As the name suggests, this is a very popular betting type in Asia which is now spread all around the world. The Asian handicap betting is perfect for bettors who are looking for an alternative to the classic 1X2 betting. It definitely is more complicated; however, once you read through our guide, it will seem perfectly simple. It’s mostly used for football (soccer); however, this bet type can be attractive for basketball bettors as well. Below, we are going to explain what is Asian handicap and how it’s used in basketball.
Asian Handicap History
Handicap betting is the most popular bet type in the world. No matter the sport, handicap bets create the biggest wins. Asian handicap is probably the most popular out of all the handicap options. Asian handicap betting is a form of betting on football in which teams are handicapped according to their form, so that a stronger team must win by more goals for a punter betting on them to win. However, it can be used for other sports as well. The system originated in Indonesia and has gained popularity in the early 21st century. It is a form of spread betting.
Conversely, Asian handicap betting reduces the possible number of outcomes from three (in traditional 1X2 wagering) to two by eliminating the draw outcome. This simplification delivers two betting options that each have a near 50% chance of success. The term “Asian handicap” was coined by journalist Joe Saumarez Smith in November 1998. He was asked by an Indonesian bookmaker, Joe Phan, to provide a translation of the betting method that was termed ‘hang cheng betting’ by bookmakers in Asia.
How does Asian Handicap work?
The Asian Handicap bet becomes valuable when one team is a strong favorite in a certain match. In a case like that, betting on the favorite through a traditional 1X2 bet makes no sense because the odds will be very small. The difference in quality between two opponents is calculated through several factors like:
- Recent Form
- Home field advantage
- History
- Suspended or injured players
Bookmakers then create markets based on these factors and offer handicaps that have higher odds. The most important thing is that the option of a draw is completely removed. There will be a certain positive or negative goal handicap, allocated to both sides in a match. The one which is considered the favorite gets a negative handicap while the underdog gets a positive one. With this in mind, you need to watch out for the several types of Asian Handicaps that most bookmakers offer.
Level Asian Handicap
This type of Asian Handicap betting applies when there is no real difference between the two sides in a match. So, each side will start the game with 0 goals meaning that you are betting on the winner of the game. Look at it as a bet from the Draw no Bet market since the game can either end with the home or the away team winning the match. If it ends in a draw, it results with a void bet and your stake is returned.
Single Asian Handicap
The most common Asian Handicap betting is used when there is a huge difference in quality between the two teams. For that reason the side that is considered favorite to win will get a goal handicap, thus eliminating the difference in quality between the two sides. They will start the game with a handicap of – 0.5, – 1, – 1.5, – 2, etc.
Split Asian Handicap
The Split Asian Handicap markets are great when you are not sure about the difference in quality between the two sides. However, this market gives you the opportunity to split your stake on a team by choosing two handicaps. For instance, the team that’s considered a favorite can start the game with a (0 & – 0.5), (- 0.5 & – 1), etc. handicap.
Asian Handicap in Basketball
Due to basketball being a high-scoring sport, this style of points spread wagering ties in nicely with the game. This allows you to find value in situations where the money line doesn’t. By giving the underdog a head start or the favorite a deficit, to begin with, this makes Asian Handicap betting a profitable option, especially if you undertake your research with careful consideration.
Before making your selections, it’s extremely important to thoroughly scrutinize and take into account the factors that may influence the outcome of your wager. Things like injuries, suspensions, current form, home and away records, any issues surrounding the team and head to head records should all by looked at. It’s also worth delving deeper into some detailed stats to dig beyond the surface to gauge how certain teams fare against particular styles and for any underlying numbers that may give you an edge. Whether you’re giving underdogs a head start or handicapping the favorites, if you remain patient, dedicated and do your due diligence this type of betting can be very profitable indeed.
Betting Tips
The Asian Handicap markets can be used both pre-game and in-play. This means you get extra trade-out opportunities which increase your chances of making a profit. That’s why Asian handicap is very popular when it comes to sports betting. Here are some of the benefits bettors get from Asian Handicap markets:
- Even if the team you backed loses the game, there is a chance that your bet can still win or at least become void, where you get your stake back. This means that the risk of losing your money is much lower, compared to a traditional 1X2 bet. For instance, if you bet on the underdog through a + 1.5 handicap, you would still win even if said underdog loses the game 1-0.
- Most professional bettors prefer Asian Handicaps to any other market because it offers better value.
- The betting margins are lower since the option of a draw is removed. This increases the chances of maintaining a solid profit over time.
- Handicap removes the obvious difference in quality between two teams. This gives bettors a chance to get increased value when betting on highly favored teams.
