One of the key differences between casual punters and those who approach racing with a more professional mindset is discipline—and a major part of that is having a sound staking strategy.
At LayTips.com.au, we don’t just focus on finding value lays—we also encourage punters to use staking methods that protect their bankroll and maximise long-term profit potential.
Below are four of the most widely used staking plans in Australian horse racing, each with its own advantages depending on your goals and risk tolerance.
🎯 Level Staking
Overview:
You place the same amount on every selection, regardless of the odds or your confidence level.
Example:
If your stake is $25 per lay bet, you maintain that figure consistently—whether you're laying a $3.00 shot or a $10.00 outsider.
Bankroll Rule of Thumb:
Keep each stake to around 3–5% of your total betting bank.
Pros:
- Simple to track and execute.
- Reduces the temptation to over-stake in emotional moments.
- Limits damage during losing runs.
Cons:
- Doesn’t account for confidence or changing bankroll size.
- May under-stake high-confidence opportunities.
Level staking is well-suited to punters who identify value without necessarily quantifying edge mathematically. It promotes consistency and avoids the volatility of more aggressive methods.
📊 Proportional Staking
Overview:
Your stake is a fixed percentage of your current bankroll, meaning it adjusts automatically as your bankroll rises or falls.
Example:
With a $1,000 bank and a 5% stake size:
- You wager $50 on a lay bet.
- If your bank drops to $600, your stake adjusts to $30.
- As your bank grows, so does your stake.
Variants:
- Stake to win a percentage of your bank (e.g., aim to win 5% of your bankroll each bet).
- Stake to win a fixed dollar amount, adjusting the outlay based on the lay odds.
Pros:
- Self-regulates risk during downswings.
- Helps preserve bankroll over the long term.
- Removes second-guessing on stake size.
Cons:
- Winning recovery can feel slow after a losing run.
- Requires discipline not to override during variance.
At LayTips.com.au, we recommend proportional staking for punters wanting a semi-automated structure that grows or shrinks with your balance.
⚖️ Dutch Betting
Overview:
Rather than backing (or laying) just one selection in a race, Dutch betting spreads your stake across multiple runners, aiming for the same profit if any of them wins—or in the case of lays, loses.
Example:
To profit $120:
- Lay $10 on a $12 horse.
- Lay $30 on a $4 horse.
If either horse loses (and you're laying them), your return is the same.
Pros:
- Great for hedging across several strong lay candidates.
- Helps balance perceived risk.
Cons:
- Requires calculation or tools to structure bets properly.
- Complexity increases with more runners.
Many Dutch betting calculators are available online to do the maths for you—useful when applying this method on multiple lays at once.
📈 Scaled (Confidence-Based) Staking
Overview:
With scaled staking, your stake increases or decreases based on how confident you are in a bet. Each stake is measured in units, where one unit is a set dollar value.
Example:
- 1 unit = $10
- A low-confidence lay: 0.5 units = $5
- A strong-confidence lay: 5 units = $50
Pros:
- Adds nuance and flexibility based on your read of the market.
- Allows you to scale risk responsibly.
Cons:
- Requires discipline and honesty about confidence.
- Easy to overrate bets during winning streaks.
We recommend defining your unit scale in advance (e.g., 0.5 to 5 units) and sticking to it regardless of outcome variance.
Final Thoughts from LayTips.com.au
There’s no one-size-fits-all staking plan—but any plan is better than none. Whether you prefer a consistent flat stake or a proportional strategy that moves with your bankroll, the key is consistency and discipline.
At LayTips.com.au, our service is built around high-value lay selections. Combine that with a thoughtful staking strategy, and you're setting yourself up for long-term success in the punting game.