Understanding Handicap Betting

Last updated on 10th November, 2022

In the realm of sports, matches often feature teams of varying caliber, even within the same league. This leads to low odds for the favorite and higher odds for the underdog, making betting on either less enticing. To counter this, bookmakers offer Handicap bets, introducing deliberate advantages or disadvantages to balance the odds.

Bookmakers understand this power dynamic. For instance, when a top-ranking team faces an underdog, they offer minimal odds for the favorite’s victory. This prompts strategic betting, like handicapping the favorite or favoring the underdog, to level the playing field.

Consider a scenario: Zenit versus Tambov in the Russian Premier League. Zenit, the favorite, has odds of 1.05 for victory. A bettor confident in Tambov’s defeat might wager on “Victory of Zenit Handicap (-3.5)” at a 2.1 coefficient. This means Zenit starts with a -3.5 goal deficit. If the match ends 5-1 in favor of Zenit, the bettor wins, as the adjusted score is still in Zenit's favor, showcasing the strategic nature of handicap betting.

While such scores may not occur in reality, bookmakers accept them for handicap bets, adding depth and strategy to sports betting.

Key Insights into Handicap Betting

Understanding handicap bets involves grasping two essential components: the negative and positive signs. A negative handicap, represented by a minus sign (-), signifies the advantage the favored team must overcome for the bet to succeed. Conversely, a positive handicap, denoted by a plus sign (+), indicates the maximum losing margin for the underdog to remain within.

This margin varies across sports. In football, a single goal difference is typical, whereas hockey matches often conclude with a 2-3 goal disparity. Similarly, basketball games may see margins of 6-8 points, even among evenly matched teams.

Consider a hypothetical encounter between Chelsea and Sunderland in England's premier league. Here are some intriguing handicap options:

“Chelsea’s Win Handicap (-0.5)” – Any Chelsea victory suffices; however, a draw results in a lost bet.
“Chelsea’s Win Handicap (-1.5)” – A Chelsea win by two or more goals secures the bet.
“Chelsea’s Win Handicap (-2.5)” – A Chelsea win by three or more goals guarantees a winning outcome.

The negative handicap necessitates subtracting its value from the total goals scored by the chosen team. If the team still emerges victorious, the bet succeeds.

Now, let’s explore positive handicap alternatives, favoring the underdog – Sunderland:
“Sunderland’s Victory Handicap (+0.5)” – A draw results in a winning bet, while minimal defeat leads to loss.
“Sunderland’s Victory Handicap (+1.5)” – Any defeat by a single goal secures the bet.
“Sunderland’s Victory Handicap (+2.5)” – A defeat by no more than two goals guarantees a successful bet.

In positive handicaps, the handicap value is added to the goals scored by the underdog. A favorable score for the underdog ensures the bet's success.