Asian handicap odds have taken football betting to a whole new level. This odds format gives the better many advantages they do not have with normal fixed odds bets. Additionally, the bookie typically takes a smaller commission. Most importantly, the Asian handicap eliminates the possibility for a tie, greatly improving a bettor's chances for success.
Football is a unique sport where the chances for a tie are relatively high. Consequently, bookmakers have factored this into their odds. Everyone knows that if there is a tie in soccer you lose your wager regardless of what team you bet. This is very different than, say, American football. In these events there is no chance for a tie, making the outcome truly 50/50 each team. The Asian handicap creates this same structure. Without the possibility for a draw loss, every handicapped soccer event is a 50/50 proposition.
The bookmakers handicap each game so that both teams have as close to 50% chance of winning as possible. As a result, the actual odds you receive on each team are close to 1.90 ( -110). By creating each handicap, the sportsbooks are essentially predicting the score of the match. Lets look at an example:
Matchup: Manchester United playing at Chelsea
Handicap: 0 : 0.5
What this means: Basically, this handicap states that Chelsea is giving Manchester United 0.5 goal.
Explanation: The easiest way to explain this is Manchester United starts the game with an extra 0.5 goal. If the match ends in a score of 0 : 0, then a bet on Man U wins because of the extra 0.5 goal. If Chelsea wins the game 0 : 1, then a bet on Chelsea wins. The final in terms of the bet would be 0.5 : 1, the extra 0.5 to Man U would not cover the full goal that Chelsea actually scored.
When games are handicapped in whole numbers ( 0, 1, 2, etc.) the possibility for a tie still exists. However, sportsbooks will refund both bets in the event of a game tied by the handicap.
Frequently bookmakers use 1/4 handicaps to try and get the odds as close to 50/50 as possible. When 1/4 handicaps are used, the bet is split between the two next closest 1/4 intervals. Very simply, a $100 bet with a handicap of 1 3/4 is the same as betting $50 at 1.5 and $50 at 2.0. With 1/4 handicap bets, half of the bet could tie and you could essentially win and tie (win 1/2 of wager) or lose and tie (lose 1/2 wager).
This introduction to handicap betting is provided on behalf of DragonBets.com, the Official Asian Handicap Partner of Bonus Baggers.