Asian Handicap: Familiarise Yourself with This New Type of Bet

Asian handicap betting is a type of bet that is becoming more and more popular in the sports betting industry. Forming part of our betting guide series, you will find out everything that you need to know about Asian handicap bets as well as the best bookies to place such bets in this guide.

What is An Asian Handicap Bet?

Believe it or not, Asian handicap bets originate from South-East Asia. This kind of handicap betting is a bit different to the original type of handicap bet that those who have experience in sports betting will definitely have come across on many occasions.

A normal handicap example would be to place a bet on Chelsea to win a match with a -2 handicap. This means that you need Chelsea to win the match by three clear goals if are going to win the wager. What you are doing here is giving Chelsea a two-goal deficit before the game has started. If they only win by a couple of goals, you will still lose the bet because the sportsbook will consider the outcome to be a 2-2 draw.

So, what makes an Asian handicap different? Well, this newer kind of handicap option gives sports gamblers some more alternatives. For example, you can see a return of half of your wager or all of it, depending on the events that unfold. Asian handicaps also come with lower margins than normal handicaps, so it means you will get better odds.

Draws are common in football, so a team can either win, draw, or lose a match. If you place down an Asian handicap bet, you are ruling out the possibility of a draw, leaving only a victory or a defeat as an option.

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An Asian Handicap Bet Example

To help make things even clearer for you, we are going to provide you with an Asian handicap bet example. Let us say that you are a big fan of the English Premier League, and there is a match between Chelsea and Aston Villa that you would like to bet on. Chelsea are at home and for an Asian handicap of -1.5 they have odds of 1.80, while Villa have odds of 1.80 for an Asian handicap of +1.5.

If you go ahead and stick €10 on Chelsea to win the match and they score twice, once the -1.5 Asian handicap has been applied, the score, according to the sportsbook, would be Chelsea 0.5 Villa 0. Therefore, you would end up winning your bet. However, if Villa scored a goal, making the final score 2-1, then once the Asian handicap has been applied, the new score will be Chelsea 0.5 Villa 1. Thus, due to the bet conditions, Villa have won the match, and you will lose the bet.

However, if you opted to put your money on Villa with a +1.5 Asian handicap, and Chelsea win 2-1, then after the handicap has been applied, the score will be Chelsea 2 Villa 2.5. Therefore, although the actual result was not in Villa's favour, you will still win the bet due to the Asian handicap that you placed.

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Asian Handicap Betting Tips

Before you go ahead and have a look at the markets available for Asian handicap bets, you should first try and predict the number of goals that you think both teams will score. For instance, if you think a team such as Manchester United will score twice against a team like Fulham, you can then check out what the odds are for Fulham +2.5. However, if you take a look at the handicap odds before you do this, there is a very good chance that they will influence your final decision, and you should never second guess yourself when sports betting.

Furthermore, Asian handicap bets are fantastic when you are betting on the underdog. Let us pretend that Liverpool is taking on Crystal Palace. Liverpool has the league sown up already, while Palace is doing its best to avoid relegation. Palace will be a lot more motivated to play because they need points, while Liverpool has less to play for. This is where you can think about taking a gamble on Palace to win, with an Asian handicap of +1.5. Even if Palace does not play their best, there is still a good chance that you win.

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Does Live Asian Handicap Betting Exist?

If you like to place live sports bets, you will be happy to find out that you can place Asian handicap bets even when an event has already started. Like with every other type of bet during live play, the odds are going to change depending on the events that are unfolding in the match. Your challenge is to try and place your bet at the correct time in order to maximise your chance of winning and to get as big a profit as you can.

For instance, let us say that Arsenal is taking on Tottenham and Arsenal takes the lead. The odds will then be changed - Tottenham might have begun the game with a +0.5 boost, but now they will have a +2.5 boost, meaning that they are bigger underdogs now.

FAQ

What is a Level Asian Handicap Bet?

A level Asian Handicap bet is given when the bookmaker does not see any difference in ability between the two teams that are going up against each other. Both teams will start the match with 0 goals or 0 points. In essence, you are basically betting on the team that will win the game. There is a difference though, and that is the possibility of a draw has been taken away. Thus, if the match ends all square, the bet is void and your stake will be returned to you. It is similar to the "Draw No Bet" market.

What is a Quarter-Point Handicap?

A Quarter-Point Handicap, also known as a Split Asian Handicap, is offered when a bookmaker feels that the difference between two teams is less defined. The values for a Quarter-Point Handicap end in 0.25 or 0.75 and range from -/+ 0.25, 0.75, 1.25, 1.75 and so on. The great thing about this type of handicap is that your wager can be for particular outcomes but not to the same extent as Half-Point Handicap betting, meaning the odds are greater. With a Quarter-Point handicap of -0.75, the team you wager on will begin the game with -0.75 goal deficit. You will win if the team you bet on goes to win by two goals. If they win by a goal, your bet is divided so you get your money back for one half, while you will win the other half. If your team loses or draws the game, you lose your stake. The situation is the opposite if you bet on a team with a +0.75 handicap.

What is the Difference Between Handicap Bets and Asian Handicap?

Regular Handicaps, known as European Handicaps, differ from Asian Handicaps in a few ways, but the main way that it is different is the fact that a draw is an option with it. When it comes to Asian Handicaps, there are only two possible outcomes, and if the bet finishes in a draw, your stake will be refunded.

Which Bookmakers Offer Asian Handicap bets?

Nowadays, Asian handicap betting is very popular, and the majority of bookmakers are well aware of this. Bookies know that they have to provide their players with exactly what they are looking for, or risk losing them to one of their competitors. Therefore, you will be able to place Asian Handicap bets at the majority of online bookies that you come across.