Handicap betting is a type of sports betting market that gives a team or player a theoretical advantage or disadvantage before the result is settled. Rather than simply predicting which side will win an event, you are betting on the outcome after the specified handicap has been applied.
Handicaps are commonly expressed using positive and negative numbers, such as +1, +2, -1 or -2. They can be applied to goals, points, games or other measurements depending on the sport.
Handicap markets can initially look more complicated than standard match-result betting, but the basic principle is straightforward. Here, we explain how handicap betting works and look at examples from football, basketball and tennis.
What Does Handicap Mean in Betting?
A handicap is a theoretical advantage or disadvantage applied to a team or player for the purpose of settling a bet.
For example, imagine a football team has a -1 handicap. One goal is effectively deducted from that team’s final score when determining the handicap result.
If the team wins 3-1, applying the -1 handicap creates an adjusted score of 2-1. The team would therefore still be ahead after the handicap.
A +1 handicap works in the opposite direction. One goal would be added to the selected team’s score for settlement purposes.
Importantly, the handicap does not change what actually happens in the match. It only changes how the relevant betting market is settled.
Why Do Bookmakers Use Handicaps?
Handicaps create alternative markets for sporting events where participants may be considered to have significantly different chances of winning.
Imagine a strong favourite is playing an underdog in football. Rather than simply asking whether the favourite will win, a handicap market could ask whether the favourite can win after starting with a theoretical one or two-goal disadvantage.
The underdog could instead receive a positive handicap, meaning it may be able to lose the actual match and still be the successful selection in the handicap market.
Each selection has betting odds attached to it. If you are unfamiliar with how these prices work, our guide to How do betting odds work? explains what betting odds mean and how they relate to potential returns.
How Does Handicap Betting Work?
To understand handicap betting, it helps to look at the actual score and then apply the handicap.
Imagine the market is:
Team A -1
Team B +1
Team A wins the match 3-1.
If we apply a -1 handicap to Team A, its adjusted score becomes 2-1. Team A remains ahead and therefore wins that handicap comparison.
If Team A had only won 2-1, applying a -1 handicap would make the adjusted score 1-1.
What happens in this situation depends on the type of handicap market. A three-way European handicap can include a draw as an outcome, while other forms of handicap betting have different settlement rules.
For this reason, it is important to check the specific handicap market rather than looking at the number alone.
What Is a Negative Handicap?
A negative handicap creates a theoretical disadvantage for the selected participant.
For example:
Team A -2
This means two goals would be deducted from Team A’s final score when determining the handicap result.
Imagine Team A wins 4-1. After applying the -2 handicap, the adjusted score becomes:
Team A 2-1 Team B
Team A remains ahead after the handicap is applied.
However, if Team A wins the actual match 2-1, applying -2 creates an adjusted score of 0-1. Team A would therefore be behind on the handicap score.
Negative handicaps are often associated with favourites, but you should always check the specific market rather than assuming which side will receive the handicap.
What Is a Positive Handicap?
A positive handicap creates a theoretical advantage.
Imagine Team B is given a +2 handicap. Two goals would effectively be added to Team B’s final score for settlement purposes.
Suppose Team B loses the actual match 3-2.
The actual score is:
Team A 3-2 Team B
After applying Team B +2, the handicap score becomes:
Team A 3-4 Team B
Team B has lost the actual football match but is ahead once the handicap is applied.
This illustrates one of the most important features of handicap betting: the winner of the handicap market does not necessarily have to be the winner of the sporting event itself.
Positive vs Negative Handicaps
Positive and negative handicaps work in opposite directions.
| Handicap | Adjustment |
| +1 | Add one goal or point |
| +2 | Add two goals or points |
| -1 | Deduct one goal or point |
| -2 | Deduct two goals or points |
The exact measurement depends on the sport. Football handicaps can relate to goals, while basketball handicaps are commonly based on points.
In every case, make sure you know which participant the handicap applies to and whether the number is positive or negative.
Handicap Betting in Football
Football provides some of the easiest examples for understanding betting handicaps.
Imagine Team A is playing Team B and the handicap market gives Team A -1.
If Team A wins 3-0, applying the handicap creates a 2-0 adjusted score.
If Team A wins 2-1, applying -1 creates an adjusted score of 1-1.
If the actual match finishes 1-1, the adjusted handicap score becomes 0-1.
Handicap betting is just one of the many football markets available. If you want a broader introduction to match results, goals and other common selections, our How to Bet on Football guide covers the basics of football betting in more detail.
What Is a Three-Way Handicap?
A three-way handicap, sometimes called a European handicap, has three possible outcomes after the handicap is applied:
Home win
Draw
Away win
Imagine the home team starts at -1 and wins the actual match 2-1.
After deducting one goal from the home team’s score, the adjusted result is 1-1. The handicap outcome is therefore a draw.
If the home side had won 3-1, the adjusted score would be 2-1, making the home handicap selection the winner.
This is why it is important to know whether a handicap market includes a draw option.
Handicap Betting in Basketball
Handicap betting is also common in basketball, where the adjustment is generally made using points.
Imagine the market is:
Team A -5.5
Team B +5.5
If Team A wins 110-102, it has won by eight points. Applying the -5.5 handicap still leaves Team A ahead, so Team A -5.5 wins.
However, suppose Team A wins 110-108. It has won the actual game by only two points.
After the -5.5 handicap is applied, Team A is behind for handicap purposes. In this situation, Team B +5.5 would be the successful handicap selection.
The use of a half-point line means the adjusted scores cannot finish level.
Handicap Betting in Tennis
Handicaps in tennis can be based on games or sets rather than goals or points.
For example, a player could have a -2.5 games handicap. The handicap would then be applied to the relevant total number of games won when determining the result of that market.
As with other sports, a player could win the actual match but fail to cover a negative handicap. Equally, a player receiving a positive handicap could lose the match while still being the successful handicap selection.
Tennis markets can have specific settlement rules relating to issues such as retirements, so always check the conditions applying to the particular market.
Handicap Betting vs Standard Match Betting
Standard match betting focuses on the actual result of the sporting event. Handicap betting creates an adjusted result by applying a theoretical advantage or disadvantage.
For example, if a football team wins 2-1, it has won the match regardless of any handicap market.
However, if that team was selected at -2, applying the handicap would create an adjusted score of 0-1. The team won the actual match but did not win that handicap comparison.
This distinction is important when moving from straightforward match-result markets to handicap betting.
Handicap Betting and Odds
Different handicap lines generally have different betting odds because each line represents a different condition that needs to be met.
For example, backing a football team at -1 and backing the same team at -2 are not the same bet. With -2, a larger adjustment is being applied to the team’s final score.
The odds determine the potential return from a successful selection, while the handicap determines the adjusted condition that needs to be satisfied.
For a more detailed explanation of how the prices attached to these selections work, read our guide to How do betting odds work?
What Are Asian Handicaps?
Asian handicap betting is another form of handicap market. It differs from a traditional three-way European handicap because it removes or reduces the possibility of the handicap draw.
Asian handicap lines can include whole and half numbers such as 0, -0.5, -1 and +1.5. They can also use quarter lines such as -0.25, -0.75 or +1.25.
Quarter handicaps are more complex because the stake is effectively divided across two neighbouring handicap lines.
The differences between the market types are important because the same-looking result can be settled differently depending on the handicap being used. Our guide to Asian Handicap vs European Handicap goes into these differences in more detail, including how draw outcomes and different handicap lines are treated.
What to Check Before Placing a Handicap Bet
Before choosing a handicap selection, check which team or player is receiving the handicap and whether it is positive or negative. You should also check the size of the handicap and the exact period of the event covered.
Most importantly, identify the type of handicap market. A three-way European handicap and an Asian handicap can have different outcomes and settlement rules, particularly when the adjusted result finishes level.
When viewing handicap markets at NetBet Sport, check the full selection and relevant market rules before deciding whether to place a bet.
Understanding Handicap Betting
Handicap betting works by applying a theoretical advantage or disadvantage to a participant for settlement purposes.
A positive handicap adds goals, points or another relevant measurement to a participant’s score, while a negative handicap deducts them. This means a team can win the actual sporting event but lose the handicap comparison, or lose the event while still winning after a positive handicap is applied.
Different types of handicap markets also have different settlement rules, so understanding whether you are looking at a European, Asian or another handicap format is important.
Handicaps and betting odds do not guarantee what will happen in a sporting event. If you choose to bet at NetBet Sport, make sure you understand the market before placing your selection and only bet what you can afford to lose.
Handicap Betting FAQs
What does +1 handicap mean?
A +1 handicap generally means one goal, point or other relevant unit is added to the selected participant’s score when determining the handicap result. The exact settlement depends on the sport and type of handicap market.
What does -1 handicap mean?
A -1 handicap generally means one goal or point is deducted from the selected participant’s final score for settlement purposes. If this creates an adjusted draw, the outcome depends on whether you are betting on a three-way, Asian or another type of handicap market.
Can a team lose but still win a handicap bet?
Yes. A team receiving a positive handicap can lose the actual sporting event but still be the successful handicap selection. For example, a football team losing 2-1 with a +2 handicap would have an adjusted score of 3-2 in its favour for handicap settlement purposes.
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