What is an Asian Handicap in soccer betting?

An Asian Handicap is a type of handicap bet commonly used in soccer. It differs from a standard handicap because it always refers to the current score at the time the bet is placed.

• If you bet Team A -0.5 when the score is 1–0, Team A must score at least one more goal to win your bet.
• Conversely, a bet on Team B +0.5 would win if the match ends 1–0, since Team B “gains” the half-goal advantage.

Quarter Goals (Asian Handicap and Asian Total)

A quarter goal splits your stake between two handicap or total lines.

Example: Betting $100 on Team A -1.25 is treated as $50 on -1.0 and $50 on -1.5.

• If Team A wins by 2 or more goals, the full bet wins.
• If Team A wins by exactly 1 goal, the -1.0 portion is a push (stake refunded) and -1.5 is a loss, so you win half your stake.

This works similarly for Over/Under totals using quarter goals (e.g., under 3.25 goals).

Live (In-Play) Asian Handicaps

For bets placed during a match, the Asian Handicap only applies to what happens after your bet is placed. Any goals or corners scored before your bet are ignored. 

This means your bet reflects the team’s performance for the remainder of the match.

Asian Handicaps are sometimes called 2-way Handicaps in our Betting Rules and Bets Offered pages. For full details, including rules, examples, and payouts, please see these pages.