Asian Handicap Betting Explained: How It Works and When to Use It
A variant of traditional handicap betting, Asian handicap betting is a popular option in football (soccer) markets that levels the playing field between teams. It’s beneficial when one team is favored, allowing you to back either side with adjusted outcomes and better odds.
As with all handicap bets, the underdog is given an artificial advantage, and a deficit is applied to the favourite. You add the handicap to the team's score to work out the result of your wager..
With an Asian handicap, however, when betting on football, you'll notice that the lines often feature a fraction of a goal, so you'll come across lines such as -0.75 or +1.25.
Below, we’ll explain how these work using some examples. We also discuss how you can use Asian handicap betting to your advantage.
Note: In this article, “football” refers to the global game known as “soccer” in the United States and Canada. Odds may appear in fractional, decimal, or American formats depending on your region, but the principles behind the bet remain the same.
Types of Asian Handicaps
There are two main types of Asian handicaps, which you can then combine in other variations:
- Half-Goal Handicaps: This type of handicap sets the margin of victory including 0.5 of a goal, ensuring a winner, as teams cannot score half a goal.
- Whole-Goal Handicaps: This type of handicap does not include decimal amounts. It introduces the possibility of refunding your stake (a "push") because the final score could match the projected handicap.
- Split Stakes: This market, also known as "split handicaps," allows you to split your stake across two different outcomes. This is similar to an each-way bet in horse racing, as you divide your stake across multiple outcomes.
- Accumulators: Combine multiple handicap selections into a single bet. If any selection results in a push, that part of the bet is removed, and your stake is carried over to the remaining selections at reduced odds.
Examples of Asian Handicap Bets
0.5 Asian Handicap Example
- Tottenham -0.5 @ 2.05*
- Chelsea +0.5 @ 1.75
In the above example, although Tottenham is the favourite to win in the 1x2 market, its odds are reduced to 21/20 (2.05) when a -0.5 Asian handicap is applied.
If you bet on Tottenham, you would need them to win. Your bet is a loser if Chelsea wins or the game ends in a draw.
If you backed Chelsea +0.5, you'd win your bet if the game ended as a draw or if Chelsea won. If the Spurs win, it would be a losing wager.
*Odds may appear in fractional, decimal, or American formats depending on your region, but the principles behind the bet remain the same.
-1 Asian Handicap Example
In the following example, a football betting site has set the Asian handicap for the Madrid derby at -/+1.
- Real Madrid -1 @ 1.80
- Atletico Madrid +1 @ 2.10
A bet on Real Madrid means you need them to win by two or more goals to land a full return.
If they win by a single goal, your stake is refunded as a push. If the match ends in a draw or a loss, your bet loses, and your full stake is lost.
A bet on Atletico Madrid +1 means you win the bet if the side wins or draws.
If Atletico loses by a single goal, you get your stake back. A defeat by two goals or more, and you'd lose the bet along with your stake.
0.75 Asian Handicap Example
Note: For clarity, we use simple numbers (e.g., “a stake of 100”) throughout this guide. You can apply the same logic in your local currency.
Quarter-goal handicaps split your stake between two different lines. If you back a favourite with a -0.75 handicap, half your stake goes on them to win -0.5 and the other half on -1.
To illustrate how this works, let’s look at an example of a London derby where the Asian handicap line is set at 0.75.
- Arsenal -0.75 @ 1.90
- West Ham +0.75 @ 1.90
- Bet: 100 on Arsenal -0.75 @ 1.90
- Outcome: Arsenal 2-0 West Ham
- Return: 190.00
Since Arsenal won by two or more goals and overcame the spread, you get a full payout of 190.00 (100 @ 1.90).
If Arsenal had won by one goal, you would win with half your stake (50 on the 0.5 part of the bet) and get the other half refunded (50 from the -1 part of the bet). If Arsenal had lost or the game had ended in a draw, you would have lost all your stake.
- Bet: 100 on West Ham +0.75 @ 1.90
In this scenario, if West Ham were to win or draw the game, you would get a full payout.
If West Ham lost by a single goal, you'd lose half your stake (50 loss for the +0.5 part of the bet) but get the other half refunded (50 back for the +1 part of the bet). If West Ham lost by two or more goals, you'd lose all of your stake of 100.
0.25 Asian Handicap Example
- Manchester United -0.25 @ 2.0
- Newcastle United +0.25 @ 1.90
- Bet: 100 on Manchester United -0.25 @ 2.0
- Outcome: Manchester United 1-0 Newcastle United
By winning the game 1-0, Manchester United overcame the -0.25 spread so that you would get a full payout at odds of 1/1.
If the game ended in a draw, you would lose half your stake and get the other half refunded.
If Newcastle United had won, you'd lose the bet.
- Bet: 100 on Newcastle United +0.25 @ 1.90
If Newcastle United wins, you get a full payout at odds of 1.90.
If the game is drawn, you receive half your stake back (50) and win with the other half at odds of 1.90.
If Newcastle United loses, you lose the bet.
Split Stakes Example
For example, if you place a $10 bet on Southampton 0.0, +0.5 @ 1.960 against Arsenal:
- $5 of your stake goes on Southampton 0.0. This part of the bet wins if Southampton wins the game, and your stake is refunded if it's a draw.
- $5 of your stake goes on Southampton +0.5. This part wins if Southampton draws or wins the match, as they have a half-goal head start.
Asian Handicap Betting Strategies
When backing Asian handicaps, a few strategies can come in handy. We recommend starting with the full-goal/half-goal markets.
Once you have mastered this type of betting, consider the more advanced options:
Look for Overperforming Underdogs
One of the advantages of Asian handicap betting is that you don’t always need a team to win to get a payout. For example, if you back the underdog with a +1.5 line, you will still get a full return on your bet if they lose the game by a single goal.
It can be rewarding to have the Win, Draw, and slender defeat outcomes on your side, and not have to rely on an upset.A Form of Insurance
As a form of insurance, in Asian handicap betting, you get your stake back when the outcome of a bet lands precisely on the betting line, which is called a push. For example, if you back a team with a -1 Asian handicap, you will get your stake returned if they win the game by a single goal.
Shop Around for the Best Lines and Odds
Different platforms offer different lines and odds on the same match. The odds can often vary fairly significantly in the Asian handicap market.
Compare odds to find the best value.
Final Verdict on Asian Handicap Betting
Asian handicap betting can initially seem complicated, but it's pretty simple with some practice. Whether you enjoy it depends on what kind of gambler you are; if you like to bet on the underdog at long odds to win big money, then it may not be so appealing. But if you're the sort of player who prefers to accumulate small winnings over time, Asian handicap can offer good value.
