Introduction to Asian Handicaps in Soccer
Beginners Guide to Asian Handicap Betting
Handicap betting is popular in many sports and is a way of evening up a contest that might otherwise be one sided.
Handicapping has taken place in betting in many sports over the years. This is popular in both the NFL and the NBA with the point spread. Here the sportsbooks add points to the team considered the underdog. Their aim is to make each bet a 50/50 (with their edge included of course). Finding value bets involves spotting information the books have missed, or those times when they make incorrect assumptions on the relative strength of the teams.
Asian Handicap betting has steadily been growing in soccer. This now offers something different to the more standard ‘to win the game’ bet.
Due to the scarcity of goals in soccer in comparison to points in some other sports, handicap betting in soccer isn’t as straightforward as you’ll find elsewhere. However, with an understanding of how this system works, Asian Handicap betting offers a fascinating additional soccer betting option.
There are multiple Asian Handicap markets for each game, and here I explain how each one works.
Single Bets Using Asian Handicaps
Asian Handicap 0 Market:
You’ll find this market available on games that are deemed to be close. Here you are effectively betting on either team to win, and if the game finishes in a draw, you’ll receive your stake back.
Asian Handicap 0.5 Market:
This is a market you’ll find on many games. Here is an example:
Barcelona (-0.5) 1.91
Man. United (+0.5) 1.91
Here, Manchester United are given a half-a-goal lead when the game starts. If Barcelona wins the game, they’ll win in this market. If Manchester United win, they’ll win in this market. Where the 0.5 Asian handicap comes in is if the game ends in a draw. This would mean United win with their 0.5 goal start. Note that these days, the 0.5 goal lead is almost certainly with Barcelona.
Asian Handicap 1 Market:
This is another popular market, the example below shows how it works:
Germany (-1) 1.91
Sweden (+1) 1.91
Here, if you back Germany, they’ll need to win by two goals or more to win your bet. If Germany win by exactly one goal, the stake is refunded as the game is deemed to finish level. If backing Sweden here, you’ll win if they either win the game or the game is a draw.
Asian Handicap 1.5 Market:
You’ll find this market on games that are more one sided. Here is an example:
Liverpool (-1.5) 1.91
Bristol City (+1.5) 1.91
Here, when backing Liverpool, they’ll have to win by two or more goals. If you choose to back Bristol City you’ll win if they win, draw or even lose by a single goal.
You will find other single Asian Handicap betting markets on many games, especially the extremely one-sided games, and all work in the same way as the above markets.
How do Double Asian Handicaps Work?
Most bets are in the formats above, through advanced sports betting fans can add an extra layer to their wagers by betting on Double Asian Handicap Markets.
Double Handicap 0, 0.5:
Double Asian handicaps are effectively the same as placing two single Asian handicap bets with half of your stake going on each. Here is an example:
Juventus (0, -0.5) 1.91
AC Milan (0, +0.5) 1.91
Here if you back Juventus, you are placing half of your stake on them with a 0 handicap, and the other half on them at -0.5. This means that if they win, both sides of the wager win, and you’ll be paid out fully. If they were to draw, the 0 part of the bet would finish level, so you’d receive that half of that stake back, but you’d lose the -0.5 half, as Juventus lose on this part of the bet. If Juventus loses, you’ll lose the whole stake.
Conversely, if you back Milan, you’ll win fully if they win. A draw would see the 0 part of the bet finish level and see your stake returned. But the +0.5 part of the bet will win and return a profit. A loss for Milan would see you lose the whole stake.
Sometimes, you will see Double Asian Handicap bets listed in a slightly different way. Here is an example using the above game:
Juventus (-0.25) 1.91
AC Milan (+0.25) 1.91
This is the same bet as above, the sportsbook listing the Asian Handicap as an average of the two lines, instead of listing both lines.
You’ll find other double Asian handicap lines, such as (-1, -1.5) or (-2.5, -3) and these work in the same way as above, where you’ll break down the bet into two separate Asian Handicap markets.
Odds for Asian Handicap Bets
In all the above markets I have given odds of 1.91, which is something of an industry standard (using fractional odds you’ll see 10/11, or using American odds you’ll see -110). These standard odds are used if the outcome is a true 50/50 chance, however you’ll find a wide range of odds in Asian Handicap betting, especially when one side of the market will be much more favored than the other. You might find on occasions that bookmakers will take a lower percentage on Asian Handicap bets than other soccer markets, making these bets some of the best you’ll find online.
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