Asian Handicap Explained: What You Need To Know

About Asian Handicap Betting on Football

Asian Handicap is a popular way of betting on sports that ensures there are no draws. This way of betting originated in Asia but has gained global recognition for its unique approach to sports betting.

Asian handicap is mostly used in football, and as it eliminates the chances of a draw, the possible outcomes are two.

This article will explain how Asian Handicap works, providing valuable insights for both beginners and experienced bettors.

What is a Handicap Bet?

Before we dive into what Asian Handicap means, it’s crucial to understand what handicap is.

A handicap in football betting means that one team has an advantage over the other. To minimise it, the weaker team has an advantage of goals so to level the playing ground.

It’s not hard to guess that the stronger team has an advantage over the weaker, but it makes things predictable. That’s when handicap bets come in to spice things up.

For example, if Manchester City and Nottingham Forest were to have a match, it’s more likely that City would win against Nottingham every time. This means that the chances of Man City winning are higher, resulting in lower odds for them.

What is Asian Handicap?

Asian Handicap is a type of sports betting that removes the possibility of a draw. The way that happens is it gives one team a head start or a disadvantage before the game begins. It aims to create fairer odds, especially in matches where one team is much stronger than the other. 

With Asian Handicap, bettors can focus on predicting the match outcome without worrying about draws.

How Does Asian Handicap Work?

Asian handicap (AH) aims to level the playing field between bookmakers and gamblers. While bookmakers have the advantage, Asian handicap provides football bettors with a way to gain an edge.

Asian handicap is mostly used in football but is not limited to that sport alone. It is also available for various sports that involve potential mismatches between opponents. American football and individual sports like tennis are examples of sports where bookmakers offer Asian handicap bets.

But how exactly does Asian handicap work?

The team that is expected to win is given a minus symbol (-) as a handicap, which means they start with a disadvantage. The underdog team is given a plus symbol (+) as a handicap, indicating they have an advantage.

For instance, you can bet on Brazil with a handicap of -1 against Saudi Arabia in the World Cup. This means that for the terms of the bet, one goal is deducted from Brazil’s final tally. So, Brazil needs to win by a margin of 2 goals for the Brazil -1 bet to be successful.

Let’s look at some examples to understand this better:

Example 1: Arsenal vs. Brentford

Suppose Arsenal is the stronger team in this matchup. The Asian Handicap may give them a -1.5 goal handicap. This means that the Gunners start the game with a 1.5-goal deficit. To win a bet on Arsenal, they must win by at least two goals.

In this case, Brentford may receive a +1.5 goal handicap. If you choose to bet on Brentford, you’d win the bet if they win the match or if they draw or lose by a max of 1 goal.

Example 2: Real Madrid vs Barcelona

In a closely contested match where the teams are considered evenly matched, the Asian Handicap market may assign both teams a 0-goal handicap. 

In this case, the match outcome would be based on the actual result, with no handicap advantage given to either team.

This is the case with Real Madrid and Barcelona. The odds for that match will look something like:

Asian Handicap (0 goals):

Real Madrid: 1.90
Barcelona: 1.90

The odds associated with the Asian Handicap show the payout ratio for each team. In this case, both Real Madrid and Barcelona have odds of 1.90. If you place a bet on either team and your bet is successful, you would receive a payout of 1.90 times your original wager.

Asian handicap lines in soccer

In soccer betting, the different handicap options are known as “lines”.  Asian lines offer different betting scenarios. Here are the most used Asian lines and their outcomes based on the team’s results:

Asian Handicap 0.0

Example: Man United has odds of 1.90, while Tttenham has odds of 1.95.

Bet £100 on Man United in the 0.0 Asian Handicap football betting market:

Man United wins; you win the bet.
If it’s a draw, you get your stake back.
Man United loses; you lose the bet.

Asian Handicap Example 0.25

Game starts with a 0 – 0.25 score (1/4 goal handicap). The underdog team has a quarter-goalThe game lead.

Example: a football match between PSG and Rennes. PSG 2.00 – Rennes 1.90

Bet £100 on Paris Saint-Germain in the -0.25 Asian Handicap market:

• PSG wins the game; you win the bet.
• If it’s a draw, you lose half your stake (£50) but get the other half (£50) back.
• Rennes wins; you lose the bet.

Or, bet £100 on Rennes in the +0.25 Handicap:

• Rennes wins the game; you win the bet.
• If it ends in a draw, you get half of your stake back and win the other half (£50) at 1.90 odds, making a profit.
• Rennes loses; you lose the bet.

0.5 Asian Handicap Example

The game starts with a 0:0.5 score (half-goal handicap). The bookie sets a 0.5 handicap. The less likely team to win has a half-goal advantage.

Example: Bayern Munich 1.85 vs Borussia Dortmund 2.00

Bet £100 on Bayern Munich in the -0.5 Asian Handicap:

• Bayern Munich wins, you win the bet.
• If it’s a draw or Borussia Dortmund wins, you lose the bet.

Or, bet £100 on Borussia Dortmund in the +0.5 Asian Handicap:

• Borussia Dortmund wins or it’s a draw, you win the bet.
• If Bayern Munich wins, you lose your bet.

0.75 Handicap Example

In this scenario, the game begins with a score of 0:0.75, indicating a 3/4 goal handicap. Before the start of the match, the underdog team, Fulham, enjoys a quarter-goal advantage.

This situation differs from the 0.25 Asian handicap betting market.

Fulham 1.90 vs Man City 1.90

Let’s consider a scenario where you place a £100 bet on Fulham to win with a +0.75 Asian handicap. In this case, the home team, Fulham, is the underdog. So, Fulham receives a 0.75 goal handicap as part of the betting offer.

-1 Handicap Example

The match starts with a 0:1 score (one goal head start).

Example: Juventus 1.80 vs. Roma 2.05

Bet £100 on Juventus in the -1 Asian handicap:

• Juventus wins by two or more goals, you win the bet.
• If Juventus wins by one goal (1:0, 2:1, 3:2), you get your stake back.
• If it’s a draw or Roma wins, you lose the bet.

Or, bet £100 on Roma in the +1 Asian handicap:

• If it’s a draw or Roma wins, you win the bet.
• If Roma loses by one goal (1:0, 2:1, 3:2), your stake is refunded.
• If Juventus wins by two or more goals, you lose the bet.

-1.5 Handicap Example

The game starts with a 0:1.5 line (handicap 1.5).

Example: Real Madrid 1.90 vs. Villareal 2.00

Bet £100 on Real Madrid in the -1.5 AH:

• Real Madrid wins by two or more goals, you win the bet with a £90 profit.
• If Real Madrid wins by one goal, it’s a draw, or Villareal wins, you lose your stake.

If you bet £100 on Villareal in the +1.5 Asian handicap:

• If Villareal doesn’t lose or loses by just one goal (1-0, 2-1), you win the bet.
• If Real Madrid wins by two or more goals, you lose the bet.

It’s important to note that Real Madrid’s -1.5 Asian handicap is the same as Real Madrid -1 European handicap (EH).

Benefits of Asian Handicap

Asian Handicap offers several advantages over traditional betting markets. Let’s explore some key benefits:

Reduced Risk

Eliminating draws reduces the risk of losing a bet, as there are only two possible outcomes.

More Betting Options

Asian Handicap provides a wider range of betting options, allowing bettors to choose from various handicaps and odds.

Better Odds

By assigning handicaps, AH improves the odds for matches where there is a clear favourite, making them more appealing for bettors.

Flexibility

AH accommodates different betting strategies by offering a diverse range of handicaps, allowing bettors to tailor their bets to their specific predictions.

Conclusion

Asian Handicap is an exciting and dynamic betting market that has revolutionized sports betting. By eliminating draws and leveling the playing field, Asian Handicap offers a unique and engaging experience for bettors. 

Understanding the intricacies of Asian Handicaps can provide an advantage in sports betting and open up new opportunities for success.