Asian Handicap Betting

Vadims Mikeļevičs

Vadims Mikeļevičs

2.3

Asian handicap betting is something becoming more and more popular with sports gamblers, and this popularity means that more and more sports betting sites are now starting to offer it. If you’ve ever wondered what does Asian handicap mean, this is the page for you. We’re going to go through absolutely everything to do with the subject, and by the end, you’ll be ready to start placing bets of this type.

On this page, we’re going to use a few different screenshots. These mostly come from 888 Sport, which is an excellent site, especially for those who want to bet on markets of this kind.

What is Asian Handicap Betting?

This is perhaps the most essential question: what is Asian handicap betting exactly? Well, to tell you, you’ll first need to understand regular handicap betting. In regular handicap betting, the result is weighted in favour of the less fancied team. So, for example, imagine Manchester United are playing Liverpool, and Liverpool are the favourites to win. The weighting would remove this advantage, perhaps giving Manchester United a one-goal head start. Therefore, if the match ended 1-1, Manchester United would be seen as 2-1 winners. This leaves room for the possibility of a draw though - something that can’t happen in the Asian version of this bet type.

Asian handicap betting works in 0.5 increments. So, take a look at the screenshot below, showing the market for Liverpool vs Barcelona:
asian handicap advantage disadvantage example

You can see on the above screenshot that Liverpool have been given a -0.5 disadvantage. This means that 0.5 will be removed from their goal total at the end of the game. So, if the result were 2-2, the score in terms of the Asian handicap would be 1.5-2, meaning those betting on Barcelona would be declared the winner. The odds are very different from regular handicap betting, as there’s no chance of the result ending in a draw.
It is generally the case that this betting type is used when trying to predict the result of a match, however some sites also allow it to be used for one half of a game. Here’s another screenshot from 888 Sport:

asian handicap betting example
In the above example, a score of 0-0 at half time would actually mean a win for those betting on Barcelona, as Liverpool have 0.5 goals removed from their total. Many people like to bet on the halves. However, most stick to the full-time result, as it is slightly more predictable.

A Different Type of This Market

It is sometimes the case that you’ll be assigned two different handicaps per team. This doesn’t happen at 888 Sport, where we’ve got most screenshots from; however, you can see it in the example below from William Hill:
asianFINAL-e1557412627110

You can see in the above screenshot that both teams have two handicaps assigned to them. Aberdeen have both -0.5 and -1.0, while Hearts has +0.5 and +1.0. How does betting work in this case?

Well, it looks complicated, however, it’s not. It just essentially means that your bet is split in two. So, if you picked the Aberdeen, half your stake would be on the -0.5 handicap, while the other half would be on the -1.0 handicap. You can then win one, both or none of the bets.

Let’s take an example. Imagine you picked the Aberdeen and the score ended up 3-1 to Hearts. You’d win the -0.5 part of the bet, plus you’d also win the -1.0 part too. This is because subtracting either handicap still sees Aberdeen winning. Essentially, when there are two handicaps offered, you’re getting two chances to win. Whether you prefer this to regular Asian handicap betting is really down to your own personal preferences.

Asian Handicap Calculator

Honestly, there’s really no need for an Asian handicap calculator, as it is so easy to work out. We’ll use the below screenshot as an example:
asian handicap calculator

Take a look and imagine this scenario: you pick Chelsea to win with a -2.5 goal handicap, which gets you odds of 27/10. The result is then 3-0 to Chelsea. Would you win your bet, or would you lose it?

The answer? You’d be a winner, as taking away the 2.5 goals from Chelsea’s total still leaves them with more goals, winning by 0.5 goals to zero.

Here’s another scenario: you pick Eintracht Frankfurt to win with a +2.5 goal handicap, and the game finishes 2-1 to Chelsea. Would you win?
Yes, you would win. Why? Because you have to add the handicap to Frankfurt’s score, which makes Frankfurt’s number of goals 3.5, which is higher than Chelsea’s two goals.

That’s all there is to it. Just add or subtract the handicap from the end result, and you’ll have an instant answer to whether you’re a winner. There really isn’t any need for an Asian handicap calculator when you bet.

Asian Handicap Betting Tips

The main idea of the Asian handicap betting tips is this: assume what you think the score will be before looking at the Asian handicap markets. So, in a match between Tottenham and Arsenal, decide who will win. If you think Tottenham will win 2-0, you can then take the option of +2.5 goals for Arsenal. If you look at the handicaps straightaway though, they might influence you into a different, possibly incorrect, conclusion.

Another tip is the fact that using Asian handicapping is a great way to make bets on the underdog. Let’s say that Manchester City is playing Brighton. City has already won the league and Brighton are scrapping to avoid relegation. You know that Brighton will be playing hard, while Manchester City has no incentive to play hard at all. This is where you could take a punt on Brighton winning, perhaps with a +1.5 handicap. Even if Brighton don’t perform at their best, you still have a decent chance of scooping a prize.

Finally, don’t take the first price you find. It used to be the case that finding Asian handicap markets was difficult, however, they are now offered at loads of different sites. So, compare betting prices across multiple websites. By doing so, you should ensure you get the best odds available for your bet.

Live Betting on Asian Handicap

In this Asian handicap football explained page, it’s important not to miss out one crucial fact: this type of betting is also available to those who like to bet live on football. As with all other types of live odds, the odds will fluctuate as the match progresses, and it’s your job to jump in at the right time and make your bet.

For example, let’s say Real Madrid are playing Barcelona, and Barcelona takes the lead. The odds will now change. For example, Madrid might have started with a +0.5 boost, but it now goes up to a +2.5 handicap, reflecting the fact that they’re now even bigger underdogs. Do you bet now, or do you wait as you think you can get better odds later on in the match?

Conclusion

If you were wondering how does Asian handicap work, you’ve now got your answer. It’s mostly a modified version of standard handicap betting, which is preferred by many experienced gamblers. Of course, whether you prefer the standard version is entirely down to your own personal preferences though.

So, you should now know the Asian handicap meaning and therefore be totally ready to start betting on football markets of this type. You just now need to head away and find what you think is the perfect market for you. Don’t forget to check our predictions every week, as these sometimes include tips on markets of this type.

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Vadims Mikeļevičs

Vadims Mikeļevičs

Vadims Mikeļevičs is an e-sports and biathlon enthusiast with years of writing experience about games, sports, and bookmakers.