The handicap betting option is a popular betting option designed to level the playing field by giving the underdog a head start in a matchup. There are different kinds of handicap options in the betting scene, but the European and Asian handicaps are the most popular. There are also other less popular ones like the 3-way, no draw, quarter goal, and alternative handicap, which are a subset of the two popular types.
Like other handicap options, the European handicap levels the playing field between teams of varying strengths. In other words, you’re giving one of the teams playing a hypothetical 1, 2, or even 3-goal advantage or disadvantage. This means the team must win or lose by a certain scoreline for your predicted outcome, which could be a win, draw, or loss, to be correct.
In Asian Handicap betting, you can only give a team a half or quarter-goal advantage or disadvantage (e.g., -0.5, +1.5), eliminating the possibility of a draw. However, only whole numbers are used in the European handicap (e.g., +1, -2). This is why a draw is still an option.
So if the actual scoreline ends in a draw, such as 0-0, 1-1, or 2-2, your bet is still successful because the one-goal advantage is added to the final result. This means even a goalless draw (0-0) is considered 1-0 in favor of the team with the advantage. Similarly, a 1-1 draw becomes 2-1, and so forth. Simply put, for your bet on a team with an advantage to win, that team must either win the match outright or avoid losing by a margin greater than the handicap.
Now, let’s consider this European handicap example from the perspective of the away team, which, in this case, starts with a one-goal disadvantage. If you decide to bet on the away team to win, it means that the team is starting the match as if they are already one goal behind. So, for your bet to win, the away team must overcome this one-goal deficit and win by at least two goals.
For instance, if the match ends 0-2 in favor of the away team, the handicap-adjusted score would be 12,- resulting in a successful bet. However, if the away team only wins by one goal (e.g., 0–1), the handicap-adjusted score becomes 1-1, resulting in a draw. This means the wager would be considered unsuccessful.
Overall, when you wager on a team with a disadvantage in European handicap betting, that team needs to win by a margin greater than the handicap (in this case, more than one goal) for your bet to be successful.
Let’s consider a more practical example with calculations. If Manchester City (Home) were to play against Southampton (Away) in a Premier League match, the odds for City winning would ideally be low, say 1.12 odds. This is because sportsbooks would expect City to win easily, potentially by two, three, or more goals.
To balance out this disparity, some of the best European bookmakers may offer handicaps. For example, City might be given a -3, -2, or -1 handicap. This negative handicap implies they start the match with one, two, or three goals down. On the other hand, Southampton could be given a +3, +2, or +1 handicap, meaning they start the match with a three-, two-, or one-goal advantage, respectively.
Now, let’s say you bet on Manchester City to win with a -3 handicap at 2.00 odds. For your bet to win, City must overcome the three-goal deficit and win by at least four goals. If City wins 4-0, 5-1, or any result with a margin of four or more goals, your $100 bet would yield a $200 return.
Similarly, betting European handicap on Southampton to win with a +3 handicap at 2.00 odds, the team can win, draw, or lose by up to two goals for your bet to be successful. For instance, if the match ends 3-1 or 2-0 in favor of Manchester City, the adjusted score (with Southampton’s three-goal advantage) would be 3-4 or 2-3. A $100 bet, in this case, would also yield a $200 return.
Now, according to the explanations and examples above, a European handicap of 0:1 means the away team, Southampton, is one goal ahead. If you bet on the home team, Manchester City, to win, they need to win by at least a two-goal margin for your bet to be successful. For example, if the actual match ends 2-0, the adjusted score would be 2-1 in City’s favor, making your bet a winner.
On the other hand, if you bet on Southampton to win, they need to either win outright or draw for your bet to be successful. For example, if the match ends 1-1 or 0-1 in favor of Southampton, the adjusted score would be 1-2 or 0-2, respectively, ensuring a successful bet.
Here’s another example of a European handicap explained where the away team now has a two-goal advantage. In this case, the home team has to win by at least a three-goal margin for your win bet on them to be successful. However, if you bet on the away team with the +2 goal advantage, they need to win, draw, or lose by only one goal for your bet to be successful.
Following the regular European handicap rules, with a 0:3 handicap, the away team is starting the match with a three-goal advantage. This means that for a bet on the home team to be successful, they must win by at least a four-goal margin. On the other hand, if you bet on the away team, they can either win outright, draw, or lose by up to two goals for your bet to be successful.
One of the best parts of the European handicap option is that it is not limited to one sport. You can use it in basketball, volleyball, tennis, rugby, and a wide range of other sports. In basketball, for example, the underdog could be given an advantage of +5 points. This means that the other team would need to win by more than 5 points for a bet on them to win. You can also apply the European handicap to the number of points in rugby and volleyball and the number of games won during a tennis match.
However, it is essential to note that the European handicap is mostly used in football (soccer). The European handicap in soccer betting can apply to the match scoreline, as we’ve seen in the examples mentioned earlier. It can also apply to other betting markets, such as the totals, first-half and second-half results, etc. Your choice of which sport to apply the option to and how profitable it’ll be depends on your level of familiarity with the sports, and the due diligence that goes into your betting decisions.
The table below shows some of the pros and cons of the European handicap system:
| PROS | CONS |
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PROS
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CONS
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Of course, betting on the European handicap gives you better odds and a higher return potential. However, with these improved odds comes the challenge of predicting not just the winner but also the margin of victory or defeat, which increases the risk. Therefore, it’s essential to approach this type of betting carefully.
One of the most essential tips to increase your chances of winning is to only bet on sports and teams and players you’re familiar with. Before placing your wagers, ensure you conduct in-depth research and analysis on teams’ recent form, head-to-head records, player performances, injuries, weather, and other factors that could influence the outcome of the match. You can take advantage of valuable betting platforms like the BetZillion website, where you can get free in-depth analysis, match previews, expert predictions, and historical data to guide your decisions.
As mentioned earlier, whether you should use a European handicap or not depends on a number of factors. First, you must understand the European handicap meaning, and how it works, as covered in this guide. Also, you must be familiar with the sports, teams, and players you’re betting on. Lastly, always conduct appropriate and thorough research before placing any wager to inform your decisions and improve your chances of winning.
