An Asian handicap gives one team a head start of goals before the match, so there are only two outcomes to bet on and no draw. Back a team at -1.5 and they need to win by two or more. Whole number lines can push and give your stake back, and quarter lines like -0.75 split your stake across two lines.
What is Asian handicap betting?
In a normal match result market there are three outcomes: home, draw and away. An Asian handicap takes the draw away by giving the weaker team a head start, or the stronger team a deficit, measured in goals. You add the handicap to your team's score at the end of the match.
Back Arsenal -1 and they need to win by two or more goals to win your bet. Back their opponents +1 and they win your bet if they win or draw, and a one goal defeat is a push. Bookmakers set the line so both sides are close to evens, often around 1.90 to 2.00.
Half goal lines win or lose: -0.5, +0.5, -1.5, +1.5
Half goal lines can't end level, so your bet either wins or loses.
- -0.5: your team has to win. It's the same as backing them in the match result market, often at a better price.
- +0.5: your team wins your bet if they win or draw. It's the same as a double chance bet.
- -1.5: your team has to win by two goals or more.
- +1.5: your team wins your bet unless they lose by two goals or more.
Whole goal lines can push: 0, -1, +1
Whole number lines can end level after the handicap. When that happens it's a push, and you get your stake back.
- 0: your team wins your bet if they win, and you get your stake back on a draw. It's the same as draw no bet.
- -1: a win by two or more wins your bet. A win by exactly one is a push.
- +1: a draw or a win wins your bet. Losing by exactly one is a push.
Quarter goal lines split your stake: -0.25, -0.75, +0.25, +0.75
Quarter lines split your stake in half and put each half on the two nearest lines. A £10 bet at -0.75 is £5 at -0.5 and £5 at -1. The split creates two results between a full win and a full loss: a half win and a half loss.
- -0.25 (0 and -0.5): a win wins in full. A draw loses half your stake and refunds the other half.
- -0.75 (-0.5 and -1): a win by two or more wins in full. A win by exactly one is a half win: the -0.5 half wins and the -1 half is refunded.
- +0.25 (0 and +0.5): a win wins in full. A draw is a half win.
- +0.75 (+0.5 and +1): a win or draw wins in full. Losing by one is a half loss.
| Line | Win by 2 | Win by 1 | Draw | Lose by 1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| -1.5 | Win (£19.50) | Loss (£0.00) | Loss (£0.00) | Loss (£0.00) |
| -1.0 | Win (£19.50) | Push (£10.00) | Loss (£0.00) | Loss (£0.00) |
| -0.75 | Win (£19.50) | Half win (£14.75) | Loss (£0.00) | Loss (£0.00) |
| -0.5 | Win (£19.50) | Win (£19.50) | Loss (£0.00) | Loss (£0.00) |
| -0.25 | Win (£19.50) | Win (£19.50) | Half loss (£5.00) | Loss (£0.00) |
| 0.0 | Win (£19.50) | Win (£19.50) | Push (£10.00) | Loss (£0.00) |
| +0.25 | Win (£19.50) | Win (£19.50) | Half win (£14.75) | Loss (£0.00) |
| +0.5 | Win (£19.50) | Win (£19.50) | Win (£19.50) | Loss (£0.00) |
Asian handicap vs European handicap
A European handicap also gives one team a goal start, but it keeps the draw as a separate outcome. With Arsenal -1 on a European handicap, a one goal win is a handicap draw, and you'd need to have backed the draw to win. On an Asian handicap -1, the same result is a push and you get your stake back.
Because an Asian handicap has two outcomes instead of three, the bookmaker's margin is usually lower. The lower margin is the main reason many football punters prefer Asian handicaps.
Asian handicap rules to check: 90 minutes, in-play scores, flipped signs
- Asian handicaps usually settle on 90 minutes plus injury time, not extra time or penalties.
- Many bookmakers settle in-play Asian handicaps only on goals scored after you place the bet. Check your bookmaker's rules.
- If the line is listed for the other team, flip the sign. Home -0.5 and away +0.5 are the two sides of the same line.
Football betting calculators:Asian handicap calculatorBet calculatorOdds converter
Questions people ask
What does -0.25 mean in Asian handicap betting?
Your stake is split between 0 and -0.5. If your team wins, the whole bet wins. If they draw, you lose half your stake and get the other half back. If they lose, the whole bet loses.
What does a +1.5 Asian handicap mean?
Your team starts with a goal and a half. They win your bet if they win, draw or lose by one goal. They only lose your bet if they lose by two or more.
What happens if an Asian handicap bet is a push?
You get your stake back, as if the bet had been void. It can only happen on whole number lines, or on half of a quarter line.
Is a 0 Asian handicap the same as draw no bet?
Yes. Your team has to win, and a draw refunds your stake.
Do Asian handicap bets include extra time?
Usually not. Most bookmakers settle on 90 minutes plus injury time. Check the rules for cup matches.