What Is Asian Handicap Betting? : Betting Guide 2024

Asian Handicap Full Lines

An Asian Handicap full line are whole numbers such as 1, 2, 3, 4, etc and a + will be given to the underdogs and a – will be given to the favourites. For example if Liverpool play Bournemouth, the bookies may give Bournemouth a +1 which effectively gives them a one goal lead to start with. These are the possible outcomes of the match:

Market	The Result	Bet Outcome
Liverpool -1	Win by 2 or more	Win
	Win by 1	Push
	Draw or lose	Lose
Bournemouth +1	Win or draw	Win
	Lose by 1	Push
	Lose by 2 or more	Lose

The possibility for a draw has been removed from the bet which means that if you bet on Liverpool to win but they only win by a 1 goal advantage such as 1-0, 2-1 or 3-2 etc, then the final result would be a draw after the handicap is applied. This means the bet outcome is called a ‘push’ and your bet is voided with your stake returned.

Asian Handicap Half Lines

A half line is when a half number is used such as 0.5, 1.5 or 2.5 etc. For example, if Manchester City are playing a lower league team such as Bristol in the FA cup, Manchester City may be given a handicap of -2.5 as they are the favourites and Bristol will be given +2.5 because they are the underdogs. This means that if you bet on Manchester City to win, they have to win by 3 or more goals for you to win the bet. Alternatively you can bet on Bristol and they will either have to win the match or lose by 2 or less goals for you to win the bet.

Unlike in the full goal lines where a draw voids the bet, if you bet on Bristol with the +2.5 and this match ends in a draw you will win the bet. But if you bet on Manchester City to win and the match ends in a draw, you will lose the bet.

Asian Handicap Quarter Lines

The quarter lines are the most confusing option when it comes to the Asian Handicap. These handicaps will end in either 0.25 or 0.75 and will give teams a 0.25 goal advantage or disadvantage prior to the match. This quarter handicap provides the possibility of half stake wins or losses depending on the outcome of the match. Here is a table that clearly provides the possible outcomes or quarter lines:

Handicap	Team Result	Bet Result	Handicap	Team Result	Bet Result
-0.25	Win	Win	+0.25	Win	Win
	Draw	Half Lose		Draw	Half 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
-1.25	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 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

A Half Loss would mean that you lose half of your stake, for example if you bet €20, you would receive back €10.

A Half Win would mean that you win half of your stake and win half of the bet. For example if you bet €20, you would win €10 from the stake as well as €10 x the odds of the bet.

Asian Handicap -0 and +0

Also known as a ‘Draw, No Bet’ at various betting sites, the +0.00 and -0.00 in the Asian Handicap means there are lesser odds on both teams to win the match but if your selected team doesn’t win you will lose the bet or if it ends in a draw, you will receive your stake back as a ‘push’. For example, for Manchester City vs. Manchester United, here are what the result and bet outcome would look like:

Manchester City -0.00	Win	Win
	Draw	Push
	Lose	Lose
Manchester United +0.00	Win	Win
	Draw	Push
	Lose	Lose

The Pros and Cons of Asian Handicap Betting

Pros

• Evens out matches with a clear favourite

When there is a clear favourite in a match up, betting sites will offer an Asian Handicap which will give the underdogs a head start which evens out the match and provides a more entertaining game as the gap has been tightened.

• Adds excitement to the matches

As the clear gap between two teams is effectively tightened, this will provide bettors with a more exciting watch as it puts the underdog on a more even footing and gives them a higher chance of winning.

• Elimination of draw increases chance of winning

With the majority of bets, a draw is a possibility but with the Asian Handicap it isn’t an option and so it gives bettors a higher chance of winning their bet. If the match does end in a draw, then your stake is returned to you as a push so you don’t lose any money either.

• Possibility to still win if the team you bet on loses

One of the major benefits of an Asian Handicap compared to fixed odd betting, is that if the team you bet on loses, there is still a potential option of winning the bet depending on how much they lose by.

Cons

• It can be complicated

Asian Handicap betting can be quite hard to understand at first and so it is highly advised not to place a bet until you fully understand the rules, the potential outcomes and the full, half and quarter lines. Every result can cause a different bet outcome and newcomers are advised to research and learn all about the Handicap prior to placing a bet.

• Fixed odds are better for underdogs

If you believe the underdog is going to win, the Asian Handicap may not be the best option. The bookmakers are most likely to provide better odds in a fixed outright market for the underdog to win than on an Asian Handicap bet.

In conclusion, Asian Handicap is available at many betting sites and is a complex form of betting. It is vital that you fully understand the rules and the range of potential outcomes before you place a bet. It is most commonly used to provide the underdogs in match ups with a goal advantage at the start of the match to even up the competition. The Asian Handicap can offer a better return with a bigger risk and many bettors love to place bets on the Asian Handicap when they are feeling very confident about a certain outcome.