Asian Handicap betting began in Indonesia in the 1990s. Culturally, local bookies
understood that the public preferred the elimination of the draw and Asian Handicaps
accomplish this. In removing the draw and adding a manner of handicap, the odds
applied to both available selections tend to be relatively even.
Asian Handicap betting involves your selection either giving or receiving an “X ball
start” where X is a number from zero, 0.5, 1, 1.5, 2.0 or 2.5 and the term ‘ball’
refers to a goal.
Asian Handicaps are also unique because they can include either one or two handicap
parameters. When you have two handicap parameters against which the result will
be measured, there are actually three potential outcomes for you: 1) You can win
100% of your bet, 2) you can win 50% of your bet and have the other 50% stake refunded,
or 3) you can lose the bet entirely. If you select an Asian line with just one handicap
parameter, you will simply either win or lose the bet.
All of the sportsbooks that are listed on this page offer a main Asian Handicap line
for every match, but many also offer nearly comprehensive list of all the possible
combinations of Alternate Asian Handicaps, so you have full freedom of choice for
how to bet. In other words you can select the exact handicap for how you think the
match may finish. If you think a blowout is likely, you may want the high odds that
come with overcoming a 3 ball start.
Here is an explanation of how some of the Asian Handicap Line combinations would
work: (Or scroll now to the best Asian Handicap Sportsbooks)
Handicap Line 0.5 Ball
Team giving a 0.5 ball start (-):
- Win by any score - All bets on this selection are winners.
- Draw - All bets on this selection are losers.
- Lose by any score - All bets on this selection are losers.
Team receiving a 0.5 ball start (+):
- Win by any score - All bets on this selection are winners.
- Draw - All bets on this selection are winners.
- Lose by any score - All bets on this selection are losers.
Handicap Line 0.5,1 Ball
Team giving a 0.5,1 ball start (-):
- Win by 2 or more - All bets on this selection are winners.
- Win by exactly 1 - Half the stake is settled at the price of the chosen selection.
The other half is refunded to the customer.
- Draw or lose by any score - All bets on this selection are losers.
Team receiving a 0.5,1 ball start (+):
- Draw or win by any score - All bets on this selection are winners.
- Lose by exactly 1 - Half the stake is refunded to the customer. The other half
is classed as a loser.
- Lose by 2 or more - All bets on this selection are losers.
Handicap Line 1 Ball
Team giving a full ball start (-):
- Win by 2 or more - All bets on this selection are winners.
- Win by exactly 1 - All bets on this selection are void and refunded to the customer.
- Draw or lose - All bets on this selection are losers.
Team receiving a full ball start (+):
- Win by any score or draw - All bets on this selection are winners.
- Lose by exactly 1 - All bets on this selection are void and refunded to the customer.
- Lose by 2 or more - All bets on this selection are losers.
Below you’ll find the top international sportsbooks offering Asian Handicap betting
and their associated odds margins: