Betting on sports often involves more than just picking a winner, and that’s where the term “handicap” comes into play. If you’ve seen handicap betting options and wondered what they’re all about, you’re not alone. Handicap betting adds an extra layer of strategy, and it can be a great way to level the playing field—or tilt it in your favour.
In betting, a handicap is a way of giving one team or player a virtual advantage or disadvantage before the match even begins. The idea is to make the competition more even, particularly when one side is heavily favoured to win. By applying a handicap, bookmakers aim to make both sides of the bet more appealing to punters.
Let’s say there’s a football match between Manchester City and a lower-league team. Manchester City is the heavy favourite, so the bookmakers might offer a handicap of -1.5 goals for Manchester City. This means:
Handicap betting adjusts the match’s outcome by the handicap value, making the bet more competitive and potentially more profitable.
Handicap betting comes in several forms, each offering different levels of complexity and strategy:
This is the classic form, where a whole number handicap (e.g., -1, +2) is applied. There are only two possible outcomes in standard handicap betting—win or lose—since the handicap results in a draw being void.
Asian Handicap betting eliminates the possibility of a draw, offering more precise handicaps like -1.5, +0.5, or even -0.25. If a match ends in a draw after adjusting for the handicap, your stake might be returned, or the bet might be split, depending on the specific handicap.
European Handicap is similar to the standard handicap but includes the possibility of a draw. For example, if the handicap is -1, and the match ends in a one-goal win for the favourite, the bet is a draw.
Handicap betting is popular because it can offer better odds and more interesting markets, especially when one side is heavily favoured. It’s also a way to back a strong team without simply betting on them to win outright, which might not offer much value.
Handicap betting requires a good understanding of the teams or players involved. If you’re not confident in predicting by how much a team will win or lose, it might be better to stick with more straightforward bets. Additionally, if a match is expected to be very close, handicap betting might add unnecessary complexity.
Handicap betting is just one of the many ways to make sports betting more strategic and exciting. For more insights and explanations on betting terms, head over to our Common Casino Questions Answered page. There’s always more to explore!
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