Ever notice how people are always talking about how shaking things up keeps life interesting? That’s the general vibe with sports betting sites – they’re constantly trying fresh approaches to make placing bets more engaging.
One neat trick that’s really caught on is using handicaps. Instead of just betting on the outright winner, this way of betting adds some extra layers. You’ve got to consider things like how good each team is, how they’ve been playing lately, and even how much they win by.
Handicap betting actually started way back here in Asia and then caught on in Europe. Now, you can find it pretty much everywhere.
It’s a strategy you see all the time now, both at physical casinos and on websites where you can bet online – and it’s used for tons of sports, like hockey, baseball, basketball, and, yes, definitely football.
Handicap bets might sound a little complicated at first, but they’re actually not that hard to figure out. Let’s take a look at what they’re all about and how they actually work in the next bit!
Handicap Betting Explained – What it is?
Handicap betting, which some people call ‘the spread,’ is basically like giving one team or player a head start (that’s the handicap) before anything even begins. If you bet on the other side, they usually get that virtual head start instead.
The way you win this bet is if your team or player ends up with more points than the other after you add the handicap to their score (or subtract it from the other team’s).
You often see this kind of betting when one side is seen as a lot weaker. It’s a way to make things more interesting and give the underdog a better shot at ‘winning’ the bet.
Sometimes, if the teams or players are thought to be equally matched, you might see ‘scr’ or ‘scratch’ instead of a handicap. That just means no head starts are given, and whoever wins outright (or if it’s a draw) is the winner of the bet.
Just a heads-up though, once in a while, the team that’s seen as weaker might actually be the one with the points to overcome. Usually, you can tell because they’ll have higher odds.
You can even find options for sports betting online Singapore.
How Does Handicap Betting Work?
So, handicap betting is basically about making things more interesting when one side is way better than the other. It tries to even things out so the odds become more worthwhile.
Think of it like this: a handicap bet gives the weaker team a virtual head start with goals to make the competition feel fairer.
On the flip side, the stronger team starts with a goal disadvantage. So, for your bet to win, they actually need to score enough to overcome that initial deficit.
For example, imagine Liverpool playing against a much lower-ranked team in the EPL. Normally, you’d expect Liverpool to win almost every time, and the odds for that in Singapore sports betting would probably be super low, like 1.01.
But what if that other team was given a two-goal advantage to start? Suddenly, it’s not so clear who’s going to win, right? It kind of balances the playing field by giving Liverpool that handicap to overcome.
That’s pretty much how handicap betting works. It gives one outcome a leg up and the other a setback to deal with the difference in how good the teams are.
Because of this, the odds for the really strong favorite become more attractive, and at the same time, the chances (and therefore the odds) of the underdog winning get a boost.
Different Types of Handicap Betting Markets Explained
Now that you’ve got the hang of what handicap betting is and how it works, let’s take a look at the different kinds. We’ve put together the main types to give you a better idea with some examples.
Handicap Betting
Think of it like giving the weaker team a head start. If Manchester City are playing Norwich City and they’re a -2 goal favorite, it means for your bet on City to win, they actually need to win by more than two goals.
For example, if City wins 3-1, they’ve covered the handicap (won by more than 2). But if they win 2-1, then even though they won the actual game, if you bet on the handicap, Norwich would be considered the winner because they started with that virtual +2 goal advantage. It’s like they started 2-0 up.
Three-Way Handicap Betting
This is similar, but it throws in the possibility of a “handicap tie.” So, instead of just betting on who wins after the handicap is applied, you can also bet on whether the stronger team wins by the exact handicap margin. Let’s say Tottenham are playing Chelsea, and the handicaps are: Tottenham +1, Draw (effectively Chelsea -1), Chelsea -1.
If Chelsea wins 2-0, a bet on Chelsea -1 would lose because they needed to win by more than one. A bet on the handicap draw would also lose because Chelsea didn’t win by exactly one goal. You’re betting on the specific winning margin here, not just the final score.
No-Draw Handicap Betting
This type of betting takes away the chance of a draw after the handicap is applied, usually by using half-goals. So, a team might start with a +0.5 goal advantage. Imagine Liverpool are playing Brighton, and Brighton has a +0.5 handicap. If the actual game ends 1-1, a bet on Brighton would win because with the handicap, the score becomes Liverpool 1, Brighton 1.5. This guarantees a winner for the betting market. If, for some reason, a draw is offered in a no-draw handicap market and the game ends in a draw after applying the handicap, all bets are usually refunded.
Asian Handicap Betting
This is a popular one, especially in football and online sports betting Singapore sites, and it’s another way to get rid of the draw option. It’s similar to the no-draw handicap, but it can also involve “split handicaps.” For a single Asian handicap, say you bet on Arsenal -1 against Everton. If Arsenal wins by two or more goals, you win. If they win by exactly one goal, it’s a “push,” and your money is returned. If it’s a draw or Everton wins, you lose. Split Asian handicaps divide your bet across two different handicaps.
For example, if you bet on West Ham +1 and +1.5 against Sheffield United, and Sheffield United wins 2-1. Half your bet on the +1 handicap would be a push (as it effectively becomes 2-2), and the other half on the +1.5 handicap would win (as it becomes 2-2.5 in West Ham’s favor). Asian handicaps are common in football because of the lower scoring compared to other sports, so these smaller goal increments make a bigger difference.
How to Win More Often Using the Handicap Bet?
Figuring out how to win more often with handicap betting can really change things up, especially if you’ve got a good strategy. Basically, a handicap bet gives one team a head start (or puts them at a disadvantage) to make the odds more balanced and the game more exciting. The trick is to really know the teams – how they’re playing, their recent form, and how they usually do in different kinds of games.
Instead of just following what everyone else is doing, it can be helpful to check out sports betting Singapore sites for more in-depth info and live stats.
Here’s a thought: keep an eye on teams that are really strong when they play at home, or underdogs that seem to do really well when the pressure’s on. Also, it’s worth remembering not to always go for those super long odds. Sometimes, getting those smaller wins consistently can actually add up to more in the long run than trying to hit a big win every time. Just be smart about it, be patient, and let the numbers guide you!
Frequently Asked Questions
What happens if a handicap bet ends in a draw?
If your handicap bet ends up being a draw, what happens next usually depends on the specific rules the betting site has set – yes, it’s really up to them. Most of the time, if the scores are even after the handicap is factored in, your bet usually results in a ‘push.’ This means your original stake is typically returned to you because there’s no clear winner or loser according to the adjusted score. It’s like a “no contest” situation for betting purposes.
What does +1.5 handicap mean?
A +1.5 handicap in betting or sports means that the team or player you’re backing starts with a virtual 1.5-point advantage. So, even if they lose by exactly one point, your bet still wins because of that extra 1.5 points added to their final score.
Is handicap betting paying you out more?
While it’s not a sure thing every single time, those handicap bets can actually give you better returns sometimes. It really boils down to knowing your stuff about the teams or players playing, seeing if that head start or disadvantage they’ve been given makes sense, and then just hoping luck is on your side that day. If you put in the effort to research things beforehand, it can definitely be worth it.
