Handicap Betting Guide – What does Handicap Mean in Betting?

Handicap betting is where a sportsbook applies or removes points from one or both teams, where one has a significant advantage, to level the playing field and offer greater odds for bettors to enjoy. Bettors can find this market at most online sportsbooks, with many referring to it as a “spread” bet. This unique wager is an excellent way to back your favorite sports team and make money online.

In this guide, we take a closer look at handicap bets, how they work, the sports these wagers apply to, and several strategies for placing profitable handicap wagers.

What is a Handicap in Betting?

Handicap betting offers bettors a different way to wager on the outcome of sporting events. In many cases, a sports event sees two competing teams or athletes, where the chances of the favorite (the team or athlete predicted to win) winning far surpass that of the underdog taking the win. For instance, if you were to pit a pro-basketball squad against a group of guys who play socially, there is no doubt the pro team would win. Unfortunately, this makes for a dull, predictable bet and unexciting odds.

But if the social team was awarded several points before the match began, giving them somewhat of a headstart, this may make things more interesting. This is precisely what a handicap is, where a bookie, based on their research, adds or removes points from a team, leveling out the chances of victory to boost the odds and provide a more interesting betting experience.

Handicap Betting Explained – How it Works

A betting handicap can be applied to several sports, including basketball, soccer, American football, baseball, tennis, hockey, and many others. While some sportsbooks refer to this betting market as a handicap, others may use the terms “spread” or “line betting.”

When applying a handicap, sportsbooks do their research and use this data to compile an advantage for one team and a disadvantage for the other. So, let’s look at an example to explain how this works.

In the example above, there are two NBA teams, Miami Heat, and the Washington Wizards. Under the “moneyline” column, we see the odds for the overall predicted win. Since Miami Heat has odds of -230, this indicates that the team is the favorite and has a high chance of winning. In contrast, the Washington Wizards have odds of +190, which means they are the underdog and don’t have the best chances of taking the win.

Now that we know which team is the favorite, we can look at the handicap or spread, as highlighted in the example. Here the odds for both teams are set at -110 because the handicap has leveled the playing field. Since Miami Heat is greatly favored to win, the sportsbook has applied a relatively high handicap of 5.5, with Miami Heat receiving a disadvantage of -5.5 and the Washington Wizards earning an advantage of +5.5.

The handicap only applies at the end of the game, and those bettors who backed Miami Heat at -5.5, would need the team to win by 6 points to win their wager. In contrast, bettors who put money on the Washington Wizards at +5.5 would require the team to have lost by less than 6 points to win their bet.

How to Bet Handicap

Bettors can wager handicap bets at most online sportsbooks and will discover that placing these bets is relatively straightforward. However, those trying handicap betting for the first time may find they need some assistance.

Below, we offer you a quick step-by-step guide using BetOnline as our example. If you’re new to this sportsbook, you can learn more about it by reading our review and even claim several BetOnline promos, or you can find BetOnline alternatives that also offer handicap wagering. But for now, back to our quick guide:

Step One – Register with BetOnline

Launch the BetOnline website and click the green “Join” button. Next, fill in your details on the registration form that opens, and choose a username and password. Then, click “Create Account.”

Step Two – Get Verified

Once you’ve registered your account, BetOnline emails you a verification link which you must click to activate your new profile. So open the mail and click the link. Then, use your new credentials to sign back into BetOnline’s website and access your account.

Step Three – Make Your First Deposit

Next, you’ll need to deposit funds. So, start by clicking the blue “Banking” button on the homepage. Then, select your payment method from the dropdown menu, and type in the amount you wish to deposit. Your next step,(and this one is very important), is to type your BetOnline promo code “BOL1000” in the promo code box provided. Finally, click “Deposit Now” and follow the prompts to complete your deposit.

Step Four – Choose Your Sport

Click on the “Sports” tab on the BetOnline homepage. Then, select the sport you want to place your handicap bets on, for example, basketball. Next, from the options available for this sport, select the league and match you want to put your money on; for instance, we chose the NBA.

Step Five – Place Your Wager

Once you have selected the game, click on the handicap (BetOnline refers to this as the “spread”) betting line to populate your bet slip with the relevant details. Next, add in the amount you wish to wager onto your bet slip. Then, click “place bet,” and you’re done!

Winning Handicap Bets

Now that you have placed a handicap bet, it’s time to look at what leads to a betting handicap winning or losing. So, let’s look at an example and discuss the possible outcomes. Below is an NBA game set to take place between the Memphis Grizzlies and the Milwaukee Bucks. By looking at the moneyline, it is clear that the Memphis Grizzlies are favored to win and have the negative handicap, while the Milwaukee Bucks are the underdogs with the positive handicap. Additionally, the handicap here is set at +/- 7 points.

There are several outcomes that could occur from this wager. Let’s say, for instance, that the final outcome of the game saw a score of 100-95 in favor of the Memphis Grizzlies.

If you backed the Grizzlies at -7, you would lose your bet, as when the point spread is added to the score, it adjusts to 93-95, as seven points are removed from the Grizzlies’ score.

However, if you packed the Bucks at +7, you would win your wager, as you would add seven points to their score, leaving it at 100-102.

Another outcome could see the game end with a score of 100-93 to the Grizzlies.

In this case, if you backed the Grizzlies at -7, the score would total 93-93, leaving your bet as a push and the bookie would return your original stake.

Alternatively, if you put money on the Bucks, the score would adjust to 100-100, also resulting in a push and your stake would be returned.

In some cases, a handicap in betting comes as a fraction. Instead of being a whole number like 7 or 5, the line is set at a value like 3.5 or 5.5. In this instance, there is no chance of a push, and there will always be a result (no tie). The example below sees the Detroit Pistons facing off against the Indiana Pacers with a handicap of +/- 6.5.

Let’s say that this game ends with a score of 103-100 to the Indiana Pacers.

If you backed the Pacers at -6.5, you would lose your bet, as the final adjusted score would be 96.5-100.

But if you backed the Pistons, you would win your wager, as the end score would be 103-106.5.

Handicap Betting Strategy

When handicap betting, there are several strategies you can use to bolster your chances of making money on these bets. Below, we look at several of these points and how they can benefit bettors.

Tracking the Line

The best online sportsbooks typically release their betting lines a week before the game takes place. Instead of placing a bet as soon as the line comes out, we recommend tracking the line throughout the week, as the handicap can adjust according to the bets placed by other bettors. An additional point or half-point added or removed could have a significant effect on whether you win or lose your bet. As a result, we recommend tracking the line throughout the week and placing your bet accordingly.

Calculate Your Own Handicaps Before Looking

Learning to make and calculate your own handicaps can be highly beneficial for any serious bettor. To do this, take the games you want to wager on and estimate what you predict the spread will be based on your knowledge of the teams and their stats. Once you’ve done this, compare them to those released by online sportsbooks to see how far off your guess was. If you see lines that are equal to or more favorable than those you predicted, place your bet. Doing this also makes it easy to see where lines might be wrong and lacking in value.

Consider The Public

If your goal is to back the underdog, we suggest waiting several days after the lines are released before placing your bet. The closer it gets to game time, the more the general public will place their wagers, influencing the odds and the prices. Seeing movement on the line makes it easier to see where you should put your money, and waiting as long as possible ensures you get the best odds.

Consider Doubling Down

In an instance where you have placed an early wager on a particular team and you see later in the week that the line has reduced or increased in your favor, it is time to take advantage and double down. In other words, place a second bet on the line. Doing this could see you winning double or more.

Handicap Sports Betting

The best offshore sportsbooks and regulated betting sites offer handicap betting for most sports on their books. Below, we look at how a handicap in betting is applied to several sports.

Basketball Handicap Betting

When visiting the best NBA betting sites, you’ll find that basketball typically has a high point value, with teams scoring up to 200 points or more. As a result, the handicap applied to an NBA game can go up to 10 or even 12, depending on how the favorite compares to their opponent.

However, handicap sports betting in basketball works the same as for other sports, with a sportsbook applying a handicap that evens out the playing field, with the points adjusting the final score to offer a result.

For instance, in the example below, the New York Knicks have a handicap of +7.5, while the New Orleans Pelicans have a -7.5 handicap applied. Those backing the Pelicans must have the team win by 8 points in order for them to win their bet.

NFL Handicap Bets

The best NFL sportsbooks offer handicap wagering on football that is very similar to that offered for basketball. Here, there are two handicaps for each game, but because the score is often much lower, the spreads applied are usually lower too. However, in NFL betting, there are usually more fractional handicaps seen because of the large volume of bets that come in for the sport, particularly in the US.

Handicaps for Soccer

Handicap betting for soccer works similarly to that for the NBA or NFL, but the way the markets are created and posted are quite different. Because a tie or draw is a common final result in a soccer match, a sportsbook will offer a three-result market, a home win, an away win, or a draw.

Additionally, because there are far fewer goals scored in a soccer match than in an NFL or NBA game, calling handicap lines is more challenging. As a result, when the lines move, the odds do too, and more significantly so than in other sports. For instance, a half-point change in a soccer handicap can often double the price.

Bettors visiting the best soccer betting apps and sites will also often find a more diverse range of handicaps available to them, including Asian handicap betting, which always provides a result.

However, the primary difference between soccer handicaps and those for other sports is that the handicap rarely splits the odds evenly.

The Betting Handicap for Tennis

A tennis match comprises several sets (usually best-of-three), with each set comprising six games or more (the first team or player to win six games wins the set.) As a result, handicap wagers in tennis focus on the number of games a player wins within a match.

For instance, if the match sees a final score of 6-4, 6-4 (only two sets played as one player won both), the winner won 12 games, while their opponent won eight.

The handicap is applied to the total number of games won and the line sees the favorite having games removed and the underdog having games added. Additionally, the odds here are never split evenly, so both players will never end up with a -110 split.

Looking at the example below, where the handicap is +/- 2.5 in favor of Miomir Kecmanovic, let’s say he goes on to win the match 6-2, 5-7, 6-4. The total number of games won by each tennis player is:

• Kecmanovic= 17
• Zapata Miralles = 13

Bettors who visited top tennis sportsbooks and put money on Kecmanovic to win at -2.5 would have won with his adjusted handicap of games won being 14.5, just 1.5 more than Zapata Miralles’ 13.

In contrast, those who backed Zapata Miralles at +2.5 games would have lost as the tennis player’s adjusted game count of 15.5 would still be less than Kecmanovic’s total of 17.

How to Read Odds When Betting Handicap

New bettors may find the plethora of numbers displayed on a sports betting site daunting. However, remember that these figures represent the odds for each bet. Typically US-based sportsbooks use American odds as their default display for these numbers, but players can adjust them to reflect decimal or fractional odds if they prefer.

American odds generally see a three-digit number preceded by a + or – sign. The number with the minus sign is used to highlight the favorite (the team predicted to win), while the plus sign indicates the underdog.

The negative number (favorite) shows how much a bettor must put down to make a $100 profit, while the positive number (underdog) indicates how much a bettor will win back off a $100 wager.

For instance, let’s look at the example above the handicap is set at +/- 1.5, with the odds for each team highlighted in green below this. So, let’s say we wager a $100 bet on each outcome.

$100 on the Miami Marlins at +1.5 (-140) would return $172.20 if the bet won, with $72.20 being the profit.

In contrast, $100 on the New York Mets at (+120) would return $220, with $120 being the profit.

Is Handicap Betting Worth It?

Handicap betting can be profitable, provided you go about placing your bets carefully and doing the research first. As with all bets, there are pros and cons to using this market. Below, we look at the pros and cons of using handicap bets.

Handicap Betting vs Asian Handicap Betting

Asian handicap betting is most commonly used in betting on soccer and derives its name from the popularity of the wager in Asia, where it originated. Additionally, this line was created to eliminate any chance of the draw from handicap betting.

The Asian handicap does this by using fractions for their lines. While these still use plus and minus numbers, they have unique meanings to traditional handicap bets.

Significant numbers here include 0.25, 0.50, and 0.75. These numbers are noteworthy because no final score of a game will have fractions in it. As a result, there will always be a decisive outcome. However, this handicap also includes whole numbers that leave room for pushes and wins.

The following table provides a closer look at each bet and the varying outcomes that they provide.

Handicap Betting Conclusion

Handicap betting offers bettors far more room to move and makes it easier to wager profitable bets on the favorite. Additionally, players can formulate handicaps of their own to check for wagers with the most value and then place more lucrative bets. When understood and used accurately, handicap bets provide bettors with one of the easiest ways to win.

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