bankrolls

Bankroll refers to the total amount of money set aside for a particular activity, most often gambling. The term originated from a roll or bundle of banknotes carried by a gambler and has since come to denote the available funds that can be risked in pursuit of a game, a season, or a project.

In gambling contexts, bankroll serves as the basis for bankroll management, the practice of sizing bets, choosing stakes, and planning deposits and withdrawals to protect capital and withstand losing streaks. The goal is to limit the risk of ruin—the probability that losses exceed the bankroll and force cessation of play. Practices vary by game, skill level, and risk tolerance; players typically use a unit-based approach, with a portion of the bankroll allocated to each bet and the unit adjusted as the bankroll grows or shrinks. Some gamblers also apply formal methods such as the Kelly criterion to balance growth against risk.

Outside gambling, the term can describe funds allocated to finance a project, a team, or an individual's career, or the act of providing such funding (bankrolling someone or something).

The concept implies prudent allocation and planning to sustain activity over time. Bankroll management is closely related to broader financial risk management and is discussed in fields ranging from gaming to investment planning. Related topics include risk of ruin, variance, staking strategies, and bankroll theory.