Asian handicap betting explained
If you've ever swum in the deeper waters of online sports gambling, you might have come across the term 'Asian handicap betting'. Often seen as more complex and confusing, the Asian handicap markets can take a bit of getting used to.
This guide answers all of your Asian handicap questions, so if you’re looking to improve your understanding of this subject, you’ve landed on the right page. Read on for everything you need to know about Asian handicap betting.
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What is an Asian handicap bet?
Asian handicap betting is an umbrella term for all Asian handicap betting markets, which essentially involve betting on football teams to win or lose after factoring in a positive or negative handicap.
It differs from traditional handicap betting in that the possibility of a draw is removed, so only a win or loss will result in a payout.
Teams are essentially handicapped according to how strong or weak they are. For example, you might bet on ‘Team A -1.5 Asian Handicap’, which means you’d be betting on the team to win by a two goal margin. Similarly, betting on ‘Team B +1.5 Asian Handicap’ means that you’d be betting on the team to avoid losing by any more than a single goal.
Don’t worry, we’ll explain in more detail below. But essentially, Asian handicap betting levels the playing field between two teams.
How does Asian handicap betting work?
The first thing to know is that there are positive and negative Asian handicaps. Positive Asian handicaps involve betting on teams with a head start, while negative Asian handicaps involve betting on teams to overcome a deficit.
The table below provides a clear example of what to expect when betting on the various different Asian handicap markets.
| Asian Handicap | Result | Payout | Asian Handicap | Result | Payout |
| 0 | Win | Win | 0 | Win | Win |
| 0 | Draw | Full Refund | 0 | Draw | Full Refund |
| 0 | Lose | Loss | 0 | Lose | Loss |
| -0.25 | Win | Win | +0.25 | Win | Win |
| -0.25 | Draw | Half Loss | +0.25 | Draw | Half Win |
| -0.25 | Lose | Loss | +0.25 | Lose | Loss |
| -0.50 | Win | Win | +0.50 | Win | Win |
| -0.50 | Draw | Loss | +0.50 | Draw | Win |
| -0.50 | Lose | Loss | +0.50 | Lose | Loss |
| -0.75 | Win | Win | +0.75 | Win | Win |
| -0.75 | Draw | Half Win | +0.75 | Draw | Win |
| -0.75 | Lose by 1 | Loss | +0.75 | Lose by 1 | Half Loss |
| -0.75 | Lose by 2+ | Loss | +0.75 | Lose by 2+ | Loss |
| -1.00 | Win | Win | +1.00 | Win | Win |
| -1.00 | Draw | Full Refund | +1.00 | Draw | Win |
| -1.00 | Lose by 1 | Loss | +1.00 | Lose by 1 | Full Refund |
| -1.00 | Lose by 2+ | Loss | +1.00 | Lose by 2+ | Loss |
It’s worth noting that the Asian handicap options do not stop at -1.00 or +1.00. Depending on the game and the perceived difference in quality, bookmakers can offer much higher Asian handicaps, but the premise remains the same as shown in the table above.
Learn: What does double chance mean in betting?
Pros and cons of Asian handicap betting
Like all types of betting, there are a few pros and cons to Asian handicaps.
Pros
- Asian handicap markets either increase the likelihood of making a return, or decrease the chance of losing fully, which is appealing to lots of bettors.
- Some Asian handicaps allow bettors to win even if their team loses narrowly.
- Full Asian handicaps remove the draw from the equation, simplifying things, which is ideal for lots of bettors.
Cons
- Asian handicap markets can be confusing at first, while it takes time to get to grips with them, which is not ideal for casual bettors.
Split Asian handicap bets
As the table above shows, a split Asian handicap bet is one bet split into two. Half of the stake goes onto the full handicap and half goes on the split.
For example, let’s say Real Madrid are playing Valencia, and you bet on ‘Real Madrid -0.75 Handicap’. If they win by two, you’ll win fully. If Los Blancos win by a single goal, you’ll win half and receive a refund for the other half. If they lose or draw, you lose.
On the flipside, let’s say ahead of the same game, you bet on ‘Valencia +0.75 Handicap’. If Valencia wins the game by any margin, you win fully. If they draw, you win fully too. If they lose by 1, you lose half. If they lose by two, you lose fully.
Learn: What is a treble bet?
Asian handicap betting tips
Asian handicap betting is like any type of betting in the sense that sustained, long-term success is hard to achieve, and there really is no shortcut to Asian handicap betting profit.
When looking to bet on Asian handicaps, the key is to look for reasons why the odds may be in your favour. For example, you may identify that a team covers a particular Asian handicap more often than the odds suggest.
OK, so let’s imagine that Team A is facing Team B. Both teams currently rank in the bottom half of the table. The betting favours the home team. However, Team B has either won or drawn 70% of their away games against other bottom-half teams, though the odds +0.5 Asian Handicap odds reflect only a 60% chance. This is an example of where you may have an edge.
When betting on Asian handicaps, looking for edges, for reasons as to why the odds may be in your favour, will give you the best possible chance of profiting in the long run.
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FAQs
What does a +1.5 Asian handicap mean?
If you place a +1.5 Asian handicap bet, you’re betting on a team to avoid a two-goal loss. The team can either win, draw or lose by a single goal and you’ll win. If the team loses by two or more goals, you’ll lose. Essentially, a +1.5 Asian handicap means that a team starts the game with a 1.5 goal lead for betting purposes.
What is the meaning of +0.75 in Asian handicap?
+0.75 in Asian handicap betting means that you’re betting on a team to draw or win. However, +0.75 is a split Asian handicap, which means that if the team draws or wins, you win. If they lose by one goal, you receive a half refund and lose half. If they lose by two goals, you lose fully.
What is Asian Over 3.0?
Asian Over 3.0 refers to the goal line. For example, if you bet on over 3.0, you’re betting on the match to contain more than three goals. If the match contains four or more goals, you win. If the match contains three goals, you receive a refund. If the match contains less than three goals, you lose.
What is minus 1.25 Asian handicap?
A minus 1.25 Asian handicap (-1.25 Asian handicap) means to bet on a team to win a match by two clear goals. If the team wins by two clear goals, you’ll win. If they win by one goal, you’ll receive a half refund and lose half. If the team fails to win, you lose entirely.
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