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European Handicap Betting Explained: EH Betting Guide and Tips Cover
23 Feb 2024

European Handicap Betting Explained: EH Betting Guide and Tips

by Oddspedia Experts
Reading time 4 min
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Sports betting requires two teams with the same capacity and level playing field. However, some teams have better players and formations, giving them a clear advantage over opponents. Bookmakers developed a system where the “weaker” team had a headstart, which the dominant team had to match up and surpass. The headstart is what the betting fraternity calls a handicap. European and Asian handicap bets are the most popular, each with its betting formula.
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Table of contents:
  1. How European Handicap Betting Works
  2. Types of European Handicap
  3. European Handicap Betting System - Tips and Tricks to Win
  4. Most popular sports for making bets with European Handicap
  5. Conclusion
  6. European Handicap Betting FAQ

How European Handicap Betting Works

European handicap betting is the classic 3-way bet (win-draw-lose). Of all the types of handicap bets available, European is the oldest, and all top bookmakers provide bettors with these types. It prioritises the weaker team, making it hard for the clear favourite to match up the advantage. The handicap bet raises the risk, improving the odds value. It becomes interesting to bet since the marginal take-home if the bet succeeds is significantly higher.

European Handicap prioritises the weaker team, making it hard for the clear favourite to match up the advantage.

The main difference between the European and Asian Handicap is the bet formation. European handicap derives its relevance from integers (in this case, goal difference). The system works with the outcome as it is, and that is why it accommodates draws. The final tally for every game decides the bet outcome: win, draw or loss. It works well with games that determine the outcome with countable scores, a good example being a football match.

Types of European Handicap

Handicap bets have various divisions based on the bet formation. The “Draw” option differentiates the European from Asian Handicap and is the other division on the list. There are 3 types of European handicaps, as listed below.

Handicap 1

A weaker team with a handicap advantage is the first illustration. The bookmaker gives the team a heads-up, which the stronger team must level up and surpass to get the maximum odds. Football markets offer the weaker team goals based on their strength compared to the stronger team. To win the bet, the stronger team must equal the goal advantage for a draw or outscore. Gamers widely use the 3 European handicap bets as they are easy to understand.

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vs.
No Icon
No:
Bet AGAINST Home team -1 Handicap

Handicap 2

A stronger team with the handicap disadvantage is handicap 2 betting. The stronger team starts with a negative score and levels up to 0 for a draw. For them to win, they must score more goals. The dominant team score sheet starts with a negative, and as they score, it levels up and surpasses the advantage.

Handicap 3

The draw is what differentiates European from Asian handicaps. It applies if the dominant team equals the advantage set. To get the draw handicap, the favourite team must win the game with the amount equalling the advantage. Any other outcome is a bet lost. It is the least used handicap bet since it has fewer options than the other 2.

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European Handicap Betting System - Tips and Tricks to Win

The European handicap system opens up a third twist in handicap betting, which increases risk. More risks would mean more winnings if you won a bet. A draw separates the European from the Asian handicap. However, it is the more profitable of the two since it has many 3 betting options.

  • First, before deciding which bet to stake, understand the game. The team’s recent form, their top scorer, and the head-to-head history between the teams make up the central analysis of the betting system.
  • Secondly, bet on the market with fewer possibilities of failure. The odds might not be attractive, but the probability of winning is relatively higher.
  • Lastly, bet on a market with direct integers or rely on integers for actions.

A good number of sports support European handicap bets. Football tops the chart since goals scored form basic integers used to quantify winnings. It also has other betting markets that can form handicap bets such as “which team scores first”, “Double chance”, and “2nd half win.”

Other games that fit the system are volleyball, tennis, rugby and basketball. All the games have a scoring system that differentiates one team from another. Markets that apply should have a direct link to the scores board.

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Conclusion

The European handicap gives more options when betting compared to other systems. It increases the betting odds, hence a better payout. However, gamers must understand how the game runs for easy game analysis.

Pros vs Cons
Thumb Up
Thumb Down
  • It applies to many markets on the sportsbook
  • The handicap increases the odds value, which improves winnings
  • If you understand the game, you can analyse and single out the most desired outcome. It improves the winning percentage
  • The more bets, the harder it is to win. A 3-way bet reduces the probability of winning
  • Expecting higher wins might tempt the gamer to invest more as stakes. European handicap bets do not guarantee winnings

European Handicap Betting FAQ

❔ What Does European Handicap Mean?

It is a gaming system that gives a weaker team a betting advantage to level up with the stronger one. European handicap bases its approach on a 3-way bet that includes a draw, besides the win-and-lose markets.

🏆 What Is the Difference Between Asian and European Handicap?

Asian handicap has a 2-way betting system, while the European handicap adopted the 3-way betting system. The “draw” market separates the two handicaps, which affects the odds value. The more, the merrier.

💶 What Does +1 Handicap Mean?

It denotes a positive handicap, often given to the weaker team in a match. The handicap gives the team a +1 advantage, which the stronger team must match up and surpass. It helps cancel out the outright favourite tag in a game.

💳 How Do You Win a Handicap Bet?

The dominant team in the match must outscore the handicap set by the bookie to win the game. If it is +1, the favourite team must score at least 2 goals/points to win the match.

🤔 Why Do Some Teams Have the (+) and (-) Sign Before Their Odds?

The positive sign is the head start given to the underdog team to level up the playing field. Clear favourites have the negative sign of how much they should gain to rule out the outright winner tag.

❔ Which sports offer European Handicap?

Sports that consider scores or points as a measure of success can adopt the European handicap system. Football tops the list of games that offer European handicap bets. Others include basketball, tennis, American football, rugby and basketball. They also apply to in-play besides pre-match betting.

🏆 Can a Game End with A Draw with European Handicap?

Yes. The 3-way betting system identifies a draw as an outcome, which gamers can bet on and win. It is the main difference that separates the European from other handicap systems.
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This article was written by our team of betting experts, any contributing references are noted below.
Last updated 23/02/2024
References
  1. What is handicap betting? (2021). Https://Help.Smarkets.Com. https://help.smarkets.com/hc/en-gb/articles/115001246792-What-is-handicap-betting-
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