What is Asian Handicap Betting in soccer? And how do you exploit this betting market to win big? We’re here to reveal all.
If you aren’t a big soccer bettor then you may not have heard of Asian Handicap Betting. But, if you are looking for a more interesting way to raise the stakes, this exciting option might be worth considering.
Let’s discuss the origins of Asian Handicap Betting, the various types of this bet, and the sports in which Asian Handicap Betting is popular – yes, we are primarily talking the Asian soccer handicap.
Origin of the Asian Handicap
Asian handicap sports betting originated in Indonesia. Bettors of limited means would be looking for a way to win more when betting on soccer, while mitigating loss.
Originally called hang cheng betting, this form of betting became familiar in 1996 when English journalist Joe Saumarez Smith was asked by Joseph Phan, an Indonesian bookmaker, to translate hang cheng into a word that would play in English-speaking markets. The term “Asian handicap” was chosen as to not be confused with English handicap betting.
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The concept of Asian handicap betting was devised to address the limited number of goals scored in soccer games, since many soccer games end in a draw. According to traditional fixed odds, a draw is treated as a loss. Asian Handicap betting eliminates the chance for a draw by creating handicaps to force a winner.
What is Asian Handicap Betting?
Asian handicaps create a situation more akin to the odds for American football or basketball where a spread handicap is offered. The favorite will receive a goal deficit in order to give a head start to the underdog. This system makes betting on soccer fairer by giving gamblers a better chance to walk away with some money instead of risking it all and leaving it up to the soccer gods.
Asian handicaps make the chance of either team winning as close to 50% as possible. As a result, payouts can be offered close to even money. Handicaps start at a quarter goal and can go as high as three goals in a match where the talent disparity is highest.
In order to set the odds, the bookmakers take into account the following:
- Team Record
- Performance relative to their potential level of performance (aka “Form”)
- Financial Strength of the soccer club
- Home Field Advantage
- Roster strength (injuries and suspensions at time of match)
Asian handicap betting can be broken down into three types:
- Level Asian Handicap Betting
- Single Asian Handicap Betting
- Split Asian Handicap Betting
Level Asian Handicap Betting
If the two teams are determined to have roughly even odds, they are considered “level”. Neither team will receive a goal “head start”. But recall that the possibility of a draw is removed, meaning that if the match ends in one, your bet is void.
The table below shows how the outcome of a game on a Level Asian Handicap will affect your payout:
| Team You Back | Handicap | Result | Payout |
| Team Red | 0 | Win | Win |
| Draw | Bet Void | ||
| Lose | Lose | ||
| Team Blue | 0 | Win | Win |
| Draw | Bet Void | ||
| Lose | Lose |
Single Asian Handicap Betting
If the teams have a wide difference in talent, Single Asian Handicap betting might be the way to go. In this scenario, the determined favorite will be given a handicap to even the matchup. They will enter the game with –0.5, -1, -1.5, -2 goals.
The following table outlines your possible payouts:
| Team You Back | Handicap | Result | Payout |
| Team Red | -0.5 | Win | Win |
| Draw OR Lose | Lose | ||
| Team Blue | +0.5 | Win Or Draw | Win |
| Lose | Lose | ||
| Team You Back | Handicap | Result | Payout |
| Team Red | -1 | Win by 2 or More | Win |
| Win by 1 | Bet Void | ||
| Draw OR Lose | Lose | ||
| Team Blue | +1 | Win OR Draw | Win |
| Lose by 1 | Bet Void | ||
| Draw OR Lose | Lose | ||
| Team You Back | Handicap | Result | Payout |
| Team Red | -1.5 | Win by 2 or More | Win |
| Win by 1, Lose or Draw | Lose | ||
| Team Blue | +1.5 | Win, Draw, or Lose by 1 | Win |
| Lose by 2 or More | Lose | ||
| Team You Back | Handicap | Result | Payout |
| Team Red | -2 | Win by 3 or More | Win |
| Win by 2 | Bet Void | ||
| Win by 1, Draw, or Lose | Lose | ||
| Team Blue | +2 | Win, Draw, or Lose by 1 | Win |
| Lose by 2 | Bet Void | ||
| Lose by 3 or More | Lose |
Split Asian Handicap Betting (Quarter Goal)
This is where it gets a little more complicated. Split Asian Handicap betting comes into play when the teams playing have less defined ability. It allows you to split your stake on a given team over two handicaps.
Bear in mind that you might see a team that starts the game with (0 & -0.5) listed as -0.25. A team with odds (-0.5 & -1) would be -0.75 and so forth. Hence the name “Quarter Goal”.
To keep with the format we have established, we will present the following chart following the 0.5 format. Note that “Lose Half Stake” means you lose half of the money staked and the rest is returned to you. “Win Half Stake” means you win half of your stake, which is multiplied by your odds, and half is returned.
Let’s Break it Down:
| Team You Back | Handicap | Result | Payout |
| Team Red | 0 & -0.5 | Win | Win |
| Draw | Lose Half Stake | ||
| Lose | Lose | ||
| Team Blue | 0 & +0.5 | Win | Win |
| Draw | Win Half Stake | ||
| Lose | Lose | ||
| Team You Back | Handicap | Result | Payout |
| Team Red | -0.5 & -1 | Win by 2 or More | Win |
| Win by 1 | Win Half Stake | ||
| Draw OR Lose | Lose | ||
| Team Blue | +0.5 & 1 | Win OR Draw | Win |
| Lose by 1 | Lose Half Stake | ||
| Lose by 2 or More | Lose | ||
| Team You Back | Handicap | Result | Payout |
| Team Red | -1 & -1.5 | Win by 2 or More | Win |
| Win by 1 | Win Half Stake | ||
| Lose by 2 or More | Lose | ||
| Team Blue | 1 & +1.5 | Win or Draw | Win |
| Lose by 1 | Win Half Stake | ||
| Lose by 2 or More | Lose | ||
| Team You Back | Handicap | Result | Payout |
| Team Red | -1.5 & -2 | Win by 3 or More | Win |
| Win by 2 | Win Half Stake | ||
| Win by 1, Draw, or Lose | Lose | ||
| Team Blue | 1.5 & 2 | Win, Draw, or Lose by 1 | Win |
| Lose by 2 | Lose Half Stake | ||
| Lose by 3 or More | Lose | ||
| Team You Back | Handicap | Result | Payout |
| Team Red | -2 & -2.5 | Win by 3 or More | Win |
| Win by 2 | Lose Half Stake | ||
| Win by 1, Draw, or Lose | Lose | ||
| Team Blue | 2 & 2.5 | Win, Draw, or Lose by 1 | Win |
| Lose by 2 | Win Half Stake | ||
| Lose by 3 or More | Lose |
Long Live Asian Handicap Betting!
As you can see from the charts, Asian Handicap Betting is a great option for soccer bettors trying to lower their risk of losing. If you haven’t done it yet, give it a shot next time you plan on throwing some money down on a soccer match-up and enjoy!
Here’s where you can currently take part in some Asian Handicap Soccer Betting:
DraftKings Sports SPECIAL OFFER
Caesars Sports SPECIAL OFFER
BetRivers Sports SECOND CHANCE
FanDuel Sports SPECIAL OFFER
Bet365 Sports SPECIAL OFFER
PointsBet SECOND CHANCE
Asian Handicap Betting FAQ
What is a +1.5 Asian handicap?
A +1.5 in Asian Handicap Betting makes use of a half goal line. Therefore, the team with the +1.5 attributed will get a 1.5 goal head start in the game. If you wager on a team +1.5, your wager would be a winner if the team wins, draws or loses by just one goal. Losing by more than one goal would result in a losing bet.
What is a +2.5 Asian handicap?
Betting on a team +2.5 means that they have a 2.5 goal head start in the game. Therefore, your bet would win if your chosen team avoids losing by more than two goals.
