | Remo Stars vs Rivers United | 3.00 | Lost | −100 | −1,000 |
| 5 | KCCA vs Vipers | 1.90 | Lost | −100 | −1,000 |
| 6 | Kaizer Chiefs vs Orlando Pirates | 2.40 | Won | +140 | +1,400 |
| 7 | AFC Leopards vs Tusker | 1.70 | Lost | −100 | −1,000 |
| 8 | Asante Kotoko vs Hearts of Oak | 2.00 | Won | +100 | +1,000 |
| 9 | Rivers United vs Enyimba | 1.60 | Won | +60 | +600 |
| 10 | Tusker vs Gor Mahia | 2.50 | Lost | −100 | −1,000 |
Now add it up:
| Kenya (KSh) | Nigeria (₦) | |
|---|---|---|
| Total staked | KSh 1,000 | ₦10,000 |
| Total returned | KSh 930 | ₦9,300 |
| Profit | −KSh 70 | −₦700 |
| ROI | −7% | −7% |
Five bets won, so the strike rate (share of bets won) is 50%. Yet the ROI is −7%. Winning half your bets does not mean you made money.
What a realistic ROI looks like
Most bettors have a negative ROI. The main reason is the margin (the bookmaker's built-in profit in every price). It means the average bet loses a little money over time.
A small positive ROI kept over hundreds of bets is rare. Be very careful with anyone who shows a big ROI over a few weeks. Short runs are mostly luck. Read how to check a tipster's record to test their claims.
If your own log shows a negative ROI, that is normal. It is also a clear sign to bet less, not more.
What are units in betting?
A unit is your standard stake. You choose it, such as KSh 100 or ₦1,000. Results are then shown in units instead of money.
In the 10-bet log, 1 unit is KSh 100 or ₦1,000. The profit is −0.7 units in both countries. The ROI stays the same at −7%.
Units help you keep stakes small and steady. Many people set 1 unit at a small part of their monthly betting budget. Read bankroll management for more.
Common mistakes
- Counting only winning bets when working out profit.
- Treating strike rate as if it were ROI.
- Judging ROI after a handful of bets.
- Changing stake sizes, which makes ROI harder to read.
- Believing a big ROI shown without a full record.
FAQ
What is the ROI formula in betting?
ROI = profit ÷ total staked × 100. If you stake KSh 1,000 in total and lose KSh 70, your ROI is −7%.
Is yield the same as ROI?
In betting, people often use the two words the same way. Both usually mean profit as a share of total money staked.
What is a good betting ROI?
Most bettors have a negative ROI because of the bookmaker's margin. A small positive ROI kept over hundreds of bets is rare.
What is a unit in betting?
A unit is your standard stake, such as KSh 100 or ₦1,000. Using units lets people compare results without showing their real amounts.