Asian Handicap betting removes the draw and lets you fine-tune risk and reward. This guide breaks down how it works - and why it’s a favourite among savvy football bettors. If you’ve ever looked at a betting market and wondered why your team needs to win by exactly two goals - or what the deal is with a -0.25 handicap - you’re not alone. Asian Handicap betting is one of the most misunderstood markets in football betting. Yet it's also one of the most useful tools for finding value and managing risk - if you know how to use it.
At Goals Guru, we often see bettors get confused when trying to navigate Asian Handicaps, but once you understand the basics you'll see why savvy punters love this market.
Let’s break it down.
What Is Asian Handicap Betting?
In simple terms, Asian Handicap betting levels the playing field by giving one team a virtual head start. The idea is to remove the draw as a possible outcome and offer just two betting options - one team or the other, with a handicap applied.
This is especially helpful in matches where there's a clear favourite - like Manchester City vs a team in the relegation zone. Instead of taking poor odds on a City win, Asian Handicaps let you bet on how much they’ll win by.
The Core Principle: Handicaps In Goals
The “handicap” is expressed in goal increments - often in quarters, halves or whole numbers. Here’s how it works in practice:
✔️ Whole Asian Handicaps (For Example -1, +2)
Let’s say you bet on Team A with a -1 Asian Handicap. That means they must win by more than one goal.
Here’s how your bet would settle:
- Team A wins by 2+ goals → ✅ You win.
- Team A wins by exactly 1 goal → 🔁 Stake refunded (also known as a "push").
- Team A draws or loses → ❌ You lose.
This structure applies to all whole number handicaps (e.g. -1, +1, -2, etc.). A draw on the handicap line = money back.
Note: Backing a team in the 0.0 Asian Handicap market is exactly the same bet as backing a team in the Draw No Bet Handicap market, so we suggest checking both market prices and using the one with the highest odds.
✔️ Half Asian Handicaps (For Example -0.5, +1.5)
Now let’s say you back Team A with a -0.5 Asian Handicap. There’s no room for a draw in this case - it’s win or lose.
Here’s what happens:
- Team A wins → ✅ You win.
- Team A draws or loses → ❌ You lose.
Half handicaps remove the “push” possibility - it’s a clean result either way.
Note: The +0.5 Asian Handicap market is exactly the same bet as backing that team in the Double Chance market. The benefit to using the +0.5 AH market instead of the Double Chance is that the AH market often gives slightly better odds . In addition, backing a team in the -0.5 Asian Handicap market is exactly the same as backing that team to win the game in the Match Odds market. (we suggest checking all markets above and taking the best available price for the selection).
✔️ Quarter Asian Handicaps (For Example -0.25, +0.75)
Quarter lines can seem complicated, but they’re just a split stake between two nearby handicaps.
Say you bet on Team A with a -0.25 Asian Handicap. That’s like splitting your stake between:
- Half on Team A -0.5.
- Half on Team A 0.0
Now your outcomes would look like this:
- Team A wins → ✅ You win the full bet.
- Match is a draw → 🔁 You lose half, other half is refunded.
- Team A loses → ❌ You lose the full bet.
It works the same in reverse with +0.25, +0.75, etc. Your bet is split - one part slightly riskier, one more conservative.
Note: At Goals Guru, we will only ever select from the whole and half Asian Handicap markets.
Why Bettors Should Care
✅ Better Prices, Less Risk
Asian Handicaps often offer better value, especially when betting on strong favourites. For example, instead of taking 1.33 odds on a straight win you might get 1.90 on a -1.5 handicap - with a greater return if the team wins convincingly.
✅ No Draw, No Problem
Since draws are removed from the equation, you don’t have to stress over that frustrating 1-1 result ruining your day. Your bet is purely on who outperforms expectations.
✅ Advanced Risk Management
You can choose exactly how aggressive or conservative you want to be with quarter handicaps - ideal for seasoned bettors looking to control volatility.
Common Mistakes We See
As we mentioned earlier, we often see bettors get confused when placing their first Asian Handicap bets - and it usually comes down to these three areas:
- Misunderstanding the stakes on quarter handicaps.
- Assuming a refund will happen on half handicaps (it won’t).
- Betting without context - not considering team motivation, lineup changes or recent form.
That’s where the real edge lies - understanding the market and applying football knowledge intelligently.
Final Thoughts
- Always read the handicap line carefully - for example "is it -0.25 or -0.5?"
- Don’t just back favourites blindly. Sometimes the value is on the underdog.
- Combine Asian Handicap insights with team stats and situational angles for smarter bets.
Want help spotting the best value plays?
👉 Join Goals Guru and get access to expert picks, pricing insights and deep dives into profitable betting strategies.