So what is handicap betting? It works in a similar manner to the spread, in that the favourite team is given a points disadvantage or a “handicap” while the underdog is given a points advantage.
The aim of this is to even up the contest and therefore offer you improved odds on games where the two sides of the moneyline are quite unbalanced. Additionally, you can also find alternative handicapped markets to seek out value and to put your knowledge of the sport to the test.
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What does a handicap mean in betting? A quick explanation
A handicap in betting aims to even up an otherwise one-sided contest by giving the favoured team a points disadvantage (or handicap) and then giving an equal points advantage to the underdog. This means that if you bet on the favourite, they need to exceed the handicap for your bet to day out. Meanwhile, if you bet on the underdog, your bet can pay out if they lose, so long as they finish within their handicap advantage.
In our latest
betting guide, we’ll walk you through all of the ins and outs of this popular betting type. We’ll also highlight some similar markets and cover the main advantages and disadvantages of handicapping in sports wagering.
Handicap betting definition
- The pros and cons
As with everything in the world of betting, there are both advantages and disadvantages to handicap betting. Here is our roundup of the main pros and cons:
Pros & Cons
- Better odds on favourites
- Offers value in a one-sided contest
- Improved probability on underdogs
- More flexibility than the points spread
- Shorter odds on the underdog
Handicap betting explained
with an example
Here’s a basic handicap example using an NFL game:
| Team handicap | Odds |
| Broncos (-7) | 1.91 |
| Cowboys (+7) | 1.91 |
Here you can see that the Broncos are -7 favourites, meaning that they would need to win by 8 points or more for the handicap bet to win. The Cowboys are +7 underdogs, meaning that a handicap bet on them could still win if they lose the match, provided that their score is within six points or fewer of the Broncos.
Handicap betting definition - What happens if the points difference is 7 exactly?
If the points difference between the Broncos and the Cowboys was exactly 7 - e.g. the Broncos won 30 to 23 - this is known as a “Push”. In this event, all bets are refunded and no one wins - not even the house.
Often, you will find that the bookie will use a half point to eliminate the possibility of a push. FOr example, in this case the handicap would be -/+7.5. That way the Broncos winning by 8 more guarantees a win, or the Cowboys staying within 7 ensures that they win. A tie is impossible.
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Asian
handicap betting definition
Now that we’ve covered the basics of what a handicap is in betting, let’s take a look at a popular variant; the
Asian handicap meaning. This form of handicap betting is popular in Asia (hence the name) and is primarily used in low-scoring sports, such as football (or soccer to some of you).
It is similar to the handicap described above, only that quarter numbers (0.25) are used, as well as whole (0.0) and half numbers (0.5). This is to give your handicap more flexibility in games like football where 0-0 draws are common and games are often decided by a single goal.
-/+1.0 Asian handicap
This is a basic handicap that works exactly the same as the NFL example used above, in that a tied result is possible.
Here’s a Premier League football example
| Team handicap | Odds |
| Liverpool (-1) | |
| Aston Villa (+1) | |
If you were to bet on Liverpool (-1), these are the possible outcomes:
| Liverpool win by 2 or more goals: | Liverpool win by 2 or more goals: |
| Liverpool win by 1 goal: | Liverpool win by 1 goal: |
| Draw: | Draw: |
| Aston villa win: | Aston villa win: |
-/+0.5 Asian handicap
This type of Asian handicap works exactly the same as the previously-used NFL example. Because of the half point included the tied “Push” outcome isn’t possible.
If we change the above bet to Liverpool (-1.5) it works thus:
| Liverpool wins by 2 or more: | Your bet wins |
| Liverpool wins by 1 goal/draw/Villa win: | Your bet loses |
-/+0.25 Asian handicap
Also known as the quarter handicap, the 0.25 works in similar fashion to the each-way bet in horse racing. Effectively your bet is split in two:
- Half is bet on a straight win (-/+0)
- Half is on a -/+0.5 handicap
Here is how it work work with a -0.25 bet:
| Team wins: | Your entire bet wins |
| Team draws 0-0: | Half your bet wins therefore half is refunded |
| Team loses: | Your entire bet loses |
-/+0.75 Asian handicap
This works the same as the above, only you have a three-quarter goal handicap. Essentially this means that you have a split bet on a -0.5 and -1 handicap.
What does handicap mean in betting
vs the points spread?
Handicap and
spread betting
are essentially the same thing - our NFL handicap example from earlier could be applied exactly to the spread. The only difference is that the points spread is a fixed line e.g. the -/+7.5 on the Broncos vs Cowboys would be
The
points spread.
With handicap betting, on the other hand, you will often find several handicap markets offered. This is particularly true for football/soccer in European betting. If you want to learn more about spread betting and ways to use it, why not read our guide on
picks against the spread explained.
In general terms, the spread is a more popular concept in US and Canadian betting, meanwhile, handicaps are more popular in the UK, Europe, and Asia.
Handicap betting definition
- Conclusion
You have it guys, that’s as quick yet informative an explanation as we can give you about handicap betting and all of its variants. In its simplest form, handicapping is used by the bookies to even up a contest by “handicapping” the favourite and giving an advantage to the underdog.
For you as a bettor, it provides opportunities to get better odds on a heavy favourite, or improved implied probability on a longshot underdog. |With the Asian handicap, there’s even more value and flexibility to be found.
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What is handicap betting
FAQ
🔢 What is a handicap in sports betting?
A handicap in sports betting gives one team (the favourite) a points disadvantage and the other team (the underdog) an advantage. For the bet on the favourite to win, they must exceed the points margin. For example, with Chelsea -1, they need to win by two goals or more.
⚖️ How do handicap bets work?
Handicap bets level the playing field in unbalanced matches by adjusting the odds. For example, if the Knicks are heavy favourites against the Pistons and are given a -7.5 handicap, they must win by 8 points or more for the bet to pay out. This adjustment improves the odds for the favourite and balances the betting options.
➕ What does +1.5 mean in handicap betting?
In handicap betting, +1.5 gives the underdog a points advantage. For example, if you bet on Crystal Palace +1.5 against Manchester City, your bet wins if Palace draws or loses by just one goal. The bet loses only if they lose by two goals or more.
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