Learn All About Asian Handicaps: History, Best Sites for Asian Handicaps & More
Asian handicap betting is becoming more and more popular as a betting strategy in the UK.
This page will answer the question ‘What is Asian handicap betting’. We will explain the ins and out of Asian handicaps and which betting sites you should be using.
Asian handicap betting is mainly found in football markets and centres around both teams being handicapped due to their recent form. The best example of an Asian handicap bet is that the stronger team will receive a handicap to win by a number of goals.
If you backed Liverpool -1.0, they would have to win the game by two or more goals. Backing Manchester United +2 would mean your bet would be a winning Asian handicap bet if United won, drew or lost by a single goal.
Asian handicap betting tries to eliminate the chances of a draw. Bets can be voided or in Asian handicap betting it is called a push and your stake would be returned. The below table should make understanding Asian handicap betting a little bit easier.
Asian Handicap
Outcome Needed
End Result
Liverpool -1.0
Win by two goals or more
Win by 1 goal
Draw or lose
Win
Void/Push
Lose
Everton +2.0
Win, draw or lose by 1
Lose by 2 goals
Lose by three+ goals
New customers only. 7 days to place qualifying bet of £10 at 1/1 (2.0) to receive 4 x £10 Free Bets: 1 x £10 football, 1 x £10 horse racing & 2 x £10 Bet Builders. Free Bets cannot be used on e-sports and non-UK/IE horse racing. 7 day expiry. Exclusions apply. Stake not returned.
18+. T&Cs Apply.
18+ Opt in, bet £10 on any football (odds 1/1+) within 3 days of sign up. Get 2x£10 and 1x£5 Free Bets for set football markets + £5 Slots Bonus on Big Bass Splash, 30x wagering, max redeem £125. Bonuses expire in 14 days. Click for T&Cs. GambleAware.org
18+ | New UK players only | Min deposit req. £10 | Certain deposit methods excluded | Place 1 sport bet (3+ selections) | Excl Horse Racing | Min stake £10 | Max stake £20 | Min Odds 2/1 (3.0) | Max FreeBet £20 for football only | FreeBet valid for 7 days | FreeBet stake not returned |
T&Cs apply.
New customers & 18+ only. Min. deposit of £10. Qualifying real money bet of £10. Min odds greater than or equal to 1.5 required. E/W bets excluded. Offer awarded immediately but could be issued the next working day in exceptional circumstances such as technical fault. Additional T&Cs apply. Please gamble responsibly.
Best Betting Sites For Asian Handicap Betting
Asian Handicap betting is very popular with the majority of the best UK bookmakers featuring this betting method. Here are a few betting sites that cover Asian Handicap betting.
Bet365 Pros And Cons
Large selection of Asian handicap bets
In-play betting
Limited e-wallets
Bet365 is one of the biggest and
best UK bookmakers
online and they continue to set the standards when it comes to sports betting markets.
Asian handicap betting is seen as one of Bet365’s specialties. They have a separate section on their site and betting app that is just for Asian lines.
These lines include regular Asian handicap betting, goal line handicap betting, alternative Asian handicap, 1st half goal line, Asian handicap cards and Asian handicap corners.
Bet365 caters for all your betting needs whether it be Asian lines, bet builders or normal betting markets.
Away from Asian handicap betting, Bet365 provides new and existing customers with top class promotions to enhance their betting experience.
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LeoVegas Pros And Cons
Asian lines section
Impressive betting app
Clunky desktop site
Have to scroll sideways to find Asian lines
LeoVegas is an up and coming betting site and in a few years it could be battling it out with some of the big names in the betting world.
Their odds are set by Kambi - a firm that also uses Unibet and MrGreen. LeoVegas covered a wide range of sports - not just football - but if you want to place Asian handicap bets then it will have to be football.
LeoVegas are proud of their Asian lines and punters are able to bet on a number of markets, including Asian total number of goals, 1st half Asian handicap and total number of Asian handicap goals in the first 45 minutes.
Although they are improving the sports betting section of their site, their main focus is casino betting. This shows with their promotions as they have a couple of weekend casino offers for existing customers.
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BetUK Pros And Cons
Asian handicap betting available
Generous welcome offer
Not a lot of payment methods
BetUK is another betting website looking to climb up the rankings when it comes to impressive odds and generous offers.
They are another bookmaker who insist on having Asian lines as a separate section so it is easier for punters to find. There is nothing worse than having to search for the betting market you want.
BetUK are no different to the big-name bookmakers when it comes to their Asian lines. The markets are basically the same - Asian handicap, Asian total goals and 1st half Asian markets as well.
All online bookmakers try to influence punters in becoming new members with eye-catching welcome bonuses. BetUK are no different with their exclusive free bet welcome offer. Existing customers are not left out with a couple of promotions, including 2 x £3 free bets each and every week.
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New cust only. Opt-in required. Deposit & place a bet within 7 days and settle a £10 minimum bet at odds of 4/5 (1.8) or greater to be credited with 3 x £10 Free Bets: 1 x £10 horse racing, 1 x £10 Free Bet Builder and 1 x £10 football. Free Bets cannot be used on e-sports and non-UK/IE horse racing. 7 day expiry. Stake not returned. 18+. T&Cs Apply.
How Asian Handicap Betting Works
Asian handicap betting is not a market you can just dive in and use. You need to fully understand the mechanics of it, if you don’t you will just end up confused and that is when betting on sports stops being fun.
You will see different forms of handicap betting, below we explain what they are.
Full Handicaps
Asian handicap full lines are bets with round numbers - 1, 2, 3, 4 etc. The figures in question will be accompanied by a plus or negative sign.
Half Handicaps
This is where Asian handicaps can get a little bit confusing.. The half lines highlight half goal outcomes. If your selected team is available at +0.5, this means they have a half goal head start. If the game ends in a draw or your team wins the game then the bet is a winner.
Quarter Handicaps
This format is like the half handicaps, but these bets end in 0.25 or 0.75. This means your selected team gets a 0.25 goal head start.
Does Every Betting Site Offer Asian Handicap Betting?
Not every single online bookmaker in the UK offers Asian handicap betting, but the list continues to grow due to the popularity of this betting method.
A lot of punters are using Asian handicap betting as a form of strategy and the bookmakers are aware of that, so they are doing what they can to include it in their matches.
It is easy to find out which sites have Asian handicap betting because they have their own section. Click on the football match you want to bet on and the Asian lines will be visible for you to bet on.
New customers only. 7 days to place qualifying bet of £10 at 1/1 (2.0) to receive 4 x £10 Free Bets: 1 x £10 football, 1 x £10 horse racing & 2 x £10 Bet Builders. Free Bets cannot be used on e-sports and non-UK/IE horse racing. 7 day expiry. Exclusions apply. Stake not returned.
18+. T&Cs Apply.
18+ | New UK players only | Min deposit req. £10 | Certain deposit methods excluded | Place 1 sport bet (3+ selections) | Excl Horse Racing | Min stake £10 | Max stake £20 | Min Odds 2/1 (3.0) | Max FreeBet £20 for football only | FreeBet valid for 7 days | FreeBet stake not returned |
T&Cs apply.
18+ Opt in, bet £10 on any football (odds 1/1+) within 3 days of sign up. Get 2x£10 and 1x£5 Free Bets for set football markets + £5 Slots Bonus on Big Bass Splash, 30x wagering, max redeem £125. Bonuses expire in 14 days. Click for T&Cs. GambleAware.org
New customers & 18+ only. Min. deposit of £10. Qualifying real money bet of £10. Min odds greater than or equal to 1.5 required. E/W bets excluded. Offer awarded immediately but could be issued the next working day in exceptional circumstances such as technical fault. Additional T&Cs apply. Please gamble responsibly.
New customers only. Register (excl 05/04/25), deposit with Debit Card, and place first bet £10+ at Evens (2.0)+ on Sports within 7 days to get 3 x £10 in Sports Free Bets & 2 x £10 in Acca Free Bets within 10 hours of settlement. 7-day expiry. Eligibility exclusions & T&Cs Apply.
Asian Handicap Vs Handicap Betting
Asian handicap betting can be confusing at first, but it is easy to tell the difference between Asian handicap and handicap betting.
When it comes to handicap batting - some sites call it European handicap betting - the punter will be offered three options - win, lose and draw.
Asian handicap betting has just two options because the draw has been eliminated.
Pros And Cons Of Using Asian Handicap Betting
There are pros and cons with every aspect of sports betting and Asian handicap betting is no different.
Here are a few Asian handicap betting pros and cons before you place your first Asian handicap bet.
Asian Handicap Pros And Cons
Higher odds
Increased chances of winning
You can still win if your team loses
Confusing to understand
Conclusion On Asian Handicap Betting
Asian handicap betting is an exciting betting strategy that makes you think of the overall outcome of the game rather than just backing a team to win.
This is not a betting strategy you can just start with. A lot of research is needed to understand all the different handicap lines. It is very confusing at first, but the more you study the form and look at each handicap line the quicker you will understand it.
Do not be disheartened if you do not understand it straightaway, make sure you understand how handicaps work in terms of betting and once you do this could be an enjoyable form of sports betting.
Asian Handicap FAQs
What Is Asian Handicap Betting?
Asian handicap betting gives a team a virtual advantage in terms of goals over their opponents. The Asian handicap essentially eliminates a draw happening, meaning there are only two outcomes.
Where Does The Term Asian Handicap Come From?
Asian handicap is believed to have originated in Indonesia. Journalist Joe Saumarez Smith is said to have been the first to use the term Asian handicap after Indonesian bookmaker Joe Phan asked him to provide a translation for the term ‘Hang Cheng’ which was being used around Asia.
What is the Difference Between Asian Handicap and Handicap?
The main difference between Asian handicap and regular handicap betting is that the Asian handicap effectively makes it a two-way market. This differs from a regular handicap (European handicap) which prominently works in whole numbers and has three possible outcomes - win, lose and draw.
What Does Push Mean In Asian Handicap?
In Asian Handicap Betting, a push is the term used when there is no winner or loser. Your stake will be returned if, for example, you bet on a team with -1 on the Asian handicap and they win the game 1-0. That means the game is a draw due to the virtual goal you have bet with, but as there are no draws on Asian handicaps, your stake will be refunded. That is a push.
New customers only. 7 days to place qualifying bet of £10 at 1/1 (2.0) to receive 4 x £10 Free Bets: 1 x £10 football, 1 x £10 horse racing & 2 x £10 Bet Builders. Free Bets cannot be used on e-sports and non-UK/IE horse racing. 7 day expiry. Exclusions apply. Stake not returned.
18+. T&Cs Apply.
18+ | New UK players only | Min deposit req. £10 | Certain deposit methods excluded | Place 1 sport bet (3+ selections) | Excl Horse Racing | Min stake £10 | Max stake £20 | Min Odds 2/1 (3.0) | Max FreeBet £20 for football only | FreeBet valid for 7 days | FreeBet stake not returned |
T&Cs apply.
18+ Opt in, bet £10 on any football (odds 1/1+) within 3 days of sign up. Get 2x£10 and 1x£5 Free Bets for set football markets + £5 Slots Bonus on Big Bass Splash, 30x wagering, max redeem £125. Bonuses expire in 14 days. Click for T&Cs. GambleAware.org
New customers & 18+ only. Min. deposit of £10. Qualifying real money bet of £10. Min odds greater than or equal to 1.5 required. E/W bets excluded. Offer awarded immediately but could be issued the next working day in exceptional circumstances such as technical fault. Additional T&Cs apply. Please gamble responsibly.
New customers only. Register (excl 05/04/25), deposit with Debit Card, and place first bet £10+ at Evens (2.0)+ on Sports within 7 days to get 3 x £10 in Sports Free Bets & 2 x £10 in Acca Free Bets within 10 hours of settlement. 7-day expiry. Eligibility exclusions & T&Cs Apply.
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