What is Stake? Sports Betting Stake Explained for New Bettors

David Genge Editor

Fact checked by:
Mike Goodpaster Last Verified
08/09/2026

What is a Stake?

The stake is the amount of money risked as at a sports betting site on the outcome of an event.

There are different types of bet but typically if the predicted outcome comes true then the bettor will receive the winnings determined by the odds as well as the original stake.

If the prediction is incorrect, then the bettor cannot lose any more than the original stake. This is a Stake and is not to be confused with Stake.us, the sweepstakes casino brand, but if you are interested in their bonuses and promotions, see the breakdown of Stake.us bonus drops here.

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How is a Stake used in Sports Betting?

It depends on the certainty of the bettor – or maybe how experienced they are – but the stake is the name given to the amount of money placed as a wager in a bet. For example, if Arsenal were 3/1 to win the FA Cup and a bettor placed a £10 wager on that outcome, the £10 would be the amount of the stake. If the bet won then they would receive £30 in winning returns – plus the original £10 stake.

In an each way bet there is effectively two bets – the win and the place. So, using the same example, the bettor’s stake would be £20, as they would be betting not only on Arsenal to win the FA Cup but also for them to place in the competition (usually just the runners-up in most sportsbooks). Either or both of those predictions could come true.

Bettors will sometimes work with a betting strategy like our soccer betting strategy guide and make different bets with different amounts after consulting the odds to cover more bases.

Limits on Stake

All of the best bookmakers will likely place limits on what your stake can be. On the low end, it could be as little as $1 or even $0.50. On the upper end depending on how long you've had an account and your previous betting history it could be tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars.

If you're new to the betting game, your account will likely be limited by the sportsbook. That's for their protection and yours as well.

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Did you know...

Boxer Floyd Mayweather is known for his betting just as much as his ability in the ring thanks to his huge bets. One of his most famous wagers was when he placed a £5.9m stake on Miami Heat to beat the Indiana Pacers in basketball. He was successful too – earning him a cool £6.4m.

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