Introduction to Asian Handicap Betting

When coming across Asian handicap betting for the first time, it might seem really confusing to you at first glance.

What will grace your eyes are obviously numbers like -0.5, +1.5, or even -0.75, and you will begin to wonder what these numbers actually mean.

A lot of professional bettors today have been there before, so we understand that as someone new to Asian handicap betting, you are definitely going to get frustrated, especially at how complicated it usually looks when compared to other betting markets that are simple and self-explanatory like the win/draw/win bets.

So we at DailyScoreTips are going to break it down for you in the simplest way possible. We guarantee you that you will learn immediately and know how to use one of the most powerful betting markets available.

For you to be able to bet successfully on Asian handicap betting, we'll try to make you have a proper understanding of how the handicap works, especially what each number means.

We believe that this explanation will go a long way in removing every confusion that you might have so you can bet even smarter.

What is Asian Handicap Betting?

Asian handicap is a betting system that completely removes the option of a draw in a game. What it does is give a particular team a virtual advantage or disadvantage before the match starts.

Here’s the idea behind it: if the favorite team starts with a handicap like -1 goal, while the lesser team, which is the underdog, starts with an advantage like +1 goal, then automatically the playing field is now levelled for both sides.

Unlike traditional betting where you either win, lose, or draw, with Asian handicap, you have only two possible outcomes available to you.

Why Use an Asian Handicap Instead of Regular Betting?

You are not out of order to ask what the essence of Asian handicap is, especially when regular match betting still exists.

Here's exactly why we feel the Asian handicap is better:

With the Asian handicap, you’ve completely removed the possibility of the match ending in a draw. What this does is increase your chances of winning to about 50/50.

So automatically you are now getting much better odds on your favorite team winning, especially when you compare it to just depending on straight win bets.

There are some certain outcomes that will allow you to get refunds (called "push"). With this outcome, you will get more flexibility with the half-goal and quarter-goal handicaps.

If you happen to be a knowledgeable bettor, it will be very difficult for bookmakers to have an advantage over you with this outcome.

So if you manage to take your time to understand how this Asian handicap works, trust us, it will automatically become your favorite market.

How do Whole Number Handicaps Work?

Let's start with the easiest type of whole number handicap like -1, +1, -2, +2.

If you decide to bet on a team that has -1 handicap, that team will need to win with more than one goal for you to win the game.

If on the other hand they win by exactly one goal, the amount you staked on that game will be automatically refunded to you.

However, if they lose the game or win by less, you have lost the bet.

For example, if you staked on Manchester City -1 vs Nottingham Forest, and Manchester City wins 2:0, you win the bet because 2-1=1 so it's still winning.

However, if City wins 2-1, you are going to get your stake refunded to you because 2-1=0, which is a draw.

If City wins 1-0 or loses the match, you have lost the bet.

The +1 handicap is the opposite of the -1 handicap. Here the underdog gets the 1 goal plus head start.

How the Half Goal Handicaps Work

Half goal handicaps like -0.5, +0.5, -1.5, +1.5 are even simpler because there is absolutely no possibility of a refund.

If you bet on -0.5 handicap, the team is expected to win the match for you to win that bet.

If the game ends with a draw or loss, it means you've lost the bet.

Basically, you are betting on them to win. The only difference with a normal win bet is that this one comes with a better odds.

On the other hand, with a +0.5 odd, the underdog team only needs to play a draw or win for you to win the bet.

However, they can still lose and you win the bet, although it has to be within your handicap.

DailyScoreTips loves handicap betting. Everything is clear for you to see only if you understand how it works.

Final Thoughts

At first, Asian handicaps might seem complicated, especially to new bettors.

But when you get used to the market, you'll discover that it is not as complicated as it might seem.

All you have to do is understand how the numbers work. It could yet be your most powerful betting tool if you learn how to use it.

We advise you to start with the simple half goal handicaps like -0.5 and +0.5. Once you get comfortable with it, you can then progress to quarter handicaps.

FAQs

What does -1 mean in Asian handicap?

A -1 Asian handicap simply means that the team is automatically losing by a goal before the game starts.

For you to win your bet, the team is expected to win by at least two or more goals.

Is Asian handicap easier than regular betting?

Asian handicap can actually be easier, but you must understand how it works since it removes the option of a draw.

So it's more like a 50/50 bet.

What is the safest Asian handicap bet?

Based on our industry experience, we believe the safest of all handicaps is the +0.5 since the underdog is expected to just avoid defeat.