Asian Handicap Betting Guide

Comprehensive Guide to Asian Handicap Betting: A Lucrative Football Betting Strategy

With the plethora of different types of bets you can make on a football match, Asian Handicap betting is very popular. Particularly in Asia from whence the name is derived.

Asian Handicap betting is widely popular in Asia, yet many European bettors still overlook its potential. Ask any seasoned gambler, and they’ll likely rank Asian Handicaps among their preferred markets. This isn’t by chance—Asian Handicap betting often provides better value compared to standard football betting markets, making it a viable strategy for long-term profitability.

In this guide, we’ll break down the concept of Asian Handicap betting, helping you grasp how this unique approach can yield higher returns.

What is Asian Handicap Betting?

Asian Handicap betting removes the possibility of a draw, thus creating a more balanced contest between two unevenly matched teams. The concept is simple: the bookmaker assigns a “handicap” to the favored team and an “advantage” to the underdog.

This handicap is expressed in goals or fractions of goals. For example, a handicap of +1.5 means the underdog begins the game with a 1.5 goal lead, while -1 implies the favorite starts one goal down. The bettor then decides whether to back the favorite to overcome the handicap or the underdog to maintain their advantage.

Full Goal Asian Handicap

In a full goal Asian Handicap, the weaker team gets a positive head start (e.g., +1, +2), while the stronger team receives a negative handicap (e.g., -1, -2). A full goal handicap bet has three possible outcomes: win, lose, or push (where the stake is returned).

Example: Suppose you bet on Southampton -1 against Leicester. For your bet to win, Southampton must win by more than one goal. If they win by exactly one goal, your stake is returned, resulting in a push. On the other hand, if Leicester wins or draws, your bet loses.

The push option makes full goal handicaps appealing, as bettors have a safety net—if your team wins by exactly the handicap number, you don’t lose your stake.

Half Goal Asian Handicap

Half goal handicaps (e.g., +0.5, -0.5) eliminate the possibility of a draw since teams can’t score half a goal. Your bet either wins or loses, offering two possible outcomes.

Example: In a match between Ajax and Barcelona, a +1.5 handicap for Ajax means they start the game with a 1.5 goal lead. If Ajax wins, draws, or loses by no more than one goal, your bet wins. However, if Barcelona wins by two or more goals, your bet loses.

Quarter Goal Asian Handicap

Quarter goal handicaps (e.g., +0.25, -0.75) split your bet into two parts—one on the lower value and one on the higher value of the handicap.

Example: Betting on Udinese -0.75 means half of your stake goes on -0.5 and the other half on -1. If Udinese wins by two goals, your bet fully wins. If they win by one goal, half your stake wins, and the other half is returned.

Advantages of Asian Handicap Betting

Asian Handicap betting offers several key benefits that make it a more favorable market for experienced bettors:

• Draw Removal: Since the draw is eliminated, you have a 50% chance of winning compared to the 33% in traditional 1X2 markets. This evens the playing field, similar to betting on sports like basketball or baseball, where odds are adjusted based on team strength.
• Better Value: Bookmakers often offer lower margins in Asian Handicap markets, leading to better value for bettors. Without the draw, the odds tend to be closer to the true probability of the outcome.
• Winning Even When Losing: Asian Handicaps allow you to profit or break even even if the underdog loses by a small margin. For example, backing an underdog at +1 means you only lose if they lose by more than one goal.
• Stake Refund: In some cases, such as a full goal handicap, if the match ends in a draw after factoring in the handicap, your stake is returned. This lowers the risk compared to the outright market, where only exact outcomes pay.
• Improved Odds: Asian Handicap odds can sometimes offer better prices than traditional betting markets. For example, a bet on a team to win in the 1X2 market might offer lower odds than the equivalent Asian Handicap of -0.5.

Final Thoughts on Asian Handicap Betting

Asian Handicap betting may seem complex initially, but once you understand the basics, it opens up a world of strategic betting opportunities. By removing the draw and offering more value, Asian Handicap markets give bettors a greater chance of long-term success.

Next time you’re placing a football bet, consider exploring Asian Handicap markets for a potentially more profitable experience.