Asian Handicaps in Football Explained

With a standard match-result bet, you normally choose between the home team, the draw and the away team. An Asian handicap market usually offers only two selections. The handicap is designed to make an uneven match more balanced from a betting perspective.

Depending on the line selected, an Asian handicap bet can produce a full win, full loss, refund, half-win or half-loss.

A simple Asian handicap example

Imagine Manchester City are playing Everton. City are strong favourites, so the bookmaker offers:

If you place a £10 bet on Manchester City -1.0, City effectively begin one goal behind for settlement purposes.

Backing the underdog

You could instead back Everton +1.0. Everton receive a virtual one-goal advantage.

• The bet wins if Everton win the match.
• The bet wins if the match finishes level.
• The stake is refunded if Everton lose by exactly one goal.
• The bet loses if Everton lose by two or more goals.

Whole-goal Asian handicaps

Whole-goal handicaps include lines such as 0, -1.0, +1.0, -2.0 and +2.0. These are the lines that can produce a refunded bet, often called a push.

Half-goal Asian handicaps

Half-goal lines include -0.5, +0.5, -1.5 and +1.5. Because a football match cannot finish with half a goal, these bets cannot result in a refund.

Quarter-goal Asian handicaps

Quarter-goal lines divide your stake equally between two neighbouring handicaps. This is why they can result in half-wins and half-losses.

How -0.25 works

A £10 bet on Tottenham -0.25 is divided into £5 on Tottenham 0 and £5 on Tottenham -0.5.

• Tottenham win: both halves win.
• Match drawn: the 0 half is refunded and the -0.5 half loses.
• Tottenham lose: both halves lose.

A draw therefore creates a half-loss.

How +0.25 works

A £10 bet on Brentford +0.25 is divided into £5 on Brentford 0 and £5 on Brentford +0.5.

• Brentford win: both halves win.
• Match drawn: the 0 half is refunded and the +0.5 half wins.
• Brentford lose: both halves lose.

A draw therefore creates a half-win.

How -0.75 works

A £10 bet on Newcastle -0.75 is divided into £5 on Newcastle -0.5 and £5 on Newcastle -1.0.

• Newcastle win by two or more: both halves win.
• Newcastle win by exactly one: the -0.5 half wins and the -1.0 half is refunded.
• Newcastle draw or lose: both halves lose.

A one-goal victory creates a half-win.

How +0.75 works

A £10 bet on Wolves +0.75 is divided into £5 on Wolves +0.5 and £5 on Wolves +1.0.

• Wolves win or draw: both halves win.
• Wolves lose by exactly one: the +0.5 half loses and the +1.0 half is refunded.
• Wolves lose by two or more: both halves lose.

A one-goal defeat creates a half-loss.

Asian handicap settlement table

Calculating your returns

Suppose you place £10 on Manchester City -1.0 at decimal odds of 1.90.

If City win by two or more goals, the £19 return consists of your £10 stake plus £9 profit. If City win by exactly one goal, your £10 stake is refunded. If City draw or lose, the bet loses.

Half-win example

You bet £10 on Newcastle -0.75 at odds of 2.00 and Newcastle win by exactly one goal.

• £5 on -0.5 wins and returns £10.
• £5 on -1.0 is refunded.

Your profit is £5.

Half-loss example

You bet £10 on Wolves +0.75 and Wolves lose by exactly one goal. The £5 on +0.5 loses, while the £5 on +1.0 is refunded. You receive £5 back and lose £5.

Does extra time count?

Football Asian handicap bets are normally settled using the score after 90 minutes plus added time. Extra time and penalty shoot-outs generally do not count unless the market rules state otherwise.

Why bettors use Asian handicaps

• They remove the draw from many markets.
• Some lines protect your stake with a refund.
• You can back an underdog to remain competitive without needing it to win.
• You can seek better odds on a favourite by requiring a larger winning margin.
• Quarter lines allow more precise positions than standard match betting.

Key points to remember

Frequently asked questions