What does it mean the handicap market in sports betting?

One of the great doubts beginners have in sports betting is about the handicap market, one of the best-betting markets to invest in.

Between many options that the betting sites offer on sports events, both handicap and Asian handicap catch up the attention and concentrate most of the bets.

But how this handicap market works? Why is it so sought? Let’s find out in this article.

What is the handicap betting market?

Handicap is the advantage or disadvantage for a football bet, or even in different sports, like tennis. Still a little confusing? Let’s show you a practical example.

If you chose to bet in a handicap of -1,5 to France at the finals on the last World Cup against Croatia, you would have won. Why? By making this betting choice, that game started at France -1,5 vs. 0 Croatia. As the match ended with France 4 vs. 0 Croatia, even if we took 1,5 goals from the French national football team, they still won the game. 

Another example is the most decisive match in the latest UEFA Champions League. An attractive bet would be a handicap of +1,5 to Paris Saint-German. The French team started the game with an advantage of 1,5 goals for those who made this betting choice. Even with the final score being Paris Saint-German 0 vs. 1 Bayern München, bettors who bet in this handicap would still win because, for them, the score was Paris Saint-German 1,5 vs. 1 Bayern München.

But what about the asian handicap?

The Asian handicap amplifies the options offered by the ‘simple’ handicap. There are many ways to bet in this betting market, and many of these ways are very secure. Let’s see an example with a hypothetical match between Brazil and Argentina. 

– Brazil AH 0 (known as Asian handicap 0 or ‘no draw’)

Brazil wins: winning bet;

Draw: returning bet;

Argentina wins: losing bet.

– Brasil AH -0,25

Brazil wins: winning bet;

Draw: half of the bet is returned, the other half is lost;

Argentina wins: losing bet.

– Brazil AH +0,25

Brazil wins: winning bet;

Draw: wins half of the bet, the other half is returned;

Argentina wins: losing bet.

– Brazil AH -0,5 (also known as 1×2)

Brazil wins: winning bet;

Argentina wins: losing bet.

– Brazil AH +0,5 (also known as ‘double chance’)

Brazil wins: winning bet;

Draw: winning bet;

Argentina wins: losing bet.

– Brazil AH -0,75

Brazil wins with a difference of at least 2 goals: winning bet.

Argentina wins with a maximum difference of 1 goal: half of the bet is returned, the other half is lost;

Argentina wins or Draw: losing bet.

– Brazil AH +0,75

Brazil wins or Draw: winning bet;

Argentina wins with a maximum difference of 1 goal: half of the bet is returned, the other half is lost;

Argentina wins with 2 or more goals: losing bet.

– Brazil AH -1 (also known as ‘-1 Asian handicap’)

Brazil win with a difference of at least 2 goals: winning bet;

Brazil win with the difference of 1 goal: returning bet;

Argentina wins or Draw: losing bet.

– Brazil AH +1 (also known as ‘+1 Asian handicap’)

Brazil win or Draw: winning bet;

Argentina wins with the maximum difference of 1 goal: returning bet;

Argentina wins with the difference of 2 or more goals: losing bet.

Other asian handicap functions

Betting on a winning team is not the only way to use the Asian handicap. Another good example is betting on the number of goals, corners, or yellow cards in a match.

While this market’s options are usually floating numbers, like -1,5 and +1,5, you can also bet with round numbers. Let’s see the difference between Brazil and Uruguay, with the final score being ‘Brazil 2 vs. 0 Uruguay’.

Betting of -1,5 goals (common under/over): losing bet;

Betting of 1,5 goals (common under/over): winning bet.

Betting of -1 goal (Asian handicap): losing bet;

Betting of +1 goal (Asian handicap): winning bet;

Betting of -2 or +2 goals (Asian handicap): returning bet.

In this case, that means the punter has the advantage of having a returning bet in individual circumstances, which doesn’t happen in a normal under/over bet. 

Why is this type of betting is safer?

As we could see in all those examples, the advantage of the handicap is that we can increase the number of winning bets (with the attribution of advantage) or the number of odds, consequently growing your earnings (with the attribution of disadvantage). 

The handicap can be a safe and exciting option for most scenarios, whether in a balanced match attributing advantage (+0.5, +1, etc.) or a game with a significant difference between both teams attributing disadvantage (-0,5, -1, etc.). Even in matches with a favorite team that barely loose, but has a chance of a tie (especially using the -1 Asian handicap), you can use this strategy as a good option. All of this turns this market into a very safe method to bet. 

Now that you know the principles of the handicap market go and check our betting tips to start winning some earnings!