Understanding Handicap Bets A handicap is a virtual advantage or disadvantage given to a team or participant to even out the odds. When you place a handicap bet, you are predicting the outcome of an event after this handicap has been applied. For example: Event Handicap selection Actual result Result after handicap applied Burnley vs Wolves Burnley -2 Burnley 4-1 Wolves Burnley 2-1 Wolves (Bet on Burnley to win wins) Chelsea vs Liverpool Liverpool +1 Chelsea 2-0 Liverpool Chelsea 2-1 Liverpool (Bet on Liverpool to win loses) Handicap Markets There are two types of handicap markets — two-way handicaps and three-way handicaps Two-Way Handicap: This market does not include the option for a draw. If the result is a tie after the handicap is applied, the bet is considered a "push," and your stake is returned. Three-Way Handicap: This market includes the option to bet on a draw. You can bet on either team to win or for the event to end in a draw after the handicap is applied. Handicap Push Settlement A "push" occurs when the result of an event is a draw after the handicap is applied. Example 1 If you were to bet on Liverpool at -1 on the single Asian handicap market against Aston Villa, they would need to win by two or more goals for your bet to be successful. Should they win by a one-goal margin, the result with the handicap applied would be a draw. Due to this, the bet would be a push and your stake would be returned. Example 2 If you had bet on a basketball game to have over or under 180 total points within the game, and there were exactly 180 points scored at full time, then the bet would be classed as a push, and your stake returned. If the game ended in a draw or a win for Villa, your bet would lose. Asian Handicap An Asian handicap is a type of betting that adjusts the odds in an event so that there are only two possible outcomes for your bet. It works by applying a handicap to the final score and removing the 'draw' as a result for betting purposes. If the match ends in a tie after the handicap has been applied, your bet is considered void, and your stake is fully returned. Certain Asian handicap markets, known as 'quarter lines' (e.g., 0.25, 0.75, 1.25), work by splitting your stake into two separate bets. Example If you were to place a bet on over 2.75 goals in a game, your stake is divided equally between a bet on over 2.5 goals and over 3 goals. If the game finishes with three goals, the 'over 2.5' part of your bet is a winner, while the 'over 3' part is refunded. This is often referred to as a 'half win'. If the game finishes with four or more goals, both parts of your bet are winners. Please see the table below for an example of Asian Handicap Settlements Handicap Team result Bet result Handicap Team result Bet result 0 Win Win 0 Win Win Draw Stake refund Draw Stake refund Lose Lose Lose Lose For more information, please see our sports rules here. If you need any further assistance, please see our contact details here. Related articles What is each-way betting Who are the Player Protection team? Sports Betting Rules What are Loss Limits? What happens at the end of the cool-off?