Football in India: Asian Handicap Betting Simplified

Seasoned punters attribute their winnings to it. But few people know what this term means and even less understand how it can be used to improve their odds. Asian handicap betting applies to football and any other sporting events that can end in a draw.

This system’s main aim is to even the spread across two unmatched teams. The underdog is usually given a slight advantage in goals before the match starts. This eliminates the need for a levelled score. This handicap can be in the form of either a whole number or a fraction.

History

First off, the Asian handicap is not an offensive term used to describe an Indian guy with disabilities. The name actually originates from Indonesia. There it was first called Hang Cheng Betting. However, back in 1998, an English journalist came up with the phrase on the request of an Indonesian bookie. The term has stuck since then.

How it Works

Before each kick-off, the bookie awards a fraction of a goal to the weaker team. Let’s say Manchester City was playing Crystal Palace, and Palace is awarded a handicap of 0.34 goals. This would mean that City would start the match with zero goals and Palace with 0.5 goals. If the match ends in a one-all draw, the game would go to Crystal Palace. The results would be City 1 Palace 1.5.

The Pros

This system effectively eliminates the need to stake your money on draws. You still stand a chance of winning even if the team you bet on lost the match. It also increases your chances of winning when used in a multi-bet that has fewer possible outcomes.

The Cons

Asian handicap betting is difficult to understand and apply for first-timers. Less experienced punters will also have an easier time just sticking to fixed odds.