Asian handicap betting has become increasingly popular in sports betting, offering a way to level the playing field between teams of differing strengths. Giving the underdog a head start provides more balanced and competitive odds.
How Asian Handicap Betting Works
In Asian handicap betting, bookmakers assign a positive handicap to the underdog based on factors like recent form, injuries, and home advantage. The favourite must overcome this handicap to win the bet. For example, if a team is given a +2 handicap, they start with a two-goal advantage. Even if they lose by one goal, a bet on them would still win.
Asian handicaps are common across sports such as football, basketball, rugby, and tennis, where the handicap is measured in goals, points, or games, depending on the sport.
Asian Handicap vs. European Handicap
European handicap betting also aims to level the playing field by giving a line provided by the bookmaker. For example, a bet with a -1 handicap requires the team to win by at least two goals for the bet to be successful. A win by a single goal or a draw results in a lost bet.
In contrast, Asian handicaps remove the possibility of a draw, ensuring only a win-or-lose outcome for the bettor. This approach offers a more nuanced and strategic betting experience.
Placing an Asian Handicap Bet
Placing an Asian handicap bet follows similar steps to other sports bets. We’ve highlighted the steps below.
- Firstly, bettors need to find a bookmaker offering Asian handicap markets.
- After creating an account, you'll need to explore the site to locate the Asian handicap choice you want, typically found under the "More Bets" category.
- Once you’ve selected your preferred odds and entered your stake, submit the bet slip to finalise your wager.
Understanding 0.0 Asian Handicap
A 0.0 Asian handicap, akin to a Draw No Bet, involves no handicap given to either team. If you bet on a team to win with a 0.0 handicap and they emerge victorious, you win the bet.
However, if the game ends in a draw, your stake is returned, making this a relatively safe option for uncertain outcomes.
Delving Into +0.25 Asian Handicap
The +0.25 Asian handicap is a prevalent betting format that offers a slight edge to the underdog by providing them with a 0.25-goal advantage. If the underdog wins, you win the bet. In case of a draw, you lose only half of your stake, a middle-ground risk for bettors.
Exploring 0.5 Asian Handicap
The 0.5 Asian handicap, or half-goal handicap, sets one team with a half-goal advantage. If betting on the favourite with a -0.5 handicap, that team must win for you to win the bet. Conversely, if you bet on the underdog (+0.5), your bet wins if the underdog wins or the match ends in a draw.
Single Asian Handicap Betting
This simplest form of Asian handicap betting imposes a specific handicap to level the playing field. For example, in a match where Manchester City is the favourite, the bookmaker might give Burnley a +1 handicap. Considering the initial advantage, even a 1-2 loss for Burnley makes the bettor win.
Split Asian Handicap Betting
Split Asian handicap betting splits your bet across two different handicaps, reducing risk. For instance, betting on Liverpool with a split of -1 and -1.5 means you win half your bet if Liverpool wins by one goal and the entire bet if they win by two or more.
Alternative Asian Handicap
Alternative Asian handicap betting assigns different handicaps to teams to better balance the market. For example, giving Manchester United a -0.25 handicap and Chelsea a +0.25 handicap means that a draw partially returns your stake, while a win ensures a full payout. This format is useful for evenly matched teams.
Sports Utilizing Asian Handicap Betting
Asian Handicap betting is popular among various sports, including:
- Football: The primary sport for Asian Handicap betting, offering balanced betting options.
- Basketball: Involves handicaps expressed in points.
- Ice Hockey: Utilizes similar methods to football for assigning handicaps.
Benefits of Asian Handicap Betting
Betting on the Asian Handicap betting markets has a variety of benefits. We highlight some of them below.
Fair Competition
Asian handicap betting balances out the disparity between teams, allowing bets on weaker teams while still having a chance to win, thus adding excitement and unpredictability to sports betting.
Wide Range of Options
This betting format offers a variety of handicaps, giving bettors numerous options to tailor their wagers according to their preferences.
Drawbacks of Asian Handicap Betting
Despite the benefits, there are a few drawbacks to betting on the Asian Handicap betting markets. Here are some of them.
Complexity
One major drawback is the complexity, particularly for beginners. Understanding the handicap system and the teams involved requires considerable knowledge.
Common Mistakes in Asian Handicap Betting
It's crucial to avoid common pitfalls. One mistake is failing to understand how handicaps work; another is not adequately researching teams.
It's also important to remember that Asian handicap betting is just one type of sports betting. Beginners might want to start with simpler markets like 1×2 before delving into more complex forms.
FAQ on Asian Handicap Betting
What does it mean to win half of the stake?
You can reclaim half your stake in quarter-line bets based on the game’s outcome.
Can I combine Asian handicap bets with other bets in an accumulator?
Yes, you can combine Asian handicap bets with other types of betting markets in an accumulator.