How does Asian Handicap Work on bet365

Written By: Dean Etheridge
Last Updated: October 31, 2022

A popular bet used for football is the Asian handicap, but how does it work on bet365? 

Well, luckily we are here to help you understand how it all works. 

The term Asian handicap can strike fear into some punters, but it really isn’t that difficult to understand once you get your head around it.

In a nutshell, Asian handicap betting on bet365 is a form of football betting in which the stronger team is given a handicap to make betting on the match more of a level playing field. The Asian handicap bet also reduces the number of possible outcomes on the bet to two, rather than the three you get on the traditional 1X2 football bet.

There are different handicap amounts, but to put it simply – if Manchester City are at home to Newcastle United, City are likely to be heavy odds on, the sort of odds that makes it not really worth while placing a (match single) bet on them.

Using the Asian handicap system, Man City would be starting from a minus position (-1.5 goals, for example), meaning it’s more worthwhile placing a bet, as the odds on City to win from -1.5 goals will be more appealing than from a scratch start (0-0).

What is an Asian Handicap on bet365?

Handicaps start at 0, and using 0.25 increments work their way up 2 (and beyond at times) in goals betting. Meaning you can end up with the following handicap amounts.

  • 0
  • 0.25 (0.0, +0.5)
  • 0.50
  • 0.75 (+0.5, +1)
  • 1.00
  • 1.25 (+1, +1.5)
  • 1.50
  • 1.75 (+1.5, +2)
  • 2.00

Different Asian Handicap Amounts

To help you understand the Asian handicap outcomes, I’ve included examples of what would happen on some of the handicap amounts for a hypothetical football match.

0 Goals Handicap Bets

Where an Asian handicap is a whole number, 0, 1, or 2, if the match ends in a draw on the handicap, your stake would be returned. This keeps the actual bet as only win or lose, effectively making the (handicap) draw into a draw with no bet outcome.

So if the match you bet on finished 1-1, and the handicap was 0, you would get your stake returned.

Now, let’s look at some more of the different Asian handicap amounts and possible bet scenarios. 

0.25 Goals Handicap Bets

Asian handicap bets involving 0.25 increments can further muddy the waters.

If you bet on Atalanta to win and they were +0.25 on the Asian handicap, and the match finished 1-1, you would win an amount equivalent to half the odds. 

So for a £10 bet at even money, you would get £15 back (your £10 bet + £5 win).

If you bet on Manchester United at -0.25, and the match finished 1-1, you would lose half of your stake, and get the other half refunded. Meaning for a £10 bet, you would just get £5 back.

At +0.25, if the team you bet on wins the match, your handicap bet would also win. 

0.50 Goals Handicap Bets

So with +0.5 goals, a bet on Malmo FF on the Asian handicap market would mean your bet would win if Malmo FF wins the match, or the match ends in a draw.

How does Asian Handicap Work on bet365 -

So for example, if the match finished 1-1, from the perspective of your Asian handicap bet on Malmo, the outcome of the bet would be, Malmo 1.5 (goals) Zenit 1 (goals) – meaning your bet has won. 

If you bet on Zenit from a -0.5 goals start, you would need Zenit to win for your bet to be a winner. 

A win for Malmo or a draw, would see your bet on Zenit lose.

If Zenit win 1-0 on the pitch, the bet result would actually be Malmo 0 – Zenit +0.5

0.75 Goals Handicap Bets

The 0.75 handicap bet is slightly more complicated. 

This time, you have bet on Atalanta to win with a +0.75 handicap advantage.

If Atalanta win or draw, you would also win. Atalanta loses by 1 goal, and you lose half your stake, and if they lose by 2 or more, your bet is a complete loser.

If you bet on Manchester United to win at -0.75, you would need the Red Devils to win by 2 or more goals for your bet to win. 

United wins by 1 goal, and you will get your stake returned and win half the bet.While if Atalanta wins or draws, your bet is a loser. 

1.00 Goal Handicap Bets 

How does Asian Handicap Work on bet365 -

You back Watford at +1 goal handicap, so for this to win you will need Watford to win or draw. 

If Watford lost by 1 goal, you would get your stake returned. Lose by 2 or more goals, and your bet loses.

Alternatively, you bet on Manchester United at -1. To win this bet, you need United to win by 2 or more goals. If United wins by 1 goal, your stake is refunded.

A loss for United or a draw, and your bet has lost.

1.25 Goals Handicap Bets

So next is 1.25 goals. In this example you have bet on Atalanta to win with a +1.25 goals start.

If Atlanta wins or the match is a draw, your bet wins. While if Atalanta lose by 1 goal, you win half your bet. 

A loss by 2 or more goals for Atalanta, and your bet is a loser. 

You bet on United to win from a -1.25 handicap. If United lose or the match is a draw, your bet loses.

United wins by 1 goal and you lose half your stake. United wins by 2 or more goals, your bet is a winner.

1.50 Goals Handicap Bets

Right, next it’s 1.50 goals handicap, and we’re changing the teams to Liverpool and Bayern Munich. 

For the first scenario, you’ve backed Liverpool to win with a +1.5 goal handicap start. 

So if the match ends with a win for Liverpool, a draw, or a 1-0 defeat for Liverpool, you have won.

If the match ends in a 2 or more goals defeat for Liverpool, the bet is a loser. 

You’ve bet on Bayern Munich to win from a -1.5 goals handicap start.

To win your bet, Bayern Munich has to win the game by 2 goals or more, any other outcome is a loss for your bet.

1.75 Goals Handicap Bets

You bet on Liverpool to win with a +1.75 goals head start.

For your bet to win you need:-

  • Liverpool To Win
  • A Draw
  • Liverpool lose by 1

If Liverpool lose by 2 goals, you will lose half your stake money. Liverpool lose by 3 or more, and your bet is a loser.

If you had bet on Bayern Munich to win from a -1.75 start on the Asian handicap, in order to win your bet, you would need Munich to win by 3 goals or more.

A Munich win by 2 goals would see you win half your bet.

A 1 goal win for Bayern, a draw, or a loss for Munich would result in your bet losing.

2.00 Goals Handicap Bet

And finally, a 2 goals handicap.

How does Asian Handicap Work on bet365 -

You bet on Everton with a +2 start. If Everton win, the match is a draw, or Everton lose by 1 goal, your bet is a winner.

If Everton loses by 2 goals, you get your stake returned. Lose by 3 or more, and your bet is a loser.

You back Man City to win with a -2 handicap. If Everton win, the match is a draw, or City only wins by 1, then your bet is a loser.

If City wins by 2, then you get your stake returned. A win of 3 goals or more for City, and your bet is a winner.

Split Asian Handicaps

In the below example, Atalanta are facing Manchester United in the Champions League. The screenshot is of a Split Asian Handicap

This example is based on a split handicap of 0.0 and 0.5 goals. 

A split handicap is what is commonly used when the difference between the two sides ability is less obvious to define. A split Asian handicap can also be known as a quarter goal.

So in this example, the difference in ability is slightly in favour of Manchester United. But not by much.

This is why the bet is split in two. There is no handicap on the 0-0 side of the bet. And there is half a goal on the 0.5 side of the bet.

How does Asian Handicap Work on bet365 -

So below we’ve laid out all the possible result scenarios – 

You bet on Atalanta @ 0.0, +0.5 

  • Atalanta Win – Your Bet Wins
  • Match is a Draw – You Win Half Of Your Bet
  • Atalanta Lose – Your Bet Loses

You bet on Man Utd @ 0.0, -0.5

  • Man Utd Win – Your Bet Wins
  • Match is a Draw – Lose Half Your Stake Money
  • Man Utd Lose – Your Bet Loses

Try and think of it as two bets. If both halves of the bet win, you win. If both halves lose, you lose. 

If one half of the bet wins, you win half the potential amount (+ stake). While if one half loses, you get half your stake money back, as you only lost half the bet.

It’s like betting with insurance.

Understanding Asian Handicaps

Asian handicap bets aren’t your usual conventional bets, and bet365 will offer odds on handicaps over 2 goals. 

The above examples are samples to give you more of an understanding of how the bet works, and to give you an idea of the nuances of the 0.25 segment of the bet.

There are also Asian handicap corner bets, and Asian Total Corners.

Dean Etheridge
Dean Etheridge

Dean is an experienced web editor and content producer who loves to write about sports and betting. Using his 10 years of experience in this industry, Dean is a trusted voice within the sports betting community. Topics he specialises in are football, cricket, bookmakers, casinos, and sports in general. Not only does Dean enjoy writing about betting, he also enjoys having a punt too. This means as well as being able to write about the technical aspects of betting, he can also write about it from a sporting perspective as well

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