June 1, 2026
by James Pacheco
Welcome to handicap betting explained, where we’ll provide a beginner’s guide on everything you need to know about these unique sports wagers. If you’ve always wanted to know how bookmakers calculate odds on “David and Goliath” contests, this is the place.
Together, we’ll take a step-by-step look at handicap sports betting, exploring what it is and how it works, before listing the different types of betting handicaps that you might encounter across different sports, and whether there are currently handicap markets for SailGP.
We’ve also provided a brief guide on how to place a handicap bet on your favourite sportsbook, along with examples of how handicaps work in action.
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What is handicap betting?
Sometimes in life, it’s best to level the playing field to ensure that all’s fair and equal for all parties. That’s the role of “handicaps” in sports betting – they’re there to bring balance and ensure that even the most lopsided fixtures yield some exciting betting opportunities.
Of course, there’s a lot more to learn about this unique type of sports wagering, but likening it to a level playing field is, in our view, one of the best ways to get to grips with how handicap betting works.
A closer look at handicap betting rules
We’ve given you a brief explainer on what handicaps are used for in online sports betting. But what are the exact rules surrounding betting handicaps? And how do bookmakers decide which teams, players, or fighters to assign them to?
The basic concept of betting handicaps dictates that, where one team is much stronger than another, a handicap should be applied to level the playing field. Bookmakers do this by giving either side a virtual advantage or disadvantage; this usually takes the form of a goals or points deficit that the stronger team must overcome.
But why do both bookmakers and bettors want a level playing field to begin with?
The answer is that not many bettors want to risk a lot of money on a bet at short odds-on prices to win small amounts of money on a hot favourite. By the same token, not many bettors want to be backing an outsider at say 8.0, knowing perfectly well that they’re just that: outsiders who are likely to lose.
Handicap betting allows you to take both favourites looking to overcome the handicap, and outsiders looking to stay within the handicap, at odds of almost exactly 50%, which suits many gamblers. That said, other betting markets related to the event still allow you to back favourites at short odds and outsiders at big prices if you’re in that way inclined.
How handicap betting works
Much like in our recent guide on how to use a betting calculator, sometimes seeing an example is the best way to figure out how a complex betting-related concept works. So, with that in mind, here’s a handicap betting example that you might find in the world of online sports wagering…
Handicap betting example
Let’s say that English Premier League side Leeds United is scheduled to play Grimsby Town F.C. in the FA Cup. Given that Leeds United are in the EPL (stronger) and Grimsby are in the second division of English football (weaker), a bookmaker may apply a handicap to make the fixture less one-sided and ensure an even playing field for betting.
In soccer, bookmakers often apply a goal-difference handicap. This means that the stronger side would need to win by a certain number of goals for you to win your bet, and that the weaker side would need to win, draw, or lose by less than a certain number of goals. When the final whistle blows, the full-time score is adjusted to reflect the handicaps applied to each team.
So, back to our example. A bookmaker may apply a -1 goal handicap to Leeds United, and a +1 goal handicap to Grimsby. This means that:
- If you bet on Leeds United, they would need to win by two clear goals for your bet to be a winner.
- If you bet on Grimsby, they would need to win or lose by only 1 goal for you to win your bet.
Of course, within that, there are a few potential scenarios that could mean you win or lose your bet. For example:
Scenario 1:
- If you bet on Leeds United to win and the final score is 3-2 to Leeds, the score is adjusted to 3-3.5, accounting for the +1.5 handicap given to Grimsby.Of course, there’s no such thing as half a goal in football, but in betting, it’s perfectly normal to have a half-goal or half-point handicap, the latter very much the case in the NFL. The half point is used to eliminate the possibility of a draw or ‘push’, where bets neither win nor lose. Because there’s no such thing as half a goal, the minute you apply a half-goal handicap, it means there can’t be a tie after the handicap adjusts the final score.So if you’d bet on Leeds, needing them to win by two goals, you’d lose your bet.
- In the same scenario, if you had bet on Grimsby with the +1.5 handicap, you would have won your bet. The game finished 3-2, it was adjusted to 3-3.5 with the handicap, so in this scenario, Grimsby stayed within the handicap.
Scenario 2:
- If you bet on Leeds United to win and the final score was 5-2 in their favour, you would win your bet because the adjusted score would be 5-3.5 after Grimsby were given a goal and a half, courtesy of the handicap. So you needed Leeds to win by two clear goals in terms of the actual match and they ended up winning by three, meaning a relatively comfortable win for you.
- In the same scenario, if you had bet on Grimsby with a +1.5 handicap, you would lose your bet because Grimsby lost by two clear goals.
Scenario 3:
In some cases, bookmakers don’t apply a half-point to their handicaps but instead keep them to ‘full’ goals rather than ‘half’ goals. These are generally known as European handicaps, rather than Asian Handicaps, where the latter use quarter goals, half goals, and three-quarters of a goal.
So let’s say that in this case, the handicap is +1 Leeds and -1 Grimsby. If you bet on Leeds and they win by two clear goals, you’ll win. If you bet on Leeds and they draw or lose, you’ll lose. If Leeds win by exactly one goal, then the bet neither wins nor loses; it ‘pushes’ and you get your money back. The same thing would happen if you bet on Grimsby +1 and Leeds won by exactly one goal.
That’s just one example of how handicaps work in sports betting. Things get a little trickier when you start to consider the different types of betting handicaps, which we’ll come to next.
Types of handicap betting explained
Those who’ve read our guide on each way bet explained will know that things can quickly get a lot more complicated when you start factoring in other types of sports wagering. It’s a similar story with handicap betting, too, so let’s take a closer look at the main types of handicaps and their distinct characteristics.
| Handicaps | Explainer | Sports used in |
| Asian handicap | Arguably the most prevalent form of handicaps used by online bookies, the Asian handicap is popular because it uses halves and quarters to eliminate the possibility of a draw. By removing whole numbers and instead using handicaps like +1.75 and -1.25, there’s no possibility of an adjusted score coming out as a draw – so you always win or lose and avoid a “push” (stake refunded). | Football (soccer), basketball, tennis, volleyball, hockey, and esports. |
| European handicap | European handicaps remain relatively common in some sports markets, although they predominantly use whole numbers (+1, -2, +4, etc.). Since there are no halves or quarters in European handicap betting like there is with Asian handicaps, there’s every chance that the adjusted score will come out as a draw, meaning that your initial wager will be refunded. | Any sport whose score can be easily adjusted in whole units. |
| Other handicaps | While most bookies tend to use a combination of Asian and European handicaps, there are regional and sport-specific variations. For example: - Point spread handicaps are common in US sports like American football and basketball.
- Run line handicaps are used in baseball.
- Goal line handicaps can often be used for football (soccer) and hockey in some countries.
- In-play handicaps are used in live, in-play sports betting, with the bookie adjusting the handicap dynamically based on the current scoreline and momentum.
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How handicap betting works: A useful step-by-step guide
By now, you should have a pretty good idea of what handicaps are and how they’re used to level the playing field in online sports betting. But when it comes to physically placing a handicap bet, what’s the process involved, and how does everything work?
That’s what we hope to fill you in on right here. We’ve put together a step-by-step guide to placing a handicap bet, so you can get started with these exciting sports wagers yourself.
Step 1: If you haven’t already done so, choose your preferred online sportsbook and register for a new account. That might sound pretty straightforward, but with dozens of eligible sites to choose from, be sure to check out our expert recommendations in the banners around this page if you need a little inspiration.
Step 2: All set up with your favourite sportsbook? Then it’s time to find the right handicap betting odds that you want to bet on. Browse your bookie’s sports markets for a fixture you like the look of and then look over its handicap line, which details the size of the handicap applied to each team (or player/fighter in the case of tennis, golf, boxing, or MMA).
Step 3: Before you place your bet, make sure you’ve done plenty of research on the current form of each team, player, or driver. Consider recent and long-term form, the head-to-head record between the two, any injury concerns, how weather conditions may affect proceedings, and anything else of relevance.
Step 4: Choose how much you want to bet; we recommend smaller wagers in most cases, particularly if you’re a casual or beginner bettor still learning the ropes. You might also like to add your handicap wager to a broader accumulator bet, wherein there are multiple individual bets (legs) on a single bet slip.
Step 5: Happy with everything? Then it’s time to lock in your wager and await the result. Remember, you’ll only win your bet if the team you’ve wagered on comes out on top once the final score has been adjusted in line with the handicap.
Is there handicap betting for SailGP?
At the moment, no. The main betting markets for SailGP are currently: who will win the Event, who will win the next race, who will make the final of the Event, head-to-head markets for who will do best at a particular event, and who will win the Rolex SailGP Championship as a whole.
A possible handicap market for SailGP would be for two teams to be up against each other in terms of how many points they might earn over the course of an event, or the Championship as a whole. For example, the Red Bull Italy SailGP Team could be given a 25-point head start against the BONDS Flying Roos Sail GP Team heading into a particular event. Once it’s over, the handicap would be applied to the points they both got at the end of the event to see who came out on top.
5 expert tips for creating a solid handicap betting strategy
With the close of our handicap betting guide in sight, our experts were eager to finish things off with some useful tips and insights that should (in theory, at least) help you build a winning handicap betting strategy. It worked as part of our recent short odds meaning guide, so it should be a similar story here, too.
Tip #1: Understand the specific type of handicap that’s at play. 🤔
For instance, if it’s an Asian handicap, you’ll most likely see halves and quarters used to ensure no drawn outcomes, while a European handicap will use whole numbers, with the potential to receive a refund if the adjusted scoreline is a draw.
Tip #2: Do plenty of research on both teams in the fixture. 🔍
As alluded to earlier, you’d be surprised how competitive some matches can be, even if one team is supposedly a weaker underdog. Recent form, injuries, and even the home advantage should all be factored in.
Tip #3: Start with smaller stakes. 💰
Start with smaller stakes when trying out handicap betting for the first time. Overextending yourself isn’t wise here, as the adjusted scoreline element can make securing a win much more difficult (the upshot being increased returns potential).
Tip #4: Consider how teams perform. ⚽
Consider how teams perform when they’ve gone a goal down in previous fixtures. Do they often capitulate? Or does it give them the determination to fight back? This is an important point to consider to nail your handicap betting strategy.
Tip #5: Look around for the best odds. 📈
Bookmakers typically try to one-up their rivals by offering more attractive odds and handicaps, so it can pay to look around to make sure you’re getting the best opportunities to place your bets.
Pros and cons of handicap betting
Pros and Cons - Levels the playing field in most fixtures
- Better odds on favourites
- Can lead to more exciting opportunities
- Available on hundreds of markets
- Adds depth to your betting strategy
- Confusing for beginners
- Draws can be a pain
- Higher risk
Are you ready to jump in and try handicap sports betting?
There’s certainly a lot to get your head around when it comes to handicap betting rules and strategy, so we hope this guide has provided a useful starting point for you.
When used appropriately, handicap betting can be a super rewarding and exciting way to bet on your favourite teams and sports. Just be sure to do plenty of research too, and make sure you’re up to speed on how do betting odds work before you move on to handicap sports betting.
Remember, if you’re in between bookies and looking for a new place to bet, we can help. Check out the banners around this page for our pick of the best sports betting sites in your location, including top welcome deals and rewards from leading brands.
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Handicap betting explained FAQs
- 🤔 Is it legal to place handicap sports bets online?
That will depend on where you live and the local gambling laws in your jurisdiction. Check out our regional betting guides for more information, or contact your local gaming commissioning body.
- 🏆 Can you lose a handicap bet if your team wins?
Yes, you can. If your team is the strongest and has a handicap, it will need to win by a set number of points for you to win your bet.
- ⚽ Which sports use handicap betting?
Handicaps are used in lots of sports, specifically those with two teams/players, with a scoreline that can be easily adjusted.
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