Handicap betting is a market that gives a team or player a virtual advantage or disadvantage before the match starts. With handicap betting, bettors do not only predict which team will win. The final score is adjusted by adding or subtracting goals or points from a team’s result before the bet is settled.
Handicap betting creates a more balanced betting market, especially when one team is significantly stronger than the other. This makes matches more interesting to bet on as it offers competitive odds on both sides. For example, if a team has a -1 handicap, they usually need to win by more than one goal for the bet to win. In another instance, if a team has a +1 handicap, they can lose by one goal, draw, or win outright and the bet may still be a win.
Handicap betting is not simply predicting the winner, it adds more excitement in sports betting.
What Does Handicap Mean in Betting
Handicap in betting means an artificial advantage or disadvantage is given to a team or player before the start of the match. This adjustment is then applied to the result when the bet is settled.
Handicap betting levels the playing field when one team is much stronger than the other. By adding or subtracting goals, it creates a balanced betting market and competitive odds for both selections.
How Does Handicap Betting Work?
Handicap betting works by giving a virtual advantage (a head start) or disadvantage (a deficit) to a player and the adjustments apply at the end of the match. For a handicap bet to win, the chosen selection must produce a winning adjusted result after the handicap has been applied. Bettors can follow the following steps to place a handicap bet.
1. Identify the ‘favourite’ and ‘underdog’: Bookmakers use a minus sign (-) for the favourite and a plus sign (+) for the underdog.
2. Choose Your Handicap: Each team is assigned a handicap, such as +1 or-1.
3. Place Your Bet: Decide which handicapped selection will win.
4. Apply the Handicap: At the end of the match, apply the virtual handicap to the actual final score to determine if your bet won.
What Does A Minus Handicap Mean?
A minus handicap (-) means the favoured team must overcome the artificial deficit to win the bet. For example, if Team A (-1) wins 3-1 the adjusted score after the match will be 2-1 and the bet wins.
What Does A Plus Handicap Mean?
A plus handicap (+) are usually given to the weaker team or underdog in the match. The selected starts with an artificial advantage. For example, if Team B (+1) loses 2-1 the adjusted score will 2-2 and the bet wins.
Handicap Betting Example
Example: Team A (-1) vs Team B (+1)
Final score: Team A 2 – 1 Team B
If you bet on Team A (-1):
• Subtract one goal from Team A’s score.
• Adjusted score: Team A 1 -1 Team B.
• Result: The match is a draw and the bet doesn’t win.
If you bet Team B (+1):
• Add one goal to Team B’s score.
• Adjusted score: Team A 2 – 2 Team B.
• Result: Team B is level after the handicap and the bet wins.
It is important to remember that the actual score of the match doesn’t change. The handicap is applied only after the match.
Handicap Betting vs 1X2 Betting
1X2 is a straightforward bet that predicts home win (1), draw (X), or away win (2), whereas handicap betting levels an uneven matchup by applying a virtual advantage or disadvantage. Handicap betting is ideal for matches with a clear favourite.
Asian Handicap vs Standard Handicap
Asian handicap differs from standard handicap by eliminating the possibility of a draw and may include refund scenarios while the standard handicap can include the outcome of a draw and includes three possible outcomes: a home team win after the handicap, match ending in a draw after the handicap or away team win after the handicap.
FAQs
• What does +1 handicap mean?
A +1 handicap means a virtual head start or advantage of 1 goal given to a team before an event begins.
• What does -1 handicap mean?
A -1 handicap means a virtual disadvantage of 1 goal given to a team before a match begins.
• What does a +1.5 handicap mean?
A +1.5 handicap gives a team a virtual head start of 1.5 goals before the game begins. To win a bet on this team, the chosen team must win, draw, or lose by exactly 1 point/goal.
• What does a -1.5 handicap mean?
A -1.5 handicap gives a team a virtual deficit of -1.5 goals before the game begins. To win this bet, the chosen team wins by two or more goals.
• Can a handicap be refunded?
In a standard handicap is not refunded as it is treated as loss, whereas in Asian handicap a draw after adjustment is refunded.
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