The European handicap allows punters to level the playing field in football matches with a significant disparity between the teams. This type of wager gives the underdog a hypothetical starting lead and puts the favorite in a tougher position to win. It results in more attractive odds when betting on the game’s outcome.
Placing a European handicap wager of -1 on the home team results in an imagined lead of 0-1 for the away club. Now, the home squad must win by at least two goals for your bet to pay out. If the game ends 1-0 in real life, the sportsbook will rule it as 1-1 on your slip.
In the same case, you can select +1 European handicap and predict that the underdog will triumph or secure a draw. The first scenario would require the away side to hold out for a tie or win outright. The second scenario calls for the home team to win with exactly one goal difference.
Overall, when you gamble on a team with a disadvantage, they need to win by a margin greater than the handicap (in this instance, more than one goal) for the wager to be successful. When betting on a club with an advantage, they must avoid losing by a difference that covers the handicap.
Let’s consider a more practical case with calculations involved. Manchester City (Home) plays against Southampton (Away) in a Premier League match. The odds for City’s win are at 1.12 since the bookies expect the Manchester team to dominate and score two, three, or more unanswered goals.
To balance out this disparity, some of the best European bookmakers may offer handicaps. For example, City might be given a -3, -2, or -1 handicap. This implies they start the match with one, two, or three goals down. On the other hand, Southampton could be given a +3, +2, or +1 handicap, meaning they start the match with a corresponding lead.
The sportsbook places 2.00 odds on Manchester City to win with a -3 handicap, so you understandably want to take advantage of it. For your wager to go through, the Citizens must win by at least four goals, including 4:0 or 5:1, to erase the deficit.
Similarly, betting European handicap on Southampton to win with a +3 handicap at 2.00 odds, the team can win, draw, or lose by up to two goals for your bet to be successful. If the match ends 3-1 or 2-0 in favor of Manchester City, the adjusted score (with the three-goal advantage) would be 3-4 or 2-3.
While the European and Asian handicaps are similar in giving one team a lead and another side a deficit, there is one key difference between the two. Asian handicap betting is displayed in half-goal advantages or disadvantages. Bookies might offer a -1.5 or -2.5 handicap for the favorite while setting a +1.5 or +2.5 handicap for the underdog. This means the match can only finish with a win for one side and a loss for the other, with the draw being removed from the equation.
The European handicap is used across different sports, including basketball, volleyball, tennis, and rugby. In an NBA game, for example, the underdog could be given an advantage of +5 points. Their opponents need to win by more than 5 points for your wager to succeed. The European handicap can also be applied to points in rugby and volleyball, and the number of games won during a tennis match.
This type of wagering is most commonly used in football (soccer) thanks to its simplicity. The European handicap in soccer betting isn’t just limited to match scorelines but can also be used in other markets like the first-half and second-half results.
The table below shows some of the pros and cons of the European handicap system:
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PROS
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CONS
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European handicap betting gives you better odds and a higher return potential. However, these improved odds also come with the challenge of predicting both the winner and the margin of victory or defeat. This increases the risk for punters, so it’s essential to approach this type of gambling carefully.
The most important advice you need to follow to increase your chances of winning is to only bet on sports, teams, and players you’re familiar with. Before placing your wagers, conduct in-depth research and analysis on the recent form of teams involved, their head-to-head record, player performances, injuries, weather, and all the other factors that could influence the match’s outcome. You can take advantage of valuable betting platforms like the BetZillion website, which provide free in-depth analysis, match previews, expert predictions, and historical data to guide your decisions.
As mentioned earlier, using a European handicap to your advantage depends on several factors. First, you must gain a full understanding of this type of bet and all of its intricacies. Additionally, you need to be familiar with the type of sport and participants to make the most of it. It’s only then that the European handicap will pay off and become a valuable addition to your wagering arsenal.
