Asian handicap betting involves predicting the winner of a football match while factoring in the goal advantage or disadvantage given to the team by the bookie. Asian handicap is a two-way market, and there is no possibility of a draw. However, pushes and half wins and losses are possible.
Consult our table below to see the different ways you can win an Asian handicap bet based on the handicap provided by the bookmaker. Also see our Asian handicap explained guide below.
| Handicap | Team Result | Bet Result | Handicap | Team Result | Bet Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | Win | Win | 0 | Win | Win |
| Draw | Stake Refund | Draw | Stake Refund | ||
| Lose | Lose | Lose | Lose | ||
| Win | Win | Win | Win | ||
| -0.25 | Draw | Half Lose | +0.25 | Draw | Half Win |
| Lose | Lose | Lose | Lose | ||
| Win | Win | Win | Win | ||
| -0.50 | Win | Win | +0.50 | Win | Win |
| Draw | Lose | Draw | Win | ||
| Lose | Lose | Lose | Lose | ||
| -0.75 | Win by 2+ | Win | +0.75 | Win | Win |
| Win by 1 | Half Win | Draw | Win | ||
| Draw | Lose | Lose by 1 | Half Lose | ||
| Lose | Lose | Lose by 2+ | Lose | ||
| -1.00 | Win by 2+ | Win | +1.00 | Win | Win |
| Win by 1 | Stake Refund | Draw | Win | ||
| Draw | Lose | Lose by 1 | Half Win | ||
| Lose | Lose | Lose by 2+ | Lose | ||
| -1.25 | Win by 2+ | Win | +1.25 | Win | Win |
| Win by 1 | Half Lose | Draw | Win | ||
| Draw | Lose | Lose by 1 | Half Win | ||
| Lose | Lose | Lose by 2+ | Lose | ||
| -1.50 | Win by 2+ | Win | +1.50 | Win | Win |
| Win by 1 | Lose | Draw | Win | ||
| Draw | Lose | Lose by 1 | Win | ||
| Lose | Lose | Lose by 2+ | Lose | ||
| -1.75 | Win by 3+ | Win | +1.75 | Win | Win |
| Win by 2 | Half Win | Draw | Win | ||
| Win by 1 | Lose | Lose by 1 | Win | ||
| Draw | Lose | Lose by 2 | Half Lose | ||
| Lose | Lose | Lose by 3+ | Lose | ||
| -2.00 | Win by 3+ | Win | +2.00 | Win | Win |
| Win by 2 | Stake Refund | Draw | Win | ||
| Win by 1 | Lose | Lose by 1 | Win | ||
| Draw | Lose | Lose by 2 | Stake Refund | ||
| Lose | Lose | Lose by 3+ | Lose |
Understanding Our Asian Handicap Table
Our Asian handicap table shows whether your bet will win, lose, or be a push based on the match result and the handicap you locked in. To use the table simply:
- Scroll down the table until you find the handicap you bet on, e.g., -1.25
- Move along the columns and stop when you land on the match result, e.g., Win by 2+ goals
- If your bet won, then to calculate your payout, multiply the decimal odds you received by your stake, e.g., £100 x 2.00 = £200
- If you half lose, then you’ll receive 50% of your stake back
- If you half win, then you multiply your stake by the odds you received and multiply the result by 50%, e.g., £100 x 2.00 x 0.5 = £100
Thanks to our easy-to-navigate table, you can instantly figure out the result of your Asian handicap bets.
What Is Asian Handicap Betting?
With Asian handicap betting, you’re gambling on a team based on the + or – goal handicap placed on them by the bookie. For example, if you bet on Arsenal to beat Man City at +1.5 and they lose 2-1, your bet still pays out because when you add the +1.5 goal advantage, they won the game. Asian handicaps eliminate the option of a draw, while normal handicap bets keep that in.
The opposite situation can also occur. Let’s say you bet on Chelsea to beat Fulham at -1.5 goals, and Chelsea only wins 1-0. When you deduct the negative goal handicap, Chelsea actually loses the game. Asian handicap lines are used in football betting and you can there are different formats such as other half handicaps which we explain below.
Level Asian Handicap Betting
A level Asian handicap is offered when bookmakers think the quality of the two teams is very close – so both start the game with 0 goals. So just like normal you are essentially betting on the winner of the game.
The difference is that there is no draw option; if the match ends in a draw, you get your stake back.
Single Asian Handicap Betting
Single Asian handicap betting is perfect when the general consensus is one team is far better than the other. The better team will be given a goal handicap to try and reduce the difference in ability for betting purposes. For example, if you were placing an Asian handicap football bet on Manchester City vs Southampton, City would start the game with -0.5, -1, -1.2 or -2 goals.
Split Asian Handicap Betting (Also known as Quarter Goal)
Oddsmakers will provide a split Asian handicap market when the perceived difference between the two teams is not as defined. This market gives you the opportunity to split your stake on a team over two handicaps. For example, the favourites might start the game 0 & -0.5, -0.5 & -1 and -1.5& -1.5 goals. These are also known as quarter goal Asian handicaps where you can win half your bet, which is multiplied by the odds and then half is returned to you, same with lose half your bet etc.
Alternative Asian Handicap Betting Markets
If you have a good grasp of the main Asian handicaps above, understanding all of the other alternative handicaps. The principle remains the same, with the favourites given a handicap, but with a bigger margin. For example, starting from -1.75 going up to -2.75.
All of the bookmakers take a different approach to Asian handicaps. Some will just offer the standard handicaps while others will offer a range of alternatives.
Asian Handicap Vs. European Handicap Betting
In both Asian and European handicaps, the bookie gives the underdog goals and deducts goals from the favourite. The key difference is Asian handicap is a two-way market where a draw is not possible whereas European handicap is a three-way market, and you can bet on a draw.
As Asian handicap is a two-way market, pushes where you receive 100% of your stake back are possible, as are half wins and losses. In contrast, if you made a European handicap bet on a favourite with a -2 handicap and your team wins 2-0, your wager loses. However, in this exact same scenario with an Asian handicap bet, you’d get your stake refunded.
Asian handicaps are typically non-integers, for example, 1.5, while European handicaps are whole numbers like 1.00. Non-integer handicaps make it impossible for the game to end in a draw.
Pros and Cons of Asian Handicap Betting
Asian handicap eliminates the dreaded draw, which is a very frustrating aspect of European handicap betting. It’s also a great way to get better odds on the favourite if you don’t mind your team starting the match down a goal or two!
Unlike exotic props, where the bookie’s take can be over 10%, Asian handicap markets have some of the lowest commissions. You can find bets with margins under 3%, which gives you a good chance of becoming a long-term winner. It is a really good betting tool to use if you regularly wager on football matches.
Another advantage of Asian handicap betting is it eliminates big favourites and heavy underdogs. By placing handicaps on both teams, the game suddenly becomes a 50/50 contest, making it much more interesting to watch.
On the flip side, Asian handicap betting is trickier than your standard 1X2 wager. This is because if you use an Asian handicap bet to back a favourite, you’re not only predicting them to win but are gambling on them winning by a certain margin. For example, let’s say you bet on Liverpool to beat Chelsea at -1.5; you are betting on Liverpool to not only emerge victorious but to win the match by at least two goals.
Pros
- Better odds on favourites
- Turns football handicap betting into win or loss market (draw not possible)
- Low margins
- Your bet can win even if your team draws or loses
- Matches become 50/50 contests
Cons
- More complex than 1X2 betting
- You need to predict goals and winning margin
