Handicap Football Betting Tips

• What Is Football Handicap Betting?
• Top Five Handicap Betting Tips For Football
• FAQs
• Is an Asian handicap better than a standard handicap?
• Can I only place handicap bets on football matches?
• What is handicap league betting?

Are you wondering how to get the most out of handicap betting? If so, you've come to the right place.

In our guide, we're going to give you our top five tips for handicap betting on football. We'll also briefly cover how this type of betting works.

What Is Football Handicap Betting?

Before we explain what handicap betting is, we need to tell you exactly what we're referring to. You may have heard of Asian handicap betting and European handicap betting. These are different types of sports betting options, other than standard handicaps. We won't be covering European or Asian handicaps in this article.

Put simply, handicap football betting involves giving a team an advantage or disadvantage before the game begins. This can make the odds more favourable, in terms of potential returns, for the person placing the bet.

For example, let's say Arsenal are playing Southampton at home. Arsenal would be the clear favourites, so betting on them to win wouldn't give you a high return. Now, let's say you use a betting site to give Arsenal a -2 handicap and bet on Arsenal to win.

This means Arsenal need to win the game by three goals. So, a 3-0 win for them would mean you win your bet, and you'll get a higher return than you would if you simply bet on them to win the game.

Top Five Handicap Betting Tips For Football

Placing handicap bets can be lucrative, but you need to have a strategy in place. Here are our top handicap tips:

1) Identify value in the odds

Being successful in handicap betting markets means looking for value. By that, we mean bets where the odds of a match result happening are higher than the actual probability of the result.

Let's take a look at an example:

If the team you're betting on has a handicap of -1 and the odds stand at 2.00, it's implied that the probability of your handicap bet being successful is 50%. If you think that the actual probability of the success of your bet is higher than 50%, then you've found a bet with value.

2) Stick to your budget

This is a rule that applies to any type of bet - whether that is a European handicap bet, an Asian handicap bet, or a standard handicap bet. You need to set a budget and make sure you stick to it.

Never bet more than you can afford to lose - and don't try and make up your losses by betting over your budget. Betting is supposed to be fun, but it quickly loses its appeal if you get into financial trouble.

3) Make sure you understand the handicap

This may seem obvious, but make sure you fully understand how handicap bets work before you start making them. It can be a little confusing at first and if you don't understand it, you might end up making poor betting choices.

The key thing to remember is that a '+' sign followed by a number indicates a handicap advantage for that team. A '-' sign next to a number represents a disadvantage.

4) Take context into consideration

Always consider the context of the game you're betting on. Look at which team is home and which is away. The motivation of each team to win the game is also important.

For example, one team might be fighting to finish in the top four, while the other team may be happy with a mid-table position. Similarly, a team that is battling relegation at the end of the season is likely to be more motivated than one that has already been crowned as league champions.

5) Research the teams

Before you place your bet, you need to know which team is weaker and which is stronger. Research the recent form of the two teams and assess their strengths and weaknesses.

Is one of the teams conceding a lot of goals? Does one of the teams have a forward who is on a goal-scoring run? Does the away team have a terrible away record in the current season?

You should also take a look at each team's injury list. If a team's best player is on the bench with a torn ligament, they might have less chance of winning.

Research doesn't guarantee your bet will be successful - we all know how unpredictable football can be - but it will definitely help you to make an informed decision. That's a better strategy than just randomly selecting a team to bet on.

FAQs

Is an Asian handicap better than a standard handicap?

Asian handicap markets do tend to offer better value than standard handicap markets. This is why Asian handicap markets are often the preferred choice for professional bettors. As the draw is removed, there's a better chance of making sustained profits over a longer time period.

Can I only place handicap bets on football matches?

No. While football is the most popular sport for handicap betting in the UK, it's not the only one. You can also use handicap betting in other sports such as rugby, cricket, tennis, basketball, and horse racing.

What is handicap league betting?

A handicap betting league is a competition that takes place over the course of an entire season. These leagues are offered by several major bookmakers.

At the start of the season, whichever team is the favourite to win the league starts off with a handicap of 0. Each other team in this league is given a head start over the favourite team. The weaker the team, the greater the advantage they receive.

For example, if Manchester City are the favourites, they start with a handicap of 0 and a weaker team like Bournemouth might start with an advantage of +14.

When the season ends, the actual points total of each team is added to their handicap scores. Whichever team has the most points is the winner.