European Handicap Meaning
If you’re betting on football and come across odds like Team A -1 or Team B +2, that’s the European Handicap market.
It might look confusing at first, but it’s a powerful way to get better odds when there’s a clear favourite or underdog.
In the section below, we’ll explain exactly what European Handicap means, how it works, and when you should use it to get the most value from your football bets.
What Does European Handicap Mean?
Ever come across terms like 3-way handicap or 1X2 handicap while betting? That’s just another name for European Handicap. It’s similar to Asian Handicap, but with one major difference. Here, you also have the option to bet on a draw.
In European Handicap betting, the underdog is given a head start in goals to level the playing field. This makes things more interesting and gives you a better chance of finding value, especially if you think the favourite won’t win easily. Although we’re using football to explain how it works, you can apply the same concept in other sports too.
Let’s take a real example to make it clearer. Imagine a Premier League match between Arsenal and Chelsea. Arsenal are the favourites going into the match. In this case, Arsenal would be listed under Handicap 1 as the home team, and Chelsea would be listed under Handicap 2 as the away team.
European Handicap (0:1)
Handicap 1 (0:1): You'll win if Arsenal wins with two goals or more.
Handicap X (0:1): You'll win if Arsenal wins with one goal.
Handicap 2 (0:1): You'll win if the match ends in a draw or Chelsea wins.
European Handicap (0:2)
Handicap 1 (0:2): You'll win if Arsenal wins with three goals or more.
Handicap X (0:2): You'll win if Arsenal wins with two goals.
Handicap 2 (0:2): You'll win if Chelsea loses with less than two goals, draws, or wins.
European Handicap (0:3)
Handicap 1 (0:3): You'll win if Arsenal wins with four goals or more.
Handicap 2 (0:3): You'll win if Arsenal wins with three goals.
Handicap 3 (0:3): You'll win if Chelsea loses with less than three goals, draws, or wins.
European Handicap (0:4)
Handicap 1 (0:4): You'll win if Arsenal wins with five goals or more.
Handicap 2 (0:4): You'll win if Arsenal wins with four goals.
Handicap 3 (0:4): You'll win if Chelsea loses with less than four goals, draws, or win.
European Handicap (0:5)
Handicap 1 (0:5): You'll win if Arsenal wins with six goals or more.
Handicap 2 (0:5): You'll win if Arsenal wins with five goals.
Handicap 3 (0:5): You'll win if Chelsea loses with less than five goals, draw, or win.
How do European Handicaps Compare with Asian Handicaps?
European Handicap and Asian Handicap are two different styles of betting, and each has its purpose. If you're new to football betting or trying to choose between them, here's how they compare in plain language.
European Handicap gives you three options to bet on. You can bet on the home team to win with a goal disadvantage, the away team with a head start, or you can even bet on a draw after applying the handicap. It’s simple and ideal if you still want the draw as an outcome.
Asian Handicap works differently. It removes the draw option completely, so you are only betting on one team to win. Some bets offer full refunds if the match ends in a draw, depending on the line. It also includes more precise options like quarter goals and half goals, which give you better control but require a bit more understanding.
If you want easy-to-understand bets and don’t mind including the draw as an option, European Handicap is a better choice. If you prefer tighter betting margins and more ways to reduce your risk, Asian Handicap is the smarter pick.
Examples to Explain How Asian Handicaps Work
Let's take a look at a list of Asian Handicap bets to explain its concept further.
The above Asian Handicaps are for a match between Arsenal FC and Chelsea FC. Remember, the favourite gets a negative value, while the underdog gets a positive.
Arsenal FC (+0.5) vs Chelsea FC (-0.5)
The sportsbook sees Chelsea as the favourite to win. Your 1.15 odds stake will come through if Arsenal wins or draws the match. For the 5.40 odds, the payout only comes from Chelsea winning.
Arsenal FC (-0.5) vs Chelsea FC (+0.5)
The reverse of the above explanation applies here. Betting on the 1.44 odds will only be successful if Arsenal wins the game. For the +0.5 bet to win, Chelsea has to either win or draw.
Arsenal FC (-1.5) vs Chelsea FC (+1.5)
For the -1.5 bet, Arsenal has to win by two goals or more for it to result in a win. Staking on the 1.68 odds will turn into a win if Chelsea wins, draws, or loses by just one goal.
Differences that Exist Between European and Asian Handicaps
These two concepts are quite similar, but are even more different in a number of ways. Read more below.
Representations
European Handicap bets use ratio representations such as 0:1, 0:2, and 0:3. These bets can also have whole number representations on some sports betting sites. Let's look at a simple demonstration of a match between Leicester (1) and Southampton (2):
European Handicap 1 (-1) - 1.65: Leicester must win by two goals or more.
European Handicap X (-1) - 3.90: Leicester must win by one goal.
European Handicap 2 (+1) - 4.10: Southampton has to draw the match or win.
Given this explanation, Leicester is the favourite team to win, while Southampton are underdogs. On the other hand, Asian Handicaps use a combination of integers and decimals, including 0.5, -0.5, 1, and -1.
Outcomes
For European Handicaps, you've got three choices of outcomes - 1, X, and 2. It is very similar to 1X2 bets in this regard. For Asian Handicaps, there is no room for a third outcome in 'Draw.'
Explanations
It is easier to make sense of European Handicaps once you know the goal ratio. On the other hand, Asian Handicaps can get complicated. Hence, you must have access to your favoured sportsbook's Asian Handicaps line table. The reason is that some bookmakers may deviate from the general one.
European or Asian Handicap: Which One is Better?
If you are new to football betting, you will probably find European Handicap easier to understand. You can see how many goals are being added or taken away, and you still have the option to bet on a draw. It feels familiar, especially if you are used to the standard win-draw-win market.
If you are looking for more control and fewer risks, Asian Handicap gives you better flexibility. It removes the draw completely, gives you the chance to get your stake back in some outcomes, and lets you bet in smaller goal margins like quarter or half goals.
So, which one should you choose? That depends on how you like to bet. Go with European Handicap if you want something simple and easy to follow. Choose Asian Handicap if you want more betting options and tighter control over the outcome.
The Combination of European and Asian Handicaps
Combining both European and Asian handicap markets can be an effective strategy in Arbitrage betting. This strategy involves looking at more than one bookmaker and identifying disparities in the odds of different outcomes on the same event.
For this illustration, the European Handicap is now 'EH,' and the Asian Handicap will be 'AH.'
Let's consider the odds on three outcomes of Arsenal (1) vs Chelsea (2) from two different sportsbooks, 1 and 2. We'll be referencing 'Picture 1' for Sportsbook 1.
Sportsbook 1:
EH 1 (0:2): 3.75 (outcome 1).
Arsenal must win with three goals or more.
EH X (0:2): 4.40 (outcome 2).
Arsenal must win by two goals.
Sportsbook 2:
AH 2 (+1.5): 1.98 (outcome 3).
This Asian Handicap bet is the same as EH 2 (0:2) on Sportsbook 1.
On Sportsbook 1, EH 2 (0:2) has 1.65 odds. Thus, 1.98 odds on Sportsbook 2 show a discrepancy, thus creating an avenue for profit.
Chelsea has to win, draw, or lose by one goal, or Arsenal has to win by one goal, draw, or lose.
With these three selections, we have been able to cover all possible outcomes in this game.
Checking to See if the Combo Presents an Arbitrage Opportunity
There is a formula for ensuring this opportunity. Our calculation must result in a percentage below 100. The formula and calculation are as follows:
= ((1 / outcome 1 odds) x 100) + ((1 / outcome 2 odds) x 100) + ((1 / outcome 2 odds) x 100)
= ((1 /3.75) x 100) + ((1 / 4.40) x 100) + ((1 /1.98) x 100)
= 26.6 + 22.7 + 50.5
= 99.8%.
From our calculations, outcomes 1, 2, and 3 have arbitrage percentages of 26.6, 22.7, and 50.5. Altogether, the total is 99.8%, which is below 100%. Hence, we have an Arbitration opportunity.
Calculating Profits and Stakes for these European/Asian Handicap Odds
Now, let's assume our total bankroll is N5000. So, let's find our potential profit using the formula:
Profit = (Stake / Arbitrage %) – Investment
= (5000 / 99.8%) - 5000
= 5010 - 5000
Profit = N10.
Now, let us calculate the bet amount we must place on each of these outcomes to generate N10 profit using the formula:
Individual wagers (total stake x Individual Arbitrage% %) / Total Arbitrage% %.
Outcome 1 = (5000 x 26.6%) / 99.8% = N1333
Outcome 2 = (5000 x 22.7%) / 99.8% = N1137
Outcome 3 = (5000 x 50.5%) / 99.8% = N2530
By placing these exact wagers, you can always guarantee a profit of N10 if only one of these bet outcomes comes through.
Final Thoughts
In comparison to Asian Handicap, European Handicap gives more betting options. Also, European Handicaps raise odds values, thus creating avenues for improved winnings. Research the handicap history of the teams involved in your bet, and you might just pull off a win.
Wilson took his first steps into the iGaming industry in 2019. He started by crafting online casino reviews for affiliate sites targeting North American audiences. Since then he has created content iGaming content that has appeared on several blogs. Wilson's interests extend beyond iGaming. He has ventured into other sectors, writing articles on cryptocurrency, technology, and sports. Notably, he has developed a strong fascination with the sporting industry, particularly football (soccer), which now occupies a significant portion of his content creation. Wilson's true talent lies in making complex concepts understandable. He combines his deep knowledge of the Sports and iGaming industries with a knack for clear explanations. This winning combination results in informative and accessible content.