Handicap betting is a way of leveling the playing field in sports wagering. One team receives a virtual head start, and the other gets a point deficit they must overcome.
We explain the meaning of handicap in betting and give you tips and strategies you can apply at Duelbits Sportsbook when placing this popular sports wager pre-match or in-play.
What is handicap in betting? The primary meaning of handicap in betting is that a virtual point advantage or disadvantage applies to one side. For example, in soccer, you might see:
Team A is the favorite in this fixture, while Team B is the underdog. If you bet on Team A to win the match, they must win by two goals or more to clear the negative 1.5-goal handicap.
However, if you bet on Team B, you will win your bet if Team B wins by any margin, draws, or loses by one goal, as they have been given a 1.5-goal headstart.
Handicap betting has two main advantages. One, it gives you better odds on the clear favourite for a fixture. Two, it makes betting on the underdog more attractive, as they have a virtual lead to protect before the match begins.
There are three main handicaps in betting: whole number, half number, and quarter number (more on this shortly). Half numbers are the most common, as they reduce the likelihood of a push bet (tie or draw).
For example, if a whole number handicap is applied (+2), and the team loses by two, the result will be a push bet. A result must be determined by including a decimal point (+1.5) - you will either win or lose your handicap bet, as the team can’t score a half point in most sports.
Here’s an example to illustrate how handicap betting works in practice:
Manchester United have been handed a favorable tie in this FA Cup round. They face lower-league opposition in Crawley Town. As they’re nailed-on favorites to win, a handicap bet on United is a decent option.
If you back United to win with the 2.5-goal handicap applied, they must win the game by at least three goals for your bet to payout. A 3-0 home win would return you a profit.
However, for argument’s sake, let’s say we set the handicap at -3.0, rather than -2.5. If United won the game 3-0 with a -3.0 handicap, the result would be a push bet, rather than a win, and your stake would be returned.
This is primarily why we use half and quarter numbers for handicap wagers.
To fully understand handicap meaning in betting, you must grasp the different handicap wagers offered:
Asian handicaps can use full, half, and quarter lines (+1, +1.5, +0.25, for instance), though half lines are most common. The inclusion of decimal points removes push bets and ties from the equation.
Split bets across two handicap lines are also offered, where quarter-goal lines come into play, so that you can bet on outcomes like half a win or half a loss. For instance, a split bet on -0.75 is half a wager on -0.5 and half on -1.0. So, a draw or loss means you lose your bet, but a win by 2+ delivers a full payout, while a win by one results in half a win.
A European handicap is a classic 3-way bet, offering a home win, draw, and away win. The main difference between a European and an Asian handicap is that, in the former, you can bet on the draw, which is eliminated from the Asian handicap.
For example, in a Premier League fixture between Manchester City and Everton, you could bet on City (-1), the draw (Everton +1), or Everton (+1). The draw in this instance means a handicap draw, not an actual draw in the fixture.
Also called a two-way handicap, this is the simplest type of handicap wager offered at Duelbits. It always includes half-point lines (0.5, 1.5, 2.5, etc.), eliminating the draw. If you’re just starting, this is the handicap wager to place.
A betting handicap in American football is known as a spread:
The line is often set at six or seven points. So, if you were to back the Cowboys, your bet would win if they kept the losing margin to six points or fewer. However, a bet on the Rams would require a seven-point winning margin or greater.
Soccer is lower-scoring than American football, so the margins are tighter:
In this UEFA Champions League match, a bet on Newcastle United would win if the English club lost by one goal, drew, or won by any margin. Bet on the Spanish team, and they would need to win by two or more goals for your bet to come in.
Rugby is much higher scoring, so the margins are greater, particularly when a heavily-fancied team faces a limited underdog:
In this Six Nations match, France must win by 14 points or more, while Wales could suffer a 13-point defeat or less for your bet to come in.
In tennis, there are game and set handicaps:
In the game handicap example, Gauff would need to win the contest by at least three games, while Rybakina could afford to lose by two games and still win your bet. For instance, a 4-6, 4-6 victory for Gauff would be enough, as it’s a four-game winning margin.
In the set handicap example at tennis betting, Jannik Sinner would need to win the match by at least two clear sets to defeat Cam Norrie, who could afford to lose by one set, and you would receive a payout.
Golf handicap betting has nothing to do with the player’s course handicap. Instead, it’s concerned with the winning margin.
For instance, if Scottie Scheffler starts the US Open with a (-1.5) handicap, he would need to win the tournament by two shots or more for your bet to come in.
Handicaps in horse racing betting are different from the rest. In specific races, horses are handicapped to level the playing field. So, the best runners carry the most weight, while the least-fancied horses carry less weight.
Not all races are handicapped, but the English Grand National and the Melbourne Cup in Australia are the most famous examples of handicap races in the sport.
Handicap betting and spread betting refer to the same thing. In European, Asian, and Australian markets, the wager is referred to as a handicap; in the US, it’s typically referred to as a spread bet.
Actually, in the US, a handicap bet in different sports is referred to in various ways, adding to the confusion:
| Sport | Term for a Handicap Bet (US Market) |
| American Football (NFL) | Spread |
| Basketball (NBA) | Spread |
| Ice Hockey (NHL) | Puck line |
| Baseball (MLB) | Run line |
At Duelbits, we offer pre-match and in-play handicap markets. Live handicap betting is exciting, as the lines adjust in real time depending on what’s happening on the pitch or court.
This lets you lock in great value if you strategize. For instance, if the clear favorite is down at halftime to everyone’s surprise, you can back them with a live handicap bet at much better odds than you would have received at the start of the game.
The Duelbits live betting interface makes it easy to place handicap wagers in real time. You can bet live on your phone or PC throughout major football, soccer, basketball, and other matches.
You can calculate your returns of a handicap in betting by considering the odds alongside the bet you place. For example:
Let’s say you bet $10 on Juventus in this Serie A handicap bet. The Old Lady must win by at least two goals for your bet to land. So, if the match finishes 3-1 in favor of Juve, your $10 bet would return a profit of $21.10.
If you backed Parma with a $10 wager and the match ended 2-1 in favor of Juve, you would win your bet for $17.50 profit, as they only lost by a one-goal margin.
Odds shift depending on line movement, demand, and pre-match instances like injuries and suspensions. We recommend researching and using bet calculators to determine your potential returns before placing your handicap wager.
Now you understand the meaning of handicap in betting, here are some actionable tips to help you:
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