iGaming Glossary / Handicap
What is Handicap?
A betting market that gives one side a virtual head start or deficit to level the odds.
A handicap is a sports betting market that adjusts the result before the bet is settled. The favourite starts with a virtual deficit and the underdog starts with a virtual lead, which evens out two unequal teams and gives more balanced odds.
Say a strong team is given a minus one goal handicap. For your bet to win, they must win by two or more, because the one goal is taken off their score. Back the weaker side at plus one and they can lose by a single goal and your bet still wins.
Handicaps come in whole number and split forms, and Asian handicaps remove the draw option entirely. They are a way to find value when a straight win bet looks too short. They sit within sportsbook play rather than casino games.
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