So What Is Asian Handicap In Betting? You may have seen this betting market on many online bookmakers’ websites and also in betting shops across the UK and Europe, but it actually originated in Asia!
Asian Handicap betting eliminates the draw in a match and thus makes it a 2 outcome bet instead of 3.
A minus symbol (-) is given to the bookmaker’s favourite team, which has a handicap disadvantage. A plus symbol (+) is assigned to the other team in the match that has less chance of winning, which now has a handicap advantage.
There are many different betting markets for Asian Handicaps (also known as betting lines). Below is a table of the commonly used Asian Handicap lines (bets) for football matches, as well as their outcomes and what their payouts are.
Asian Handicap Table
Now, let’s explain what each of those handicap bets means by using real-world examples when betting on UK football matches.
Asian Handicap 0.0
Example: Chelsea is 6/4 to win, and they are playing Bournemouth, who is 3/1 to win.
You are betting £100 on Chelsea to win on the 0.0 Asian Handicap football betting market.
- If Chelsea wins, you win the bet
- If the match is a draw, your stake is refunded
- If Chelsea loses, you lose your bet
0.25 Asian Handicap
The game starts with a score of 0 – 0.25 (1/4 goal handicap), meaning the outsider team gets a 0.25 goal headstart on the favourite before the kick-off.
Manchester United are 2/1 to win, and Southampton are 6/4 to win on the 0.25 Asian handicap football betting market.
You are betting £100 on Man United to win.
- If Manchester United wins, you win the bet
- If the match is a draw, you get half of your stake refunded
- If Southampton win,s the bet loses
Quarter Goal Handicaps Explained
Quarter goal handicaps (0.25, 0.75, etc.) represent the most unique aspect of Asian handicap betting, effectively splitting your stake between two separate bets.
How 0.25 Handicaps Work
A +0.25 handicap (also written as 0, +0.5) splits your stake:
- Half on 0 handicap
- Half on +0.5 handicap
Example with £100 stake on Arsenal +0.25 vs. Chelsea:
If Arsenal wins: Both handicap bets win (full win)
If the match draws:
• 0 handicap = refund (£50)
• +0.5 handicap = win (approx. £92.50)
• Total return: £142.50
If Arsenal loses: Both handicap bets lose (full loss)
How 0.75 Handicaps Work
A +0.75 handicap (also written as +0.5, +1) splits your stake:
- Half on +0.5 handicap
- Half on +1 handicap
Example with £100 stake on West Ham +0.75 vs. Tottenham:
If West Ham wins or draws: Both handicap bets win (full win)
If West Ham loses by exactly 1 goal:
• +0.5 handicap = lose (£0)
• +1 handicap = refund (£50)
• Total return: £50 (half loss)
If West Ham loses by 2+ goals: Both handicap bets lose (full loss)
You can have +0.75 and -0.75 Asian Handicaps; the same rules apply, but in reverse.
-1 Asian Handicap Example
With this example, the game starts with one side receiving a 1 goal head start before kick-off.
Sheffield United is 6/4, and Birmingham City is 6/4
You are betting £100 on Sheffield United to win -1 Asian handicap. To be a winner, you need Sheffield United to win by two or more goals (2-0, 3-0, 3-1).
- If Sheffield United wins by two or more goals, you win the bet.
- If Birmingham City wins by one goal (1:0, 2:1, 3:2), you get your stake back.
- If the match ends in a draw or Birmingham City wins, you lose the bet.
You are betting £100 on Birmingham City to win +1 Asian handicap.
- To be a winner, you need Birmingham City to win or a draw result.
- If the match result is a draw or Birmingham City wins, you win the bet.
- If Birmingham City loses by one goal (1:0, 2:1, 3:2), your stake is refunded.
With any Sheffield United win by two or more goals, you lose the bet.
The same goes for when the home team is the outsider. Usually, it is displayed like handicap 1:0 or handicap +1.
-1.5 Asian Handicap
One of the most popular Asian lines in football handicap betting is the -1.5 line. Here the game starts with one side getting a 1.5 goals head start before kick-off.
The underdog team has the advantage of a goal and a half before kick-off. There is no stake back in this market.
Chelsea are 6/4, and Man United are 2/1
You are betting £100 on Chelsea -1.5 Asian Handicap (AH). To win your bet, you need Chelsea to win by two or more goals. In any other case, you lose the bet.
- If Chelsea wins with two goals or more, you win the bet. Your profit will be £90.
- If Chelsea wins with a goal difference, or the match result is a draw, or Espanyol wins, you lose your stake.
Let’s suppose you bet £100 on Man United instead with the +1.5 Asian handicap.
- If Man United does not lose or lose with just a goal difference (1-0, 2-1), you win the bet.
- If Chelsea wins by two or more goals, you lose the bet.
Chelsea -1.5 Asian handicap is the same as Man United -1 EH (European handicap)
Asian Handicap vs. Other Betting Markets
| Feature | Asian Handicap | Traditional 1X2 | European Handicap | Double Chance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Possible Outcomes | 2 (win/lose) | 3 (win/draw/lose) | 3 (win/draw/lose) | 2 (win+draw/lose) |
| Draw Possibility | Eliminated | Yes | Yes | Combined with win |
| Value on Favorites | Better odds than 1X2 | Lower odds | Similar to Asian but with draw | Poor value |
| Value on Underdogs | Better protection | High risk | Less flexible | Lower odds than AH |
| Partial Win/Loss | Yes (0.25/0.75) | No | No | No |
| Best Used When | Uneven matchups | Evenly matched teams | Clear outcome expected | Value on Favourites |
Asian Handicap Betting Strategy
Asian handicap betting offers unique advantages when applied strategically. Here are key situations where this market provides excellent value:
Mismatched Teams
When Manchester City plays a newly-promoted team, the traditional odds might be 1.20 for a City win. Using Asian handicap (-1.5) improves odds to around 1.90 while still backing the stronger team to win comfortably.
Cup Competitions
FA Cup matches between Premier League and League One teams present perfect Asian handicap opportunities. Instead of backing the underdog at long odds to win outright, give them a +1.5 or +2.5 handicap advantage for a higher probability bet.
Derby Matches
Local derbies often produce tighter matches regardless of form. When Liverpool plays Everton, consider a lower handicap line (0.25) even if the form book suggests a wider margin.
Form Assessment
Always check the last 5-10 matches before placing Asian handicap bets. Teams that consistently win by multiple goals make good -1.5 or -2.5 handicap selections, while teams that rarely lose heavily make good +1.5 or +2.5 candidates.
Other Asian Handicap Markets
Now that you know the 0, 0.25, 0.5, 0.75, 1, and 1.5 Asian Handicaps, you can apply this knowledge to the other available markets: 1.75, 2, 2.25, 2.5, and so on.
Some bookmakers may show Asian handicap bets simply as AH, or just with the numbers 0.25AH. Now you know what they mean.
You can also use this Asian Handicap calculator, should you still be struggling to work them out.
Summary
When you understand how the Asian Handicap markets work, you can use them to maximise your chances of winning on Football bets when backing the favourite.
It may look complicated at first, but take some time to learn and understand how they work, and you will soon have improved your football betting even more.
We hope that you have found this football betting guide useful. If you did, please take the time to share it on Social Media and with your friends, or even add a link on your website to it.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does a +1.5 Asian handicap mean?
A +1.5 Asian handicap means the selected team starts with a 1.5-goal advantage. You win your bet if either your team wins, draws, or loses by just 1 goal. The 0.5 fraction ensures there’s no possibility of a push (refund).
What does +0.25 mean in Asian handicap?
A +0.25 Asian handicap (also written as 0, +0.5) splits your stake between two bets: half on 0 handicap and half on +0.5. If your team wins, both bets win. If they draw, the 0 handicap portion is refunded while the +0.5 portion wins. If they lose, your entire stake is lost.
What does Asian handicap +4.5 mean?
An Asian handicap of +4.5 gives your selected team a 4.5-goal head start. Your bet wins if your team either wins outright, draws, or loses by 4 goals or fewer. Only if they lose by 5 goals or more would your bet lose.
Is Asian handicap better than 1X2 betting?
Asian handicap can be better than 1X2 betting in uneven matchups as it equalises the odds and eliminates the draw. It typically offers better value when betting on favourites (by reducing odds but removing draw risk) or underdogs (by giving them a head start).
How is the Asian handicap different from the European handicap?
The main difference is that Asian handicaps can include quarter goals (0.25, 0.75), which split the stake between two outcomes, potentially resulting in partial wins or losses. European handicaps use only whole or half goals and always have three possible outcomes (win, draw, lose).