The betting strategies team at Livetipsportal is busy working on the topic of handicap bets for you. In the following article we are going to explain how it works, give several examples as well as taking a deeper look into a special form, the so called Asian-handicap.
Handicap bet – what is it?
In a handicap bet, the bookmaker grants the supposed weaker team a lead, which in the following will be added to the actual outcome. As a result the team thought of as favorite will start with a draw of 0:0, but actually will already be behind with 0:1 before the game has even started. If the favorite wins with 1:0, the result of the bet, after subtracting the handicap, will be 1:1. So important for actual winnings is not the official final score, but rather the score as well as the added goals from the handicap. This type of bet on the one hand side is used to higher the chance of a draw between the teams, on the other hand to raise the odds for a win of the favorite.
The lead given in a handicap bet is not restricted to only one goal. The favorite team can start into the game with a handicap of 2 goals and higher.
Examples for Sporting bets with a handicap
Lets take a deeper look at a handicap bet, using a practical example. Lets say FC Bayern Munich meets Eintracht Frankfurt in the German DFB-Pokal. A win with a normal 3-way-bet of Munich gives us odds of 1.5 for a victory, 4.0 for a draw and 6.0 for a loss. Since we are totally convinced that Munich will win the game, instead of a usual 3-way-bet, we want a handicap bet with a one-goal lead for Frankfurt. The betting odds change to 2.5 for a win, 4.0 the draw and 4.0 for a loss. In our example the official result is 3:0 for the german record champion, after subtracting the handicap a 2:0 for Munich will remain. In this case our bet was a success.
Here is a table to illustrate how the end result varies based on a handicap bet.
| Official result | Result with handicap -1 |
|---|---|
| 0:0 | 0:1 |
| 1:0 | 1:1 |
| 2:0 | 2:1 |
| 2:1 | 2:2 |
| 3:1 | 3:2 |
| 0:1 | 0:2 |
| 0:2 | 0:3 |
| 1:1 | 1:2 |
| 2:2 | 2:3 |
For the advanced better there is another type of handicap bets, the Asian-handicap, which – as the name reveals – is very popular in Asian countries. The Asian-handicap bet is an extension of the normal handicap bet where the betters can minimize their risk. In contrast to the usual handicap bet you have the chance to get your full stake back, or at least a part of it.
How does the Asian-handicap work?
Lets continues where we left with the normal handicap. In the simple Asian handicap (-0), the insert is simply refundable in the event of a draw with calculating in the handicap. The risk is therefore reduced accordingly for the player. However, there are other forms and degrees of this type of bet. For example, the -0.25 handicap. The rule here is that (again taking into account the handicap) only half the stake is in draw. The bet is thus only half lost. The situation is different at a -0.75 handicap. This one starts with a handicap of two goals. In case of victory with a one-goal lead after 90 minutes, the bet is considered to be half the battle. This means that the player gets back his bet and additionally gets paid half the profit. The 0.5 handicap is a normal handicap bet.
| Handicap | Result | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| 0 | win | loss |
| 0 | draw | money back |
| 0 | loss | loss |
| -0,25 | win | win |
| -0,25 | draw | loss the half |
| -0,25 | loss | loss |
| -0,50 | win | win |
| -0,50 | draw | loss |
| -0,50 | loss | loss |
| -0,75 | win with +2 | win |
| -0,75 | win with 1 goal | win the half |
| -0,75 | draw | loss |
| -0,75 | loss | loss |
| -1 | win with + 2 | win |
| -1 | win with 1 goal | money back |
| -1 | draw | loss |
| -1 | loss | loss |
Can you earn money with handicap bets?
Handicap bets are excellent for increasing its odds and the potential profit involved. Hardly a betting strategy offers customers such a lucrative output with comparatively low risk. The odds for a favorite win rise through the fictional handicap. A lot of punters also play their handicap bets as part of an accumulation bet.
What sports are suitable for handicap bets?
Handicap bets are very interesting especially for team sports such as hockey or football. Above all in “the beautiful game”, handicap bets provide a great base since it often comes to duels David against Goliath. To increase the odds of the favored team, handicap bets offer an excellent foundation. In football, the halftime result is often mirrored via handicaps to offer interesting rates for the second half of the game. If Team A, for example, leading 2:0 at halftime, there are many bookmaker offering odds for a 0:2 handicap for the second side. If you are interested in other betting strategies we would recommend you to take a closer look on our article about the last minute goal betting system.