What does Asian Handicap mean in betting?

We all love to see our favorite team as a winner but draws can be a bummer. That’s especially true if you love to bank on football games where the teams are in such a good form. Sometimes, you just want to bet on Barcelona or Real Madrid to bag the El Clásico, only to be downed by a draw.

Doing away with a draw when putting together your football bets can be a cinch. You can go the Draw No Bet route. If you can tell form quickly, double chance betting may be more suitable for you. Either way, you may have to settle for flimsy odds, which is where Asian handicap betting brings its A-game.

If you already know a thing or two about European handicapping (think starting a weaker team with a goal advantage), you will love Asian handicap betting. It doesn’t just take away the sting of draws. You can also size up your bets based on feelers like team form, player injuries, and other stats.

First up – What is Asian handicap betting?

Asian handicap betting started out in Indonesia and took off in the early 2000s. It’s a type of football betting where the stronger team gets a goal handicap to level the playing field. This means the stronger team (aka the favorite one) needs to win by more goals for your bet on them to pay off.

The real magic is that the Asian handicap cuts out draws. Instead of usual three outcomes (home win, away win, or draw), it narrows it down to only two. This makes your chances of winning close to 50-50, much like betting on basketball, tennis, or American football.

Here’s a good example. Man City, who are priced at 1.23 to win the game outright and third on the EPL table, are visiting the already relegated Southampton (at 12.8). Most bookies have set a -2 Asian handicap on City at 2.25 odds. If you bank on City to win this Asian handicap bet, they must bag at least two more goals than the Saints. If they win 1-0, draw, or lose, your bet scuppers.

How do Asian handicap bets work?

The point of Asian handicap betting is to make lopsided matches more even for betting. Bookies try to set handicaps that give both teams a roughly so-so chance of winning.

Asian handicaps come in different sizes, from quarter-goals (-0.25, +0.25) to several goals (-2, +2). These handicaps get added to or taken away from a team’s final score to determine if your bet wins.

Here’s what a typical Asian handicap market might look like:

• Liverpool (-1.5): 1.95
• Newcastle (+1.5): 1.95

If you bet $100 on Liverpool -1.5 at odds of 1.95, the Reds need to win by at least two goals for your bet to pay off. If they win 2-0, you would bank a $195 win. If they win 1-0, draw, or lose, you blow your $100.

Types of Asian handicap bets

If you have scrolled down markets offered by your sports betting site, you have probably seen whole handicaps (like -1, +1), half handicaps (like -1.5, +1.5), and quarter handicaps (like -0.25, +0.25, or -1.75, +1.75).

With whole handicaps, there’s a chance for a push. This happens when, after applying the handicap, the final whistle goes at a draw score. In this case, you get your stake back.

Half handicaps remove the chance of a push because no team can score half a goal. If you bet on Arsenal -1.5, the Gunners must score at least two more goals for your wager to pay off. There’s no other way you will win.

Quarter handicaps split your bet into two parts. For instance, a -1.25 handicap splits your bet between -1 and -1.5. If your team wins by two or more goals, both parts of your bet win. If they go a goal ahead, you lose half of your stake and get half back.

Tips for getting the most out of Asian handicap betting

One of the easiest ways to step up your Asian handicap bets is to do your homework before betting. Bookmakers sometimes miss a few tidbits when putting together their odds. They may be too hot or way cold on a team, but things on the ground are different. A little research can go a long way here.

Besides, it pays to be patient. You must look at all angles, factors, and whatnot that could affect the team’s performance on matchday. This can serve you well in football as much as in tennis.

Like anything to do with gambling, you should take Asian handicap betting as a light and fun form of entertainment. The last thing you want is to let addiction rear its ugly head. Keep the responsible gambling tools at your disposal, especially time-outs, deposit limits, and other measures explained on this website.

Why place an Asian handicap bet?

Asian handicap betting has a few benefits over regular 1X2 betting (home win, draw, away win). First off all, it deals with the draw problem, and it often gives better odds, especially when betting on favorites.

AH betting lets you back the weakling without needing them to win outright. With a +1.5 handicap, for example, the underdog can lose by one goal, and you’d still win your bet.

European handicap vs Asian handicap betting

European handicap and Asian handicap betting might sound similar, but they work differently. The big difference is that European handicap only uses whole numbers (like -1, +1), while Asian handicap uses quarter intervals too (-0.25, -0.5, -0.75, etc.).