As sports betting has evolved over the years, new and unique ways to bet have been introduced, and handicap betting has become one of the most popular forms of betting. Handicap betting can make even the most lopsided sporting events close by giving one side of the bet an advantage. Handicap betting is a method used to value betas it can create value in even the most mismatched games.

Here at OddsMonkey we’ll look at what handicap betting is, how it works and its applications across a variety of sports.

Handicap Betting Explained

Handicap betting gives one team a goal or points advantage over another, also known as the handicap. The purpose of this type of bet is to make an unbalanced game closer, so if the top team plays a lower-ranked team, you can give the lower-ranked team a point handicap so that they are a few points ahead. If the handicap is set at one goal, the opponent must score two or more goals to overcome the handicap and be deemed the winner.

To understand handicap betting, imagine you play a football match between Liverpool and Blackpool in the FA Cup. Since Liverpool have a stronger squad, you would expect Liverpool to win by a handful of goals, which means the odds offered by bookmakers will be quite low. However, with handicap betting we can give Blackpool a head start and make the game less predictable by giving them a couple of goal handicaps, so the odds are more even.

Let’s take a look at the different types of handicap betting available.

Changes to Handicap Betting

The first is the most basic handicap, also known as the European Handicap. In European Handicap, you simply add or subtract one side’s points or goals to create a handicap. Handicap betting is not usually used for Matched Betting Due to the complexity of betting in these bets. Let’s look at some of the available barriers:

Another version of handicap betting is Asian Handicap Bettingwhich differs slightly from the standard European handicap in that it does not allow draws. The handicap system uses decimal places, which means there is no chance of a tie. Let’s see how Asian handicap betting works:

If you are interested in learning more about Asian Handicap then you can check out our Asian Handicap Betting Guide which can be found on the OddsMonkey website.

Now that we are familiar with the types of handicap bets, we will look at how you can actually place these types of bets and what it means for the odds on offer.

How to place a handicap bet

If you want to place a handicap bet then you can check out our examples here as we explain how to place European and Asian handicap bets with Sky Bet.

Similar to other types of sports betting markets, there are a variety of options for handicap betting. At Sky Bet, once you have found the match or event you want to bet on, you can find these handicap options by scrolling down the list of options.

These options allow you to choose whether to use handicap against the home or away team. Depending on the options you choose, this will greatly impact your chances of getting an opportunity.

For example, we can see that if West Brom are a goal behind at the start of the game, their odds of winning the game are 7/2. However, if handicaps are not used then West Brom’s odds are 6/5.

By using this example, if you bet on West Brom and the handicap is -1, then West Brom will actually be trailing 1-0 at the start of the game. They must beat Leicester City by 2 goals for bets to be successful. If they win by 1 goal then the game effectively ends in a draw as the handicap gives Leicester a goal.

Now that we have completed the standard handicap betting scenario, let’s look at how to place an Asian handicap bet.

At Bet365, you can place Asian handicap bets on different sports, including football. You can decide the size of the barrier by scrolling down the website.

How does handicap affect odds?

The main purpose of handicap betting markets is to even out the odds, so if you find that a match is severely mismatched, it might be worth checking the handicap options. In football matches, it is not uncommon for teams from different leagues to compete against each other in cup competitions. This means that lower-ranked teams may end up playing against top opponents, making it the perfect place for handicap betting. If you are interested in football betting you can check out our Football Betting Guideavailable at OddsMonkey.

When a team is negatively affected by a point handicap, it becomes more difficult for that team to be considered a winner because they will start off a few points behind. Since this makes it harder for a team to win, that team’s odds of winning are higher.

Harder to Win = Increased Odds

Easier to win = lower odds

If you are interested in learning more about betting, check out our Matched Betting Blogwhich is packed with betting tips and strategies.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Handicap Betting – H2

There are both positive and negative sides to handicap betting, and it is important to remember what these are when you are planning to make these bets. Here are the different pros and cons of handicap betting:

✅Even Odds – In the most mismatched games, handicap betting can be used to create betting opportunities with close odds.

✅Create Betting Opportunities – Without handicap betting, in many cases betting options will not offer great odds. Through handicap betting we can even out the odds and create betting opportunities that did not exist before.

❌Research Needed – While handicap betting can even out the odds, research is needed to understand how likely a team is to overcome the handicap.

❌More complex than other options – Handicap betting can be quite confusing to understand and operate successfully when compared to single betting markets and the bookmaker’s other options.

Handicap Betting FAQs

Handicap betting raises many questions, so we’ve addressed the most common ones related to this topic.

What does a handicap draw mean in betting?

In European Handicap betting, there is a possibility of a draw between the teams. For example, if a team starts out one goal behind and scores a goal, the game ends in a draw. Bettors can place bets on a draw, with odds related to the likelihood of the game overcoming but not exceeding the handicap.

Where can I find handicap betting?

Depending on the bookmaker, you can find the handicap betting section in the top navigation bar. If it’s not on the navigation bar, you can find it where the other betting options are. For example, when you click on the game you want to bet on, you can find the handicap betting system in the selection list.

What is a three-handicap bet?

A three-way handicap bet is actually a European handicap bet as this allows for a win, draw and defeat to occur. Since Asian Handicap betting does not allow ties, this is a 2-way handicap only.