Handicaps in Football Betting

What is a handicap in football betting - a question that often interests novice players? Handicaps or spreads - bets on the outcome with the consideration of an artificial advantage in favour of the athlete or team. Sportsbooks actively use the market for bets in the list and set a minimum margin level. Players place bets on the handicap when betting on the usual outcome is disadvantageous due to low odds.

Handicap 1 - bet on the home team. Handicaps in the sportsbook's listing: The market marking consists of several parts, where:

H – the indicator of a handicap bet;
1 – team indicator;
(+2) - handicap value indicator.

The sportsbook marks the betting and team indicator as "H1"; the handicap value indicator can vary. The bookmakers mark bets with a handicap in favour of the guests as "H2". The average sportsbook margin for handicap bets on popular football matches is no more than 7%.

Depending on the value, handicaps are distinguished:
1. Positive - bets with an advantage that allows you to add a certain number of goals to the final score. The sportsbook will calculate the wager in favour of the player for a positive handicap if, considering the advantage, the selected team wins.

2. Negative - bets determining the minimum goal gap scored between teams. The sportsbook will count the win if the final total of the selected team is subtracted from the value of the negative handicap, and the club still wins. Bookmakers list whole and fractional handicaps.

Whole handicaps have a whole indicator of the handicap value. The advantage of whole handicaps - the possibility of calculating a bet return in case of a draw. Fractional handicaps do not allow calculating a bet return - a draw outcome considering fractional handicaps is impossible. The advantage of fractional handicaps - an increased level of odds. Rare markets for handicaps can include zero and Asian handicaps with a unique calculation principle. The quality of the listing for bets on handicaps in bookmakers varies.

Betting on Handicap 1 (1) - is a bet with the home team advantage of 1 goal. The sportsbook will add 1 goal to the final total of the home team and calculate the bet depending on the result:

1. Win, if the team wins in the end.
2. Refund in case of a draw.
3. Loss if the home team fails.

Handicap 1 (+1) bet on the EPL match "Norwich - Tottenham" will win if FC "Norwich" ends the meeting with a draw or outperforms the opponent. If the club loses 1 goal, the handicap compensates for the lag, and the sportsbook will refund the bet. If "Tottenham" leads by two goals or more, the bet will lose.

A zero handicap does not give an advantage to the chosen team but allows the bet to be protected from losing in case of a draw. If the meeting ends in a draw, the sportsbook will return the bet amount to the client.

If the "Arsenal - Everton" match ends with the home team's victory, the sportsbook client will win the bet. If a draw is on the scoreboard, the sportsbook will return the money for the bet. If "Everton" wins, the bet will lose. The odds of a zero handicap are always lower than the quotes on a classic outcome.

Betting with a negative handicap on the host's victory is a bet in which the sportsbook will subtract the handicap indicator from the value of the first team's total. The market is used to determine the score difference in the confrontation.

Betting on H1 (-2) means the guests will lose with a difference of at least three goals. In the match "Chelsea - Watford", bet H1 (-2) will play if Chelsea FC wins the meeting with a difference of at least three goals. If the difference is exactly two goals, the score considering the handicap will be a draw, and the bookmaker will refund the bet. In case of a defeat of Chelsea FC or a victory with a score difference of only 1 goal, the bet will lose

"Betting Handicap 2" in football gives an advantage to the away team. The sportsbook will add the handicap value to the away team's final total. If the away team wins with the handicap calculated, the sportsbook will calculate the bet in favour of the client. 

A zero handicap in favour of the guests is a bet on the guests winning with a refund in case of a draw outcome of the match. If the guests win, the bet will play. In the case of a draw, the sportsbook will make a refund. If the hosts win, the bet is lost. A zero handicap on West Ham's win in the Premier League match Brighton vs. West Ham suggests that West Ham F.C. will not lose. If the club can win, the bet will play. If Brighton can equalize the score, the bet will be calculated with a refund. In the case of Brighton FC winning, the bet is lost.

Often, beginners don't understand what fractional handicap means in football betting.

Sportsbooks use fractional handicap values for bets with higher coefficients.

H2 (1.5) - a 1.5-goal advantage for the visiting team. If the visitors can win, taking the handicap into account, the bet will play. Otherwise, the bet will be lost.

The bet "H2 (-1)" in football is a bet on the away team winning by two goals or more. In the Spanish Primera match "Alaves - Cadiz", the bet H2 (-1) will play if FC "Cadiz" can win with a 2-goal difference or more. If "Alaves" is trailing by 1 goal, the sportsbook will calculate the bet as a return. The bet is lost in case of a draw outcome or victory of the home team.

Bookmakers use positions for handicap betting in the listings of popular hockey matches.

You can place handicap bets on NHL meetings, Russian hockey leagues, and European and international tournaments.

Market display in the sportsbook listing:

Hockey is a more dynamic sport than football - bookmakers often use more positions for betting. In the listing, you can find optimistic, negative, whole, and fractional handicaps in favour of the hosts and guests.

The margin level on handicaps in hockey matches does not exceed 10%.

Betting advice for handicaps in football:

1. Choose several sportsbooks with higher odds for handicap bets.
2. Do not bet on Asian handicaps because of complex bet calculation conditions.
3. Use game strategies to select matches.
4. Bet on zero handicaps only in favour of the outsider. Bets on H(0) favouring the favourite are not profitable due to low odds.
5. Prefer whole handicaps to get a refund in case of a draw.
6. Depending on the chosen handicap betting strategy, select a financial technique for smart bankroll distribution.