An Asian handicap is one of the most important forms of betting offered by bookmakers. Sometimes ago they were not often used due to low margins. As for today they are very popular first of all on the Asian market and some bookmakers in Europe were also forced to create such an option. An Asian handicap is an attempt to equal the chances of both teams due to what you are not forced to bet on the favorite with such low odds. In the game with an Asian handicap the coupon bet is returned in case of a draw. There are only two types of odds here – 1 and 2. It should be taken into account that many bookmakers do not have this option available due to too low margin.

Handicap betting is a betting form where one team has an advantage in score before the start of the match and the other team is handicapped. In traditional betting there are tree potential outcomes, win, lose and draw. In Asian Handicap betting the draw is eliminated, increasing Your chance of winning.

Handicap betting is a betting form where one team has an advantage in score before the start of the match and the other team is handicapped. That way the better team (one that is favored by bookies) is losing by a predetermined handicap, even before the match begins. In what is called the European handicap (EH in further text), teams are handicapped by a round number of goals, like -1, -2, -3 and up to the difference bookies consider fit. 

For example; if Manchester Utd. are playing Everton on home field, bookies will naturally favor Man. Utd., thus making the odd for the home win fairly low. Bookies will now introduce a new, larger and more appealing odd with a handicap of -1, so that Man. Utd. must win at home with 2 goal difference in order for our bet to be a winner. 

Since soccer is considered a low scoring sport and the majority of games end with 2 to 3 goals scored, bookies made betting more interesting with invention of Asian handicaps.

Asian handicap (AH in further text) splits one goal in four fragments. This way a team can be handicapped with one goal (-1), goal and a quarter (-1.25), goal and a half (-1.50) and goal and three quarters (-1.75). It's really not as confusing as it sounds.Let's look at an example where we're betting on the home side, expecting to win with two goals margin minimum.

1. For starters, let's see how the same handicap margin is marked differently in EH and AH. We believe that home team can win this match with 2 goals difference. In EH markets we are looking to bet on handicap marked -1, and in AH markets it will be marked -1.5. It is exactly the same handicap margin, just marked differently, as simple as that.

2. Second, we have an AH with a round number, let's say -1 on home team. We still hope that home team can win this with two goals margin. But, if the home team wins only by a one goal margin, since there is no draw outcome in AH our bet will be void, bookies will simply give us our money back. In any other case result of the bet is obvious.

3. Finally, let's explain how AH works in instances when the goal is split into quarters; -1.25 and -1.75. When we bet on a home team win with a -1.25 handicap, bookies then simply split our bet into two equal amounts and place one half on -1 handicap and the other on -1.5 handicap. If home team wins only by a one goal margin, we will get half of our money back because of the -1 AH, and we lose the second half because of the -1.5 AH. Same system applies to -1.75 bets; half of our money is placed on -1.5 and the other half on -2. If our team wins the game by a two goal margin, half of our bet will generate profit (-1.5) and half will be returned (-2).

Let's see some more examples:

Example 1:
Chelsea (-0.5) 2.0 (favorite team, 0.5 goals taken away from its final score) Arsenal (+0.5) 1.9 (underdog team, given 0.5 goal "head-start")

We are betting on Chelsea for 100 EUR

Result of the game – Chelsea 2 : 0 ArsenalThe result include handicap is: Chelsea 1.5 : 0 Arsenal
Our net win = (EUR 100*2.00)-EUR 100 = EUR 100

Result of the game - Chelsea 0 : 0 ArsenalThe result include handicap is: Chelsea -0.5 : 0 Arsenal
We lose  initial stake of 100 EUR

Arsenal (-1.25) 2.0 (favorite team, 1.25 goals taken away from its final score) Southampton (+1.25) 1.9 (underdog team, given 1.25 goal "head-start")
We are betting on Arsenal for 100 EUR

Result of the game – Arsenal 2 : 0 SouthamptonThe result include handicap is: Arsenal 0.75 : 0 Southampton
Our net win = (EUR 100*2.00)-EUR 100 = EUR 100

Result of the game - Arsenal 1 : 0 SouthamptonThe result include handicap is: Arsenal -0.25 : 0 SouthamptonIn this case Southampton won with only quarter of a goal, we lose only half of our stake.
We lose 50 EUR

Result of the game - Arsenal 1 : 1 SouthamptonThe result include handicap is: Arsenal 1 : 2.25 Southampton
We lose full stake of 100 EUR

Liverpool (-2.0) 2.0 (favorite team, 2 goals taken away from its final score) Stoke (+2.0) 1.9 underdog team, given 2 goal "head-start")
We are betting on underdog  this time for 100 EUR

Result of the game - Liverpool 1 : 0 StokeThe result include handicap is: Liverpool 1 : 2 Stoke
Our net win = (EUR 100*1.9)-EUR 100 = EUR 90

Result of the game - Liverpool 3 : 1 StokeThe result include handicap is: Liverpool 3 : 3 Stoke
Since no one won this game we got our stake back.

Result of the game - Liverpool 3 : 0 StokeThe result include handicap is: Liverpool 3 : 2 Stoke
We lose  initial stake of 100 EUR

Asian handicap system originated in Indonesia, and has gained popularity in the 00's. It's main difference from traditional soccer betting (1X2 wagering) is that it reduces the number of probable outcomes from three to two, by eliminating the draw. This helps bookies balance out the market and control it more efficiently, but on the other hand, it lowers the margins so the odds get better. If You want to make a bet on double chance X2, You should consider finding an AH +0.5 on hosts because it will have a bigger odd. Also, if You're a fan of "draw no bet" betting there is an AH of 0 that gives you the same outcome for a better price. To sum up - AH is great because it gives both teams an equal chance to win by giving the underdog a head start. With eliminating draw outcome AH give more chance for win. And along with better odds, AHs give You more options when You bet on winners of the match or when You go for the number of goals scored.