ROI vs Yield for Tipsters: What They Mean (and How to Track Them)

If you publish picks, you’ve heard both terms: tipster ROI and yield. People also ask yield vs ROI – what’s the difference? In short: both measure performance, but they answer different questions. This guide explains each metric in simple words, shows how to calculate them, and shares an easy way to track betting performance without spreadsheets.

The big idea (plain and simple)

Yield shows how efficiently you turn stakes into profit.
ROI shows how much your bankroll grew (or shrank) over a period.

Because these metrics look at different denominators (stakes vs starting bankroll), they will rarely be the same. That’s why clear definitions matter on your site and social posts.

Yield: profit per unit staked

Formula:
Yield (%) = (Total Profit ÷ Total Staked) × 100

Total Profit = total returns minus total stakes (or the sum of win/loss for each settled bet).
Total Staked = the sum of stakes for settled, non-void bets.

What it tells you
Yield answers: “For every unit I risked, how much did I win (on average)?” It’s ideal for comparing tipsters with different volumes and turnover.

Example A

Total staked: 40 units
Profit: +12 units
Yield: 12 ÷ 40 = 0.30 = 30%

A 30% yield means you earned 0.30 units for every 1 unit staked across that sample.

ROI: growth on the starting bankroll

Formula (period ROI):
ROI (%) = (Period Profit ÷ Starting Bankroll) × 100

Period Profit = ending bankroll – starting bankroll (adjust for deposits/withdrawals).
Starting Bankroll = the bankroll at the beginning of the period you’re reporting.

What it tells you
ROI answers: “How much did my bankroll grow during this period?” It’s useful for monthly or quarterly updates to show growth in plain terms.

Example B

Starting bankroll: 100 units
Ending bankroll: 112 units
Profit: +12 units
ROI: 12 ÷ 100 = 12%

Same profit as Example A, but a different denominator—so ROI = 12% while yield = 30%.

Why ROI and yield can diverge a lot

Turnover changes the picture. If you recycle your bankroll many times, ROI can look strong even when yield is modest—or vice versa.

Example C (higher turnover)

Starting bankroll: 100 units
Total staked over time: 200 units
Profit: +20 units
Yield: 20 ÷ 200 = 10%
ROI: 20 ÷ 100 = 20%

Here, yield looks smaller because you placed many bets. ROI looks larger because the bankroll grew by 20%.

Common mistakes (and how to avoid them)

Mixing void bets into “staked.”
Treat pushes/voids as 0 profit and exclude them from total staked.
Ignoring deposits/withdrawals for ROI.
If you add or remove funds, adjust the profit figure; otherwise ROI is wrong.
Tiny samples.
A hot week can distort both stats. Always mention the sample size.
Changing stake sizes mid-sample.
Sudden unit size jumps skew results. Log the unit you use and be consistent.
Hiding the timeframe.
“20% ROI” over 3 days is not the same as 20% over 3 months. State the period.

Which metric should you publish?

Use both, but for different readers:

Yield is great for savvy followers who compare efficiency across tipsters or sports.
ROI is great for simple updates like “Month in Review” or “This Quarter,” where bankroll growth is the headline.

Add hit rate (win%) and average odds next to these metrics for richer context.

How to calculate each metric step-by-step (spreadsheet method)

Track every settled bet with columns for: Date, Sport, League, Selection, Odds, Stake, Result (W/L/Push), Profit/Loss.
Sum Profit/Loss → this is Total Profit.
Sum Stake over non-void bets → this is Total Staked.
Yield (%) = (Total Profit ÷ Total Staked) × 100.
ROI (%) = (Period Profit ÷ Starting Bankroll) × 100.
- Period Profit = Ending Bankroll – Starting Bankroll (adjust for deposits/withdrawals).
Show timeframe and sample size in your report (e.g., “April, 85 bets”).

Tip: keep stake units consistent (e.g., 1 unit = €10) and log the unit value somewhere visible.

What “good” looks like (context matters)

Short term: big swings happen. A few odds-on losses or long-shot wins can move yield/ROI quickly.
Medium term: stable processes show through. If edges are real, metrics smooth out.
Long term: consistent selection, fair odds, and disciplined staking usually beat volume.

There’s no single “right” number for everyone. Be transparent and let the data speak.

Presenting ROI and yield on your site

Make results easy to understand:

Put Yield, ROI, Hit Rate, Avg Odds in a clear summary at the top.
Show trends with a simple green line chart (monthly profit or cumulative P/L).
Add split views (by sport, by league, by month) so readers can scan what they care about.
Explain your staking plan (e.g., flat 1 unit) so numbers have context.

Clarity builds trust—and trust converts visitors into buyers.

How OwnTheGame helps (no spreadsheets required)

Automatic performance pages: we compute yield, ROI, hit rate, and splits by sport/league/timeframe from your structured picks.
Clean charts: cumulative profit and recent form at a glance.
Consistent inputs: sport, league, market, odds, stake, result—kept tidy by design.
AI Writer included: add teams, league, country, pick, odds, and key details to draft a clean prediction preview; optional web-search pulls team news, injuries, and basic team stats. You still make the final selection – AI doesn’t pick sides.

See your stats automatically on OwnTheGame → /features

Quick FAQ

Is yield just ROI with a different name?
Not here. We use yield = profit ÷ total staked and ROI = profit ÷ starting bankroll (for the period). Different denominators, different story.

Should I post monthly ROI or all-time ROI?
Do both. Monthly for recent form, all-time for long-term trust.

How do I compare tipsters fairly?
Use yield to compare efficiency across different volumes, and ROI to compare period growth—always with the same timeframe.