Handicap Meaning in Betting: +1, -1 and Asian Handicap Explained
In betting, a handicap gives one team a head start or a deficit in goals before the match starts, and your bet is settled on the adjusted score. A team on -1 must win by two or more goals for your bet to win; a team on +1 wins your bet if it wins, draws, or (in some versions) loses by one. Handicaps make lopsided matches more even to bet on.
There are two main types at South African bookmakers: the three-way European handicap and the Asian handicap, which uses half and quarter goals to remove the draw. This guide explains both, with settlement tables for every common line, including quarter lines like -0.25 and -0.75.
Handicap meaning in betting
When a strong team plays a weak one, backing the favourite to win pays very little. A handicap changes the question from "who wins?" to "who wins once we adjust the score?". The bookmaker subtracts goals from the favourite (a minus handicap) or adds goals to the underdog (a plus handicap).
You then apply the handicap to the final score to see who "won". For example, backing Team A at -1 in a match that ends 2-0: subtract one goal from Team A to get an adjusted 1-0, so your bet wins. If the match ends 1-0, the adjusted score is 0-0.
What happens with that adjusted draw is the key difference between European and Asian handicap.
European handicap (three-way)
European handicap, often called "handicap" or "3-way handicap" on SA betting sites, keeps the draw as an outcome. With Team A at -1 you get three options: Team A (-1), Handicap Draw, and Team B (+1).
| Final score (A v B) | After the handicap | Team A -1 | Handicap draw | Team B +1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3-0 | A ahead by 2 | Wins | Loses | Loses |
| 2-1 | Level | Loses | Wins | Loses |
| 1-1 | B ahead by 1 | Loses | Loses | Wins |
| 0-1 | B ahead by 2 | Loses | Loses | Wins |
There is no refund in European handicap: one of the three always wins. That is why a one-goal win for the favourite settles as a "handicap draw".
Asian handicap explained
Asian handicap has only two sides, so the draw disappears. It uses three kinds of line:
- Half lines (-0.5, +1.5): the adjusted score can never be level, so there is always a winner and a loser.
- Whole lines (0, -1, +2): if the adjusted score is level, your stake is refunded (a push).
- Quarter lines (-0.25, -0.75, +0.25, +0.75): your stake is split in half across the two nearest lines.
Half and whole lines
| Your bet | Team wins by 2+ | Wins by 1 | Draw | Loses by 1 | Loses by 2+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| -0.5 | Win | Win | Lose | Lose | Lose |
| 0 (level) | Win | Win | Refund | Lose | Lose |
| -1 | Win | Refund | Lose | Lose | Lose |
| -1.5 | Win | Lose | Lose | Lose | Lose |
| +0.5 | Win | Win | Win | Lose | Lose |
| +1 | Win | Win | Win | Refund | Lose |
| +1.5 | Win | Win | Win | Win | Lose |
Notice that -0.5 is the same as backing the team to win, and a level (0) handicap is the same as draw no bet.
Quarter lines: -0.25, -0.75, +0.25 and +0.75
A quarter line splits your stake equally between the two lines either side of it. So -0.25 is half on 0 and half on -0.5; -0.75 is half on -0.5 and half on -1. Each half settles on its own, which is how you end up with a "half win" or "half loss".
| Your bet | Split into | Wins by 2+ | Wins by 1 | Draw | Loses by 1 | Loses by 2+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| -0.25 | 0 and -0.5 | Win | Win | Half lost, half refunded | Lose | Lose |
| -0.75 | -0.5 and -1 | Win | Half won, half refunded | Lose | Lose | Lose |
| +0.25 | 0 and +0.5 | Win | Win | Half won, half refunded | Lose | Lose |
| +0.75 | +0.5 and +1 | Win | Win | Win | Half lost, half refunded | Lose |
A worked quarter-line example
As an illustration, you stake R100 on Team A -0.75 at odds of 2.00, and Team A wins 1-0.
- The -0.5 half wins: R50 at 2.00 returns R100.
- The -1 half is a push: the R50 is refunded.
- Total back: R150 on a R100 stake.
Had Team A won 2-0, both halves would win in full. Had the match been drawn, both halves would lose.
European vs Asian handicap at a glance
| European handicap | Asian handicap | |
|---|---|---|
| Outcomes | Three (includes handicap draw) | Two |
| Lines | Whole goals (-1, +2) | Half, whole and quarter goals |
| Refunds | Never | On whole lines and half of quarter lines |
| Common label | "Handicap", "3-Way Handicap" | "Asian Handicap" |
Labels vary by bookmaker and can change, so check whether a market is two-way or three-way before you add it to your bet slip. The number of options listed is the easiest tell: three options means European.
Settlement rules to know
- 90 minutes only. Handicaps settle on the score after 90 minutes plus stoppage time. Extra time and penalties do not count unless stated.
- Pre-match vs live. A pre-match handicap uses the full final score. Some live Asian handicap markets count only goals scored after you placed the bet, so a 1-0 lead at the time is ignored. Read the market rules before betting in-play.
- Other sports and markets. The same idea applies to rugby points, cricket runs and even corners handicaps — see our corners betting guide.
- Bonus terms. A refunded or half-refunded bet may not count towards wagering. Check the minimum odds and settlement terms on our bonuses page.
Handicap markets are carried by most licensed SA bookmakers, including Betway and Hollywoodbets; compare them all on the comparison page.
FAQ
What does +1 handicap mean?
One goal is added to your team's score. In Asian handicap, +1 wins if your team wins or draws, and refunds if it loses by exactly one. In European handicap there is no refund — a one-goal defeat settles as the handicap draw.
What does -1 handicap mean?
One goal is taken off your team's score. Your team must win by two or more for a full win. A one-goal win is a refund on Asian -1 and a loss on European -1.
What is the difference between -0.25 and -0.5?
Both need your team to win for a full payout. On a draw, -0.5 loses everything, while -0.25 loses only half the stake and refunds the other half.
Is Asian handicap better than a normal match bet?
It is not better, just different. It can remove the draw or soften it, but the odds adjust to match, and the bookmaker's margin is still included.
More terms are in our betting terms glossary. Only bet if you are 18 or older, and only with money you can afford to lose. Free help is available from the NRGP on 0800 006 008 — see responsible gambling.
More on this topic: Betting basics.
About Mzansi Betting Sites. We are an independent comparison site. We are not owned by a bookmaker, we don't write reviews to order, and we have no connection to any operator with a similar name. Scores use six criteria with fixed weights — the full method is on how we rate.
Responsible gambling. 18+ only. Winners know when to stop. If betting stops being fun, use the limits and self-exclusion tools at your bookmaker or call the National Responsible Gambling Programme — free and confidential — on 0800 006 008. More on our responsible gambling page.
Affiliate disclosure. Some links on this site are affiliate links: if you open an account through one, we may earn a commission. It costs you nothing and never changes a score.