The term “handicap” originated in horse racing and was later adopted into sports betting. It is often mistakenly used to mean an advantage or a head start for one of the competing sides. In fact, the original meaning is the opposite — “impediment.” Horses considered clear favorites were given an added weight before the race, known as a handicap.
In sports betting, the term has been transferred almost literally. Before the start of a match, the bookmaker sets a virtual score different from 0:0. Taking this score into account, the bettor then places a wager on the main outcome — Home Win (1), Draw (X), or Away Win (2). Let’s take a closer look at what a European handicap means in sports betting, particularly in football.
Features of European handicap betting
To understand what a European handicap bet means, you need to see how it’s displayed in a bookmaker’s line. It’s also important to clearly distinguish between a handicap and a spread (or “fora”) in both European and Asian formats. Let’s look into these nuances in more detail.
How the European handicap is displayed in bookmaker lines
The market name may vary between bookmakers:
- European handicap;
- EH;
- handicap, etc.
Often this market is listed simply as “handicap” without the word “European,” especially on foreign, English-language sites. However, it’s easy to distinguish it from other markets by its format, such as “0:1 1”, “3:0 X”, or “2:0 2”.
That is, a virtual score is set before the match. Taking that score into account, the bettor predicts which team will win or whether the game will end in a draw.
In other words, the European handicap can be defined as follows:
It’s an analogue of the 1-X-2 market but with a pre-established advantage for one of the sides.
How a handicap differs from a spread (fora)
Beginners in betting often wonder what makes the European handicap (EH) different from the European spread. The distinction is clear when the spread is expressed in half-points (e.g., +1.5, +2.5, etc.), but what about when the spread uses whole numbers like ±1.0, ±2.0, ±3.0? Isn’t that the same as a European handicap?
The key difference is that a spread expressed in whole numbers allows for a refund.
For example, if you bet on F1 (+2.0) and the match ends 1:3, the bookmaker refunds your stake.
If you placed the same bet as EH (2:0 1), you would lose. Taking the handicap into account, the final score becomes 3:3. But since the bet was on a home win rather than a draw, the wager is settled as a loss.
Difference between European and Asian handicaps
Originally, the term “handicap” didn’t require any prefixes. But then, bookmakers introduced a new type of bet called the “Asian handicap.” The distinction between the two is fundamental.
The Asian handicap uses quarter values ending in .25 and .75. A selection in the line might look like AH1 (+1.25). Let’s explain what that means. If you place a 10 USD bet on this outcome, you are effectively placing two separate wagers:
- 5 USD on F1 (+1.0);
- 5 USD on F1 (+1.5).
The Asian handicap divides the total stake between two adjacent European spreads — one whole-number and one half-point.
Example of EH calculation
Let’s look at what the European handicap means in football using a specific example. Take an English Premier League match between Chelsea and Leicester City. The bookmaker offers odds of 2.33 on EH “0:1 1.” We place a 10 USD bet, and the possible outcomes are as follows:
- The home team wins by exactly one goal. With the pre-match handicap applied, the result is a draw. Since we bet on “1,” the wager loses and the stake is lost.
- The visitors win or draw. Considering the pre-set score in their favor, the bet on the home win also loses.
- Chelsea wins by two or more goals. The one-goal handicap is overcome, and the final adjusted score favors the home team. The bet wins, and the bookmaker pays out $10 × 2.33 = $23.30, for a net profit of $13.30.
What conclusion can we draw from this? It’s clear that when betting with a handicap on a team’s win, the wager works the same as a 1.5 spread. In our example, that would be F1 (-1.5). The bet only wins if Chelsea wins by at least two goals.
Interestingly, the odds for F1 (-1.5) in the same match were slightly lower — 2.24. This is a technical nuance in how bookmakers operate. For the bettor, however, it would have been more profitable to take the EH rather than the negative F1.
The difference from a 1.5 spread appears when betting on a draw using a handicap. In the same match, selecting EH “0:1 X” at odds of 3.70 would win only if the home team wins by exactly one goal. In some online bookmakers, this type of wager is phrased as “Home team to win by one goal.”
Pros and Cons
The main drawback is that many online bookmakers simply don’t offer this market. This makes sense since it largely duplicates other types of bets. However, the European handicap is a traditional form of betting, which is why foreign bookmakers continue to feature it in their lines.
There are no particular advantages to this market if it can be easily replaced by others. Moreover, Russian bettors are more accustomed to half-point spreads, which are placed at the top of the line and easy to find.
One small recommendation: if you usually bet on positive or negative half-point spreads, take a look at the EH section as well. Due to technical discrepancies, it’s sometimes possible to find slightly better odds there, as shown in our example.
