What is football handicap betting? Definition, odds & tips

Handicap betting, also called “point betting” or “line betting,” is used to even out the playing field between two unevenly matched teams. The bookmaker gives a virtual advantage to the weaker team and a virtual disadvantage to the stronger side.

If you bet on the weaker team to win, they would have the edge over the stronger team, and the chances would be even. If the bookmaker had not placed a handicap, the stronger side would have won against the weaker team, and it would have been monotonous and predictable.

Handicaps are displayed in brackets after the name of the team. For example, you are betting on a match between Leicester City and Manchester United. If the bookmaker declared a handicap of 1.5, the results would look like this.

Leicester (1.5) vs. Man Utd (-1.5)

• Leicester are beginning the match with a 1.5-goal advantage compared to their opponent.
• There could not be a draw because the advantage is not more than one goal but not two.
• If you bet on Manchester United to win, they would need at least two goals if you want to win the wager.
• If you are wagering on Leicester, they have to either win the match, draw, or concede a single goal to win the wager.

What is a no draw handicap bet?

When a handicap is a decimal number, it is called a “no draw handicap bet“. This would effectively eliminate the possibility of a draw because, in many sports, there are no half-goals. Keep in mind that in handicap betting, the actual advantage or disadvantage is only given to the team you are wagering on.

West Ham (2) vs Newcastle (-2)

• If you bet on Newcastle United to win, whether they are at home or not, they have to win by a margin of three or more goals.
• If you bet on West Ham United to win, whether they are at home or not, you would win if they lose by a margin of only one goal.
• If you are backing West Ham, at home or away, and they lose by two goals, your bet will be void, and your stake will be returned.

Since there is no decimal in this handicap, the stake is refunded to you in the event of a draw. Speaking of these Premier League clubs, however, how about looking at our football betting tips and Premier League predictions if you need some pointers?

What is handicap league betting?

It is similar to standard handicap betting, but in this case, you wager on a particular football team's performance throughout the season. Different odds get assigned to each team at the beginning of the season, and you place your wager on the side you think would win.

The league favourite is given the “SCR” (zero advantage). Other teams in the league receive odds based on the bookmaker's expectation of their play, and weaker teams are given the more significant benefit, and so on.

The critical difference between handicap football betting and handicap league betting is that, instead of only giving the advantage to the team you wagered on, you would apply it to all the league teams.

Football handicap betting odds: Frequently asked questions

What's the difference between handicap football betting and Asian handicap?

Technically speaking, the handicap betting we have discussed above is the Asian handicap. Normal handicap betting was historically priced to whole numbers only, which meant that draws were possible. In these instances, bets are void. The appeal of Asian handicaps is that there is always a result one way or the other.

Is handicap betting legal?

Yes, it is. Many licensed UK bookmakers provide it to their customers.

Is handicap betting only available in football?

No, it is not. Handicap betting applies to sports like Rugby, American Football, Tennis, Basketball, etc. Some bookmakers even apply it to racing events.

When is the best time to wager on handicap bets?

The best time to start placing handicap bets on matches is when the match result or another preferred market you play in does not offer real value. With the help of handicap betting, the chances evened out no matter that one team would have had a ridiculous advantage in an average match. It is also beneficial to look at handicap markets in-play. For example, if a favourite is drawing at half-time of a football match, then the value on a handicap victory will be far greater than it was at the beginning of the match.

Are handicap bets also offered in exchanges, not only Sportsbooks?

Yes, they are. Exchanges have better odds than Sportsbooks and give you more freedom to choose your markets and prices.

Selected football handicap betting odds and tips for the weekend

Our tips for the upcoming weekend are as follows:

Canada to beat Republic of Ireland with a handicap of -1

With the major domestic European leagues now over, our handicap picks come from international friendlies ahead of the World Cup this summer. Our first pick is Canada, who have home advantage against a Republic of Ireland side that failed to qualify for the World Cup, and will be desperate for some winning momentum as co-hosts.

Croatia to beat Slovenia with a handicap of –1

Our second pick is Croatia as they host Slovenia on Sunday, again with the aim of gaining some winning momentum ahead of the World Cup. Croatia's first game is against group favourites England, so will be looking to put in a performance here on home soil.

Ecuador to beat Guatemala with a handicap of –2

Our final pick is also from Sunday's fixtures and has some South American flavour to it as Ecuador host Guatemala. The former could be dark horses at the World Cup having finished second in South American qualifying, and should flex their muscles on home soil here.

The five top bookmakers that offer the best football handicap betting odds

We have compiled a list of the UK bookies that offer the best options for handicap wagers. We considered what they currently provide and other important factors that make a bookie great. Here are our top five bookmakers who offer the best handicap odds:

• Bet365 bonus code
• 888Sport Sign Up Offer
• Betfair Sign Up Offer
• Unibet Promo Code
• William Hill sign up promo code
• Hollywoodbets promo code
• Parimatch promo code (recommended for Indian bettors)
• Betking referral code (for Nigerian bettors)

If you have an account at any of these platforms, watch out for Asian handicaps or handicaps in general, and enjoy. If you do not have an account, we suggest you check out what they have to offer, choose one to sign up, and claim your welcome bonus.

Our final conclusion on football handicap betting

Handicap betting is a widely spread form of sports wagering worldwide. It is most prevalent in Asian markets, which is why it is sometimes called Asian Handicap. There is a crucial difference between the Asian handicap and the European handicap.

For larger-scale championships, some people enjoy placing handicap league betting because it's fun and considers the entire team's performance rather than a single match's outcome.

We believe that football handicap betting is highly regarded in the online betting scene nowadays, and many new punters would enjoy it even if they do not yet know what it is. Many bookies offer handicap bets, but only some excel in offering the bets themselves and substantial handicap betting odds for customers.