Asian handicap: how it works?

There are dozens of different betting markets in sports betting, but few are as popular, yet as confusing to beginners, as the Asian Handicap.

At first glance, numbers like -0.25, +0.75 or -1.5 may seem complicated, but in fact there is a fairly simple logic behind them. This is why Asian Handicap is one of the most preferred betting markets among both experienced and professional bettors.

In this OlyBlog article, we will explain how Asian Handicap works, how it differs from regular betting and when it is worth using it.

View the latest odds at OlyBet

What is Asian Handicap?

The main goal of Asian Handicap is to remove the draw option from betting and make unequal matchups more balanced from a betting perspective. In practice, this means that one team is given a virtual win or loss before the match.

For example:

Real Madrid -1.0
Real Betis +1.0

If you bet on Real Madrid with a handicap of -1.0, the Madrid club must win by at least two goals.

If Real Madrid wins by one goal, the bet is void, i.e. the stake is returned. If the match ends in a draw or Real Madrid loses, the bet is also lost.

How is the Asian Handicap different from the European Handicap?

Although the Asian Handicap and the European Handicap seem similar at first glance, there is one important difference between them.

There are three possible outcomes for the European Handicap:

Win
Draw
Loss

The Asian Handicap removes the possibility of betting on a draw, which means that the bet can:

Win
Lose
Withdraw
Partially win
Partially lose

It is the possibility of getting your bet back or avoiding a complete loss that makes Asian handicaps attractive to bettors.

Find good betting opportunities at OlyBet

Why do bettors prefer Asian handicaps?

The biggest advantage of Asian handicaps is that they give bettors more opportunities to hedge their risks.

While in a regular 1X2 bet a draw often means a loss of the bet, in the case of Asian handicaps a draw can mean:

A return of the bet
Half a win
Half a loss

In addition, Asian handicaps allow you to get better odds when betting on favorites and find value in outsiders whose outright victory is not necessarily believed.

That is why Asian handicaps are also widely used in professional sports betting.

The most popular Asian handicap lines

Asian Handicap 0.0

This is often known as a _Draw No Bet_.

Example: Liverpool 0.0

Possible outcomes:

Liverpool wins → bet wins
Match drawn → bet voided and refunded
Liverpool loses → bet loses

Asian Handicap -0.5

Essentially the same as a match winner bet.

Example: Arsenal -0.5

To win the bet, Arsenal must win the match. If the match is drawn or lost, the bet loses.

Asian Handicap +0.5

Example: Borussia Dortmund +0.5

The bet wins if Dortmund win or draw. If the match is lost, the bet loses.

Asian Handicap -1.0

Example: Manchester City -1.0

Possible outcomes:

City wins by two or more goals → bet wins
City wins by one goal → bet is returned
Draw or lose → bet loses

Asian Handicap +1.0

Example: Napoli +1.0

Possible outcomes:

Napoli wins → bet wins
Draw → bet wins
Napoli loses by one goal → bet is returned
Napoli loses by two or more goals → bet loses

What are quarter lines?

The following lines usually cause the most questions: -0.25, +0.25, -1.25, +1.25.

In the case of quarter lines, the bet is automatically divided into two equal parts.

Example: Arsenal -0.25

A €10 bet is split into:

€5 Arsenal 0.0
€5 Arsenal -0.5

If Arsenal wins:

The entire bet wins

If the game ends in a draw:

Arsenal 0.0 part is returned
Arsenal -0.5 part loses

In essence, it is a half-loss.

If Arsenal loses:

The entire bet loses

Example: Arsenal +0.25

If the game ends in a draw:

Half of the bet wins
Half of the bet is returned

So essentially it is a half win.

What are 0.75 lines?

Another popular type of handicap is the 0.75 line or three-quarter line.

Example: Bayern Munich -0.75

The bet is split:

Half of the amount on the -0.5 line
Half of the amount on the -1.0 line

If Bayern wins by two or more goals:

The entire bet wins

If Bayern wins by one goal:

Half of the bet wins
Half of the bet is returned

So essentially it is a half win.

If the game is drawn or Bayern loses:

The entire bet loses

Example: Bayern Munich +0.75

If Bayern loses by one goal:

Half of the bet is returned
Half of the bet loses

In essence, it is a half-loss.

If the game ends in a draw or Bayern wins:

The entire bet wins

Practical example: Real Madrid -1.25

Let’s say Real Madrid is playing against Getafe and you place the following bet: Real Madrid -1.25.

This can be broken down as follows:

50% of the bet on the -1.0 line
50% of the bet on the -1.5 line

If Real Madrid wins by two or more goals:

The entire bet wins

If Real Madrid wins by exactly one goal:

-1.0 stake is returned
-1.5 stake loses

If the game ends in a draw or Getafe wins:

The entire bet loses

When is it worth using the Asian Handicap?

The Asian Handicap is particularly suitable in situations where:

The favorite seems overvalued
The underdog odds seem too high
You want to reduce the impact of a draw
You believe the game will be more even than the odds indicate
You want to better manage your risk

For example, Real Madrid’s usual win may have odds of 1.25, but an Asian Handicap of -1.5 can offer significantly more attractive odds.

Also read: How do odds work?

Common mistakes when betting on Asian Handicap

Asian handicap is one of the most flexible betting markets in sports betting. If you understand its principles, it allows you to manage risk better and can offer more value than traditional outright or 1X2 bets. It is also worth betting responsibly when using Asian handicaps.