Sports Handicap Betting explained

By Conrad Castleton

30 May 2022

Conrad Castleton 30 May 2022

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Stake.com sportsbook allows you to bet on handicap markets
Find out about handicap sports betting!

Regular Handicap Markets
Asian Handicap Markets

The Stake.com sportsbook has lots of different markets, and handicap betting markets are extremely popular with players.

At Stake.com, you can bet on several different types of handicap markets. In this article, we explain the difference between these unique types of bets.

Regular Handicap Markets

Handicap markets basically mean adding or subtracting a value from a team, or the final score of a game or match. Some handicap markets level out the odds and add value for a team to win or to lose a match, changing the landscape of the way you are betting on an event.

A team may have very short odds, and a strong chance of winning the match. If this is the case, a player may look to find more value by using the handicap markets for the match, backing them to win by a certain margin in order to get more attractive odds.

Regular handicap markets are normally split into two. Some of them use whole numbers, others use half numbers.

When using whole numbers, there are three possible outcomes: A win, a loss or a push.

In this instance, a push (or a void) means that you get your money back. If your bet is part of a multi or accumulator bet, the leg gets taken out of the bet and the odds are adjusted accordingly.

These types of markets are popular in most sports. In this article we’ll use Manchester United vs Liverpool as an example for these handicaps which you can bet on at Stake.

If you have bet on Manchester United +1, you need to add one goal to their final score. If they are winning after that goal is added, your bet is a winner. However using this example, let’s say outcomes below are taken at exact full time score.

Manchester United +1 - If Manchester United win or draw, your bet is a winner. If they lose by one goal, your bet will be voided (pushed) and you will get your money back. If they lose by 2+ goals, your bet has lost.

In the same example, betting on Liverpool -1 means you need to subtract one goal from their score.

Liverpool -1 - If Liverpool lose, your bet is a loss. If they win by one goal, your bet is voided.If they win by 2+ goals, your bet is a winner.

When half numbers are added to handicap markets, it simply eliminates the possibility of your handicaps ending in a tie. This means you are unable to push a bet and there are only two possible outcomes.

Manchester United +1.5 - If Manchester United lose by 2 or more goals, the bet is a loss. If Manchester United lose by one goal, or either draw or win, the bet is a winner.

Liverpool -1.5 - If Liverpool win by 2+ goals, the bet is a winner. If Liverpool win by 1 goal, or either draw or lose, the bet has lost.

Asian Handicap Markets

Asian handicaps are the only handicaps with quarter numbers, and it can be quite confusing. There are four outcomes that can come from these bets:

Win
Loss
Half-win
Half-loss

These are very unique bets. Bets can be placed on quarter number such as 0.25, 0.75, 1.25, etc.

Manchester United +1.25 - If Manchester United win or draw, the bet is a winner. If they lose by 1 goal, half of your bet is a push and the other half is a win. You will receive half your winnings and half stake back. If they lose by 2+ goals, your bet is a loss.

Liverpool -1.25 - If Liverpool lose, the bet is a loss. If they win by one goal, half your bet is a push and the other half is a loss. You will receive half stake back, but will lose the other half. If they win by 2+ goals, your bet is a winner.

Handicaps are becoming more and more popular in the betting sphere, giving players a different value and perspective on each and every match.

Sports Handicap Betting explained

Regular Handicap Markets

Asian Handicap Markets

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