Expert Bet

Double Asian handicap bets are also known as split or quarter ball handicaps.
Double handicaps are used to split a wager into two equal and separate bets, each with the same odds to win, but at a different single handicap. This can result in the following scenarios:

Both bets win, therefore the full win amount is returned.
One bets wins and one bet draws (stake returned). This is commonly referred to as ‘Half Win’.
One bet draws (stake returned) and one bet loses. This is commonly referred to as ‘Half Loss’.
Both bets lose, therefore the full stake amount is lost.

Example:

Brazil handicap -1.0, -1.5 or -1 1/4 or -1.25 odds 1.90
Turkey handicap +1.0, +1.5 or +1 1/4 or +1.25 odds 2.00

You can see that there are many ways to represent an Asian Handicap bet and it can be a bit confusing until you realize they are all showing the same bet.

In this example, a $100 bet on Brazil is actually two separate bets, $50 on Brazil at -1.0 and $50 on Brazil at -1.5. The odds for both bets are 1.90.

If Brazil wins the match by two goals or more, both bets are winners.

If Brazil wins by one goal, the bet placed at a -1.0 goal handicap is considered a draw and the stake refunded and the bet placed at a -1.5 goal handicap results in a loss. The end result is a loss of £50, which equates to half of the bettors stake (i.e. ‘Half Loss’).

If Turkey draws or wins the game, both bets are won.

In conclusion, in handicaps without a draw option, bookmakers vary in the odds set and the advantage that they take in terms of the over-round. But generally, the amount of profit that bookmaker take on these bets is lower than what they would take on a full time or 90 minutes match bet which includes the draw.

Bookmakers will typically pay out on Asian Handicap bets between 90% and 100% of what they take, making very low percentage profits on the bets.

This is one reason why Asian Handicap bets can be great value bets.

Asian Handicaps start at a quarter goal and can go as high as 2.5 or 3 goals in matches with a huge disparity in ability. What makes Asian handicaps most interesting is the use of quarter goals to get the “line” as close as possible. Taken in conjunction with the posted total for the game, the handicap essentially predicts the game’s final score. Take a look at the most commonly used Handicaps and the outcome of each, as illustrated in the following examples:

Brazil 0 vs. Turkey 0

If Brazil wins all bets win. If Brazil draws all stakes are returned. If Brazil loses all bets lose.

If Turkey wins all bets win. If Turkey draws all stakes are returned. If Turkey loses all bets lose.

Brazil -0.5 vs. Turkey 0.5

If Brazil wins all bets win. If Brazil draws or loses the match all bets lose.

If Turkey wins or draws all bets win. If Turkey loses the match all bets lose.

Brazil -1.0 vs. Turkey 1.0

In this example, Turkey has been given a 1 goal head start over Brazil. This means that all bets on Turkey will win, provided Turkey either win or draw the match.

If Brazil wins the match by at least two goals, then all Brazil bets will win and all bets placed on Turkey will be losers. If Brazil wins by exactly one goal all stakes are returned. If Brazil draws or loses the match all bets lose.

If Turkey wins or draws all bets win. If Turkey loses by exactly one goal all stakes are returned. If Turkey loses by two or more goals all bets lose.

Brazil -1.5 vs. Turkey 1.5

If Brazil wins by at least two goals all bets win. Otherwise all bets are losers.

If Turkey loses by two or more goals all bets lose. Otherwise all bets are winners.

An Asian Handicap (named so simply because of its Eastern origins) is a gambling term used to describe spread betting in soccer that has gained popularity over the years.

Asian Handicap is one of the most popular forms of betting. Handicap means that one team is given head start, so they have virtual lead in the game with 1/2 goal, 1/4 goal, 3/4 goal, 1 goal, etc. Asian Handicap eliminates a possibility of a draw in a soccer match. Handicap given on one team should make this game tie, so there will be equal number of punters on each side.

In other words, Asian Handicap is a form of betting where the perceived weaker team (or underdog) is given a number of goals head start. Conversely, the team perceived to be superior (the favourite) is penalised or “handicapped” an equal number of goals in an attempt to make the two teams equal for betting purposes.

The favourite has to overcome the handicap, and will have it taken away from its final score. The handicap for the favourite is preceded by a minus (-). The underdog is given a ‘head-start’, and will have it added to its final score. The handicap for the underdog is preceded by a plus (+).

The wider the gap between the two teams, the greater the number of goals head start is given to the weaker team. If the two teams on-field ability is considered to be approximately equal, no handicap is given to either team.

Football (called soccer in the US and Canada) is one of the few sports in the world where a tie is a fairly common outcome. With traditional fixed odds, ties are treated as an additional outcome to the game. In other words, bettors lose when they place a wager on either team to win and the game ties. With Asian Handicaps, however, the chance for a tie is eliminated by use of a handicap that forces a winner. This creates a situation where each team has a 50-50 chance of winning; similar to the odds for a basketball or baseball game where a tie is impossible.

This system works in a straight-forward manner. The bookmakers’s goal is to create a handicap or “line” that will make the chance of either team winning (considering the handicap) as close to 50% as possible. Since the odds are as close to 50% as possible, bookmakers offer payouts close to even money, or 1.90 to 2.00.