Handicap betting

The handicap betting is used to cancel out the differences in an uneven confrontation by subtracting points or goals from the favourite or by adding them to the outsider.

There are two types of handicap betting:

• Traditional handicap
  
  
• Asian handicap

Traditional handicap betting

In a traditional handicap betting, a whole number of points or goals is subtracted from the favourite or added to the outsider.

If you’re betting on the favourite, it will need to perform better than its handicap if you are to win your bet. This handicap will be subtracted from its final score. The favourite’s handicap is preceded by the sign (-).

The outsider starts off with a head start that will be added to its final score. The outsider’s handicap is preceded by the sign (+).

Note that the handicap is only added to or subtracted from the score of the team you are betting on. There is no accumulation.

Handicap bets may be offered for any sports but they are particularly common in rugby and American sports.

See an example of traditional handicap betting >>>

Asian handicap betting

An Asian handicap betting is closely related to a traditional handicap, but it has a number of important differences:

• You cannot bet on a drawn match
• Handicaps of ¼, ½ or ¾ are possible

The following specific provisions apply when calculating profits and losses:

• Your stake is refunded if the result is a drawn match after the handicap is taken into consideration
• Your profit or loss is halved if the result is a victory by a quarter of a goal after the handicap is taken into consideration

The notation system for the Asian handicap uses the symbol (:). For example, a handicap of 0:1 means that a goal is added to the score of the away team.

Here are the different types of Asian handicaps:

0:0 Handicap >>>
Handicap given when there is no favourite. The stake is refunded if the match is drawn.

0:1/4 Handicap >>>
This handicap means that one of the teams is given a 0.25 goal start on the other at kickoff. The profit or loss is halved if the match is drawn.

0:1/2 Handicap >>>
This handicap means that one of the teams is given a 0.5 goal start on the other at kickoff.

0:3/4 Handicap >>>
This handicap means that one of the teams is given a 0.75 goal start on the other at kickoff. The profit or loss is halved if the favourite wins by a difference of one goal.

0:1 Handicap >>>
This handicap means that one of the teams is given a 1 goal start on the other at kickoff. The stake is refunded if the favourite wins by a difference of one goal.

0:1 3/4 Handicap >>>
This handicap means that one of the teams is given a 1.75 goal start on the other at kickoff. The profit or loss is halved if the favourite wins by a difference of two goals.

Once you have familiarised yourself with the concept, the Asian handicap offers many advantages:

• There are only two possible outcomes (a home win or an away win) instead of the three traditional results
• You have more chances of winning with the Asian handicap due to the additional possibility of pocketing half the expected profit
• Your losses are reduced by the possibility of losing only half your stake

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