The European Handicap is an exciting form of bet, as it makes your betting more value-added by evening out the chances of two teams probably unevenly matched. In this style of betting, a theoretical disadvantage is applied to the weaker team, or an advantage given to the stronger one, to produce more balanced odds and allow returns for successful bets to be higher. It will explain, within this guide, what the European handicap is, how it functions, the different kinds of bets related to it, and the pros and cons of this type of bet.
How Does European Handicap Betting Work?
A classic 3-way bet in European Handicap betting involves a win, draw, and loss outcome. Unlike other handicap betting, such as Asian Handicap, European Handicap allows drawing the outcome. It is a type of bet that is placed for the purpose of evening out the chances of winning by giving the weaker team an advantage of a given number of hypothetical goals over the stronger team to make its spread hard to be covered by the stronger team in order to win the bet.
The last one was received 4 minutes ago
When the European Handicap is in play, the advantage or disadvantage is given in whole numbers, such as +1 or -2 goals. It is part of the final outcome of a single match. In determining the final result, one considers the actual score and adds the handicap to it. If, for instance, a weak team is granted a handicap 0:1 and the final score comes out to be 1-0 for its opponent, by applying the handicap the match will come out as a draw for betting purposes.
The key difference between European and Asian Handicap bets is the underlying structure of the bet. European Handicap explained: it involves whole numbers and allows for a draw as a possible outcome, while Asian Handicap betting uses fractional numbers and negates the draw option. This system is quite suitable for sports like football, where the result of a match is determined by scores that can be measured.
European Handicap Bet Types
There are three primary types of European Handicap bets: Handicap 1, Handicap 2, and Handicap Draw. These are based on whether the weaker or stronger team is given an advantage or disadvantage.
Handicap 1
This is where an allowance is given to the weaker of the two teams. Normally, this would be in terms of goals. In this regard, the bookmaker may give the weaker of the two teams a head start of say, +1 or +2 goals. The stronger of the two teams must then overcome this advantage by winning over the adjusted total for a bet to be won. If the stronger team wins by precisely the same margin as the advantage, the result will be a draw. Many bettors like a point spread simply because they can choose straight-forward options and might be easier to follow.
Handicap 2
This will include a score, for instance, of -1 or handicap 0:2 for the start, where the stronger team must score more than the given handicap for the bettor to win the bet. That means that the stronger team has to win, but with a larger margin to cover the spread. In case this does not happen, then the bet is lost. The underdog lovers like this kind of bet because the stronger team must work so much harder to assure a winning result.
Handicap Draw
This is where European Handicap differs from Asian Handicap in terms of the type of bet. In a Handicap Draw, the stronger team must win by precisely the amount of goals set by the handicap. By that, if the handicap is -1, then the stronger team must win by precisely one goal for the result to be a draw. Any other outcome results in a loss. This is the least common type of European Handicap bet due to the limited outcome possibilities, but it can offer appealing odds for those looking to take a risk.
Example of European Handicap Bet
Let’s consider a hypothetical European Handicap with three options of betting by using two football teams, Manchester Reds and London Blues, a goal handicap of 0:1 applied.
This means that once you bet on Manchester Reds, they have to win by at least two goals for the win of the bet. If at the end the result is Manchester Reds 3 – London Blues 1, the handicap would be 3-2, so Manchester wins and the bet pays out.
This is a draw bet with a handicap 0:1, and for the bet to be successful, Manchester Reds must win by just one goal. Thus, when the match is 2-1 in favor of Manchester Reds, your handicap makes it 2-2, and this is a draw hence a winning bet.
A bet on London Blues with a handicap of 0:1 will be won if London Blues draw or win the match. Example: The game ends Manchester Reds 1 – London Blues 1; the handicap would adjust the score to 1-2 in favor of London Blues, and it would therefore be a winning bet.
For instance, if you wager $100:
- The winnings in the first scenario would be $310.
- In the second scenario (draw), you would win $340.
- In the third scenario, where London Blues ties or wins, you would collect $216.
This demonstrates how European Handicap betting offers different options and greater potential for various outcomes compared to standard betting. Understanding examples like handicap 0:2 meaning, handicap 0:3 meaning, or handicap 0:4 meaning can help you make better betting decisions.
European Handicap Pros & Cons
| 🟢 Pros | 🔴 Cons |
|---|---|
| Easier way to get better odds on favorites: European Handicap betting allows the gambler to bet on the favorite, since this betting option develops a more even match due to the handicap. | Higher Risk: The European handicap is a bit different from Asian handicap betting, in that it does not offer a refund if the result happens to be a draw. This will increase the risk of the bettors when both competing teams are almost at the same level. |
| You can win big: In case you try to predict the exact winning margin-what is called the handicap draw-you could win big. This can take place in cases when two closely matched teams are competing against each other. | Unpredictable Margins: Even the weakest teams can sometimes lose by just one or two goals, making it difficult to predict whether a dominant team will clear the handicap margin. |
| Simple Structure: The simplicity of European handicap betting makes it easier to understand even for a beginner in the realm of handicap betting. |
European handicap betting works the same as Asian handicaps, such as -1.5, -2.5, etc., but this time, it deals with whole numbers. You can conceptualize this as a whole number you are betting, how big of a “deficit” a stronger team needs to wipe out for your bet to be considered a win. Once you understand what European handicap meaning and other handicaps mean, such as the meaning of Handicap 0:2 and Handicap 0:4, you will be more adroit in placing bets.
