What is Asian Handicap in Soccer? Asian Bets Explained.

Q: Half and quarter lines, how do they work?

In Asian Handicap betting, half lines (e.g., +0.5, -1.5) eliminate the possibility of a draw or push. For example, if you bet on a team at +0.5, you win the bet if that team either wins or draws the match. On the other hand, a -0.5 handicap means the team must win outright for your bet to pay. Since there’s no way to “tie” a bet involving a half goal, one side always wins and the other loses — making it a true two-outcome market. Quarter lines (e.g., +0.25, -0.75) split your stake across two adjacent half-handicaps. For instance, a +0.25 bet is divided equally between +0 and +0.5. If the match ends in a draw, the +0 portion is refunded while the +0.5 portion wins — giving you a half-win. Similarly, if you bet on a team at -0.75 and they win by exactly one goal, you get a half-win: one part of your stake wins (the -0.5) and the other (the -1) is refunded. Quarter lines are popular because they offer more nuanced outcomes and allow bettors to reduce risk in tightly matched games.

Soccer is one of the most popular sports to bet on globally — but for many bettors, the traditional win/draw/lose markets can feel limiting. That’s largely because soccer is a low-scoring sport, and draws are fairly common. In fact, more than 25% of professional matches end in a tie, which can make standard moneyline bets frustrating, especially when teams are evenly matched.

On the flip side, when there’s a clear favorite, the outcome can feel predictable — and unfortunately, so do the payouts. That’s where Asian handicap betting comes in. This system levels the playing field by removing the draw as a betting option and assigning a virtual advantage or disadvantage to each team. It’s a format designed to offer more balanced odds and reduce betting risk — especially for savvy punters looking to squeeze more value from tight matchups.

In this guide from MyTopSportsbooks, we’ll break down how the Asian handicap system works, why it’s so popular among experienced bettors, and how it can add more excitement and opportunity to your soccer betting strategy.

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What Is Asian Handicap Betting?

The Asian handicap market is an advanced betting format used for soccer and can feel a bit complex at first, especially for novice bettors learning how goal handicaps work. If you’re betting on teams like Liverpool, Manchester City, Arsenal, or Chelsea in Premier League matches — or even national sides like Argentina or Spain during the World Cup — the Asian handicap system can give you a real edge. Once you understand how it works, you’ll often see better payouts and more consistent profits by identifying which team should receive a goal advantage (a plus on the ledger) and which should have a goal deficit (a minus). It’s important to note that Asian handicapping isn’t just about soccer — it’s a method designed to level the playing field between any two unevenly matched teams.

Once you account for that imbalance by handicapping the underdog, probability becomes much more relevant. For example, look at the English FA Cup — a tournament where Premier League giants frequently face much smaller clubs. These mismatches sometimes result in shocking upsets, like last season’s stunning result where Liverpool were knocked out by second-tier Plymouth Argyle. In matches like this, the odds on a Liverpool win were very low because of how heavily favored they were.

Asian handicapping helps to balance these kinds of games by adjusting the scoreline through goal additions or subtractions after the final whistle. This approach aims to create near 50/50 betting outcomes. If your selected team performs within the handicap range you’ve chosen, you can win or at least recover your original stake. Soccer remains the most popular sport for Asian handicapping because it offers plenty of opportunities for these “easy covers.” As mentioned, about 25% of all soccer matches end in a draw — and with Asian handicaps, you’re not stuck with the standard win/draw/lose options, giving you more control and fewer frustrating outcomes.

How Does Asian Handicapping Work?

Sports often see two teams that are equals competing for wins, which makes for entertaining sports events and lots of action on a multitude of bets – think teasers, prop bets, parlays, over/under and Moneyline bets. But more often than not, games see teams that are vastly superior to an inferior opponent matchup. It happens in the NFL, the NBA, the NHL, MLB, soccer, and tennis, to name a few. The Asian system was created to stimulate action on the lopsided games through handicapping to give a sports bettor a chance at betting in the 1×2 betting model.

Full Lines, Whole Numbers

Let’s go back to the Premier League for our example of how full lines work with a hypothetical matchup between Tottenham and Burnley, due to take place on the first day of the 2025/26 season. Tottenham are heavy favorites for this fixture, since they are an established Premier League side who have recently bolstered their squad with Mohammed Kudus. Burnley, on the other hand, have just been promoted from the second tier. For this fixture, you could use the Asian handicapping system to bet Tottenham at -1 goal at 1.80. If the Lilywhites win by two goals, your payout would be assured. If they tie or lose, you’d lose your bet. If they win by a single goal, you’d get your original stake back.

How Do Half and Quarter Lines Work?

Half Lines

Half lines work like this, .5, 1.5, 2.5 and on and on for betting options on the Asian handicap lines. When you place a bet with a +0.5, it means the team you are betting on has a head start in the game with a half-goal advantage on the scoreboard in the football match. It is very similar to point-spread betting in the NFL when the underdog is a +7 – meaning they have a touchdown advantage betting on the underdog team. When placing a bet on +1.5, the team starts with a 1.5-goal advantage and better odds of a winning bet. Here is how you win that bet, the team selected wins outright or ties, or they lose by a goal – you are plus a half-goal here for the win. You can bet negative half lines, and the situation is reversed.

Quarter Lines

The handicap is just like it sounds, .25, .75, 1.25, 1.75, and so on and so on. If you bet quarter goal(-0.25)lines on football betting, you are saying the team you like will start down a quarter of a goal. To win your bet, your team must win outright; if they lose, so does your bet. If there is a tie you get your stake back. When betting -0.75 lines, your team is down three-quarters of a goal. Possible outcomes to win your bet, team A you are backing must win by two goals; you lose if the game is a tie or the team loses. A divided win comes when your team wins by one goal, you get your stake back on the front end of the bet, and you win on the back half.

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Asian Total Bets

This is a variation of over/under betting using positive and negative goals for totals. If you bet on full lines – say over 1 goal – you lose on a scoreless game and get your stake back on a single goal scored. If you bet under, you need a goalless draw to get your stake back, and you lose if two goals are scored.

Asian Half-Line Totals

There are only two true outcomes on a 0.5 bet – a win and a loss. If the game is a goalless draw, you lose; if one goal is scored, you win, and you bet under 0.5, it is reversed. On a 0.75 bet, you are wagering that two goals will be scored. If one goal is scored, you get half your money back, and if the game is goalless, you win your bet. If two or more goals are scored, you lose your bet.

What are the Best Sports for Asian Handicapping?

While Asian handicaps are most common in soccer, they are also offered for basketball and tennis. As of 2025, they are rarely offered in sports such as cricket or US football.

Asian Handicap FAQs

Find answers to common questions bettors like you have when researching which sportsbook to join.

How does an Asian handicap work?

An Asian Handicap is a type of betting market that originated in Asia and is now popular across the globe. It aims to eliminate the possibility of a draw, creating a two-way betting market.

In an Asian Handicap, a handicap is given to the underdog team to level the playing field and make the betting more attractive. For example, if Team A is the underdog, it may be given a handicap of +0.5 goals, which means that it will start the game with a half-goal lead.

If the game ends in a draw, the handicap is added to the final score to determine the outcome. So, if Team A wins the game 1-0, including the handicap, the final score is 1.5-0, and Team A wins. If the final score is 1-0 without the handicap, then the game is a draw.

Asian Handicaps can be used in a variety of sports, including soccer, basketball, and tennis. They are popular because they offer more options for betting and generally provide more attractive odds compared to traditional betting markets.

Overall, the Asian Handicap is a clever way to offer more betting opportunities, while also making the underdog more attractive to bet on.

Asian Handicap: What Do .25 and .75 Spreads Mean in Soccer Betting?

In Asian Handicap soccer betting, the.25 and.75 spreads are a way to level the playing field between two teams of different skill levels.

A.25 spread means that one team is given a quarter-goal advantage, while the other starts with a -0.25 disadvantage. This means that if you bet on the team with the.25 spread, they need to win by at least one goal for your bet to be successful. If the match ends in a draw, you will receive half your stake back.

A.75 spread means that one team starts with a three-quarters goal advantage, while the other team starts with a -0.75 disadvantage. This means that if you bet on the team with the.75 spread, they must win the match by two or more goals for your bet to be successful. If they win by one goal, you will receive half your stake back.

These spreads are often used in soccer betting to offer better odds for the underdog team and increase the potential payout for the bettor. As always, it’s important to do your research and understand the teams, their form, and any other factors that may influence the outcome of the match before placing your bet.

What is a half-win?

A half-win is a term occasionally used in sports betting, particularly in games that can end in a draw or tie. It refers to a situation where one team or player achieves a respectable outcome, without actually winning the tie.

For example, in soccer, if a team ties a game against a highly-ranked opponent, it could be described as a “half-win”. This is because they would have secured 1 point where they were expected to get none.

A half-win could also refer to a situation where a person only partially achieves their target, but they still gain some recognition or reward for their efforts.

What is a half-loss?

A “half-loss” is not a commonly used term in any particular industry or context. Generally, a loss is considered to be a negative outcome that results in a decrease in value or profitability. The term “half-loss” could potentially refer to a situation where only half of the expected loss actually occurred, which would be considered a relatively positive outcome. However, without further context or information, it is difficult to provide a more specific answer to this question.

What is an Asian goal line in soccer?

The Asian Goal Line, also known as the Asian Handicap, is a popular betting market in soccer. It was developed in Asia as a way to level the playing field and reduce the possibility of a draw. Essentially, it involves giving a handicap or head start to the underdog and a handicap or disadvantage to the favorite team. For example, if Team A is a strong favorite over Team B, the Asian Goal Line might be set at Team A -1, meaning the team needs to win by at least 2 goals for the bet to pay off. If you bet on Team B +1, however, you would win if Team B wins outright or loses by only 1 goal. The Asian Goal Line can be a complex market, but it can also offer better value and more exciting betting opportunities than traditional match odds.

What are the benefits of betting on Asian handicaps and totals?

There are several benefits to betting on Asian handicaps and totals. Here are a few of them:

1. Reduced risk: Asian handicaps aim to reduce the risk of betting by eliminating the possibility of a draw. This means you only have two possible outcomes to bet on, which can lead to a greater chance of winning.

2. More options: With Asian handicaps and totals, there are often more options available for you to bet on. This means you can choose to place bets with greater odds or lower risk depending on your preference.

3. Better value: Because Asian handicaps aim to balance the odds and reduce the risk of a draw, they often provide better value for bettors. This means you can potentially win more money from your bets.

4. More exciting: Betting on Asian handicaps and totals can make watching a game more exciting, as it allows you to follow a specific aspect of the match rather than just predicting the outcome.

Overall, betting on Asian handicaps and totals can provide a more strategic and rewarding betting experience for those looking to increase their chances of winning and maximize their profits.

Are asian handicaps common betting markets?

Yes, Asian handicaps are a common type of betting market in the sports betting world. It is particularly popular in football (soccer) betting and originated in Asia. The purpose of Asian handicap betting is to level the playing field when there is a clear favorite and underdog in a match. It eliminates the possibility of a draw, providing more options for bettors. Many bookmakers offer Asian handicaps, and it has become a popular type of betting market for sports bettors around the world.

Half and quarter lines, how do they work?

In Asian Handicap betting, half lines (e.g., +0.5, -1.5) eliminate the possibility of a draw or push. For example, if you bet on a team at +0.5, you win the bet if that team either wins or draws the match. On the other hand, a -0.5 handicap means the team must win outright for your bet to pay. Since there’s no way to “tie” a bet involving a half goal, one side always wins and the other loses — making it a true two-outcome market.

Quarter lines (e.g., +0.25, -0.75) split your stake across two adjacent half-handicaps. For instance, a +0.25 bet is divided equally between +0 and +0.5. If the match ends in a draw, the +0 portion is refunded while the +0.5 portion wins — giving you a half-win. Similarly, if you bet on a team at -0.75 and they win by exactly one goal, you get a half-win: one part of your stake wins (the -0.5) and the other (the -1) is refunded. Quarter lines are popular because they offer more nuanced outcomes and allow bettors to reduce risk in tightly matched games.

Do asian handicaps exist in other sports?

Yes, Asian handicaps also exist in other sports beyond just football/soccer. It is commonly seen in basketball, tennis, and other team sports. The concept of Asian handicaps, where a handicap is placed on a team to level the playing field, can be applied to various sports where there is a clear favorite and underdog. The Asian handicap system has become increasingly popular in the sports betting world and is now used in many sports across the globe.

Are asian handicaps profitable?

Asian handicaps can be profitable for bettors who understand the system and use it correctly. The key to profiting from Asian handicaps is to carefully evaluate the match and the handicap offered before placing a bet. It is also important to set a clear budget and stick to it, as with any form of gambling. Asian handicaps are popular because they offer a way to eliminate the possibility of a draw, which can increase the likelihood of a winning bet. However, it is important to note that like any form of gambling, there is always a risk involved and no guarantees of profit.