The Asian Handicap system is a type of spread betting that became popular in the early 21st century. Currently, its popularity has increased globally and most sportsbooks offer bettors this betting market. If you are a novice bettor who is yet to grasp the whole idea of this betting market, read further to learn the meaning of Asian Handicap and how it works.
What is Asian Handicap?
Asian handicap (AH) betting is a type of betting in football where teams are handicapped depending on their form. This ensures that the stronger team must win the match by more goals for a wager on them to win. Basically, this type of betting market eliminates the chances of the game ending in a draw, so one team must score higher than the other. By selecting the right odds, berries stand a chance to win the bet.
In the AH betting market, one team will be given an advantage over the other, because it involves giving or eliminating one of the team’s advantages. This is to ensure that the wager is competitive, even in matches with predictable outcomes.
AH is a very straightforward system. The sportsbook simply generates a handicap or a line that provides equal odds to both teams. Hence, it’s up to the gambler to make use of the proper Asian Handicap strategy.
Note that Asian handicap betting decreases the possible number of results from three (in conventional 1X2 wagering) to two by removing the draw outcome. This simplification provides bettors with just two betting options, which both have an almost 50% chance of success.
The History of Asian Handicap
Asian Handicap was founded in Indonesia and this betting system has progressed so far and gained a lot of popularity in today’s betting industry. The name Asian Handicap is established on where this method of betting was derived from. Basically, a handicap simply means providing extra weight to something. So in AH, one team is favored over the other, thereby maximizing their odds of winning. In handicap betting, you can just see two handicaps. One of the handicaps favors the strongest team, while the other handicap will be given to the more vulnerable team. The weaker team is provided the plus (+) symbol, while the much stronger team will be given the minus (-) symbol.
Asian Handicapping Eliminates the Draw
The Asian Handicap betting market is very simple to understand. Before a game starts, it’s pretty easy to predict which teams will win, depending on their previous performance and other factors. This is where handicap betting can be used.
Essentially, this system of betting compensates for the discrepancy between the two teams in a match by putting a one goal deficit on the stronger. On the other hand, the weaker team will be allotted a plus one goal. This way, both teams can play against each other fairly. In the Asian Handicap betting system, it’s either your stake wins or loses since there is nothing like a draw.
Asian Handicap Lines – Different Types Explained
Below, we’ve explained two types of Asian Handicap lines:
1. Asian Handicap Full Lines
The Asian handicap full lines market offers teams in a match round numbers. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, etc. Usually, they will indicate it and bettors can see these lines represented with either a ‘-‘ [minus] for the more favored team or a ‘+’ [plus] sign for the underdog team. For instance,
Liverpool -1.00
Bournemouth +1.00
This indicates that the underdog, Bournemouth will be given a 1 goal head start during the game.
2. Handicap Half Lines (0.5 / 1.5)
Besides full lines, the Asian Handicap betting market also offers bettors a chance to bet on half lines. Half lines are quite different from full lines since they have a unique value, which ends with a .5. Usually, half lines range between +/-0.5, 1.5, 2.5, 3.5, etc. and deal with only half-goal outcomes.
For instance, placing a wager with the +0.5 half line indicates that the team you bet on will start the game with only a 0.5-goal lead. This implies that you win if the team you bet on wins. However, if your chosen team loses, you will lose the bet. Also, if you place a wager on +1.5, one team will start the game with just a positive 1.5-goal lead. You lose your bet if the team loses by over two goals.
3. Handicap Quarter Lines (0.25 / 0.75)
Quarter lines are very different from the other types of lines listed above. Their values usually end with either .25 or .75. One major advantage of the quarter lines system is that it offers bettors greater odds since the bet can still be covered for different outcomes.
You l get a 0.25 goal head start or a deficit based on the type of match you are placing a bet on and the stated odds. If you place a bet on 0.25, this means that you win the stake if the team you wager on wins. However, if the team loses, you also lose the bet and if the match finishes in a tie, you receive half of the stake.
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Pros and Cons of Asian Handicap Betting
Asian handicaps can both be beneficial and harmful for bookmakers. As for the good news, they assist bookmakers to minimize risk by promoting trading with similarity or creating a balance between the number of bets on each side of a game. This allows bookmakers to accept larger positions in important matches. On the other hand, the disadvantage is that Asian handicap market systems are generally low-margin offerings that fail to contribute considerably to the total win, unlike other betting options.
Different Types of Asian Handicap Markets
Below, we’ve explained the Asian handicap markets with different examples in football matches.
1. Asian Handicap 0.0
Example: Arsenal’s odds are @1.90 – Barcelona’s odds are @1.95.
If you are wagering £100 on Arsenal on this 0.0 Asian handicap betting market.
- If Arsenal wins, you will win the bet.
- If a draw happens, your bet is refunded.
- If Arsenal loses, you will lose the bet.
You may see some Sportsbooks offer bettors something like the DNB, Draw no bet, or even Level ball. These are all the same bets as 0.0 AH.
2. 0.25 Handicap Example
The match begins with a score of only 0 – 0.25 (1/4 goal handicap). Basically, the underdog team will be given a quarter goal head start before the match begins. Let’s take a look at an example.
Chelsea @2.00 – Arsenal @1.90
You’re wagering £100 on Chelsea to win this -0.25 Asian handicap market.
- If Chelsea wins, you will win the bet.
- If the result is a tie, you will lose half of the bet (£50), and your other half (£50) will be returned to you.
- If Arsenal wins, you lose the bet.
You are wagering £100 on Arsenal to win this +0.25 handicap.
- If Arsenal wins, you will win the bet.
- If a draw happens, you get half of your bet back and win your other half (£50) at about 1.90 odds. So you still make a profit.
- If Arsenal loses, you lose the bet.
3. 0.5 Handicap Example
In this case, the match begins with a score of just 0:0.5 (half-goal handicaps). The outsider team gets an advantage of just a half goal before the match starts.
Monaco @1.85 – Lyon @2.00
You are wagering £100 on Porto for them to win -0.5 Asian handicap. We make use of the minus symbol (-) if one team leads in the betting markets.
- If Monaco wins, you will win the bet.
- If Lyon wins or the match ends in a tie, you lose the bet.
You are placing a wager on £100 on Lyon to win the +0.5 Asian Handicap. We make use of the plus symbol (+) if this team leads in the betting markets.
- If Lyon wins or the match ends in a tie, you win the bet.
- If Monaco wins the game, you lose your bet.
4. 0.75 Handicap Example
Here the match begins with a total score of 0:0.75 (the 3/4 goal handicap). The underdog team is given a start of just a quarter goal before the match starts. It is quite different from the conventional 0.25 Asian handicap market with only a slight exception.
Porto @1.90 vs Benfica @1.90
You are placing a wager on £100 on Porto to win the +0.75 Asian handicap. The home team will be made the underdog. Hence, Porto gets the 0.75 goal handicap offer.
- If Porto wins or draws at the end of the game, you will win the bet.
- If Benfica wins by only a goal difference (0-1, 2-3, 1-2), you will lose only half of your bet (£50), and your other half (£50) will be returned to you.
- If Benfica wins the match by at least two or more goals (0-2, 0-3), you will lose your bet.
You are placing a wager of £100 on Benfica to win the -0.75 Asian handicap. To win your stake, Benfica has to win by at least two or more goals (0-2, 1-3, 0-3).
- If Benfica wins the match by at least two or more goals, this means that you win the bet.
- If Benfica wins the match by only one goal (0-1, 2-3, 1-2), you will win half of your bet (£50) and win your other half (which is £50 × 1.90). So you make a profit.
- If the match ends in a draw or if Porto wins, you lose your bet.
5. -1 Handicap Example
In this case, the game begins with the score at 0:1. The underdog team is given a head start of just one goal before the game kick-off (handicap of 0:1). For example,
Betis @1.80 vs Real Madrid @2.05
You are placing a wager of £100 on Betis to win the -1 Asian handicap market. To win the stake, you need Betis to win the match by at least two goals (2-0, 3-1, 3-0,).
If Betis wins the match by two or more goals, you will win the bet.
If Betis wins by just one goal (1:0, 3:2), you receive your bet back.
If the match should end in a tie or Real Madrid wins, you will lose the bet
You are placing a wager of £100 on Real Madrid to win the +1 Asian handicap. To win the stake, you need Real Madrid to win the match or a draw.
- If the game results in a tie or Real Madrid wins, you will win the bet.
- If Real Madrid loses by just one goal (1:0, 2:1, 3:2), your bet is refunded.
- With Betis winning by two or more goals, you will lose the bet.
The same thing happens if the home team is the outsider. Generally, it is shown as handicap 1:0 or the handicap +1.
6. -1.5 Handicap Example
This is one of the most popular Asian lines in football handicap betting. Here the match begins with the score at 0:1.5 (which is handicap 1.5).
The underdog team will be given the advantage of just one goal and a half before the game starts. There is no bet back in the -1.5 handicap market.
Juventus @1.90 vs Bologna @2.00
You are placing a wager on £100 in the Juventus -1.5 AH betting market. To win this bet, Juventus has to win with at least two goals difference. If the match ends in other outcomes, you will lose the bet.
- If Juventus wins the game with two goals or even more, you will win the bet. Your gain will be £90.
- If Juventus wins the game with just one goal difference, or the game ends in a draw, or Bologna wins, you will lose your bet.
Let’s assume you place a wager of £100 on Bologna +1.5 Asian handicap.
- If Bologna does not lose the match or loses with only one goal difference (1-0, 2-1), you will win the bet.
- If Juventus wins the match with at least two goals difference, you will lose the bet.
Bottom Line
At this point, you should have gotten a clear understanding of the meaning of Asian Handicap and some of its examples. Although the rules of this betting market may look very complicated at first glance, in the end, you will find out that it is easy, as most gamblers do. Just take enough time to learn the strategy correctly to increase your chances of winning. Take a moment to read on how to use double chances strategy in football betting.
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