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Asian Handicap Betting Guide

Asian Handicap betting is an option when punting on football where the draw is removed from the equation. It was a method of betting that originated in Asia and was known as hang cheng betting. Journalist Joe Saumarez Smith gave hang cheng betting the name Asian Handicap betting. It is now one of the world’s most popular form of football betting.

How does Asian Handicap betting work?

The basis of Asian Handicap betting is the use of a handicap system to eliminate the draw and force a winner. Around a quarter of all football matches end in draws so Asian Handicap betting appeals to a large number of punters who like to bet win only on football. The bookmaker tries to create a handicap which will make either team’s chance of winning the match as close to 50% as possible. Handicaps start at ¼ and go as high as 3 in some matches depending on how strong the favourite is.

Asian Handicaps Explained

Asian Handicap betting is actually a lot more straightforward than it first appears. There are basically two types of Asian Handicap bet, the single and the double. First, we will look at the single.

Arsenal 0 v Tottenham 0

The 0 0 Asian Handicap line is normally used when the two sides are evenly matched. In the above example, if you have £50 on Tottenham to win, you will win on the bet as long as Tottenham win the match. If the game ends in a draw, you get your stake back. If Arsenal win, you lose.

Arsenal -0.5 v Tottenham +0.5

Back Arsenal in this example and Arsenal need to win the game for you to collect. Back Tottenham, and you would only need to to win or to draw and you’d still win your bet as they are receiving a half goal head start.

Arsenal -1 v Tottenham +1

To win when backing Arsenal in this scenario, they need to win the match by at least two goals. A victory by a one goal margin would see your stake returned. For a successful bet on Spurs, a win or draw would suffice. If Spurs only lose by one goal, you would get your money back.

Arsenal -1.5 v Tottenham +1.5

If Arsenal win by at least two goals, anyone backing the Gooners will be successful. Victory by a one goal margin, a draw or a defeat will result in a loss for Arsenal backers. Spurs backers will collect on anything better than a defeat by a two goal margin.

The double Asian Handicap bet is slightly more complex but is also fairly easy to get to grips with.

Arsenal 0, -0.5 v Tottenham 0, +0.5

This example shows the quarter ball handicap and may also be written as -0.25 and +0.25. Betting on Arsenal here means you win if Arsenal win by one goal or more. If the match ends in a draw you lose 50 per cent of your stake. The other half of the stake is returned. If you back Tottenham, you win if they win the match. If it’s a draw, half your stake is returned and half is a winner at the odds taken.

Arsenal -0.5, -1 v Tottenham +0.5, +1

Also written as -0.75 and +0.75, this bet works as follows. If you back Arsenal then you win if they the match by two or more goals. If Arsenal win by one goal, half your stake is returned and half is a winner at the odds taken. If you back Tottenham then you win if they win or draw the match. If Tottenham lose by one goal, you lose 50 per cent of the amount staked.

Asian Handicap Betting Bookmakers

bet365 are arguably the best bookmaker for betting on the Asian Handicaps. They were one of the first online bookmakers to introduce this form of betting and they offer a huge number of matches on weekly basis for Asian Handicap betting purposes. Victor Chandler also have a comprehensive Asian Handicap service and should be strongly considered for when placing these bets.