The Asian handicap system was developed to address the uneven betting situation in football. First introduced in football betting in Indonesia in the late 1990s, the system became popular across the globe, especially in Asia and Europe. The system was designed to resolve the issue concerning draws in football betting. Before a match, the system gives one of the opposing teams a virtual goal advantage or disadvantage to ensure that the bettor has a win/loss scenario, eliminating draws.
The system leverages the fact that most football matches have final scores that are close, such as 1-0 or 2-1. The widespread popularity of the system is due to the flexibility that it offers in betting. Bettors can choose whole, half, and quarter goal handicaps on a match, which makes it a more competitive betting option. This has contributed to the popularity of the system in competitive betting markets.
Asian Handicap Explained
Before a match starts, scores for the Asian handicap betting system are adjusted with an imaginary gain or loss set for each team. The gain or loss set, or the handicap, can be in goals or parts of goals. For example, in sports betting, a stronger team given a -1 handicap needs to win by two goals for the bet to be successful. The system can be different from fixed betting odds due to dividing the principal amounts among different outcomes in a multiple-case scenario.
Most of the time, sports betting odds are set in whole numbers, like -1 or +2, or in parts like -0.5 or +1.75. For a given -0.5 handicap, the favored team must win with no possibility of a draw. The whole number like -1 handicap can cause a tie or push. In this case, the bettors get their stake back if the adjusted score is equal. This type of structure helps in closely contested matches as it helps in getting back part of the stake.
Asian Handicap Betting Explained
The Asian handicap consists of different types of bets, each varying in rules. Here are the most popular:
- Level Ball (0): No handicap is applied; the wager wins if the selected team wins, and in the case of a draw, the stake is refunded.
- Half Goal (±0.5, ±1.5): The wager is decided if the team wins or loses with the half-goal handicap.
- Whole Goal (±1, ±2): A draw (push) is given if the final score, after the handicap is applied, is a draw.
- Quarter Goal (±0.25, ±0.75): The stake is split between two adjoining goals.
The different types of Asian handicap bets available let the bettor decide how much risk they want to take and how they see the match going.
Calculating Bets Based on the Handicap System
To explain the payout calculation best, we can use an example for understanding. For example, let’s say Team A has a -0.5 handicap. Look at the table for the possible outcomes.
| Score | Adjusted Score | Bet Outcome |
| Team A 2, Team B 1 | Team A 1.5 – Team B 1 | Win |
| Team A 1, Team B 1 | Team A 0.5 – Team B 1 | Lose |
| Team A 0, Team B 1 | Team A -0.5 – Team B 1 | Lose |
When Team A wins the match 2-1, the adjusted score shows a winning bet (1.5-1) to Team A. The bet loses if it is a draw or if Team B wins. For higher whole-goal handicaps, a push occurs when the adjusted score equals. For example, if Team A has a -1 handicap and the match score is 1-0, the adjusted score will equal 0-0, and the stake is returned.
Popularity and Usage in Mongolia
Mongolia has seen a rise in the popularity of football. Because of this, the Asian handicap is becoming increasingly popular among bettors. Local bookmakers offer this system because of its flexibility and lower risks compared to traditional betting.
Mongolian bettors appreciate the system’s split-stake bets and tend to deeply analyze bets before placing them, especially in international leagues, the English Premier League, and the AFC Champions League. During major tournaments, advertising of the Asian handicap betting system is common in Ulaanbaatar, which shows its popularity.
Strategic Considerations
Using the Asian handicap system requires an analysis of a betting event’s various parameters, such as team form, injuries, and historical performances. This betting system also enables one to predict accurately the chances of skipping a point spread. For instance, an underdog team with a +1.5 handicap could be a good bet if the team has a solid defensive history.
On the other hand, betting on a favorite with a -1 handicap means that they must be confident that the favorite will win, and win big! Bettors of this system will often take measures such as goal difference trends to make their predictions.
The Challenges and Limitations
When it comes to the Asian handicap system, it truly is innovative, but it will have its limitations and challenges. For new bettors, the four-quarter system can be really complicated. Also, odds can change very quickly, and Asian handicap bettors need to be updated on the most relevant information.
For someone in Mongolia, the lack of real-time information and sophisticated analytics to take advantage of the system can be a big limitation. But even with those challenges, the system will continue to be one of the most useful options for users who are looking for strategic and organized betting.