Sports betting should be both a money-making venture and, you know, fun. If you’re like most bettors, you probably enjoy firing off a sweatier bet here and there — an eight-leg parlay, a +5000 future or a ridiculous prop just for the heckuvit. But chasing those bets every day is a fast way to torch your bankroll. The good news is, even when sticking using the Portfolio EV method, you don’t have to give them up. With a little structure, you can keep the fun in fundamentals of +EV betting while staying on track with long-term, positive bankroll building.
How to Sweat Bets the Fun Way and Make Money the +EV Way
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What Are “Fun” Bets vs. +EV Bets?
Fun bets are your parlays, longshots, futures or props made mostly for entertainment. They’re usually low-probability plays with high upside and/or no real statistical edge (like the length of the National Anthem at the Super Bowl). Most bettors place these based on gut feelings, team loyalty or to keep a game interesting. They’re the lottery tickets of sports betting — and that’s fine, if you know what you’re doing.
Positive EV bets, on the other hand, are smart wagers made when the odds are in your favor. You’re betting when you believe the implied probability is lower than the real probability — ideally based on research, data or Portfolio EV. These bets won’t always feel exciting, but they actually make money over time.
The key is balance: Use most of your bankroll for +EV bets and keep a small slice reserved for fun, high-risk stuff. This lets you enjoy the ride without derailing your long-term success.
Why Parlays, Futures & Longshots Are Fun — And Dangerous
Parlays are small bets that can win big if every leg hits. They’re fun to build, a blast to sweat and awesome to win. But they’re also where sportsbooks make a killing. In some states, parlays make up 70% or more of book revenue — with hold rates over 20%. Translation: They’re hard to hit and often pay less than they should.
Futures let you dream. Want to bet your team to win it all at 50-1? Great — just know sportsbooks price in a fat margin. Theoretical holds on futures can be three to five times higher than normal bets. Most futures are losing bets over time unless you have an edge or can hedge later.
Longshot props are those “why not?” plays — obscure scorers, weird combos or first touchdown bets. They’re exciting but, again, usually priced to favor the house. You’re paying for the fun, not the math.
Bottom line: These bets can be part of a responsible betting plan. Just treat them like entertainment, not investment.
How to Allocate a Bankroll for Both Fun and Profit
First things first, it can be a lot of fun to sweat with a community, which is where free expert picks here if you want to get in without entering a credit card.
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Start by deciding how much money you’re willing to risk overall — your bankroll. That could be $500, $1,000, $5,000 — whatever fits your situation. From there, set your goals: Are you betting for profit? Fun? A mix? Most casual bettors should aim for a 90/10 or 80/20 split — 90% of funds toward serious, value-based betting, 10% toward parlays, futures and other fun sweats.
Example: With a $1,000 bankroll, you’d keep $900 in your main bankroll for calculated bets and $100 for fun bets. That $100 is your entertainment budget. Once it’s gone, it’s gone — no topping it off from your serious funds.
Use Separate s or Tracking Methods
To stay disciplined, consider separating your bankrolls physically or digitally. You might keep your fun bets in a separate sportsbook, or just track them in their own column in your spreadsheet or app. This keeps you honest about how much you’re putting at risk and how each “bucket” is performing.
Right-Sizing Your Bets
Every bettor should have a “unit” size — usually 1% to 2% of your bankroll. With a $900 serious bankroll, a 2% unit would be about $18. For your fun bankroll, think even smaller. You might set your fun units at $5 or $10 flat. That way, even if you whiff five weeks in a row, you’re only down $50 — not enough to kill your momentum.
Another trick is to treat your fun bets as already spent. That mindset helps you avoid chasing losses or doubling down when you shouldn’t.
Practical Tips to Stay Smart
- Place +EV bets first. Hit the value plays, then turn to the fun stuff. Never miss a smart wager because you got reckless early.
- Limit frequency. Maybe one longshot per week. Or a set parlay every Saturday. Keep it consistent and budgeted.
- Shop for the best price. Just because it’s a fun bet doesn’t mean you should take the worst odds. Use tools or check multiple books — especially for futures and long parlays.
- Track separately. Logging fun bets helps you stay aware of how much they’re costing — or profiting — you. Over time, this makes it easier to adjust.
- Never chase losses. That parlay didn’t hit? Don’t fire another one out of frustration. Stick to the budget, accept the loss, move on.
- Withdraw big wins. If you hit that +5000 future or 8-leg parlay, withdraw some profit. Don’t let “house money” cloud your judgment.
Real Example: A Week in Action
Alex has a $1,000 bankroll. He splits it 90/10: $900 for +EV bets, $100 for fun. He places five $20 bets on smart plays (spreads, props he has edges on). Then with his $100 fun budget, he drops $10 on an NFL parlay and $5 on a World Series future.
The parlay loses. The future is pending. But his smart bets go 3-2 and net him $14. At week’s end, he’s up slightly. And critically, his main strategy wasn’t compromised by his fun bets. He got the thrill without going off the rails.
Final Word: You Can Have Both
You don’t need to pick between playing smart and having fun. If you want to bet longshots, do it — but cap your risk, set clear rules and never let a cold streak on fun bets bleed into your core bankroll.
By carving out a small, intentional space for parlays, futures, and other fun sweats, you make sure that a losing streak won’t knock you out — but a win could still feel like a home run. That’s how you enjoy the ride without falling off the tracks.
