How are European Handicaps and Asian Handicap different?

You may have heard a thing or two about betting odds. Betting can be applied to most sports events, but it's primarily associated with global sports such as football, basketball, baseball, volleyball, and even tennis.

While handicap betting is one of the most popular types of markets in sports betting, many bettors still aren't familiar with them. In fact, there are two main types of handicap betting: European handicap and Asian handicap.

So, if you're one of those who believe they can earn good profits from them and want to learn more, here's a quick guide to help you which bookmaker is the best ​​understand this market better.

What is European Handicap?

More commonly known as the handicap 3-way bet. European handicap is similar to Asian handicap but easier to get into. It's essentially a match, or a 'penalty shootout,' for the stronger team.

Points are either added or subtracted before the event starts. Your bet wins or loses based on the final outcome of the event adjusted by the handicap level you placed your bet on.

However, unlike in the Asian Handicap market where there's no draw, this type of betting offers three potential betting options - win, draw, and lose, hence why it's called three-way handicap.

European handicap betting also uses whole numbers in contrast to the fractional numbers used in Asian handicap betting. Moreover, it also works similarly to 1X2 betting.

Here's an example to help you grasp the concept better.

Manchester City is playing at home against Watford, and the likelihood of winning the match is 100%. The European handicap would lean towards the underdog team, which in this case is Watford, with a certain number of goals that Manchester City must overcome to be considered the winner.

>> See more: Top 10 most reputable betting site australia in 2024

Regardless of the final result of the match, if the handicap is set at 3 goals, Manchester City is only considered the winning team if they win by more than 3 goals.

Therefore, betting on Watford would win even if they lose by fewer than three goals. The match would be considered a draw if Manchester City beats the handicap and wins by exactly 3 goals.

What is Asian Handicap?

The Asian handicap betting ​is perfect if you prefer something less common than 1×2.

In summary, Asian handicap involves giving the stronger team a handicap and the weaker team a higher number of goals. So, to win your bet, you must back the team with the lower score, considering their handicap or advantage.

The goal of Asian handicap is to ensure that a match doesn't end in a draw. Therefore, by eliminating the chance of a draw, you'll only have two options: betting on the home team or the away team.

So, for example:

Let's say you bet £1000 on the weaker team, where Team A is the weaker home team with an Asian handicap of 0.75 and Team B is the stronger away team. Odds = 1.90

To win the bet placed on Team A, they must win or at least end the match with a draw. Conversely, if Team A loses by more than two goals, you'll lose your bet.

On the other hand, if you bet on Team B, they'll receive a handicap of -0.75 goals. Therefore, to win the bet, Team B must win by at least two goals. If they win by only one goal (0-1, 1-2, or 2-3), you'll only win half of your stake. Furthermore, if the match ends in a draw or Team A wins, you'll lose.

Handicaps can vary between a quarter ball (0.75 and 0.25), half ball (0.5), and full ball (1, 2, etc.), with full ball handicaps (sometimes even goals) being the most common.

Now, while Asian handicap may sound more complicated, it actually simplifies things by ensuring a clear winner due to the handicap. Moreover, the Asian Handicap betting market is also known for having lower margins and better odds compared to European handicap.

Difference Between European Handicap and Asian Handicap

While the two handicap betting markets may seem similar, their differences can be categorized into three parts: representation, numerical variations, and match outcomes. We'll discuss each issue further below.

Representation

One of the main differences between these two handicap betting methods is how they use different symbols to represent them.

In Asian handicap betting, it focuses on the skills of a specific team, so it uses unseparated symbols like '-1.5' and/or '+1.5' to add or subtract for stronger and/or weaker teams.

Meanwhile, since European handicap betting introduces the concept of a draw and is more relative in terms of probabilities, it uses ratios like '0:1'.

Numerical Variations

Another difference to help distinguish between these two is in how they use numerical variations.

As mentioned above, Asian handicap betting has several types, including a quarter ball, a half ball, and even a reverse ball handicap, while European handicap betting only uses whole number variations.

Match Outcome

Lastly, and most importantly, the main difference between these two is their corresponding match outcomes.

In Asian handicaps, only two results can occur - leading to the home team or the away team. Meanwhile, in European handicap bookmaker free bet no deposit , there are three possible outcomes to choose from. Bettors can choose between betting on the home team, the away team, or a draw.

European Handicap vs. Asian Handicap: Which is Better?

While some bettors are more familiar with European Handicap, Asian Handicap has become increasingly popular as it requires only consideration when making choices. However, when deciding which one to use, it all depends on what suits you best and where you'll get higher profits.