What is handicap betting and how does it work?
How many times have you wanted to bet on the outcome of an "easily" predictable match and then changed your mind when you saw that the final odds were really too low?
Handicap betting is a good way to increase your final winnings without increasing your original bet.
But how does handicap work in betting? What does handicap mean and why is it becoming so popular among betting enthusiasts?
In this guide, we will try to answer these questions, delving into the essence of the matter. However, before continuing, we remind you that in the Sports Guide section of our site you can find many other useful guides to the world of sports betting, from the goal/no-scores guide to the betting exchange guide. , passing through bets on double chance and more!
Handicap in betting: what does it mean?
Not all matches are the same: if in some it is very difficult to predict the final result, then in others the fate (at least on paper) is obvious. This happens, for example, when there is a significant technical gap between two teams in the same league. Ready to embrace the impact of AI on sports and betting? Dive into our article, "AI’s Influence on Sports Industry and Sports Betting," for a comprehensive look at how artificial intelligence is transforming player insights and betting analytics. Visit this link for more.
And it is for this reason that in recent years, online bookmakers have introduced the possibility of betting with a handicap, which involves assigning a small advantage to the underdog team. Simply put, the final result is overshadowed by the penalty determined when the bet was placed.
To literally understand what a handicap means in betting, you need to go back several centuries. The choice of name comes from an old English game known as "hand in the boss" (translated as "hand in a hat"), very similar to the lottery, in which, however, the winner had to pay a small fine.
How does handicap betting work?
How does the handicap actually work in football betting? Usually bookmakers give you the opportunity to choose the following types:
- 1H (1 Handicap): Played when a bet is made on the home team to win, giving the away team the advantage. In particular, the home team must win by at least 2 goals if a 1-goal handicap is set, or 3 goals if a 2-goal handicap is set instead.
- Let's take an example: we are talking about the match between Real Madrid and Lecce. 1P (0:1) is considered successful if the Blancos show themselves with a score of 2-0, 3-1, 4-0, etc. (minimum 2 goals), in fact, assuming that Lecce starts with an initial marking advantage.
- XH (X Handicap): In this case, the handicap mechanism does not change. However, applying the handicap, it was decided to bet on the final draw.
- Let's go back to the example already done: playing XH (0:1) on Real Madrid - Lecce, to enter the box office, we must hope that Real will win only with a goal difference (1-0, 2-1, 4-3, etc.). ).
- 2H (Handicap 2): At 2H (1:0), you bet on the away team to win, despite the fictitious fact that the home team starts with a one-goal lead.
If the match was Lecce - Real Madrid, the 2H (1:0) bet will win if Real Madrid win by at least 2 goals against Lecce (0-2, 1-3, 0-4, etc.). Extra goals must be at least 3 in case of 2H (2:0).
When is handicap played?
After talking about what a handicap means in sports betting and how this particular type of bet works, we think it will be useful to answer a very popular question on the net: “When is the handicap played? ".
As a rule, more experienced players decide to bet with a handicap when they believe that one of the two teams on the field is so much stronger than the other that they can easily win by 2 or more goals. Explore refreshing ways to take a break from the world of sports with our guide on "Ideas for Taking a Break from Sports." Click here to discover rejuvenating activities that provide a welcome respite from the adrenaline of the sports world.
The advice, before placing such a bet, is to study the teams concerned, with an analysis of the moment of the current form, the number of goals scored and conceded averages and the most frequent results. It's easy to see how handicap betting is recommended when there are teams that can score with the utmost ease.
Not only football: handicap betting in other sports
Handicap betting is not limited to football betting. The same typology, albeit with some reasonable modifications, can also be used to bet on basketball, tennis, or horse racing.
Rugby is no exception, in which there is often a big difference in the score. According to many online sports bettors, the oval ball sport is actually one in which handicap betting is at its best.