Handicap Betting
Handicap betting is common practice in points-based sports like football, rugby, basketball, and tennis, but is also frequently used in racing events, particularly horse racing. To make a short introduction, ASIAN HANDICAP (also known as AH) is a betting option that creates a more level betting environment between two mismatched competing teams by giving a “handicap” (expressed in goals or points) to the teams before the event starts. In Asian handicap.
Handicap betting is often seen as an advanced form of 1X2 or Money Line betting. Some bettors are put off because it seems complex but handicap betting offers a unique challenge by balancing the chances of either side winning a match with a positive or negative numerical figure (this figure is what is known as the handicap).
But, the sports betting section is, including all the tennis betting options, like handicap, in-play handicap, and so many others, 22bet By joining 22bet, you are going to have access to a lot of tennis betting. To find a reasonable answer to that question, handicap betting helps tremendously. For those new to online sports betting, handicapping can seem like it’s making things more complex. It’s actually the.
What is handicap betting?
In short, a handicap is a figure set by a bookmaker that aims to “even up” either side’s chance of winning a match. The favourite will normally have a negative handicap that they have to overcome to win, while the underdog will have a positive handicap that acts as a head start.
The premise of handicap betting is the same across all sports but given the vast differences in rules and how these sports are played, sport-specific knowledge is crucial.
Handicap betting in soccer
Given that soccer is such a low scoring sport, trying to predict the winner in terms of handicap betting requires refined predictive skill - it isn’t simply a bet on the winner of the match, it is a bet on how either team will perform.
Although it is simple enough to grasp what handicap betting means in different sports, it is only when bettors develop more sport specific knowledge that they can begin to get an edge over the bookmaker.
Handicap figures are presented as goals, so if a team is -1.5 to win, they have to win by more than one clear goal for a handicap bet to win. Alternatively, a bet on the opposition at +1.5 would win if they lost by one goal, drew or won the match.
Pinnacle’s Premier League Handicap table is a useful tool when it comes to keeping track of teams’ handicap performance. This information can be used to see which teams outperform or underperform when it comes to the betting market’s expectation.
- Read: How Premier League teams perform in handicap betting.
What Does Handicapping Mean
It can be useful to track handicap performance over the course of the season, but it is when compiling historical handicap performance data that it really becomes beneficial to bettors. Certain teams can develop a trend for failing to cover the handicap in their matches, showing that public perception and in some cases, the bookmaker’s estimation is incorrect.
NFL handicap betting
The handicap in the NFL is more commonly known as “the spread”. If a handicap bet on a team wins, they have “covered the spread” and handicap performance is referred to as a record “against the spread” (ATS).
The handicap is considered to be the most popular form of NFL betting. As shown by Michael Konik in The Smart Money, it is often the market of choice for expert NFL bettors - while bettors have to be more accurate, they are rewarded with higher odds for the favourite to win or an increased chance of the underdog winning.
- The Smart Money: Lessons from the world’s sharpest bettor.
Due to the points system and scoring patterns, certain key numbers are very important when it comes to handicap betting in the NFL. A touchdown with the extra point conversion (seven points) and a field goal (three points) are by far the most common winning margins - making negative handicaps just below and positive handicaps just above these marks very valuable.
Once bettors understand how handicap betting works in the NFL, strategies can be developed using yards per play rankings or the Pythagorean theorem to help make more informed betting decisions.
MLB handicap betting
The handicap in baseball betting is referred to as the Run Line. Unlike other sports, the handicap in baseball is consistent and is always set at 1.5. This means if a team is -1.5 they have to win by two runs and +1.5 means a team can lose by one run or win the game. However, bettors still have the opportunity to increase or decrease the Run Line in the form of an alternative handicap.
It can be useful to track handicap performance over the course of the season, but it is when compiling historical handicap performance data that it really becomes beneficial to bettors.
Stadium dimensions and the weather can have a major impact when it comes to handicap betting in baseball. If a team is expected to dominate and conditions suit a high scoring game, they may be more likely to win by more runs. Similarly, lesser-ranked teams may give better teams a closer game if conditions play to their strengths.
Handicap betting in basketball
Basketball is similar to the NFL in the sense that bettors often prefer betting on the handicap as opposed to Money Line. Basketball is one of the highest scoring professional sports with games consistently featuring over 200 points scored between both sides - the low-value points system and scoring frequency means there are no key numbers as with other sports.
Regardless of what market you bet on, the important things to consider in competition specific betting is the impact injuries have on team strength, how scheduling can affect performance and which statistics can help identify mismatches in games. Additionally, ATS records go some way to highlighting which teams are potentially over and underestimated by the betting market.
Tennis handicap betting
Handicap betting in tennis is different to most other sports as there are two separate options available within one match. As well as the Money Line and Totals, bettors can bet on either a game handicap or set handicap in a tennis match.
A game handicap in tennis betting is calculated by using the total number of games won by either player. Using a hypothetical example, if Rafael Nadal was -6 against Mischa Zverev and the result was 6-4, 6-2, 6-4 (18-10) Nadal would have covered the -6 handicap as he won by eight games in total.
- Learn how to bet on tennis.
The other handicap option available in tennis betting is the set handicap. Bettors can place a bet on whether a player will win in straight sets or not (-1.5 or 2.5 sets) - the other side of this market is a player to not lose in straight sets (+1.5 or +2.5).
Although it is simple enough to grasp what handicap betting means in different sports, it is only when bettors develop more sport specific knowledge that they can begin to get an edge over the bookmaker. Access to the right kind of information is crucial when it comes to making a consistent profit betting, but this needs to be combined with an understanding of the type of bets being placed.
Handicap betting video explainer
Found this article useful? Why not check out our videos that details how Handicap betting works.
Asian Handicap video explainer
You can also understand how Asian Handicap betting works by watching this helpful video.
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As a sport, basketball is extremely popular which is why almost all bookmakers offer markets for it. When it comes to betting on it, basketball handicap markets are among the most popular bet types.
We are going to share important information on handicap betting and explain basketball handicap betting in detail
In the following guide, we follow this Basketball Handicap Betting guide and we take a closer look at sportsbook providers that offer basketball betting markets. Additionally, we will compare bookmakers and the bonuses they offer when it comes to this betting type.
Most basketball bets are placed on the NBA which means basketball handicap bets offered by bookmakers are mostly about the NBA. On top of that, these US-based matches come with the highest odds.
Basketball Handicap Markets at a Sportsbook
Bookies are not offering handicap bets only on basketball but also on many other sports. The team, which the bookmaker classifies as weaker, is given an advantage. After it’s decided which team is weaker, fictitious points are added to the actual score. As a result, the favorite of the bet, which the bookmaker assumes will win the match, is faced with a greater challenge and the two teams are theoretically equal. Basically, the favorite is “handicapped” by a certain amount of points. This makes both sides equal in the eyes of the bettor.
For this reason, the bookmaker can offer balanced odds on a basketball match. The regular bet for the favorite to win would have extremely low odds. It’s not worth it to create a bet under extremely small odds which is where handicap betting comes into play.
Classic Basketball Handicap
How to bet on basketball online? In a classic basketball handicap, all the markets that can be used for moneyline bets are available for placing handicap bets as well. In a – 1.5 handicap, the bet is won if the favorite wins with at least a two point advantage. Some bookmakers offer a draw option in their handicap bets. In that case, the handicap is based on whole numbers.
Example of a basketball handicap bet
For example, the favorite is put at a – 3 points handicap for a certain game. If they win by exactly 3 points, the outcome of the bet is a draw. Bookmakers that offer this bet type are rare because it’s not as popular as the Asian Handicap that is a 2-way bet. Winning with a draw only happens in European Handicap. In classic Asian Handicap betting, if a draw is caused with the bet, the outcome is void and the stakes are returned.
These bet types are much better than regular moneyline or 3-way bets because you don’t have to guess the winner. If a favorite is put on a – 7.5 points handicap, even if the favorite wins, if they do it with 7 points or less, you still win your handicap bet.
How does handicap betting work inbasketball?
Handicap Betting is a bet in which the bookmaker equips the house-high favorite with a fictitious lead. In basketball, this is done by adding a certain amount of points to the weaker side. At the end of the match, the points will be added to the match outcome. In some cases, the normal betting markets of 3-way bets can be used as well.
For that reason, there are basketball handicap bets on the win, on a draw, and on defeat. So, one option is to back the weaker team and place a bet where you handicap the favorite. However, another option is to back the weaker side entirely. For instance, you place a + 4.5 Handicap bet on the weaker side. If they lose by 4 points or less, you will win the bet even though the team lost.
How does handicap betting work in basketball when a draw occurs?
This only happens when a handicap is a whole number. A lot of bookmakers offer this bet type even though it’s not really popular. For example, your bet is – 5 Handicap on the favorite and he loses by exactly 5 points. If that happens, you still win your bet.
However, this is only the case in European Handicap and even then, the bookmaker mostly just refunds the stake. On the other hand, Asian Handicap allows only 2-way betting, where the possibility of a draw is removed.
Example of How does Handicap Betting work in Basketball
In our example, team A is playing against team B with a – 3 handicap for the favorite “A”. In other words, three points are added to the result of team B. The bettor wins this bet if:
- Team A wins by less than 3 points
- Team A wins by exactly 3 points
- They lose the match
Still, this only happens in European Handicap betting. In Asian Handicap, the only way the player will win the bet is if Team A wins by less than 3 points or if they lose the match.
Alternatives to Handicap Betting
Handicap Betting Tips
There are many alternatives for players who prefer to bet on something else. When it comes to basketball, the over/under totals markets are the most popular ones. You can bet over/under on the final score of the match, sometimes including OT. However, you can also bet on over/under for each quarter, or for a half. On top of that, over/under bets can also be placed on each team individually. Additionally, bettors can place bets on players instead of teams. For instance, in a game that involves the Los Angeles Lakers, bettors could be that LeBron James will score Over 32.5 points. This also works for rebounds, assists, and blocks.