When it comes to the world of betting, there are a lot of different betting markets. Out of all these, Asian handicap betting has gained a lot of popularity and remains a favourite with professional bettors. In this article, we break down Asian handicap betting, along with its various types and numerous examples, to help you understand how it works.
Best Bookies For Asian Handicap Betting
Bet £10 Get £30 18+. Min deposit requirement. Free Bets are paid as Bet Credits and are available for use upon settlement of qualifying bets. Min odds, bet and payment method exclusions apply. Returns exclude Bet Credits stake. Time limits and Full T&Cs apply. Bet Responsibly. BeGambleAware.org #ad
|
50% up to £50 Welcome Bonus 18+ New bettors; Code PLAY10; Wager deposit & bonus 8x; Max qualifying bet stake=initial bonus; Valid 60 days; Min odds, bet and payment method exclusions apply; Full T&Cs apply. Bet Responsibly. BeGambleAware.org #ad
|
Bet £5 get £20 18+ New UK+ ROI Customers only. Deposit & Bet min £5 as first bet at minimum odds 1/2 to qualify for 1x £20 Free Bet. Certain deposit methods and bet types excluded. Free bet valid for 7 days, stake not returned. Restrictions apply. Full T&Cs apply. Bet Responsibly. BeGambleAware.org #ad
|
Bet £10 get £30 18+. New customers using Promo code R30 only. Min £10 stake, min odds ½, free bets paid as 3x £10, free bets credited after settlement of first qualifying bet, free bets will expire 30 days after the qualifying bet is placed, payment methods/player/country restrictions apply. Full T&Cs apply. Bet Responsibly. BeGambleAware.org #ad
|
Asian Handicap Betting Explained
The Asian handicap is an advanced type of betting as compared with traditional betting with the best football betting sites. It eliminates the chance of a draw in football matches to leave only two possible outcomes: win or lose. The aim of Asian handicap betting is to provide a level playing field for two opposing clubs varying in form and performances (favourite vs underdog).
The underdog is given an advantage in terms of ‘virtual’ goals even before the game starts. For example, if Liverpool is playing against Fulham, who are given a handicap of 0.5 goals by the bookmaker, this essentially means that Fulham will start the match with an advantage of 0.5 goals over Liverpool.
If Liverpool scores one goal only to be equalised by Fulham at the end of the game, the game would have ended in a draw; however, the underdog Fulham started the game with a 1/2 handicap goal, so the final results will be Liverpool 1 – 1.5 for Fulham. Although Liverpool has drawn the game, on the Asian handicap market, it's Fulham who will be considered as the winner.
When placing a bet, the Asian handicap gives the bettor a lot of options to look at before making a final decision on his wager. Asian handicap betting can result in a rare win-win situation, though whether you win or get your stake refunded depends on the nature of the bet you've placed.
Check out our table below for a detailed insight into the different types of Asian Handicap bets.
Asian Handicap Betting Tips & Strategy
The Asian handicap market thrives on giving ‘virtual’ leads to the supposed weaker team, as explained above. You can also place Asian Corner Handicap bets,for more detail on this,check out our dedicated page for Asian Corners.
If you carefully analyse what's at stake and choose the right betting strategy, you are likely to win more bets or even get half or full refund of your stake. Pay attention to the following when placing your bet.
Balance The Win/Loss/ Draw Odds
One of the best strategies in Asian handicap betting is always to be guided by bookmaker prices. The bookies always prefer betting odds for teams based on their performances and likelihood to win a game.
For example, let's imagine that Watford is hosting Liverpool at home and the bookies offer odds 5/7 and 2/5 respectively for Watford and Liverpool, meaning Liverpool are more likely to win the game. In a bet like this, a -1 Asian Handicap on Liverpool is the most suitable option.
This strategy requires comparing the odds with the statistics of the teams involved for a better judgement. The statistics to look out for are the average goals scored and conceded by both teams (home and away) per the current season, as well as previous meetings and history of the match venue, unless they are a neutral grounds. For example, it's more unlikely for Chelsea to lose by a two-goal margin at Stamford Bridge, compared to the chances of Bournemouth losing by a two-goal difference at the Vitality Stadium.
For the best football statistics online, check out our list of the most useful sites for football betting.
Winning and Losing Margins
A team's winning and losing margin is a highly crucial factor in Asian handicap betting. You should check the winning rate and goals scored of top teams whenever they are up against underdogs, and bet on their winning margins. This strategy is more applicable when a supposed ‘big' team has a high scoring rate coming up against a weaker side.
For example, if Manchester City tend to score a lot of goals against weaker opponents, it might be a good idea to bet on them at -1.5 goals, because the odds will be higher.
Asian Handicap Betting Types
Asian handicap betting may seem complex and confusing to some, but it has various sub-types that will help you break it down into basic betting. The types are have been created to give you a better understanding from basic Asian Handicap permutations, along with examples to help clarify things further.
Let's take a closer look at the types of Asian handicap bets below.
Level Asian Handicap Betting
This type of Asian handicap betting is preferred when there is no perceived difference in the strengths of two teams; consequently, both teams start the game with 0 goals. Broadly speaking, you are betting on the overall winner of the game, as the difference (being a draw) has been removed. This Asian handicap type is similar to Draw No Bet, as your money is refunded when the game ends in a tie.
Market Example: 0.0 Asian handicap
Barcelona (odds 8/11) vs Atletico Madrid (odds 4/5)
You stake £50 on Barcelona on a 0.0 Asian Handicap pairing. This means that:
-
If Barcelona wins, you have won the bet.
-
If it ends in a draw, your stake is refunded.
-
If Barcelona loses, you lose the bet.
Single Asian Handicap Betting
The ideal scenario for single Asian handicap betting is when there is a relatively wider difference between the two teams concerned. In this case, bookmakers give the supposed weaker team a lead ahead by goals even before the game starts for betting purposes. This type of Asian handicap is very popular with bookies, and some of most common Asian Handicaps they offer are: -0.5 (1/2 ball), -1 (full ball) , -1.5 (1 & 1/2 ball), and -2.5 (2 & 1/2 ball), and so on.
Market Example 1: 0.5 AH (the best Asian handicap bet for the underdog team)
Juventus (odds 4/6) vs Fiorentina (odds 4/5)
If you stake £10 on Juventus to win on a -0.5 (-1/2 ball) AH pairing, this means that:
-
If Juventus win, you win the bet.
-
If Fiorentina wins or it ends in a draw, you lose the bet.
OR
If you stake £10 on Fiorentina to win on +0.5 (+1/2 ball) Asian handicap pairings, this means that:
-
If Fiorentina wins or it ends in a draw, you win the bet.
-
If Juventus wins, you lose the bet.
Market Example 2: 1 AH (the best AH bet for the favourite team)
Chelsea (odds 8/13) vs Everton (odds 5/6)
If you stake £10 on Chelsea to win on -1 (full ball) Asian handicap pairings, this means that:
-
If Chelsea wins by two or more goals, you win the bet.
-
If Chelsea wins by one goal difference, your stake is refunded.
-
If the match ends on a draw or Everton wins, you lose the bet.
Split Asian Handicap Betting
This type of Asian handicap betting is designed for when the two teams involved are at par in terms of strength and performance. This kind of bet is usually favoured in derby games or big matches, which are very difficult to bet on. The bookie allows you to split your stake for your favourite team on a win or draw basis. It is this type of AH that's referred to as a quarter goal Asian handicap bet. In essence, it is a combination of two AH permutations on a single bet. For example: (0.0 & -0.5= -0.25 AH), (-0.5 & -1= -0.75 AH), (-1 & -1.5= -1.25 AH) and so on.
Market Example 1: 0.25 (1/4 ball) AH
Chelsea (odds 10/11) vs Manchester United (odds 4/5)
If you stake £50 on Chelsea to win on -0.25 AH pairing, this means that:
-
If Chelsea wins, you win the bet.
-
If it ends in a draw, you lose half of your stake (£25) and the other half is refunded to you.
-
If Manchester United wins, you lose the bet.
OR
If you stake £50 on Manchester United to win on +0.25 (+1/4 ball) Asian Handicap pairing, this means that:
-
If Manchester United wins, you win the bet.
-
If it ends in a draw, half of your stake (£25) is refunded to you and the other half (£25) wins the bet at 1.80 odds.
-
If Manchester United loses, you lose the bet.
Market Example 2: 0.75 (3/4 ball) AH
Juventus (odds 10/11) vs Real Madrid (odds 10/11),
If you stake £50 on Juventus to win on +0.75 Asian Handicap pairing, this means that:
-
If Juventus wins or draws the game, you win the bet.
-
If Real Madrid wins the game by one goal difference, you lose half of your stake and the other half is refunded to you.
-
If Real Madrid wins by more than two goals, you lose the bet.
Asian Handicap vs European Handicap
A lot of bettors are familiar with the traditional European handicap betting, which is designed to level the playing field between two opponents of differing abilities through a point advantage or disadvantage.
The key difference between European handicap and Asian handicap systems is that the European version offers a third option: drawn game. The Asian handicap market offers only two outcomes: win or lose. With Asian Handicap betting, should a match result end in a draw, then the bet is deemed a no-bet, and the bettor’s stake is returned.
On a wider note, most consider the European handicap to be is more straightforward and easier to understand when compared to the Asian handicap. And in European Handicap betting, fixed odds provide better odds for underdogs in contrast to Asian handicap betting.
Asian Handicap Table
The Asian Handicap table below features the various types of Asian Handicap bets, along with the results you'd need to win.
| AH | Team Result | Bet Result | AH | Team Result | Bet Result |
| 0 | Win | Win | +0 | Win | Win |
| Draw | Stake Refund | Draw | Stake Refund | ||
| Lose | Lose | Lose | Lose | ||
| -0.25 | Win | Win | +0.25 | Win | Win |
| Draw | Half Lose | Draw | Half Win | ||
| Lose | Lose | Lose | Lose | ||
| -0.5 | Win | Win | +0.5 | Win | Win |
| Draw | Lose | Draw | Win | ||
| Lose | Lose | Lose | Lose | ||
| -0.75 | Win By 2+ | Win | +0.75 | Win | Win |
| Win By 1 | Half Win | Draw | Win | ||
| Draw | Lose | Lose By 1 | Half Lose | ||
| Lose | Lose | Lose By 2+ | Lose | ||
| -1 | Win By 2+ | Win | +1 | Win | Win |
| Win By 1 | Stake Refund | Draw | Win | ||
| Draw | Lose | Lose By 1 | Stake Refund | ||
| Lose | Lose | Lose By 2+ | Lose | ||
| -1.25 | Win By 2+ | Win | +1.25 | Win | Win |
| Win By 1 | Half Lose | Draw | Win | ||
| Draw | Lose | Lose By 1 | Half Win | ||
| Lose | Lose | Lose By 2+ | Lose | ||
| -1.5 | Win By 2+ | Win | +1.5 | Win | Win |
| Win By 1 | Lose | Draw | Win | ||
| Draw | Lose | Lose By 1 | Win | ||
| Lose | Lose | Lose By 2+ | Lose | ||
| -1.75 | Win By 3+ | Win | +1.75 | Win | Win |
| Win By 2 | Half Win | Draw | Win | ||
| Win By 1 | Lose | Lose By 1 | Win | ||
| Draw | Lose | Lose By 2 | Half Lose | ||
| Lose | Lose | Lose By 3+ | Lose | ||
| -2 | Win By 3+ | Win | +2 | Win | Win |
| Win By 2 | Stake Refund | Draw | Win | ||
| Win By 1 | Lose | Lose By 1 | Win | ||
| Draw | Lose | Lose By 2 | Stake Refund | ||
| Lose | Lose | Lose By 3+ | Lose |
Other Common Betting Terms
ThePuntersPage Final Say
The Asian handicap system has gained a lot of popularity in the last decade, and can be found on almost all of the top UK betting sites. The majority of bookmakers offer in-play betting features for AH just as other football markets. This means you get pre-match and in-play benefits, making it more suitable for Asian handicap to increase your chances of winning the bet.
Asian handicap betting markets are ideal for football bettors looking for an alternative to the standard Win/Draw/Win markets, and often offer more value, thus increasing long-term profit. This is often why so many professional gamblers focus heavily on Asian handicap markets. You can also check out our detailed article on Betting Terms & Definitions.
Asian Handicap Betting FAQs
There is absolutely no difference in the two betting permutations, as +0.5 (+1/2 ball) AH is equal to double chance betting.
Yes. Depending on the handicap, you might still win if the team you bet on loses the game. In addition, you can get half or full refund of your stake, even if you lost the bet.
The minus symbol (-) is offered to the favourite team with a handicap disadvantage, and the plus symbol (+) is offered to the underdog who has a handicap advantage.
Yes. There is an option for you to place two betting permutations of the same match on one bet slip, which is called the Split Asian handicap.