Asian Handicap Betting Explained
The Asian Handicap may seem like an alien concept to many, but it shouldn’t be. Once you understand the basic principles it’s very simple to follow. Betting on the Asian Handicap markets will alter the way you approach certain selections in football as well as other sports and it can certainly increase your profits in the process.
As you’ve no doubt guessed already, this betting concept originates from Asia. It’s a style of betting which evens things out to make it a more level playing field if you like, so it eliminates the draw. For example, let’s take the +0.5 goals example on an underdog – If it ends 2-2 then your bet will still win if you backed this selection, but will lose if you backed the favourite on the -0.5 handicap. Make sense?
Simply put, the Asian Handicap market is there to offer you a straight 50/50 chance of winning and the handicap will be adjusted according to the strength of both teams. The odds on offer for an even line will generally be around 1.90 to 2.10, but one team will have a predetermined handicap to cover before kick-off.
IMPORTANT - the Asian Handicap market is different to Handicap markets.
The Asian Handicap market, as mentioned, offers a 50/50 chance of winning and adjusts the handicap line accordingly, whereas Handicap markets alter the odds on offer around the handicap of +1, +2, +3, +4 goals etc.
Asian Handicap Market Example
Let’s take a look at one football example in regards to the Match Odds market:
Traditional Fixed Odds Match Result Market:
West Ham United – 1.95
Draw – 3.60
Birmingham City – 4.33
ASIAN HANDICAP MARKET:
West Ham United -0.5 - 1.95
Birmingham City +0.5 - 1.95
The Match Odds market for West Ham vs Birmingham favours West Ham winning the match, so the Asian Handicap is giving Birmingham a 0.5 goals head start. With us so far? So if you fancy Birmingham to get a result, but would also like the added comfort of a draw then the Asian Handicap market gives you that insurance.
This is a pretty standard example but the handicap can range from 0 goals (equal to the Draw No Bet market) up to 3.75 goals, depending on the strength of the teams involved. It’s fairly common to see high ranges in any Manchester City match for example as they’re pretty good compared to many opponents they face.
REMEMBER - The Asian Handicap market moves in increments of 0.25 – to understand how this works and to understand your returns for each one, please see the complete team and bet result examples at the end of this article.
Betting firms will generally show the handicap as displayed above but some bookmakers will use the longer format. The below two bets are exactly the same but can be shown differently
Besiktas -0.25
Besiktas 0.00, -0.50
What the selection “Besiktas 0.00, -0.50” is telling us, is that half of your stake is placed on Besiktas 0.00 and the other half on Besiktas -0.50. So if Besiktas draw the match then only half of your stake is considered a losing bet as it failed to cover the -0.50 handicap but the other half is refunded. Easy eh?
To be profitable in the Asian Handicap betting markets you need to show patience, discipline and have enough sporting knowledge in the specific area or match you’re betting on to make an informed decision. Here is a brief summary of how the Asian Handicap markets work:
- Just two possible outcomes as the draw is removed from the equation.
- The underdog is handed an advantage to make it a level playing field.
- The odds for both outcomes will be very similar (around 1.9-2.1).
- Match Results, Goals, Yellow/Red Cards, Corners and Throw In betting markets all tend to have Asian Handicap markets to bet on.
- The Asian Handicap market is not the same as a traditional handicap market.
Handicap 0
Team Result – Win / Bet Result – Win
Team Result – Draw / Bet Result – Stake Refunded
Team Result – Lose / Bet Result – Lose
Handicap -0.25
Team Result – Win / Bet Result – Win
Team Result – Draw / Bet Result – Half Lose
Team Result – Lose / Bet Result – Lose
Handicap +0.25
Team Result – Win / Bet Result – Win
Team Result – Draw / Bet Result – Half Win
Team Result – Lose / Bet Result – Lose
Handicap -0.5
Team Result – Win / Bet Result – Win
Team Result – Draw / Bet Result – Lose
Team Result – Lose / Bet Result – Lose
Handicap +0.5
Team Result – Win / Bet Result – Win
Team Result – Draw / Bet Result – Win
Team Result – Lose / Bet Result – Lose
Handicap -0.75
Team Result – Win by 2+ / Bet Result – Win
Team Result – Win by 1 / Bet Result – Half Win
Team Result – Draw / Bet Result – Lose
Team Result – Lose / Bet Result – Lose
Handicap +0.75
Team Result – Win / Bet Result – Win
Team Result – Draw / Bet Result – Win
Team Result – Lose by 1 / Bet Result – Half Lose
Team Result – Lose by 2+ / Bet Result - Lose
Handicap -1.00
Team Result – Win by 2+ / Bet Result – Win
Team Result – Win by 1 / Bet Result – Stake Refunded
Team Result – Draw / Bet Result – Lose
Team Result – Lose / Bet Result – Lose
Handicap +1.00
Team Result – Win / Bet Result – Win
Team Result – Draw / Bet Result – Win
Team Result – Lose by 1 / Bet Result – Stake Refunded
Team Result – Lose by 2+ / Bet Result – Lose
Handicap -1.25
Team Result – Win by 2+ / Bet Result – Win
Team Result – Win by 1 / Bet Result – Half Lose
Team Result – Draw / Bet Result – Lose
Team Result – Lose / Bet Result – Lose
Handicap +1.25
Team Result – Win / Bet Result – Win
Team Result – Draw / Bet Result – Win
Team Result – Lose by 1 / Bet Result – Half Win
Team Result – Lose by 2+ / Bet Result – Lose
Handicap -1.50
Team Result – Win by 2+ / Bet Result – Win
Team Result – Win by 1 / Bet Result – Lose
Team Result – Draw / Bet Result – Lose
Team Result – Lose / Bet Result – Lose
Handicap +1.50
Team Result – Win / Bet Result – Win
Team Result – Draw / Bet Result – Win
Team Result – Lose by 1 / Bet Result – Win
Team Result – Lose by 2+ / Bet Result – Lose
Handicap -1.75
Team Result – Win by 3+ / Bet Result – Win
Team Result – Win by 2 / Bet Result – Half Win
Team Result – Win by 1 / Bet Result – Lose
Team Result – Draw / Bet Result – Lose
Team Result – Lose / Bet Result – Lose
Handicap +1.75
Team Result – Win / Bet Result – Win
Team Result – Draw / Bet Result – Win
Team Result – Lose by 1 / Bet Result – Win
Team Result – Lose by 2 / Bet Result – Half Lose
Team Result – Lose by 3+ / Bet Result – Lose
Handicap -2.00
Team Result – Win by 3+ / Bet Result – Win
Team Result – Win by 2 / Bet Result – Stake Refunded
Team Result – Win by 1 / Bet Result – Lose
Team Result – Draw / Bet Result – Lose
Team Result – Lose / Bet Result – Lose
Handicap +2.00
Team Result – Win / Bet Result – Win
Team Result – Draw / Bet Result – Win
Team Result – Lose by 1 / Bet Result – Win
Team Result – Lose by 2 / Bet Result – Stake Refunded
Team Result – Lose by 3+ / Bet Result – Lose
