What does Asian handicap betting mean?
Asian Handicap betting is a form of handicap that eliminates the draw from consideration, reducing the match to two outcomes. This is achieved by awarding a handicap that includes a fraction of a goal to both teams, usually in the form of half a goal.
In addition, by awarding a handicap to both teams, this also brings the odds between the two teams closer together. The aim being to offer the punter two selections of around even money (or just below or just over evens) for the two selections. The important thing to note with Asian Handicap betting is that the handicap is only applied to the team that you back with the bet.
The name of the bet refers to the fact that unlike General handicap betting or European handicap betting, this form of handicap bet was first popularised in Asia. Let’s now take a look at the two most common forms of Asian Handicap bets; Standard and Split Handicap Asian Handicap bets.
Popular Asian Handicap bets
Standard Asian Handicap Betting
A standard Asian Handicap bet is one that applies a handicap to both teams competing ion a fixture. The aim of the handicap is to make the game as close to a 50/50 result as possible, thus offering better value odds on the favoured team, while offering a better chance for the underdog team to win the bet.
Additionally, the Asian handicap applied will usually include half a goal, ensuring that a draw cannot be possible when the handicap is applied to the team you back. Let’s explore how this simple handicap bet works by using an example.
Example: Asian Handicap Bet
Let’s say a bookmaker offers the following Asian Handicap options on a game between Manchester City and Everton. For simplicity, we will say both odds are even money for either option.
- Manchester City (-2.5) vs Everton (+2.5)
As you can see, with the half goal handicap, this eliminates the possibility for a draw. So if you placed a £10 bet on Everton (+2.5) at those odds, or a tenner on Manchester City, what would the possible outcomes for the bet be?
Possible Outcomes - £10 on Everton (+2.5) at evens.
- Any Everton Win - Your bet wins (£10 profit).
- Any Draw - Your bet wins (£10 profit).
- Any Manchester City win by just one or two goals - Your bet wins (£10 profit).
- Any Manchester City win by three goals or more - Your bet loses (£10 loss)
Possible Outcomes - £10 on Manchester City (-2.5) at evens.
- Any Everton Win - Your bet loses (£10 loss).
- Any Draw - Your bet loses (£10 loss).
- Any Manchester City win by just one or two goals - Your bet loses (£10 loss).
- Any Manchester City win by three goals or more - Your bet wins (£10 profit)
Asian Split Handicap Betting
Another type of Asian Handicap bet is the Split Handicap. With this bet, two handicaps are shown, usually separated by half or even a quarter of a point.
What makes the Asian Split Handicap bet different is that your stake is split between the two handicap options. Furthermore, your returns are worked out based on the outcome of the match, with each of the two handicaps applied separately to see if each individual bet is a winner or loser.
However, what makes Split Handicap betting different is that you can land a draw, in which case the half of your stake placed on the handicap that results in a draw is returned to you. It is easier to show how this bet works by means of an example.
Example: Asian Split Handicap Bet
A bookmaker offers the following options on a game between Paris St Germain and Marseille, again for ease of calculation, we will say the odds for each option are even money for ease of calculation.
Paris St. Germain (-1, -1.5) vs Marseille (+1, +1.5).
With the Split Handicap option, your bet stake is split between the two options.
So if you backed Paris St Germain (-1, -1.5) that would mean a £10 bet would be split £5 on the -1 handicap and £5 on the -1.5 handicap. The same is true for the two options if you backed Marseille. By using whole number handicaps, this means that a draw is possible in the fixture, with the handicap applied.
This means that you can earn half your stake back if, when the handicap is applied, the game finishes as a draw.
Possible Outcomes - £10 on PSG (-1, -1.5) at evens
- Any Marseille win or draw - Both your Split Handicap bets on PSG lose. (£10 loss)
- Any PSG win by one goal - Your -1.5 handicap bet loses, but you get your stake returned on the -1 handicap bet as this makes the final score a draw once applied. (£5 loss)
- Any PSG win by two goals or more - Both your -1.5 handicap and -1 handicap bets win (£10 profit).
Possible Outcomes - £10 on Marseille (+1, +1.5) at evens
- Any Marseille win or draw - Both your Split Handicap bets on Marseille win. (£10 profit)
- Any PSG win by one goal - Your +1.5 handicap bet wins (£10), and you get your stake returned (£5) on the +1 handicap bet as this makes the final score a draw once applied. (£5 profit)
- Any PSG win by two goals or more - Both your +1.5 handicap and +1 handicap bets lose (£10 loss).
Popular sports & markets for Asian Handicap betting
Asian Handicap betting is targeted mainly at team sports and games, with soccer the most popular sport on which the bet is used. However it can also be used on other team sports as well including Basketball, American Football, Baseball, Hockey, Rugby, Cricket and similar.
However, soccer is by far the most popular option. Popular Asian Handicap bets cover markets such as full time result and half time result markets, but can also be used for Over/Under bets on corners, bookings and similar.
Pros and Cons of Asian Handicap bets
Pros
- Can improve the odds on backing a strongly favoured team or improve the prospect of an underdog winning the bet.
- Many bookmakers offer a choice of Asian Handicap options for the top games.
- Easy bet to understand.
Cons
Very few longer odds options.
Asian Handicap betting is a simple way to enjoy betting on many sports, especially soccer, breathing life and excitement into markets which at standard odds, appear far too one-sided and unappealing.
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