With sports betting subject to the whims of fortune, punters will always welcome a way to gain an advantage in their betting efforts. And this is where handicap betting comes into play, providing betters with a leg up that could prove pivotal in giving them the upper hand.
Learn more about handicap betting and how it shapes betting across a wide range of markets:
What is Handicap Betting?
Handicap betting is a form of wagering where a bookmaker assigns an advantage or disadvantage to teams in a match so as to balance the odds and provide more competitive sports betting options. This type of betting is particularly helpful in matches in which there is a clear favourite and a clear underdog, as traditional win/draw/win markets may not offer much value. Unlike markets such as over/under betting, in which bets rely on the total number of points or goals scored, handicap betting focuses only on the adjusted result of the match.
When placing a handicap bet, two main options are presented:
- Positive Handicaps (+): This will give your selected team an advantage (such as +2), meaning they will start the match with a two-goal lead.
- Negative Handicaps (-): This gives the selected team a disadvantage (such as -1), which means they will be required to win by more than one goal to cover the handicap.
Examples of Handicap Betting
Football
Say that you’re considering a football bet on an EPL match between Liverpool and a lower-ranked team. Should bet on Liverpool with a -1 handicap, then the bet will only be a success if Liverpool wins by more than one goal. Conversely, if you bet on the underdog with a +2 handicap, then the underdog must either win or draw, or not lose by more than one goal for your bet to be successful.
Rugby
Another example is if you bet on the Springboks to win against a weaker opponent, usually a Tier 2 nation such as Samoa. In that instance, you may see a handicap of -15 for the Springboks. This means that the Springboks would need to win the match by more than 15 points for your bet to win.
Cricket
In cricket, handicap betting can be used for runs or wickets. For example, a bookmaker may offer a handicap market for Team A to win with a run handicap of -20. This means that, for your bet to win, Team A must win the match by more than 20 runs. If they win by exactly 20 runs, the bet is a "push" and your stake is usually refunded.
Benefits of Handicap Betting
Handicap betting creates more balanced odds, which is especially useful in matches where there is a clear favourite. Punters then don’t have to settle for low odds on a strong team and can subsequently find more value in markets where a handicap is applied. Further, while it may require more research than traditional win-draw-win betting, handicap betting encourages more flexibility than correct score betting, as you do not require a specific result to occur.
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