Asian Handicap

Name: Asian Handicap
Item: Asian Handicap

Michael Cermak · Updated 27/07/2024 · Category News

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The Asian handicap (also abbreviated as AH) is one of the most popular markets that sportsbooks offer. The principle of this bet is simple – as a bettor, you have only two possible outcomes to choose from. AH is often used when betting on basketball, handball, or rugby matches, where it evens out the difference between the teams. However, it is also widely used in other sports. You can find out more about the Asian handicap in our article.

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What is the Asian handicap?

It is a type of bet in which one of the teams is given a virtual head start. While the main market (1 – X – 2) has three possible outcomes, the Asian handicap has only two options (the draw is eliminated here). Asian handicaps are typical mainly for bets on the match winner (e.g., in basketball with a handicap of AH -7.5, you bet on whether team A beats team B by at least 8 points). It is used to even out the expected performance level between the teams.

Types of Asian handicap

1. Classic AH (AH -0.5, AH -1.5, etc.) – In this case, one of the teams is assigned a handicap that it must overcome in the match, while the other team starts the game with a virtual head start. For your bet on a team at AH -0.5 to win, your team must win the match. For a bet on a team at AH -1.5 to win, your team must win by at least 2 goals. Conversely, if you bet on a team at AH +1.5, your team can even lose by one goal and your bet still wins.
2. Whole AH (AH 0, AH -1, etc.) – In this form, three outcomes are possible, one of which returns the stake. The designation AH 0 is identical to the draw no bet market. In the event of a draw, your stake will be returned. An AH -1 bet wins if your team wins by 2 or more goals. If your team wins by one goal, your stake is returned, and if your team fails to win, the bet is lost.
3. Quarter handicap (AH -0.25, AH -1.25, etc.) – This one requires more concentration, because this Asian handicap combines two bets in one. If we bet on a team at AH -0.25, the stake is split into two bets. Half of the stake goes on AH 0 and the other half of the stake on AH -0.5. If our team wins, we win both parts of the stake. In the event of a draw, the first part of the stake (AH 0) is returned and the second part of the stake (AH -0.5) is lost. If our team loses, we lose both parts of the stake. There are therefore three possible settlement outcomes.
4. Three-quarter handicap (AH -0.75, AH -1.75, etc.) – The same applies to the three-quarter handicap as to the quarter handicap. The only difference is in how the bets are split. If we bet on a team at a handicap of -0.75, the stake is split into two bets. Half of the stake goes on AH -0.5 and the other half of the stake on AH -1. If our team wins by at least two goals, we win both parts of the bet. If our team wins by one goal, the first part of the stake (AH -0.5) wins and the second part of the stake (AH -1) is returned. If the match ends in a draw or our team loses, the bet is lost.

Sparta	Asian handicap		Zlín
You win if Sparta wins If the match ends in a draw, the stake is returned You lose if Sparta loses	AH 0	AH 0	You win if Zlín wins If the match ends in a draw, the stake is returned You lose if Zlín loses
You win if Sparta wins If the match ends in a draw, 1/2 of the stake is returned You lose if Sparta loses	AH -0.25	AH +0.25	You win if Zlín wins If the match ends in a draw, you win 1/2 of the net winnings You lose if Zlín loses
You win if Sparta wins You lose if Sparta fails to win	AH -0.5	AH +0.5	You win if Zlín does not lose You lose if Zlín loses
You win if Sparta wins by 2 or more goals You win 1/2 of the net winnings if Sparta wins by exactly one goal You lose if Sparta fails to win	AH -0.75	AH +0.75	You win if Zlín does not lose You lose 1/2 of the stake if Zlín loses by exactly one goal You lose if Zlín loses by 2 or more goals
You win if Sparta wins by 2 or more goals If Sparta wins by exactly one goal, the stake is returned You lose if Sparta fails to win	AH -1	AH +1	You win if Zlín does not lose If Zlín loses by exactly one goal, the stake is returned You lose if Zlín loses by 2 or more goals
You win if Sparta wins by 2 or more goals You lose 1/2 of the stake if Sparta wins by exactly one goal You lose if Sparta fails to win	AH -1.25	AH +1.25	You win if Zlín does not lose You win 1/2 of the net winnings if Zlín loses by exactly one goal You lose if Zlín loses by 2 or more goals
You win if Sparta wins by 2 or more goals You lose if Sparta wins by max. one goal or fails to win	AH -1.5	AH +1.5	You win if Zlín loses by max. one goal You lose if Zlín loses by 2 or more goals
You win if Sparta wins by 3 or more goals You win 1/2 of the net winnings if Sparta wins by exactly 2 goals You lose if Sparta wins by max. one goal or fails to win	AH -1.75	AH +1.75	You win if Zlín loses by max. one goal You lose 1/2 of the stake if Zlín loses by exactly 2 goals You lose if Zlín loses by 3 or more goals
You win if Sparta wins by 3 or more goals If Sparta wins by exactly 2 goals, the stake is returned You lose if Sparta wins by max. one goal or fails to win	AH -2	AH +2	You win if Zlín loses by max. one goal If Zlín loses by exactly 2 goals, the stake is returned You lose if Zlín loses by 3 or more goals

Asian handicap in bets on the number of goals and points

We can also come across AH in markets for the total number of goals or points. For example, we may find a market on the total number of goals in a match, OVER 2.75 / UNDER 2.75. In the first case, our stake is split into OVER 2.5 and OVER 3 bets, and in the second case into UNDER 2.5 and UNDER 3. It is paid out according to the rules we described above.

Advantages of the Asian handicap

Advantages

Greater chance of winning – With AH, there are only two possible outcomes (if we do not count whole AHs such as AH 0, AH -/+1, etc., where the stake is returned). Unlike bets on the main market (1 – X – 2), one losing option is removed.
The chance to win even if the team you bet on loses – Thanks to the Asian handicap, you can win even if your team loses. For example, you can bet AH +2.5, and if your team loses by no more than two goals, your bet wins.
Sportsbooks will not restrict you as much – Betting limits on Asian handicaps are usually not as low as on regular bets, which you will notice especially if you bet larger amounts of money.

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Frequently Asked Questions

1️⃣ Which sportsbooks offer the Asian handicap?

All of them! The Asian handicap is one of the most heavily bet types of wagers of all, and in some sports it dominates over other markets, so there is no sportsbook that does not have the Asian handicap in its offer.

2️⃣ What are the advantages of the Asian handicap?

The biggest advantage compared to the main market (1 – X – 2) is that there are only two possible bet outcomes (if we do not count the stake being returned with whole AHs).