- Asian Handicap markets level up the playing field by giving a virtual lead to the underdog.
What Is Asian Handicap Betting?
Asian Handicap (AH) betting is a popular form of sports betting that originated in Asia. It is designed to level the playing field between two teams by giving one side a virtual head start (or deficit) in terms of goals or points.
In Asian Handicap betting, the underdog receives a positive handicap, while the favourite is given a negative one. This means the underdog starts with an advantage, and the favourite must win by a certain margin in order for the bet to be successful.
For example, if a football match between Team A and Team B has an Asian Handicap of +1.5 for Team A, Team A begins the game with a 1.5-goal advantage. If you bet on Team A, your bet will win if they win, draw, or lose by just one goal. If Team B wins by two goals or more, the bet loses.
Conversely, if the Asian Handicap is -1.5 for Team A, they must win by at least two goals for your bet to be successful. If Team A only wins by one goal, draws, or loses the match, the bet loses.
Itās worth noting that in the United States, the term āpoint spreadā is commonly used instead of āhandicap.ā However, there is still a clear distinction between Asian Handicap and European Handicap markets, which work differently despite the similar name.
The Appeal of AH
- More flexibility ā By accounting for the perceived gap between two teams, these markets allow bettors to choose a line that best reflects their view of how the match will unfold.
- Eliminates draws ā In football, goals are always whole numbers, but Asian Handicap markets use decimal lines (such as -1.5/+1.5 or -2.5/+2.5) to remove the draw as a possible outcome.
- Evens out events ā By applying a handicap to one side, the other team has a more realistic chance of winning. This leads to more evenly balanced odds and steadier betting results with less variance.
Best Sites for Asian Handicap Betting
You can use regular bookmakers and betting exchanges to place Asian Handicap bets. For a wide range of markets, I recommend the following options:
1. Bet365
Bet365 offers a comprehensive range of Asian Handicap markets across football and many other sports, including live in-play options. The platform also provides clear explanations for each handicap line, making it suitable for both new and experienced bettors.
#ad ā 18+ ā Play Safe ā GambleAware.org
2. Betfred
Betfred provides a solid range of Asian Handicap lines, such as AH -1.5, AH -2.0, and AH +0.5. Live betting is also available, allowing you to trade these markets as matches unfold.
#ad ā 18+ ā Play Safe ā GambleAware.org
3. William Hill
William Hill features Asian Handicap betting with split handicap options such as -1 and -1.5. The interface presents just two outcomes, which helps keep these markets simple and easy to understand.
#ad ā 18+ ā Play Safe ā GambleAware.org
4. Virgin Bet
Virgin Bet includes Asian Handicap markets across its football offering, giving bettors additional ways to wager by applying goal advantages or disadvantages to teams.
#ad ā 18+ ā Play Safe ā GambleAware.org
5. LeoVegas
LeoVegas offers Asian Handicap betting designed to level the playing field between teams. These markets remove the draw as a possible outcome, creating two-way betting with more evenly balanced odds.
#ad ā 18+ ā Play Safe ā GambleAware.org
Note: For some professional bettors, the liquidity and stake limits at these sites may be too low. If you need higher limits, consider a āWinners Welcomeā bookmaker such as BetInAsia, which does not restrict winning accounts.
The Basics of Asian Handicap Betting
Every Asian Handicap (AH) betting market is shown as the team name followed by a figure such as -0.5, +1.0, +1.5, -1.5, and so on. These numbers move in increments of 0.5 and represent an imaginary head start or goal deficit applied to a team before kick-off.
Betfair Exchange AH Markets for Fulham vs Manchester United
For example, an Asian Handicap market would allow you to bet on Fulham vs Manchester United after giving Fulham a theoretical +0.5 goal head start before kick-off (back @ 2.42, as shown above). This means Fulham will win your bet if they:
- Beat Manchester United ā their winning margin is increased by an additional +0.5 goals.
- Draw with Manchester United ā for example, if the final score is 2ā2, the Asian Handicap adds 0.5 goals, making it Fulham 2.5ā2 Manchester United.
A loss for Fulham ā even by a single goal ā is not enough to win the bet, because Manchester United would still win by 0.5 goals after the handicap is applied. For example, if the final score is 2ā3, the adjusted result becomes Fulham 2.5ā3 Manchester United, so the bet loses.
Of course, you canāt really win or lose a football match by half a goal ā these markets simply require a little imagination!
Asian Handicap bets cover all types of matches, from closely contested games to fixtures with a clear favourite. They can be placed pre-match or in-play, just like any other football betting market.
Example: A Strong Favourite
Letās suppose Spurs are playing Plymouth Argyle in an FA Cup fixture.
Itās highly likely that Spurs will win this match (especially if itās at home), which means their price in the standard 1Ć2 market will be extremely short ā perhaps around 1.10 for the sake of argument.
This creates a dilemma:
- Backing Spurs offers very little reward for the risk involved. Even if they win, the potential profit is small, making it an unattractive bet for many punters.
- Backing Plymouth is highly unlikely to succeed, so most bettors would avoid risking their money on such an outcome.
As a result, many bettors feel that this type of fixture offers very little value or excitement in the traditional 1Ć2 betting market.
AH Levels Up The Game
sian Handicap markets adjust the scoreline, creating a more engaging and meaningful betting proposition.
Letās suppose you give Spurs a theoretical handicap of -2.5 goals before kick-off (āSpurs -2.5ā). This is the same as giving Plymouth a +2.5 goal head start. Does that even the game out a little?
Yes, it does ā suddenly Spurs really have to prove their superiority.
They now need to win by three goals or more for the bet to succeed, which is far from guaranteed in any FA Cup fixture. The Asian Handicap odds reflect this increased uncertainty, so the prices on Spurs and Plymouth move closer together, as if the teams were more evenly matched.
But exactly how superior will Spurs be on the day, if at all?
That question ā team superiority ā is what you need to assess when choosing the right Asian Handicap market, which Iāll explore in the next section.
Which Handicap Market Should You Choose?
Letās continue with the same Spurs v Plymouth example and assume we accept the popular view that Spurs will beat Plymouth Argyle in the FA Cup.
If youāre betting in the Asian Handicap markets, the key question becomes how many goals you think Spurs will win by. Will it be a narrow victory (e.g. one goal), or a dominant performance (e.g. five or six goals)?
Note that Asian Handicap payouts do not increase for bigger winning margins, unlike spread betting goal markets. However, you can choose different handicap lines to take on more or less risk.
If you believe Spursā advantage over Plymouth is relatively modest (despite the difference in divisions), you might choose Spurs -1.5 rather than Spurs -2.5. This gives shorter, safer odds because Spurs are more likely to overcome a 1.5-goal handicap than a 2.5-goal one. The larger the handicap, the harder it is to cover ā and the higher the potential return.
The important point is that multiple Asian Handicap markets exist for the same match. Your choice should be based on your analysis of the game, not just who you think will win.
Selecting the right market isnāt easy. As always, focus on where you believe the value lies, rather than simply backing the most likely outcome.
Types of Asian Handicap Markets
Confused by all the different Asian Handicap variations? Here are the main types, with simple examples to make them easier to understand.
Round Number Asian Handicap Markets (e.g. -2.0/+2.0)
Some Asian Handicap markets use round numbers — such as -2.0/+2.0. The exact same handicapping process applies, as before.
The only difference here is that the draw outcome is not eliminated. In this scenario a team handicapped by exactly two goals (-2.0) could win by a two goal margin, thus creating a ‘draw’ with no winner.
In this occurrence, your stake is refunded. It’s as simple as that.
Asian Handicap +0 Market
The Asian Handicap +0 market allows you to bet on the winner of a game without ever losing money if a draw occurs. It works exactly the same as the ‘Draw No Bet’ market (i.e. no goal handicap is applied).
Imagine it’s Liverpool v Manchester United, and you predict Liverpool will only win by a very fine margin. By backing Liverpool in the +0 Asian Handicap market, you create a safety net whereby your stake is returned if the game is a draw.
Remember that in the Asian Handicap +0 market you are eliminating one of the three potential outcomes of the football match (the draw). So the odds will be shorter for winners.
Combined Asian Handicaps (e.g. +2.0 & +2.5)
This type of Asian Handicap market splits your stake equally across the two handicaps listed.
Let’s say you bet on Chelsea -2.0 & -2.5 against Brighton. Half your stake goes on Chelsea with a -2.0 goal start, the other half on Chelsea to win with a -2.5 goal start. It’s essentially two bets in one click.
Chelsea drawing or losing the game means you lose both bets. If they win by three goals or more, you win both bets. But if Chelsea win by exactly two goals you:
- Lose half your stake (the bet placed at -2.5), and
- Get half your stake back (the bet placed at -2.0).
Quarter Asian Handicaps (e.g. -1.25, +0.75, or -2.75)
You’ll find the “quarter” notation used on some Asian Handicap markets. It’s not a very intuitive format. Nonetheless it’s easy enough to unravel.
Quarter handicap markets split your stake into two separate bets, exactly as described in the previous section. The two stakes are placed on the Asian Handicap markets on either side of the quarter notation.
For example:
- -1.25 =Ā -1.0 & -1.5
- +0.75 = +0.5 & 1.0
- -2.75 = -2.5 & -3.0
- +2.25Ā = +2.0 & +2.5
- -0.25 = +0 & -0.5
Just remember that the quarter notation denotes the mid-point of two separate bets. Its easy if you just subtract 0.25 to get reach the “below” market, and add 0.25 to reach the “above” market.
Quarter notation is unnecessarily confusing. But that’s as difficult as the markets get.
Chelsea drawing or losing the game means you lose both bets. If they win by three goals or more, you win both bets. But if Chelsea win by exactly two goals you:
- Lose half your stake (the bet placed at -2.5), and
- Get half your stake back (the bet placed at -2.0).
Why Do Professional Bettors Use Asian Handicaps?
Here are my thoughts on why Asian Handicap markets attract so many professional bettors:
- Mispriced lines are easier to spot. Detailed statistics and modelling allow bettors to estimate how far one team should outperform another, making it easier to identify when a handicap line is set incorrectly.
- The draw is removed. With no draw outcome, bettors have fewer variables to account for when they compile their own odds. They simply need to decide whether the market has judged the gap between the two teams correctly.
- Less competition means more value. The added complexity of Asian Handicap markets means there are fewer casual bettors involved, which often leads to more exploitable pricing than in mainstream markets such as the 1Ć2.
Asian Handicap markets are also extremely popular with high-stakes bettors, because they turn almost any football match into an āevenā win-or-lose proposition. That doesnāt mean everyone betting big is making a profit ā but it does mean large sums of money regularly flow through these markets.
And that raises an interesting possibility: could some high-stakes bettors actually create opportunities for professionals by pushing prices too far in one direction and distorting the handicap lines? Itās just a thought ā but itās one worth keeping in mind.
Incorporating Asian Handicap Bets Into Your Strategy
If you’re looking to include Asian Handicap bets in your strategy, start by identifying when teams are under-hyped or over-hyped. Thatās one of the most reliable entry points.
For example, if you believe a strong favourite is unlikely to win as comfortably as the Asian Handicap markets suggest, those markets allow you to back the underdog with a relatively cautious, low-variance bet. You could, for instance, take -1.5 goals away from the favourite if that aligns with your own assessment of the matchup.
Your ability to identify profitable Asian Handicap opportunities improves when you combine market prices with deeper analysis:
- Use detailed football statistics that go beyond the basics ā you need more insight than the average punter has.
- Refer to Expected Goals (xG) data from previous matches to reduce bias in your predictions. xG is especially useful for spotting when results have misrepresented performance.
- Incorporate Asian Handicap odds into a football prediction model based on historical data. In many cases, Asian Handicap markets offer cleaner and more exploitable prices than mainstream betting markets.
Finding Value In Asian Handicap Odds
Use a ready-made value bet finder to identify profitable bets in the Asian Handicap markets with zero research or analysis required.
Check out the value bet finders from myĀ Value Betting Software Review.
More Bet Types
- Bet Builder | What Are Bet Builders? Which Bookies Have It? - February 23, 2026
- What Causes Value Bets? A Deep Dive into Betting Market Inefficiencies - February 22, 2026
- Best Betting Tipster Services|Top Sites For Sports Tips 2026 - February 22, 2026