What is Handicap Betting in Football?
Handicap betting is a way bookmakers level the playing field when one team is much stronger than the other. A “handicap” (a virtual goal advantage or disadvantage) is given to either team before the match starts.
This makes betting more competitive and increases odds in matches where one side is a heavy favorite.
Types of Handicap Betting
1. European Handicap (EH)
- Uses whole numbers (e.g., -1, -2, +1).
- No refunds – win, lose, or draw only.
Example:
- Man City (-1) vs Burnley (+1)
- If you bet Man City -1 → They must win by 2+ goals for you to win.
- If they win by exactly 1 goal → You lose (because the -1 handicap cancels it out).
- If you bet Burnley +1 → Burnley must draw or win for you to win. If they lose by 1, it’s still a draw (you lose) in EH.
2. Asian Handicap (AH)
- Removes the possibility of a draw.
- Can use whole numbers, half numbers (e.g., +0.5, -1.5), or quarter numbers (e.g., -0.25, +0.75).
- Some bets may be refunded if the handicap result is a draw.
Examples:
- Barcelona -1.5 vs Sevilla +1.5
- Bet on Barcelona -1.5 → They must win by 2 or more goals.
- Bet on Sevilla +1.5 → They must win, draw, or lose by no more than 1 goal.
- Chelsea -1 (AH) vs Aston Villa +1 (AH)
- If Chelsea wins by 1 → Stake refunded (push).
- If Chelsea wins by 2+ → Chelsea bet wins.
- If draw or Villa wins → Villa bet wins.
3. Over/Under Handicap Goals
- Instead of match result, handicap can be applied to team goals.
- Example: Liverpool -2 goals vs Nottingham Forest
- If you back Liverpool, they need to score 3 more goals than Forest to win.
Practical Examples
Example 1:
Real Madrid (-2) vs Getafe (+2) (European Handicap)
- Real Madrid must win by 3+ goals for your bet to win.
- If they win by exactly 2 goals → Bet loses.
Example 2:
Arsenal -0.25 vs Tottenham +0.25 (Asian Handicap)
- If you bet Arsenal -0.25:
- If Arsenal wins → you win.
- If draw → you lose half your stake.
- If Tottenham wins → you lose.
- If you bet Tottenham +0.25:
- If Tottenham wins → you win.
- If draw → you win half your stake.
- If Arsenal wins → you lose.
Betting Tips for Handicap Football Betting
- Use Handicap when favorites have low odds
- Example: Man City @ 1.20 vs Luton. Instead of low odds, play Man City -2 AH at higher odds.
- Consider form and motivation
- If a strong team is playing weaker opposition but has Champions League midweek, they may not push for big wins → better to back smaller handicap.
- Use +Handicaps for underdogs with strong defense
- Example: Burnley +1.5 vs Arsenal → Even if Burnley loses 1-0, your bet still wins.
- Check home vs away performance
- Some teams dominate at home (good for -1.5 or -2.0).
- Some underdogs perform better at home (good for +0.5 or +1).
- Quarter Handicaps (AH -0.25, +0.75) reduce risk
- They allow partial win/loss, protecting your stake in tight matches.
In short: Handicap betting makes mismatched games more exciting, gives better odds, and allows creative strategies when betting on both favorites and underdogs.
Would you like me to also create a visual handicap chart (with football teams and results) so you can easily see how bets win/lose under different handicaps?