Asian Handicap

An Asian handicap is a type of spread betting that originated in Asian betting markets and is most commonly associated with soccer. Its defining feature is the elimination of the draw as an outcome, reducing the number of possible results from three (home win, draw, away win) to two. This is achieved by applying a handicap to one or both teams before the match begins. Handicaps can be whole numbers (e.g., -1, +2), half numbers (e.g., -0.5, +1.5), or quarter numbers (e.g., -0.75, +1.25).

Half-number handicaps work like a standard spread bet with a hook: one side always wins and one side always loses. Whole-number handicaps introduce the possibility of a push, where the bet is refunded if the adjusted margin is exactly zero. Quarter-number handicaps are unique to the Asian handicap system. A -0.75 handicap, for example, is treated as two separate half-bets: one at -0.5 and one at -1.0. If the favored team wins by exactly 1 goal, the bettor wins the -0.5 portion and pushes the -1.0 portion, receiving a partial win.

Asian handicaps are popular because they offer tighter margins (lower vig), more balanced odds, and a wider range of options than traditional three-way soccer markets.

Example

In a soccer match between Liverpool and Wolverhampton, Liverpool is given an Asian handicap of -1.5 at -105 odds, and Wolverhampton is +1.5 at -115 odds. If Liverpool wins the match 2-0, the adjusted score after the handicap is 0.5-0 in Liverpool’s favor, so a bet on Liverpool -1.5 wins. If the match ends 1-0, the adjusted score is -0.5 to 0, meaning Liverpool does not cover the 1.5-goal handicap, and a bet on Wolverhampton +1.5 wins. There is no draw outcome possible with a half-goal handicap.

Key Points

• Eliminates the draw: By applying handicaps with half-goal increments, Asian handicaps remove the draw as a betting outcome, leaving only two possible results.
• Quarter-goal splits: Handicaps like -0.25 or -0.75 split the bet into two equal halves on adjacent lines, allowing for partial wins and partial losses.
• Lower margins: Asian handicap markets typically carry lower vig than traditional three-way soccer betting, making them more efficient for the bettor.
• Primarily used in soccer: While the concept could apply to any sport, Asian handicaps are predominantly offered and wagered on in soccer markets worldwide.
• Greater flexibility: The range of available handicap lines (from 0 to -3 or more) gives bettors fine-grained control over the risk-reward profile of their wagers.