What Is An Asian Handicap & How Does It Work?

Many people enjoy placing bets on football matches. One type of bet that is becoming more popular is the Asian handicap. 

The Asian handicap betting system offers a slightly different take on traditional handicaps, making betting more interesting and fair. 

In simple terms, it gives one team a virtual advantage or disadvantage before the match starts while removing the possibility of a draw. This means that even if one team is much stronger than the other, the bet can still be exciting and possibly rewarding. 

By the end of this post, you'll understand how an Asian handicap works so you can navigate this area of betting with a bit more confidence. 

What Is An Asian Handicap?

An Asian handicap is a type of handicap bet that removes the possibility of a draw. 

Instead of simply betting on a win, draw, or loss, you bet on a team to win with an advantage or to overcome a disadvantage. 

Imagine Team A is much stronger than Team B. The Asian handicap might start Team B with a lead of +1 goal. To win your bet on Team A, they need to win by more than 1 goal. 

This way, the betting is more balanced and can offer better odds and excitement, even if the teams are unevenly matched. 

By understanding the concept of these virtual goals, you can understand how handicap betting works and possibly make more informed betting choices. 

Difference Between Asian Handicap & Handicap

Both Asian handicap and standard handicap betting aim to level the playing field by giving one team an advantage or a disadvantage. 

However, there are key differences. 

In standard handicap betting, there are usually three outcomes: win, loss, or draw. For example, if you place a bet on Team A with a -1 handicap, they must win by more than one goal for your bet to win. If they win by exactly one goal, it's a draw, and you lose your bet. 

Asian handicap betting removes the possibility of a draw. Instead, it offers more specific outcomes by using fractions, like +1.5 or -0.5 goals. This way, your bet either wins or loses because there are no half-goals or points in most sports, making it simpler and often more appealing to many bettors. 

Understanding these differences can help you decide which betting option suits you best. 

How Does An Asian Handicap Bet Work?

An Asian handicap bet starts by giving one team a virtual head start, known as a goal handicap. 

For instance, if Team A is much stronger, the bookmaker might give Team B a +1.5 goal advantage. This means Team B starts the game with a lead of 1.5 goals. 

There are different types of handicaps, which will be discussed in the next section. 

If you place a bet, your team needs to "overcome the handicap" for you to win. For example, if you bet on Team A with a -1 handicap, Team A must win by more than one goal for you to win the bet. If they win by exactly one goal, it results in a draw, and your stake is refunded. 

If you bet on Team B with a +1.5 handicap, they can win, draw, or even lose by 1 goal, and your bet would still win. 

By adjusting the starting score, the Asian handicap offers more balanced betting options, making every match more competitive. 

Different Types Of Asian Handicap Bets

There are different types of Asian handicap bets, each offering different levels of complexity and opportunities. 

Whole Goal Handicap

This is the simplest type and is actually not an Asian handicap; this is a regular handicap. One team is given a whole goal advantage. For example, if Team A has a -1 handicap, they must win by more than one goal for your bet to win. 

Half Goal Handicap

In this type of Asian handicap, the handicap is a half goal, like +0.5 or -0.5. This eliminates the possibility of a draw. For instance, if you bet on Team A with -0.5, they must win the match for you to win the bet - a draw would count as a loss because they would still be half a goal down in the eyes of the bet. 

Quarter Goal Handicap

This type is a bit more complex, involving quarter goals like -0.25 or +0.75. Your stake is split into two bets: one with the nearest half goal and one with the nearest whole goal. If you bet on Team A with -0.75, half your bet is on -0.5 and the other half on -1. 

Understanding these different types can help you choose the most suitable bet for each game, making your betting experience more enjoyable and informed. 

Examples Of Asian Handicap Bets

Let's take a look at some common Asian handicap bets that you may come across. 

0.0 Asian Handicap

With this bet, there is no handicap advantage given to either team. If the team you bet on wins, you win. If it's a draw, you get your money back. 

+0.25 Asian Handicap

Here, your bet is split between 0.0 and +0.5 handicaps. If your team draws, you win half of your bet (the +0.5 part) and get a refund on the other half (the 0.0 part). 

0.5 Asian Handicap

This bet gives one team a half-goal advantage. If you bet on the team with the +0.5 handicap, you win if they draw or win. If you bet on the team with the -0.5 handicap, they must win for you to win. 

Single Asian Handicap Betting (+1 or -1)

In single handicap betting, one team gets a whole goal advantage (+1) or a whole goal disadvantage (-1). For example, if you bet on a team with -1, they must win by more than one goal for your bet to win. 

Split Asian Handicap Betting

Split handicap betting divides your stake between two handicaps. For example, with a -0.75 bet, half your stake is on -0.5 and the other half on -1. This gives you more chances to win part of your bet. 

Alternative Asian Handicap Betting Explained

Alternative Asian handicap bets offer different handicap options, providing more choices to suit your risk level. These might include unusual handicaps like -1.25 or +1.75, offering various ways to bet. 

Which Sports Use Handicap In Their Betting?

Handicap betting isn't limited to football. It's used in many sports to make the betting more interesting and fair. Let's look at some of the sports that often use Asian handicap betting. 

Football

The most common sport for handicap betting is football. It helps balance the odds, especially when one team is much stronger than the other. 

Tennis

In tennis, handicap betting can be applied to games or sets. For example, a player might start with a -1.5 sets handicap, meaning they need to win by two sets for the bet to win. 

Basketball

Basketball uses point-based handicaps, often referred to as spread betting. For instance, a team might start with a -5.5 point handicap, requiring them to win by at least 6 points for the bet to win. 

Rugby

Rugby also uses point-based handicaps. Similar to basketball, a team could be given a -10 point handicap, meaning they need to win by more than 10 points. 

American Football

In American football, handicap betting is very popular. Like in rugby and basketball, teams are given point spreads to level the playing field. 

Handicap betting can be applied to many sports, potentially making each match more engaging even if there is a clear favourite and an underdog. They also provide more nuanced betting opportunities. 

As always, please gamble responsibly and play within your means.