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Asian Handicap – How to bet on Asian handicap | Ultimate guide [2024]

The Asian handicap is a popular way of betting on sports that enhances flexibility. It is featured by all the important online betting sites and can be used for single and accumulator bets. This betting guide explains how to bet on Asian handicap markets to mitigate risks and maximize winnings.

Asian handicap betting is a popular option among beginners and advanced punters alike. You will find the best betting tips for beginners and advanced strategies for expert punters. We highlight the differences between half-line handicap betting and quarter-line betting and their betting advantages.

Best Bookmakers with Asian Handicap Markets in 21 November 2024 – Updated List

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Key Features of Asian Handicap Betting

Stand Out Features

Description

Removes Draw Outcome
Description
Asian Handicap betting eliminates the possibility of a draw, giving bettors only two possible outcomes (win or lose).
Adjusted Point Spread
Description
Teams are given virtual advantages or disadvantages, making matchups more balanced and attractive for betting.
Partial and Full Handicap
Description
This format includes options like half-goals (e.g., +0.5) and whole goals (e.g., +1) to influence potential results.
Reduces Risks
Description
Asian Handicap can help reduce risk by offering outcomes where bettors can partially or fully recover stakes.
Popular in Football
Description
Especially prevalent in football betting, it offers an alternative to standard point spread betting.

What is an Asian handicap bet?

To have Asian handicap betting explained properly, we must differentiate between the main types of betting handicaps. In most games, we have a favorite and an underdog, with handicap markets on them to cover the spread. Favorites start with handicaps displayed as – points, while underdogs get an advantage showcased as + points. Asian handicaps are betting predictions on whether the teams cover the spread. The greater the spread, the bigger the football betting odds are, but the risks also grow.

These are the three main options when you bet on Asian handicap football:

Full-line bets refer to the total number of goals scored during a match and look like this:

  • In this example, the stakes are returned if the favorite wins by precisely one goal

Half-line bets consist of rational numbers such as +/- 0.5

  • The possibility of the draw is excluded as the favorite covers the spread with any win

Quarter-line bets are two different bets (i.e., +/- 0.5 & 1.0)

  • If you bet on the favorite and it wins by the odd goal, you are paid at half the odds

Why is it called Asian handicap system?

Further Information

Asian handicap is a term that was coined in 1998 by journalist Joe Sumarez. An Indonesian bookmaker named Joe Phan asked him to translate “hang cheng betting”, a popular type of bet on Asian bookmakers, and Sumarez preferred to translate the term as “Asian handicap betting”.

How does Asian handicap work?

Any Asian handicap betting guide highlights that this is a form of spread betting. One team is given a handicap (usually the favorite), while the other gets an advantage (commonly the underdog). In the case of the Asian handicap, the goal is to balance the odds and eliminate the possibility of a draw. Handicap markets usually have just two possible outcomes: win or lose.

For example, when you visit the Stake Asian handicap category, you will see numbers like this:

  • Team A +1.50
  • Team B -2.00
  • Team C +0 & +0.5

If the number is positive, it means that the team is an underdog, meaning it is not expected to win the match (this may also happen in e-sports betting). If the number is negative, that team is the favorite, it is more likely to win the match. To win bets on favorite teams, the result of the match must be higher than the determined points. To win bets on underdog teams, the result of the match must be lower than the determined points.

Here is a simple Asian handicap example:

  • Team A +1.50

This means the team starts the match with +1.50 goals. In this example, if Team A loses the match by 2 points (or more), you lose your bet. You win the bet on all other outcomes.

  • Team B -2.00

This means the team starts the match with -2 goals. To win this bet, Team B must win the match by a minimum of 3 points. If it wins the match but with a difference of only 1 point, you lose the bet. If the difference is exactly 2 points, your bet is refunded – this is one of the special features of Asian handicap betting that can be taken advantage of even when betting on mobile.

These examples belong to the full line and half-line categories. However, as we mentioned above, there are also quarter line bets and they look like this:

  • Team A -0 & -0.5

This means if you place a bet of 20 EUR, or whatever other currency you choose, on Team A, you would actually have placed two different bets worth 10 EUR: Team A -0 and Team A -0.5. In this bet:

  • If Team A wins by 1 point (or more), both bets win.
  • If the match ends in a draw, your -0.5 bet loses, your -0 bet is refunded.
  • If Team A loses, you lose both bets.

What is Asian handicap in football?

Football games have three possible outcomes and regulation time: win, draw, or away win. A + 0.5 goals football handicap betting market eliminates the possibility of a draw. If the match is undecided, the team that gets the +0.5 handicap is declared the winner.

This is also how Asian handicap football bets work. The rules we mentioned above also apply to them. For this reason, let’s explain Asian handicap football bets with a simple example:

  • Manchester -1.5
  • Arsenal +1.5

This means:

  • If you back Manchester to beat Arsenal, it must win the match by 2 or more goals. If Arsenal wins, Manchester scores only one goal, or the result is a draw, you will lose this Asian handicap
  • If you bet Arsenal to beat Manchester, it must win the match (by any number of goals), or lose the match with a score difference of 1, or the result must be a draw. If the score difference is 2 or more, you will lose this Asian handicap

This Asian handicap football example also applies to other sports which can be found even on crypto betting sites. Note that, due to handicap values, “beating” does not mean “winning” in Asian handicap betting.

This is not a simple bet about “who wins the match”. You can still win an Asian handicap bet even if your team loses the match, as long as the final score stays within the handicap limits.

Asian handicap for dummies: More examples

If the above examples aren’t enough for you to understand how to bet with Asian handicap, we can give more examples. Below you can see some of the most common Asian handicap betting examples (such as Asian handicap 0.25) and understand what is required to win these bets.

Asian Handicap 0.25 example

TEAM

HANDICAP

MATCH RESULT

BET RESULT

Team A
HANDICAP
+0.25
MATCH RESULT
Win
BET RESULT
Win
MATCH RESULT
Draw
BET RESULT
Win Half
MATCH RESULT
Lose
BET RESULT
Lose

Asian Handicap 0.5 – Asian Handicap -0.5 examples

TEAM

HANDICAP

MATCH RESULT

BET RESULT

Team A
HANDICAP
+0.50
MATCH RESULT
Win or Draw
BET RESULT
Win
MATCH RESULT
Lose
BET RESULT
Lose
TEAM B
HANDICAP
-0.50
MATCH RESULT
Win
BET RESULT
Win
MATCH RESULT
Lose or Draw
BET RESULT
Lose

Asian Handicap 1 – Asian Handicap -1 examples

TEAM

HANDICAP

MATCH RESULT

BET RESULT

Team A
HANDICAP
+1.00
MATCH RESULT
Win or Draw
BET RESULT
Win
MATCH RESULT
Lose by 1
BET RESULT
Refund
MATCH RESULT
Lose by 2+
BET RESULT
Lose
Team B
HANDICAP
-1.00
MATCH RESULT
Win by 2+
BET RESULT
Win
MATCH RESULT
Win by 1
BET RESULT
Refund
MATCH RESULT
Lose or Draw
BET RESULT
Lose

Asian handicap table: Winning & losing conditions

In order to find out what happens in all other handicap betting values, you can take a look at the Asian handicap chart list below:

HANDICAP

YOU WIN THE BET, IF:

YOU LOSE THE BET, IF:

+1.25
YOU WIN THE BET, IF:
The result is win or draw.
YOU LOSE THE BET, IF:
The result is losing by 2 and more. (You win half of the bet if it is 1.)
-1.25
YOU WIN THE BET, IF:
The result is win by 2 points and more.
YOU LOSE THE BET, IF:
The result is draw or lose. (You win half of the bet if the losing score difference is 1.)
+1.50
YOU WIN THE BET, IF:
The result is win, draw, or lose by 1 point.
YOU LOSE THE BET, IF:
The result is losing by 2 and more.
-1.50
YOU WIN THE BET, IF:
The result is win by 2 points and more.
YOU LOSE THE BET, IF:
The result is draw or win by 1 point.
+1.75
YOU WIN THE BET, IF:
The result is win, draw, or lose by 1 point.
YOU LOSE THE BET, IF:
The result is losing by 3 and more. (You win half of the bet if it is 2.)
-1.75
YOU WIN THE BET, IF:
The result is win by 3 points and more.
YOU LOSE THE BET, IF:
The result is draw or win by 1 point. (You win half of the bet is it is win by 2 points.)
+2.00
YOU WIN THE BET, IF:
The result is win, draw, or lose by 1 point.
YOU LOSE THE BET, IF:
The result is losing by 3 points and more. (If it is 2, you win half of the bet.)
-2.00
YOU WIN THE BET, IF:
The result is win by 3 points and more.
YOU LOSE THE BET, IF:
The result is draw, lose, or win by 1 point. (If it is 2, you win half of the bet.)

The difference between Asian handicap and European handicap

The Asian handicap meaning is slightly different from other types of handicap markets. The main distinction that beginners should make is between Asian handicap vs European handicap. Both are popular betting markets and enjoy ample coverage from online bookmakers. To decide between these handicap betting football, check out the similarities and differences.

Type

Asian Handicap

European Handicap

Definition
Asian Handicap
A type of handicap applied to the weaker team with two possible outcomes: win or lose
European Handicap
A type of handicap where there are three possible outcomes: win, draw, or lose
Betting options
Asian Handicap
Uses fractional or whole-number handicaps, such as -0.5, -1, -1.5, and split handicaps such as -0.25, +0.75.
European Handicap
Uses whole-number handicaps like -1, -2. Offers less flexibility and keeps the draw option viable.
Possible results
Asian Handicap
You win if the team covers the spread and lose if it doesn’t. If the outcome is a push, the stakes are returned
European Handicap
You win if the team covers the spread and lose if it doesn’t. You also lose if a draw is recorded.
Advantages
Asian Handicap
Gives more freedom în adjusting the odds and handicaps. Benefits experienced punters.
European Handicap
Easier to use due to simple structure. Better for beginners and has higher odds

What does alternative asian handicap mean?

Further Information

Alternative Asian handicap bets are actually another name for the half and quarter line bets we explained above. In other words, you place two bets at the same time and win both, lose both, or win one and lose the other.

Some bookmakers also use it as the name for exotic betting options that use the same rules, such as Asian corners (Asian total corners, Asian handicap corners and 1st half Asian corners) and 1st half Asian handicap betting. We have a different guide for alternative Asian handicap bets and we recommend checking it out. We have also prepared a relegation betting guide for football enthusiasts.

Tips & tricks for Asian handicap betting

Tip

While there is no guaranteed Asian handicap betting strategy, we can share a couple of tips & tricks that can help you to win more.

  • Try Asian handicap arbitrage. By taking advantage of the odds differences between different bookmakers, you can guarantee a payout no matter what the score is.
  • You can get better odds in Asian handicap in play As a general rule, in-play (live) betting always offers higher odds.
  • Asian handicap in accumulator bets can pay more. As long as all of your choices win, accumulator bets will pay much more than regular bets. You can increase your chances of winning accumulator bets by applying the strategies in our how to win football accumulators guide.
  • Underdog betting can be surprisingly profitable when live betting. Underdogs always get the higher odds and sometimes they win too. If you do your research and find out that the underdog team really has a chance of winning, don’t hesitate to place a bet.

Pros and cons of Asian handicap betting

PROS

  • You can get higher odds
  • You can still win the bet even if your team loses the match
  • Some outcomes simply refund your money (less chance of losing)

CONS

  • It may seem too complex for beginners
  • Not as practical as straight bets

Master the Art of Asian Handicap

You now know what’s Asian handicap so it is time to try it. Use ‘find your bookmaker guide‘ to choose the best betting site, pick a match and place your Asian handicap bet today.

Some of the best sports betting strategies revolve around Asian handicaps. Take advantage of slight betting market differences and benefit from the best Asian handicap odds each time you bet. Level the playing field with a handicap that gives you more flexibility when fine-tuning the odds. Good luck out there!

Frequently Asked Questions about Asian handicap betting

Asian Handicap is a betting method that gives one team an advantage while eliminating the possibility of a draw. You bet on either win or lose.

Asian handicaps are available in almost all sports. This is one of the most versatile markets, so understanding Asian handicap betting pays off in the long run.

A +1.5 Asian Handicap gives the underdog a +1.5 goal advantage. You win the bet if the team wins the match or loses by a single goal. If it fails by two goals or more, the bet is lost.

Full line bets are simpler so if you just started Asian handicap bets, stick with them for a while. Half/quarter line bets pay more and you can win back/get a half refund for your initial bet in some cases.

Asian handicap bets do not guarantee any profits. There is no difference between making a profit from regular betting and Asian handicap betting – it all depends on how lucky you are.