In the world of sports betting, there are many types of bets to choose from. Handicap betting is one of the most popular sports markets that you will find at top betting sites. As a sports market, it is common in point-based sports such as basketball, tennis, rugby, football and many sports. Also, it is common in some racing events, particularly greyhound and horse racing betting.
Handicap betting primarily affects the way that sportsbooks present the odds, and it is vital to deeply understand this type of market to be able to interpret those odds correctly and place effective wagers.
What is Handicap Betting?
Handicap betting is also known as spread or line betting with only two possible outcomes. It's the process whereby a sportsbook turns a sports event in which there're varied odds into an even cash competition by providing a virtual disadvantage or advantage to certain competitors to level the field. In points-based sports like football, an even cash real money competition is primarily created by adding a 2-0 handicap advantage to the favourite competitor.
If you then wager on the underdog to win, but it only wins the match by 1-0, you'll lose your wager due to the handicap bet that had been applied. In the eyes of the sportsbook, the underdog lost the match by 2-1. When placing handicap bets, always keep in mind that the handicap is only applicable to the selection you're wagering on.
How Do Sportsbooks Present Handicap Bets?
Using the example that involves an underdog vs a favourite, a sportsbook might present the handicap betting as follows:
- The underdog (-2) evens.
- Handicap tie (-1) 3/1
- The favourite (+2) 2/1
The game ended in a 1-0 victory for the underdog. If you placed a wager on the underdog, then your bet did not win. The underdog would have needed as many goals as the handicap for your bet to win. If you placed a bet on the handicap tie, your bet won since the underdog emerged the winner by the same margin that was specified in the handicap market.
When placing a bet on any handicap tie, it's the winning margin rather than the number of goals that's vital. If you wager on the favourite to win, your bet will win since it effectively won the match 2-1 in the eyes of the bookie.
If two teams in a game that you’re placing a wager on are believed to be evenly matched by the bookmaker, you might come across the term “scratch” instead of a handicap. That means there’re no handicaps applied to that particular match, and the bookie will view the actual victor as the market winner.
Types of Handicap Betting
Handicap betting is available in various forms, which include no draw, handicap match betting and handicap league betting. Below you will find more details about these types of handicap betting.
Handicap League Betting
Handicap league betting is the most popular form of handicap betting. This type of handicap betting involves placing a wager on a team’s overall performance across the season. For your bet to qualify, you must place it at the start of the season. The scratch handicap of zero is normally given to the favourites.
The other teams in the league are given a handicap depending on the bookie’s expectations of their possible performances, so the larger advantages are given to teams believed to be the underdogs to level the field. In handicap league betting, you must apply the respective handicaps to all league teams in the division that you’re wagering on to determine the outcome when the season comes to an end.
Once the handicap bets have been applied, the league table in the eyes of the bookie can be worked out, and you'll discover whether your wager was successful or not.
No Draw Handicap Match Betting
Handicap bets exist to make one-sided sporting events to be more exciting, attracting proposition for individuals who enjoy placing wagers on sports. To this end, most sportsbooks ensure that there's a guaranteed victor of the match in terms of wagers, irrespective of the final result of the game, by offering no draw handicap match betting. Sportsbooks set up no draw handicap match betting by giving half handicaps to some competitors.
For example, in a match between Aston Villa and West Ham United, in an English Premier League game, the sportsbook has given Aston Villa a handicap of (+1.5). And you place a wager on West Ham United to win. The game ends 3-2 to West Ham United, but because of a (+1.5) handicap, your wager on Aston Villa wins, and the score was 3.5-3 to Aston Villa when it comes to the wager.
In the eyes of a sportsbook, it would have been not possible for your wager to have ended in a tie since it’s simply impossible for half scores to occur in a football match. Again, it’s important to keep in mind that when placing a no draw handicap bet, the handicap is only applicable to your betting selections.
Asian Handicaps Betting
Asian handicap markets is a variant of handicap betting that was popularised in Asia. It is almost similar to no draw handicap match betting but involves handicaps with half and whole numbers, eliminating the draws.
However, Asian Handicap also offers the possibility of spilt handicaps, where your selection is made up of either half, whole or quarter numbers. There are two main types of Asian Handicap betting, which include single and split. Here are examples of the two types of Asian Handicap betting.
Split Asian Handicap Bet
A split handicap simply divides the stake across two handicaps. Let's say you want to wager on Sheffield Wednesday, who are (+1) and (+1.5) against Ipswich. The match ends 2-1 to Ipswich; as a result, half the stake (+1) will be returned since the game ended 2-2. On the other hand, the (+1.5) half will be deemed a victor as the match ended 2-2.5 to Sheffield Wednesday.
Single Handicap Bet
Let’s say you want to wager on Aston Villa, who are (-1) on the Asian handicap bet against Leeds United. If Aston Villa wins the match by two or more goals, your wager is successful. And if they win the game by a margin of one goal, the outcome is a push, and the stake is returned. You will only lose your wager if the match ends in a tie or a win for Leeds United.
Final Thoughts
Now you understand the difference between handicap and Asian handicap bets. You can use this information to place successful handicap bets that will help you significantly boost your bankroll. Choose a recommended bookmaker that offers the best handicap odds and get started today.
Handicap betting primarily affects the way that sportsbooks present the odds, and it is vital to deeply understand this type of market to be able to interpret those odds correctly and place effective wagers.
What is Handicap Betting?
Handicap betting is also known as spread or line betting with only two possible outcomes. It's the process whereby a sportsbook turns a sports event in which there're varied odds into an even cash competition by providing a virtual disadvantage or advantage to certain competitors to level the field. In points-based sports like football, an even cash real money competition is primarily created by adding a 2-0 handicap advantage to the favourite competitor.
If you then wager on the underdog to win, but it only wins the match by 1-0, you'll lose your wager due to the handicap bet that had been applied. In the eyes of the sportsbook, the underdog lost the match by 2-1. When placing handicap bets, always keep in mind that the handicap is only applicable to the selection you're wagering on.
How Do Sportsbooks Present Handicap Bets?
Using the example that involves an underdog vs a favourite, a sportsbook might present the handicap betting as follows:
- The underdog (-2) evens.
- Handicap tie (-1) 3/1
- The favourite (+2) 2/1
The game ended in a 1-0 victory for the underdog. If you placed a wager on the underdog, then your bet did not win. The underdog would have needed as many goals as the handicap for your bet to win. If you placed a bet on the handicap tie, your bet won since the underdog emerged the winner by the same margin that was specified in the handicap market.
When placing a bet on any handicap tie, it's the winning margin rather than the number of goals that's vital. If you wager on the favourite to win, your bet will win since it effectively won the match 2-1 in the eyes of the bookie.
If two teams in a game that you’re placing a wager on are believed to be evenly matched by the bookmaker, you might come across the term “scratch” instead of a handicap. That means there’re no handicaps applied to that particular match, and the bookie will view the actual victor as the market winner.
Types of Handicap Betting
Handicap betting is available in various forms, which include no draw, handicap match betting and handicap league betting. Below you will find more details about these types of handicap betting.
Handicap League Betting
Handicap league betting is the most popular form of handicap betting. This type of handicap betting involves placing a wager on a team’s overall performance across the season. For your bet to qualify, you must place it at the start of the season. The scratch handicap of zero is normally given to the favourites.
The other teams in the league are given a handicap depending on the bookie’s expectations of their possible performances, so the larger advantages are given to teams believed to be the underdogs to level the field. In handicap league betting, you must apply the respective handicaps to all league teams in the division that you’re wagering on to determine the outcome when the season comes to an end.
Once the handicap bets have been applied, the league table in the eyes of the bookie can be worked out, and you'll discover whether your wager was successful or not.
No Draw Handicap Match Betting
Handicap bets exist to make one-sided sporting events to be more exciting, attracting proposition for individuals who enjoy placing wagers on sports. To this end, most sportsbooks ensure that there's a guaranteed victor of the match in terms of wagers, irrespective of the final result of the game, by offering no draw handicap match betting. Sportsbooks set up no draw handicap match betting by giving half handicaps to some competitors.
For example, in a match between Aston Villa and West Ham United, in an English Premier League game, the sportsbook has given Aston Villa a handicap of (+1.5). And you place a wager on West Ham United to win. The game ends 3-2 to West Ham United, but because of a (+1.5) handicap, your wager on Aston Villa wins, and the score was 3.5-3 to Aston Villa when it comes to the wager.
In the eyes of a sportsbook, it would have been not possible for your wager to have ended in a tie since it’s simply impossible for half scores to occur in a football match. Again, it’s important to keep in mind that when placing a no draw handicap bet, the handicap is only applicable to your betting selections.
Asian Handicaps Betting
Asian handicap markets is a variant of handicap betting that was popularised in Asia. It is almost similar to no draw handicap match betting but involves handicaps with half and whole numbers, eliminating the draws.
However, Asian Handicap also offers the possibility of spilt handicaps, where your selection is made up of either half, whole or quarter numbers. There are two main types of Asian Handicap betting, which include single and split. Here are examples of the two types of Asian Handicap betting.
Split Asian Handicap Bet
A split handicap simply divides the stake across two handicaps. Let's say you want to wager on Sheffield Wednesday, who are (+1) and (+1.5) against Ipswich. The match ends 2-1 to Ipswich; as a result, half the stake (+1) will be returned since the game ended 2-2. On the other hand, the (+1.5) half will be deemed a victor as the match ended 2-2.5 to Sheffield Wednesday.
Single Handicap Bet
Let’s say you want to wager on Aston Villa, who are (-1) on the Asian handicap bet against Leeds United. If Aston Villa wins the match by two or more goals, your wager is successful. And if they win the game by a margin of one goal, the outcome is a push, and the stake is returned. You will only lose your wager if the match ends in a tie or a win for Leeds United.
Final Thoughts
Now you understand the difference between handicap and Asian handicap bets. You can use this information to place successful handicap bets that will help you significantly boost your bankroll. Choose a recommended bookmaker that offers the best handicap odds and get started today.
