What is handicap betting?

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Handicap betting is where one selection in an event is given a "handicap" to overcome in order to win. This is popular when strong favourites are playing, instead of placing a match-winner bet at short odds, you can place a bet at longer odds taking the handicap into account.

When placing a bet on a handicap market, you are betting on your selection to win with the handicap being taken into account.

For example:

  • Liverpool (-1) @ 8/13
  • Tie (-1) @ 8/11
  • Burnley (+1) @ 1/1

If you place your bet on Liverpool (-1) this means that you need to take one goal away from whatever Liverpool score.

If Liverpool win the game 3-1, your bet is still a winner because Liverpool won the game 2-1 with the goal deficit accounted for.

If Liverpool win the game 1-0, your bet is a loser as with the handicap taken into account the result would be 0-0.

If you placed your bet on Burnley (+1) this means that you need to add one goal to whatever Burnley score.

If the game ended 2-2, your bet is a winner. This is because Burnley had a 1 goal advantage at the start of the game, so with your handicap applied the game has ended 3-2 to Burnley.

If Liverpool win the game 1-0, your bet is still a loser as with the handicap applied to Burnley the result is 1-1.

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