Key takeaways
- Only money you can lose.
- Budget divided by 200 is your stake.
- Set it as your deposit limit.
- A budget is not a target.
Quick answerChoose an amount you would be content to lose in full, set it as your deposit limit, and divide it by 200 to find a stake.
Budget and stake
| Budget | Stake per round | Average cost on a 96% slot |
|---|---|---|
| £10 | 5p | About 40p |
| £20 | 10p | About 80p |
| £50 | 25p | About £2 |
The average cost is small. The range around it is not: a session can lose the whole budget or return several times it.
Three rules
- The budget is spent when you deposit it. Anything left is a bonus.
- Never top up mid-session.
- Winnings above your budget come out, not back in.
Make the casino enforce it
Set the deposit limit in your account. It holds when your resolve does not.
Keep reading: Step 2: sign up and verify, How to play roulette and How to play casino poker.
Go further: How to complain about a casino, How to play live blackjack and How to place roulette bets.
Also useful: The cheat sheet and How online casinos work.
Offer terms were read from each casino's published conditions and dated 5 October 2026. Game rules and house edges are standard published figures. Casino details other than offers come from independent reviews; we have not opened real-money accounts. How we check. 18+. Free help: 0808 8020 133 or safer gambling.
Frequently asked questions
How much should a beginner deposit?
An amount you can lose without it mattering; £10 is enough.
What stake should I use?
Your budget divided by 200.
Should I top up if I lose?
No.
How do I enforce a budget?
With a deposit limit.