All you need to know about handicap betting?

As handicap betting continues to be a popular market, here is everything you need to know about how handicap betting works.

What is handicap betting?

Handicap betting is a type of bet where the chances of players or teams winning a specific match or event are evened up.

This is achieved by giving one of the participants an advantage, usually in the form of more points or an extra goal.

When one player or team is more superior to the other, the margin of the handicap markets offered can be greater.

For example, if you were picking Harlequins to win in the below handicap market, the final result would need to be a Harlequins victory with eight points deducted in order to have a winning selection.

Similarly, a winning bet on Glasgow in this scenario would be a Glasgow victory when considering an eight-point headstart.

Harlequins v Glasgow

Harlequins -8 - 10/11
Glasgow +8 - 1/1
Tie +8 - 16/1

Asian handicap betting

Asian Handicap betting is a variation of handicap match betting which is used in football and is popular in Asia.

Similar to normal handicap betting, teams are given handicap scores which are added to or taken away from, however one of the main differences for Asian Handicap betting is that the handicap markets are in lower increments.

Asian Handicap betting also excludes draws/ties, reducing the event or match to two possible outcomes. Odds for Asian Handicap bets are also traditionally shown in decimals.

In the below scenario, a bet on Tottenham would be successful when taking a goal away from the final outcome, and a winning bet on West Ham would take a goal headstart into account.

For most football matches, alternative Asian Handicap lines with greater margins will also be available.

West Ham v Tottenham

West Ham +0.5 - 1.900
Tottenham -0.5 - 2.030

The difference between handicap and spread betting

Handicap betting is sometimes referred to as 'The Spread' and the two terms have the same meaning.

The Spread is a term more commonly used in the US but it shares all the same aspects as what is known in the UK as handicap betting

The phrase 'betting on the spread' commonly refers to selecting the underdog.

Football season handicap betting

Football season handicap betting is available before the start of each season.

A handicap is given to each team based on how likely they are to win the league.

Teams who are perceived to have a better chance of winning a competition are given handicap scores closer to scratch, whilst the supposed weaker teams are given higher handicaps.

Once the handicap values are applied, the customer is effectively betting on which team will subsequently acquire the most points.