Introduction to Asian Handicap

Asian handicap betting is ever more widespread and common around the world. Asian bookmakers remain the most specialised, but such forms of betting are also gaining ground in Europe. So, it is worth understanding what Asian handicaps are and how they work.

The primary advantage of this system is that it removes the option of a draw result
(i.e. the sign X), thus cutting the possible number of outcomes to two, with clear benefits in terms of percentage and likelihood of winning.

The following examples should make it easier to understand how things work.

Example 1 - You win or lose the entire amount - no-bet option does not exist

Here, Inter-Milan "gives" 1/2 goal to Fiorentina. A bet on the home team will only be a winning bet if Inter-Milan wins the match, regardless of the score. By contrast, a bet on the away team will be a winning bet if Fiorentina wins or draws (0-0, 1-1, 2-2 etc.).

Practical example of a bet on this match:
Bet 1: €100 on Inter-Milan
Bet 2: €100 on Fiorentina.

Summary

* 0-0 (or any draw)
A result of 3-1, 4-2, 5-3, 3-0 etc. is the same as a 2-0 result
If the result is higher than 0-1, e.g. 0-2, 1-3 or 1-4 etc., you still look at the 0-1 row.

Let's imagine the match ended 0-1
Bet 1 (€100 on Inter-Milan): loss of €100
Bet 2 (€100 on Fiorentina): total payout is €195 for net winnings of €95

Example 2 - Winning or losing 50% of what is bet in special cases

If there is a quarter handicap (1/4, 3/4, 1 1/4, 1 1/3 or 2 1/4), then special rules apply to a "draw".

In this case, Roma gives Bologna 3/4 of a goal.

This means that a bet on:

• Roma, receives 100% of the stake if Roma wins by two goals or more.
• Roma, receives 50% of the total stake if Roma wins by 1 goal.
• Bologna, receives 100% of the stake if Bologna wins or the match is a draw.
• Bologna, losses 50% of the total stake if Roma wins by 1 goal.

Practical example of a bet on this match:
Bet 1: €100 on Roma   
Bet 2: €100 on Bologna

Summary

As can be seen, if the result is 1-0, the row indicates +50% of winnings or -50% of losses.

Bet 1 (€100 on Roma)
Payout = €100 x 1.80 = €180
Net winnings  = €180  - €100 = €80
If there is a "draw" (with a 3/4 handicap), one wins 50% or €40 in this case.

Bet 2 (€100 on Bologna)
This is a losing bet, but the result (using a 3/4 handicap again) is seen as a "draw" , so one only loses 50% of the amount bet. Here, €100 / 2 = €50

Example 3 - no bet

In an Asian Handicap, a no bet situation is possible.

Example:

In this case, AC Milan gives Parma a whole goal.

• A bet on AC Milan will be a winning bet if AC Milan beats Parma by at least 2 goals.
• A bet on Parma will be a winning bet if Parma wins or the match is a draw.
  
  In the table below, it is clear that if AC Milan wins 1-0, then it is a no bet situation. This is because Milan gave Parma a 1 goal advantage and so the result, in terms of the bet, is 1-1. Since a draw is not permitted in an Asian Handicap, the bookmaker refunds the bets placed.

Summary of handicaps and results