What Is Asian Handicap Betting? A Clear & Simple Breakdown
You’re probably familiar with handicap wagers used when two mismatched teams face off. Bookies level the playing field by giving the weaker team better odds and the other a deficit. So, what is Asian Handicap? Well, it’s just a spin-off.
Asian Handicap betting is also about leveling the wagering field. The draw outcomes are removed, leaving bettors with two possible outcomes, translating to better odds when backing favorites and higher winning chances. You must know the different types of handicap bets, how to choose the right one, and the outcomes involved. It’s all here in my guide.
What Is Asian Handicap Betting?
What is Asian Handicap? This wager eliminates the draw outcome in a match, leaving two possible results: a win for Team A or B. Sportsbooks implement this bet type when a strong and weak team meet.
The favorite team gets a points deficit and is identified with a minus sign, while the underdog gets a points advantage. You can spot it with a plus sign. The whole point is to level the playing field for bettors to place more strategic wagers.
The long and short of what an Asian Handicap bet is? Overall, this bet type provides better odds. Teams must win or lose by a certain margin for you to win the wager.
Asian Handicap origins
Before getting into what an Asian Handicap is in betting, let me give you a brief background of where it all began. Asian Handicap was mostly used in Asian markets where they wanted wagers to have only two outcomes.
Live betting sites removed the draw and gave one team a virtual lead against the other. After the handicap was applied, it eliminated the possibility of a tie. This was designed to even out team strengths by applying goal handicaps. If you bet on Liverpool -1.5, it means 1.5 is removed from the final goal tally. If Liverpool still wins after this, your wager wins.
Why Use Asian Handicap?
Asian Handicap betting is used to adjust odds and make uneven contests fair and the match more balanced. As mentioned, this wager does away with the draw result, simplifying your bet choices to two.
Moreover, this wager offers better value odds, especially when betting on favorites at top betting platforms. This, in turn, allows bettors to enjoy a more strategic betting experience.
You may not necessarily get online betting promotions and offers for this best at most sportsbooks, but it’s still worthwhile, nonetheless.
How Asian Handicap betting works
I’ve already explained what an Asian Handicap is. Ultimately, it’s no longer about who you think will win, but by how much the team will win. Let me break down how exactly this wager evens out the playing field between two teams before kick-off.
Assigning Handicaps
In essence, both teams are assigned a points advantage or disadvantage. The weaker team is given a goal advantage while the stronger team gets a goal disadvantage. When this happens, it means the stronger team must overcome the stipulated deficit for you to win your wager.
For instance, if new betting sites gives a favorite team a -1.5 handicap, it means it must win by 2+ goals for you to win your wager.
Outcome Scenarios
There are several possible outcomes when discussing what Asian Handicap betting is. I’ll explain these using a match between Team and Team B, with Team given an Asian handicap of -1.
- Winning: For your wager to win, Team A is supposed to win by 2 or more goals.
- Losing: If the match winds up as a draw or if Team A loses, you lose your wager.
- Refund: If Team A happens to win by 1 goal, your wager is refunded.
Split handicaps
It’s also possible to split handicaps with this bet, allowing you to cover more bases when making your wager. In this case, your selection will have one handicap as a whole number and the other half. Your stake is applied equally between the two handicaps. This way, bettors can regain their stake and enjoy potential wins.
Types of Asian Handicap bets
When talking about what an Asian Handicap bet is, there are different bets you can make. Understanding these will help you figure out which handicap to use and when.
Common Handicap Values
First up is the +0.0/ -0.0 handicap, which is the same as the Draw No Bet. You get lower odds if your team doesn’t win, and the match concludes as a draw. The full goal handicap is -0,-1, and -2. If you bet -1, there are three possible outcomes. If the team wins by 1 goal, your stake is returned. If it wins by 2 or more goals, you win, and if the team draws, you lose.
Then you have half-goal handicaps like -0.5/ +0.5, which have only two possible outcomes. If a team wins by 1 goal or more, you win. However, if it loses or draws, you lose. Bettors can also place quarter goals or split handicaps like + 0.25 / -0.25, where the stake is split between two outcomes.
Choosing the Right Handicap
It’s a good idea for beginners to start with simpler handicaps between 0.0 and ±0.5 before moving to more complex ones.
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Asian Handicap Tables
You can’t discuss what Asian Handicap is without highlighting Asian Handicap tables. They display the different handicaps and probable outcomes, helping you to understand the handicap wager and results quickly.
The table will typically cover both underdogs and favorites, and bet outcomes are interpreted as:
- Win: A winning wager
- Win: Half- when half your wager is returned and the other half is paid as wins.
- Push: Void wagers and refunded bets
- Lose half: Lose half your stake, and the other half is refunded
- Lose: A losing wager
Here’s an example:
| Handicap Value (Negative) | Your Team’s Result | Bet Outcome | Handicap Value (Positive) | Your Team’s Result | Bet Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | Win | Win | 0 | Win | Win |
| Draw | Push (Stake Refund) | Draw | Push (Stake Refund) | ||
| Lose | Lose | Lose | Lose | ||
| -0.25 | Win by 1 or more | Win | +0.25 | Win by 1 or more | Win |
| Draw | Lose half | Draw | Win half | ||
| Lose | Lose | Lose | Lose | ||
| -0.5 | Win | Win | +0.5 | Win | Win |
| Draw | Lose | Draw | Win | ||
| Lose | Lose | Lose | Lose | ||
| -1 | Win by 2 or more | Win | +1 | Win or Draw | Win |
| Win by 1 | Push (Stake Refund) | Lose by 1 | Push (Stake Refund) | ||
| Draw or Lose | Lose | Lose by 2 or more | Lose |
Asian Handicap betting pros and cons
Part of understanding what Asian Handicap is, is coming to grips with the fact that there are upsides and downsides to this wager.
- Higher odds on favorites
- Allows for more strategic betting
- Eliminates draw outcome, increasing winning chances
- You can still win even if your team loses
- Huge learning curve
- Less favorable odds than fixed odds
Enjoy strategic betting
Now that you know what Asian Handicap is, why not try this excellent strategy that adds excitement to your wagers? Plus, you get to enjoy better odds, especially on clear favorites. Make sure you’re clued up on the rules, teams, and players involved, and this bet type could be very lucrative.
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FAQ
🏅 What is an Asian handicap bet?
This bet happens when the sportsbook gives the weaker team a point advantage and the stronger team a point disadvantage to level the playing field. It rules out the possibility of a draw, leaving two possible match outcomes.
🔄 What is the push in Asian betting?
This is an outcome in Asian handicap betting when there is no winner or loser, and your stake is refunded.
💰 Can I get bonuses for Asian handicap bets?
Most sportsbooks don’t offer bonuses on Asian handicap bets. Just double-check with the bookie before you join.
