What is the Asian Handicap | Sports betting guides

Asian handicap betting provides certain teams with a theoretical advantage or disadvantage over their opposition, making it a fantastic option when betting on underdogs or heavy favourites. Here, we are going to look through what the Asian handicap is, the different forms it comes in and how you can use it in your betting strategy.

What is the Asian Handicap? 

The Asian handicap is a form of betting where a team is given a head start. This bet makes it so that a stronger team must win by a greater number of goals, or the underdog must lose by less than a predetermined margin for the bet to be deemed successful. The Asian handicap allows you to even the match a bit. This form of bet is perfect for football matches when one team is heavily favoured compared to its opponents.

If you have a short-priced favourite against a long-shot outsider, but you think the game’s closer than the odds suggest, then the Asian handicap is perfect. It works by giving a particular team a head start of 1, 2, or 3+ goals. Obviously, the odds have been adjusted to reflect this.

Now, you might be wondering what the difference is between the Asian handicap and the traditional handicap betting system. In standard handicap betting, only whole numbers are used for the betting selections. In contrast, Asian handicap betting allows for half numbers to be used, effectively meaning there is no possibility for a draw whilst using the Asian handicap.

While this might be quite confusing, there are many different handicaps to try to understand, so we’ll take you through them.

Asian Handicap Examples:

Unlike the traditional handicap betting system, there are plenty of different handicaps that can be used throughout Asian handicap betting, from Plus (+) and Minus (-) handicaps to 0.25 and 0.5.

Throughout this table, we can see how different handicaps affect the results of matches and how many goals teams would need to win or lose for the bet to be successful. It is important to remember that this table can be applied to other sports; we have alternative sporting asian handicap guides, such as our tennis Asian handicap guide and our rugby asian handicap guide on site.

By using a real-life example of Manchester City vs Aston Villa, we can see what bookmakers typically offer for different score lines and results of the match. As there was no clear favourite for the match, we can see that Manchester City, starting at -0.75, would return with evens for the bettor if Manchester City are able to win the game. 

As Asian handicap betting offers more insurance compared to handicap betting, the odds are typically lower, as players can return their stake when using Asian handicap betting.

We are going to run through how these different Asian handicaps will return bettors if the bet is successful, as some of these bets can have unique results, such as pushes and half wins. If football is the sport you love and you are looking for different handicap bets to place, we have a football handicap betting guide available on the site.

0 Asian Handicap Meaning 

This is the Asian handicap option when you see a 0 next to the team’s name, as opposed to a plus or minus followed by a number. This is basically a draw-no-bet market. No handicap is applied to either team, and if the game ends in a draw, you will receive your money back.

E.g. you have bet on Manchester City to win the match; there are three different outcomes:

• Manchester City win – You win the bet
• Manchester City draw – Your stake is refunded
• Manchester City lose – You lose the bet

+1/-1 Asian Handicap Meaning

Next, we will look at the whole numbers, so these are similar to what is seen across handicap betting, as this allows for a team or side to start ahead. In the example of Manchester City and Aston Villa, we will use Manchester City starting with -1, which is placed at odds of 7/5. 

Theoretically, this means that Manchester City will start a goal down, and the game begins 1-0 to Aston Villa, meaning for a return to be made, Manchester City will have to win the game by two goals. If Manchester City wins the game by 1 goal, then it will be a draw according to the Asian handicap system.

Now, this can be reversed so teams can start a goal ahead, meaning they will have a better chance of winning in the handicap system, and this is typically used for underdogs who are tipped to be beaten. You can also bet on -2 and +2, giving teams bigger winning margins.

E.g. you have bet on Manchester City to win with a handicap of -1; there are four different scenarios:

• Manchester City win by 2 goals – You win the bet
• Manchester City win by 1 goal – The game is a draw, and the stake is pushed
• Draw – You lose the bet
• Manchester City lose – You lose the bet

For the other way around, we can see that if you placed a bet on Aston Villa to be a goal ahead, Aston Villa would need to draw or win the match in order for the bet to return, and if the game is a draw, then the stake is returned! We recommend using this for underdogs, as it gives the worst team a head start against the better team, meaning even if the underdogs lose, your bet still could be successful.

Half Goal Asian Handicap Meaning (0.5/1.5) 

This is where things get a bit confusing, and many people are put off by Asian handicap betting.

But, essentially, it is exactly the same as above, except it stops the chances of the bet being a push. This means that you will definitely either win or lose your bet. There will be no refunds in the event of a draw when using half-goal Asian handicaps; this is where Asian handicap really differs from traditional handicap betting.

By using the Manchester City example, we can see that you can place a bet on Manchester City to begin the game with -0.5 goals. 

Whilst you cannot score half a goal in football, this effectively means that Manchester City have to win the match. If the game ends 3-3, then the -0.5 will be applied to Manchester City, meaning Aston Villa would win the game, and the bet would not be successful. It is also possible to add a larger deficit, such as -1.5 or even -2.5. By doing this, teams will then have to win by a bigger margin as they are starting more goals down. If it is a -1.5 handicap, then the team will have to win by 2 goals to overcome the handicap.

Bettors can also use these half-goal Asian handicaps for underdogs by placing +0.5; this effectively means that as long as that team does not lose, then a return will be made. If you placed a bet on Aston Villa with a handicap of +1.5, they would either have to win, draw or lose the game by one goal for the bet to be successful.

E.g. you have bet on Aston Villa to win with a handicap of +0.5; there are three different scenarios: 

• Aston Villa Win – You win the bet
• Draw – You win the bet
• Aston Villa Lose – You lose the bet

Split Line Asian Handicap Meaning (0.25/0.75)

Another part of Asian handicap betting that is different from traditional handicap betting is the split-line Asian handicap system, which allows bettors to stake in quarters of goals. What this means is that if the team loses or wins by the quarter goal margin, the bettor will be awarded a half-win. 

This means there is no chance for the stake to be returned, as in 0 handicap betting, and instead, there are half wins and losses. As there is a higher risk, bettors typically get better odds with these types of bets, as seen here:

Effectively, this works exactly like the -1 handicap; however, instead of the stake being returned, the player will be awarded a half-win, meaning half of the stake returns to the player, and the other half is taken by the bookmaker. 

E.g. you place a bet on Manchester City with a -1.25 handicap; here are the different outcomes:

• Manchester City win by 2 goals – You win the bet
• Manchester City win by 1 goal – You are returned half of your stake
• Draw – You lose the bet
• Manchester City lose – You lose the bet

If you placed a +1.25 handicap on Aston Villa to win, here would be the different outcomes of your bet:

• Aston Villa Win – You win the bet
• Draw – You win the bet
• Aston Villa lose by 1 goal – You are returned half of your stake
• Aston Villa lose by 2 goals – You lose the bet

As this offers plenty of insurance for teams, you will typically find lower odds on these types of handicaps compared to other Asian handicaps.

What Sports Are Popular in Asian Handicap Betting? 

Whilst we have used the example of football throughout this piece, this does not mean that Asian handicap betting is only applicable to this sport. There are many other sports on which you can place Asian handicap bets, with our site being full of different tips that can be found in our basketball Asian handicap guide and darts asian handicap guide.

Here are some sports which are popular throughout Asian handicap betting:

• Football
• Rugby
• Tennis
• Basketball
• Golf
• Darts
• Basketball
• American Football

Some of these sports are not team sports, so you might be wondering how they can be used in Asian handicap betting. However, this allows players to be given leads. For example, with golf Asian handicap betting, you could bet on a player to start +1.25 shots ahead, meaning if they lose by one shot, players will be awarded half the stake, and if they finish on the same number of shots, then the bet will be won. For golf specifically, this betting option might only be available for head-to-head matches, ones we typically see in events such as the Ryder Cup.

If you are interested in any of these sports, we have different specific guides tailored specifically to each one, such as our football betting guide. We also have a matched betting blog, which is full of useful and fascinating matched betting and sports content.

What Is Asian Goal Line Betting? 

The Asian handicap applies not only to teams winning or losing but also to how many goals are scored in the match. Asian goal line betting allows bettors to place bets on how many goals are scored throughout the match. Here, we will look through all the different scenarios when placing Asian goal-line bets.

Handicap	Total Goals In Game	Bet Outcome
+0.5	0	Lose
	1 or more	Win
+0.75	0	Lose
	1	Half Win
	2 or more	Win
+1	0	Lose
	1	Stake Returned
	2 or more	Win

Whilst you can also bet on there being plenty of goals, you can also bet on there being a small number of goals scored. This is typically used for those who think there are not going to be many goals scored.

Handicap	Total Goals In Game	Bet Outcome
-0.5	0	Win
	1 or more	Lose
-0.75	0	Win
	1	Half Win
	2 or more	Lose
-1	0	Win
	1	Stake Returned
	2 or more	Lose

With Asian goal line being a component of betting, there is also traditional goal line betting, which you can learn more about in our goal line betting guide, full of all the information you would need to place goal line bets.

With Asian handicap betting being a popular way to bet, it is perfect to be used when placing bets on either underdogs or heavy favourites, as it can even the odds.

Asian Handicap FAQs 

For those interested in using this form of betting, we will go through some of the most frequently asked questions about Asian Handicap betting.

How Do I Bet Using The Asian Handicap? 

To use the Asian handicap, you must find the section on the site which allows you to place bets; typically, you must find the match you want to place your selection on first.

By using Unibet as an example, we can see that by clicking on a match and using the navigation bar, we can find Asian Lines. Then, you can choose which handicap you want to bet on and for what team; then, like any other bet, you can enter your stake and place the bet.

What Is The Difference Between Handicap Betting And Asian Handicap Betting? 

In traditional handicap betting, there is the possibility for a draw, whereas Asian handicap betting does not account for draws when players place bets on half and quarter goals. If you bet on a whole number handicap and the game is a draw, Asian handicaps will return the stake, therefore offering lower odds than traditional handicap betting. If you would like to know more about handicap betting, check out our handicap betting guide.

What Is A Push In Asian Handicap Betting? 

A Push is when the result ends in a draw with the handicap included. For example, if you bet on Manchester City with a -1 handicap and they won the game 1-0, according to the handicap, the game would end 0-0, as Manchester City started the game 1 goal behind. If this does happen, then the stake that the bettor placed will be returned.

Why Do People Use The Asian Handicap In Betting? 

With the insurance of the stake being returned for a whole number of handicaps, bettors are taking less risk compared to other betting forms that do not allow for returns. When betting on half and quarter numbers, bettors are able to be awarded half of their stake, again offering some insurance.