Everything You Need To Know About Handicap Betting
Craig Jones 
It’s likely you’ll have heard the word handicap when it comes to sport, most likely in the world of golf. It also has a long association with the world of betting too and can be a great way to boost profits.
For anyone new to betting, it’s really not a difficult concept to understand and is as simple as playing a Match Result bet.
Below you’ll find all you need to know about handicap betting, from what it is to the best bookmakers to play with.
What Is Handicap Betting?
Handicap betting does probably look a little confusing on first glance, but all it really means is one team has a head start in the bet.
This is usually found within the Match Result and Correct Score market in football.
To increase the odds of the favourite a handicap will be placed on the selection, which they must then overcome for the bet to win.
It’s designed to put all the outcomes of a market on a level playing field, with a handicap given to the selection with the perceived strength and the odds adjusted accordingly.
How Does Handicap Betting Work?
Handicap betting works in the same way across any market it offers and any sport.
The bookmaker will take a market and add a handicap to the selections and stack the odds taking this into account. The selections must then overcome the handicap in order to win.
For Example:
Let’s for example say you wished to use a Paddy Power free bet to bet on a fixture between Chelsea and West Ham.
Chelsea are a big favourite for this fixture, with the Match Result odds looking as follows:
Chelsea – 1/ 4
Draw – 9/2
West Ham – 9/1
Naturally, you might not find Chelsea great value here as essentially a £4 will see you earn a return of just £5.
This means you may find it a good idea to explore the handicap markets. With a handicap bet, the odds would look more like this:
Chelsea (-2) – 23/10
Draw (-2) – 11/4
West Ham (+2) – 5/ 6
As you can see, the odds have swung dramatically, with a bet on Chelsea now paying out at 23/10.
However, a handicap of -2 has been added to the favourites, which means they must overcome a 2 goal handicap in order to win. This in essence means that as far as the bet is concerned West Ham begin the game with a 2 goal head start.
To win this handicap bet, Chelsea therefore must win the game by three clear goals. If you were to bet on West Ham, they would have to lose the game by a maximum of one goal.
If you were to back the draw, Chelsea would be required to win the game by 2 goals.
Handicap Betting Markets
There are a number of different markets available, all operating in the same way with a number being added or subtracted to a team which must then be overcome to win the bet.
Other handicap betting markets include:
- First Half or Second Half Handicap
- Asian Handicap
- League Handicap
What Sports Can I Place A Handicap Bet?
You can place a handicap bet on most sports these days, with practically any sport where there’s a scoreline in play able to be bet on with a handicap.
Below you’ll find a list of sports where handicap betting is possible:
- Football
- Rugby League
- Rugby Union
- NFL
- NHL
- NBA
- Cricket
- Tennis
- Golf
- Basketball
And many more. Most major bookmakers will have a wide selection of handicap odds across dozens of sports.
Which Bookmakers Can I Play Handicap Betting?
All major bookmakers will offer handicap odds these days, with the likes of Paddy Power, Coral, Ladbrokes and more being particularly useful in this market.
You can find all our favourite bookmakers on our Bookmakers Page, alongside the best free bets to enjoy on the market and get to know it a little better.
Latest Betting Offers
Check the latest free bets and betting offers from the best betting sites in the UK at Freebets.com.
