Handicap Betting in Football: Definition, Strategies, and Tips

Handicap betting is a type of betting where the bookmaker levels the playing field by giving the underdog an advantage and the expected match winner a disadvantage. It is also called spread betting.

This guide explains everything you need to know about the meaning of handicap in betting, explores the different types of handicap bets and provides tips to help you master this market.

Meaning of Handicap in Football Betting

Handicap betting in football is a betting type in which the two opponents in a match are given an advantage or disadvantage before the match starts to make the betting more competitive.

This betting market is mostly available for matches with a clear favourite and an underdog. This “advantage” or “disadvantage” is mostly expressed in terms of goals and evens out the match.

Imagine the match between Manchester City and newly-promoted Coventry City this weekend. With the likes of Haaland, Jeremy Doku, and Rayan Cherki available, Man City are overwhelming favourites to win the game, while Coventry are underdogs.

Odds on BetKing show Man City with 1.16 odds to win, while Coventry’s odds are 14.50. Therefore, the teams are obviously mismatched.

Screenshot taken on 04/09/2026

This is where handicap in betting comes in. With a handicap of -2 goals given to Man City (the favourites), meaning +2 goals for Coventry (the underdogs), the playing field is now even. The odds for both teams are now similar: Man City are 2.17 and Coventry 2.57.

Here’s what it means:

• If you bet on Man City: They need to win by 3 or more goals for you to win the bet. If they win by only 1 goal or 2 goals, the bet is a loss.
• If you bet on Coventry: You win the bet if they win the match, draw, or lose by only 1 goal or 2 goals. If they lose to Man City by 3 or more goals, the bet is a loss.

I mostly place handicap bets on La Liga, Bundesliga, or Ligue 1 games because the top teams are so much better than the smallest teams. Whenever I bet on EPL games, I go for Manchester City against newly promoted teams. They tend to win by more than 3 goals, helping me easily win my -2 handicap bets.

Additionally, I find that bookmaker bonuses such as the Bet9ja welcome bonus are very useful for testing handicap markets, because you can bet risk-free and keep the winnings if it is successful.

You can choose the bookmaker to use for your handicap betting after reading our review of the best betting sites in Nigeria.

Draw Handicap Meaning in Betting

In this type of handicap football betting, you bet that the outcome would be a draw after a specific number of goals are added to one team’s score.

For example, the game between Athletic Club and Atletico Madrid this weekend is expected to be a tight affair, but Atletico Madrid are favourites. Bet9ja has given Athletic Club odds of 3.05 to win, and Atletico Madrid odds of 2.35.

Screenshot taken on 04/09/2026

If you think that Atletico could win the game by 1 goal, you can bet on a draw for a handicap of +1 for Athletic Club. As you can see, the odds are 3.60, which is higher than the odds given for an Atletico Madrid win (2.35). That is the advantage Draw Handicap gives you.

What does Handicap No Draw Mean?

This is my favourite type of spread betting in football. A no-draw handicap means the possibility of a draw is removed, and the bet is decided on which team wins after the handicap is applied.

For instance, if there’s a match between Chelsea and Arsenal, and you bet on Chelsea with a -1 handicap, they must win by at least two goals for your bet to be successful. What I like about this bet is that it is quite simple, as it ensures a clear winner and no possibility of a draw.

What is Goal Handicap?

This is the most common type, where the handicap is expressed in goals. For example, if you bet on Chelsea with a -1 handicap in an EPL match against Tottenham. Chelsea needs to win by 2 or more goals for you to win the bet.

This type of handicap betting is widely used because it directly correlates with the actual performance of the teams, making it easier to understand and more popular among bettors.

What is Asian Handicap Betting?

Asian handicap betting eliminates the possibility of a draw, often using half-goal handicaps (e.g., +0.5, -1.5). For example, a -0.5 handicap means the team must win outright for the bet to win.

From that Man City vs Coventry example, you might bet on Man City with a -2.5 handicap at 2.17 on BetKing. This means Man City have to win by 3 goals for your bet to succeed. There is no draw option. The -2.5 handicap offers better odds than a standard win bet, balancing the odds in your favour and increasing potential payouts.

What is League Handicap Betting?

League handicap betting applies handicaps to teams throughout a league season. This type of betting predicts which team will finish higher in the standings after the handicaps are applied.

For example, imagine the Nigerian Professional Football League (NPFL) season is about to start. The bookmakers might offer league handicap betting with the following handicaps:

• Rangers: -1
• Rivers United: -1
• Enyimba: 0
• Kano Pillars: +2
• Shooting Stars: +4

If you bet on Rangers to win the league handicap, they would need to finish the season with enough of a margin that even after losing 1 point from their final tally, they still finish ahead of everyone else. For example, last season they finished with 68 points, so their adjusted total for the handicap bet was 67 points.

If any other team had more than 67 points after their handicap was applied, the bet lost. I placed a handicap bet on Rangers last season, and they won the league, helping me win over 100,000 NGN on Bet9ja.

Expert tip: Always research team form, head-to-head records, and match news before placing your bets.

What is European Handicap betting?

European handicap is also called a 3-way handicap because it allows 3 possible outcomes: a home win, a draw, and an away win. Unlike the Asian handicap, which completely eliminates the possibility of a draw, European handicap allows a draw as an outcome. Additionally, European handicap uses whole numbers, unlike Asian handicap, which uses quarters (such as -0.5, +1.5, etc).

How to Win a Handicap Bet

As I mentioned earlier, I’ve been playing spread betting for the past 5 years, and during that time, I’ve developed several strategies that have helped me win my bets. Here are some of my handicap betting winning strategies:

• Research: Check out each team’s form first. Check out their last 5 games, the number of goals they scored, and the number of goals they conceded.
• Available players: Also check the list of players who are injured or suspended, as it may affect the match result. For example, if you want to place a handicap bet on France, check whether Mbappe, Olise, and Dembele will be available for the match, as their absence may affect the number of goals scored.
• Place value bets: Don’t just focus on betting on the favourites; check out the underdogs with favourable handicaps.
• Set a betting budget: Set a fixed amount for betting in a month and ensure you never exceed your budget.

Handicap Betting: Final words

I find handicap betting interesting because it levels the playing field and makes betting more engaging. I also find it highly profitable because most of my sports betting winnings have come from using it and Over/Under betting.

However, you should always bet responsibly. Before placing handicap bets, ensure you conduct enough research and place bets with money you can afford to lose.

Handicap Meaning in Betting: More Questions Answered