Asian Handicaps is a betting option commonly offered on soccer matches. While you are betting on a team to win, the handicaps give the participating teams an advantage or disadvantage in goals.
In other words, if a team is given an advantage, they will start the match with a certain number of goals. Likewise, if a team is given a disadvantage, they will start the match with a negative number of goals.
Keep reading to learn more about Asian Handicaps
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Offering Asian Handicaps as a betting option, the bookmaker’s goal is to even the odds between two competing teams. This is done by giving the underdog a goal advantage (illustrated by a + sign) and the favorite a goal disadvantage (illustrated by a – sign).
Take this match for example
This image shows full time odds of a match between Turkey and Netherlands. With 1.80 in odds, Netherlands is clearly the favorite to win compared to Turkey’s odds of 4.50.
Now let’s have a look at the Asian Handicap odds for the same match.
By giving a goal advantage to Turkey (+0.5) and a disadvantage to Netherlands (-0.75), you can now bet on either team to win with odds that are very close to 2.00. This is equal to a 50% chance of winning the bet, based on the bookmaker’s research and knowledge.
Asian Handicaps is a good bet to place if you want to bet on an underdog with a higher chance of winning or a favorite as a way to win more money.
Since there aren’t any half or quarter goals in soccer, it may not make much sense for a team to start with an advantage or disadvantage of 0.25, 0.5 or 0.75 goals. We will, however, soon make sense of this. But before we do, you must understand that…
Asian Handicaps Come in Many Different Forms
Betting online, you can find anything from +0.25 to +3.5 goal advantage for the underdog and the same disadvantage for the favorite. What you find will vary from one match to another.
By continue using Turkey (TR) vs Netherlands (NL) as an example, the below table is illustrating the starting score of the match based on the advantage and disadvantage the teams’ have been given.
Advantage | Disadvantage | ||||
 |  | | | ||
| 0.25 | 0.25 | 0 | -0.25 | 0 | -0.25 |
| 0.5 | 0.5 | 0 | -0.5 | 0 | -0.5 |
| 0.75 | 0.75 | 0 | -0.75 | 0 | -0.75 |
| 1 | 1 | 0 | -1 | 0 | -1 |
| 1.5 | 1.5 | 0 | -1.5 | 0 | -1.5 |
| 2 | 2 | 0 | -2 | 0 | -2 |
| 2.5 | 2.5 | 0 | -2.5 | 0 | -2.5 |
On mobile, swipe left/right to see the entire table
To clarify, the starting score is a virtual one that is applied only to your bet and not the real match.
To further understand Asian Handicaps, let us explain it with a few examples. We start with the easiest handicaps, which are those that give an advantage or disadvantage in whole goals.
Suppose that the bookmaker is offering the following four alternatives to bet on:
| Alternative A | Alternative B |
| Turkey +1 Goal | Turkey +2 Goals |
| Alternative C | Alternative D |
| Netherlands -1 Goal | Netherlands -2 Goals |
Now, let’s assume that the real match between these two teams ends as follows:
Turkey 1 – Netherlands 2
For each of the four alternatives this would mean the following:
Remember, no matter what the Asian Handicaps are, you are always betting on a team to win.
Continuing our explanation of Asian Handicaps, let’s assume that the bookmarker is offering these alternatives to bet on:
| Alternative E | Alternative F | Alternative G |
| Turkey +0.25 | Turkey +0.5 | Turkey +0.75 |
| Alternative H | Alternative I | Alternative J |
| Netherlands -0.25 | Netherlands -0.5 | Netherlands -0.75 |
As the score of the match isn’t as important with these particular handicaps, we will explain the above alternatives differently from before, using tables. Here’s the first one for alternative E and H:
| Team | Handicap | Match Result | Bet Result |
| +0.25 | Turkey wins | Bet is won |
| +0.25 | Draw | 50% is returned, 50% is won |
| +0.25 | Netherlands win | Bet is lost |
| -0.25 | Turkey wins | Bet is lost |
| -0.25 | Draw | 50% is returned, 50% is lost |
| -0.25 | Netherlands win | Bet is won |
On mobile, swipe left/right to see the entire table
With the explanations below, please note that Turkey is considered the home team (their score to the left) and Netherlands the away team.
Explanation of a bet on Turkey (+0.25):
Explanation of a bet on Netherlands (-0.25):
0.25 quarter goals only make a difference when the match ends in a draw. You will either lose 50% of your bet or win 50% of your bet. The rest is returned.
Moving on to Asian Handicaps +0.5 and -0.5, we will use the same logic as above:
| Team | Handicap | Match result | Bet result |
| +0.5 | Turkey wins | Bet is won |
| +0.5 | Draw | Bet is won |
| +0.5 | Netherlands win | Bet is lost |
| -0.5 | Turkey wins | Bet is lost |
| -0.5 | Draw | Bet is lost |
| -0.5 | Netherlands win | Bet is won |
On mobile, swipe left/right to see the entire table
Explanation of a bet on Turkey (+0.5):
Explanation of a bet on Netherlands (-0.5):
0.5 half goals only make a difference when the match ends in a draw. You will either win your entire bet or lose your entire bet.
Moving on to Asian Handicaps +0.75 and -0.75, the same logic still applies, but here the number of goals that a team wins with will make a slight difference:
| Team | Handicap | Match result | Bet result |
|---|---|---|---|
| +0.75 | Turkey wins | Bet is won |
| +0.75 | Draw | Bet is won |
| +0.75 | Netherlands win with 1 goal | 50% is returned, 50% is lost |
| +0.75 | Netherlands win with 2+ goals | Bet is lost |
| -0.75 | Turkey wins | Bet is lost |
| -0.75 | Draw | Bet is lost |
| -0.75 | Netherlands win with 1 goal | 50% is returned, 50% is won |
| -0.75 | Netherlands win with 2+ goals | Bet is won |
On mobile, swipe left/right to see the entire table
Explanation of a bet on Turkey (+0.75):
Explanation of a bet on Netherlands (-0.75):
0.75 three quarter goals always make a difference to match draws. Your bet is either a full win or a full loss. They can also make a difference to match wins and match losses depending on the score of the match, resulting in a 50% win or 50% loss of your bet.
If you find it confusing to fully understand Asian Handicaps, the below cheat chart is a great tool that can be used. This shows you the outcome of your bet depending on the score of the match.
| Handicap Advantage | Result of the Team You Bet On | Outcome of Your Bet |
|---|---|---|
| + 0.25 | Win | Bet won |
| + 0.25 | Draw | 50% won, 50% returned |
| + 0.25 | Lose | Bet lost |
| + 0.5 | Win | Bet won |
| + 0.5 | Draw | Bet won |
| + 0.5 | Lose | Bet lost |
| + 0.75 | Win | Bet won |
| + 0.75 | Draw | Bet won |
| + 0.75 | Lose by 1 goal | 50% lost, 50% returned |
| + 0.75 | Lose by 2+ goals | Bet lost |
| + 1 | Win | Bet won |
| + 1 | Draw | Bet won |
| + 1 | Lose by 1 goal | Stake refunded |
| + 1 | Lose by 2+ goals | Bet lost |
| + 1.25 | Win | Bet won |
| + 1.25 | Draw | Bet won |
| + 1.25 | Lose by 1 goal | 50% won, 50% returned |
| + 1.25 | Lose by 2+ goals | Bet lost |
| + 1.5 | Win | Bet won |
| + 1.5 | Draw | Bet won |
| + 1.5 | Lose by 1 goal | Bet won |
| + 1.5 | Lose by 2+ goals | Bet lost |
| + 1.75 | Win | Bet won |
| + 1.75 | Draw | Bet won |
| + 1.75 | Lose by 1 goal | Bet won |
| + 1.75 | Lose by 2 goals | 50% lost, 50% returned |
| + 1.75 | Lose by 3+ goals | Bet lost |
| + 2 | Win | Bet won |
| + 2 | Draw | Bet won |
| + 2 | Lose by 1 goal | Bet won |
| + 2 | Lose by 2 goals | Stake refunded |
| + 2 | Lose by 3+ goals | Bet lost |
| Handicap Disadvantage | Result of the Team You Bet On | Outcome of Your Bet |
|---|---|---|
| -0.25 | Win | Bet won |
| -0.25 | Draw | 50% lost, 50% returned |
| -0.25 | Lose | Bet lost |
| -0.5 | Win | Bet won |
| -0.5 | Draw | Bet lost |
| -0.5 | Lose | Bet lost |
| -0.75 | Win by 2+ goals | Bet won |
| -0.75 | Win by 1 goal | 50% won, 50% returned |
| -0.75 | Draw | Bet lost |
| -0.75 | Lose | Bet lost |
| -1 | Win by 2+ goals | Bet won |
| -1 | Win by 1 goal | Stake refunded |
| -1 | Draw | Bet lost |
| -1 | Lose | Bet lost |
| -1.25 | Win by 2+ goals | Bet won |
| -1.25 | Win by 1 goal | 50% lost, 50% returned |
| -1.25 | Draw | Bet lost |
| -1.25 | Lose | Bet lost |
| -1.5 | Win by 2+ goals | Bet won |
| -1.5 | Win by 1 goal | Bet lost |
| -1.5 | Draw | Bet lost |
| -1.5 | Lose | Bet lost |
| -1.75 | Win by 3+ goals | Bet won |
| -1.75 | Win by 2 goals | 50% won, 50% returned |
| -1.75 | Win by 1 goal | Bet lost |
| -1.75 | Draw | Bet lost |
| -1.75 | Lose | Bet lost |
| -2 | Win by 3+ goals | Bet won |
| -2 | Win by 2 goals | Stake refunded |
| -2 | Win by 1 goal | Bet lost |
| -2 | Draw | Bet lost |
| -2 | Lose | Bet lost |
You must know that Asian Handicaps is a term that can only be found on soccer bets. However, if you like the concept of giving teams an advantage or disadvantage, most other sports offer the same type of bet. Here they are either called “Spread”, “Spread Bets” or just “Handicaps”. It’s the same thing.
It’s not only possible to find Asian Handicap odds on full time match results, but many bookmakers are also offering different variations of it. This includes:
In terms of profitability, Asian Handicaps are said to have a lower margin than many other bets (source), which means that you as a bettor is expected to win slightly more in the long run. In the end, it does, however, always come down to making the correct predictions, regardless of the bet type.
