Asian Handicap: A Complete Guide With Tips and Examples

The trick to success of most successful punters is the betting option they choose.

In the dynamic world of sports betting where there are hundreds of betting options available, the Asian Handicap has become a well-recognised betting option due to its flexibility and high return rate.

How unique and favourable this option is, not but most bettors find it hard to understand the psychology behind this betting option, especially the beginners.

In this comprehensive guide, we will provide you with insights on how to utilise the Asian Handicaps in your bet, as well as examples to enhance your understanding of this fascinating approach to making winnings every match week.

Key Takeaway

Asian Handicap provides a favourable edge for weaker teams, eliminating draw and win in some cases.
Asian Handicaps come in different forms, including, negative and positive point handicaps.
It also provides an advantage for the Favourite team to have a goal deficit against the underdog.

Understanding Asian Handicap

Unlike the regular money line betting option that has only two ways of outcome – either of two matched teams to win or draw the match, Asian Handicap, often abbreviated as AH provides a levelling ground between the two teams, eliminating win or draw. This option offers a favourable edge for matches where it is unclear or tricky to pick whether the home or away team would win or draw the match.

Asian Handicaps are mostly, used in a match, where the underdog will be given a chance at goals ahead of the favourite. So for instance, if Chelsea FC faces Bournemouth, Asian Handicap +1.5 could be given to Bournemouth which depicts Bournemouth having two goals ahead of Chelsea.

Now, if the match ends in a draw or Chelsea wins by the margin of only one goal, the match becomes a win as Bournemouth will have an extra one-goal advantage over Chelsea. Conversely, if Chelsea wins by a margin of more than two goals, it is a loss as the goals ahead of Chelsea are outplayed.

Asian Handicap Lines – Different Types Explained

Asian Handicap is super straightforward to understand. It comes in a different range of numbers which includes round numbers (0, 1, 2, 3, etc), half numbers (-0.5, -1.5, -2.5, +0.5, +1.5, +2.5, etc), and quarters such as -1.25, -1.75, +1.25, +1.75 and more. These numbers serve as options when choosing a handicap over a team.

Let’s start by understanding half numbers.

Handicap Half Lines (0.5 / 1.5)

Apart from a full line which is a round-up of a single number, a half line comes with a different spice, ending with a .5 advantage. This means you don’t have a single goal/point but also an extra half advantage to increase winning possibilities. Half-line Handicaps range between negative or positive 0.5, 1.5, 2.5, and on.

Betting with the +0.5 half line means you are positively wagering on a team to start the match with a 0.5 half-goal lead ahead of the matched team. If the match ends in a draw, the half advantage makes you win the bet but if your team goes down with a negative 1 goal defeat, it is a loss … .Similarly, if you bet on +1.5, the team you wager on starts with a positive 2:0 goals lead. If the match ends in a draw or loses by a single goal, you win the match as you have an extra goal ahead, however, if your team loses by 3 goals, it’s a loss.

Handicap Half Lines – Negative Numbers (-0.5 / -1.5)

Negative half Handicaps carry the same psychology as that of positive Handicaps but from an opposite perspective. In a match that involves a strong favourite and weak underdog, the Handicap -0.5 would be given to the favourite team. What this means is that the favourite is down by a single goal which is also known as goal deficit, and for this option to come out successful, the favourite team needs to score at least a 2:0 margin.

If the favourite is unfortunate to erase the negative goal by scoring more than one goal, the match comes out as a loss. The same initiative applies to -1.5 Handicap and the other half numbers, the favourite has to score more than two goals to win the bet.

Asian Handicap Betting – Round Numbers

Round numbers betting often recognised as single Asian handicap betting is expressed in the form of a fraction or whole number (+1 or -1), remember that mathematics class? ….. .Bettors can either bet on the favorite or underdog team to win or lose by a certain margin or win outright. Asian Handicap +1 or +1.0 in terminology means a goal.

In light of this, if the Red Devils (Manchester United) were to play against Norwich City, of course, Manchester United has to be the favourite in this type of match, the bookie might offer Norwich City a +1 handicap, stating Norwich has a goal advantage over Man-U. If you wager on this option and Norwich goes down with a 2-1 defeat, a +1 Handicap will be added to the score to level it 2:2, it is not a total loss, instead, your stake will be refunded.

Alternative Asian Handicap

Alternative Asian Handicap, often recognised as AAH is a less popular form of Handicap that eliminates draw-in matches. It involves giving different handicaps to both teams to create a more balanced betting market.

For example, if Liverpool and Chelsea are matched together, then you give Liverpool a wins -0.25 handicap, and Chelsea a +0.25 handicap, if either of the teams wins the match, you would win the enter bet but if the match ends in a draw you will be given not full but half of your stake… Remember, Asian Handicaps eliminate draws!

Benefits of Asian Handicap Betting

One of the major reasons Asian Handicap is preferred to other betting options is because of its flexibility in terms of creating possible match outcomes. Asian Handicap provides a levelling ground on the pitch, eliminating draws or even defeats in most cases.

This betting option enables bettors to stake on their picks with either goal deficit or goal ahead for return creation. And this is the reason Asian Handicaps are mostly preferred compared to the traditional Moneyline betting that only offers two match outcomes – Win or Draw, or any other betting options.

Another advantage of Asian Handicap betting is that it provides you an edge ahead of the bookie, allowing you to stake on the underdog team at even odds, which is usually not possible in Moneyline betting. Asian Handicaps offer positive numbers of goals to be given ahead of the match, so you can wager a +1 or +2 Handicap on an underdog team to create an advantage over the favourite team.

Difference between Asian Handicap and European Handicap

Asian Handicaps (AH) are typically the same version as any other Handicap or Point Spread but with a distinct style. The difference between Asian Handicaps and European Handicaps is that, European Handicaps level the playing field for the underdog with a line provided by the bookie, also known as bookmakers.

For example, if you wager on a team with a negative goal advantage, i.e. -1 Handicap, the team must win by at least two or more goals for your bet to be classified as a win. On the other hand, if they were unable to win with up to a goal margin or end up in a tie, then the bet is lost.

However, Asian Handicaps offer a more complex approach. The Handicap point is created in such a way that there are only two possible outcomes for the bet – win or lose, but the possibility of a draw is eliminated as your stake will be returned if there is a draw.

The handicap is determined by a team of professionals the bookie, who will analyse the strengths and weaknesses of both teams in a match, for the creation of a favourite and an underdog. Several factors are also taken into consideration during analysis, such as recent form, player injuries, and home advantage. The advantage of a positive handicap will be assigned to the underdog team, while the favourite will be given a negative Handicap.

This may seem confusing, let’s make it more understandable. The bookmaker would give the underdog team an advantage of +2 Handicap goals if they feel that the team is likely to lose by two goals. If it turns out the underdog loses by 2:0 or draws the match by 1:1, the Handicap +2 will be added to the final score at the end of the game to level the score line to 2:2, or 1:3 for the drawn match. In this case, you did not lose the bet but won.

How Do You Place an Asian Handicap Bet?

Handicap betting is used across a wide range of sports, including football, basketball, rugby, and tennis. Placing this betting option is super straightforward, it is the same as placing other betting options.

The first thing to do when trying to use the Asian Handicap is to first of all make research bookies that offer Asian Handicaps. When you finally get one, the next step is to create an account with them. Once you are done, fund your account and move to the market of the match you want to wager on, then ensure you are picking the right Asian Handicap option from the market.

Which Sports Can I Find an Asian Handicap?

Asian Handicap betting is becoming increasingly popular in the sports betting industry and has been adopted by many other professional sports. Below is a list and brief explanation of professional sports where you can find Asian Handicap betting.

Football – Talking of a sport that carries the largest population of Asian handicaps, football betting ranks number one as it is so straightforward to use, creating value for bettors who know their edge around it.
Basketball – Basketball is another sport where your Asian Handicaps can be found and used. In this sport, Asian Handicap is often expressed in points since basketball has nothing to do with goals.
Ice hockey – AH betting in ice hockey is similar to the one used in football. It is counted by the number of goals ahead or goal deficit.
Lawn Tennis – Just like football, Tennis also offers Handicaps such as +0.5, +1.5, +2.5, -0.5, -1.5, -2.5, etc.

What Are the Disadvantages of Asian Betting?

As interesting as it seems, the Asian Handicap has its light and dark side. Sometimes, it may be hard to understand, especially when it comes to half Handicaps, so one needs to be careful and re-study if you are in doubt. Know the clear difference between round numbers Asian Handicaps and half-line Asian Handicaps.

Our Verdict

Asian Handicap introduces a dynamic and strategic dimension to sports betting, offering a refreshing alternative compared to traditional fixed-odds wagers. By understanding the nuances of goal handicaps and staying informed about team strengths and weaknesses, you can elevate your betting game and potentially enjoy more consistent success. As with any form of betting, Betensured advises responsible gambling, for a greater and more enjoyable experience.