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What Does European Handicap +1/-1 Mean?
One of the most popular ways of betting on sports is to utilise the variety of Handicap markets available. On occasion, a Handicap bet can provide greater value than many other markets, including the Match Result market.
In general terms, the Handicap market is split into two different types - the European Handicap and the Asian Handicap. We’ll look at both in this guide and look at the differences between the two variations.
We’ll take an in-depth look at the European Handicap market and what EH +1/-1 actually means in betting. We’ll also use a few different examples to explain in full how this market works and why it can be beneficial to understand it.
Asian Handicap Calculator -1
Asian Handicap Calculator +1
What is Handicap Betting in Sports?
Before we examine what a European Handicap (EH) +1/-1 bet is, let’s look at what Handicap betting means. Handicap betting gives a team or player a hypothetical advantage or disadvantage, which can lengthen the odds and provide better value.
The European Handicap market allows for the draw to occour whereas, generally, the Asian Handicap (AH) market does not (for clarity, the Handicap 0 AH market can return your stake in the event of a draw, though this market isn’t as commonly used as other similar markets, such as Draw No Bet).
Almost every betting site you’ll find will offer both AH and EH markets on a variety of sports.
Another difference between the European and Asian Handicap markets is that the former uses whole numbers, like +1, +2 and so on, with the latter using whole numbers and also half and sometimes quarter numbers (+1.5, +1.75). The half and quarter numbers in AH betting eliminate the possibility of the draw, in betting terms.
One of the major reasons why Handicap betting is so popular is that it can provide better value than many other markets, such as the Match Winner market. It can also help even up the sides or players that are featuring in the event you’re betting on. The Handicap market is especially useful when you’re betting on an event where one team or player are heavy favourites.
Let’s use a couple of examples to explain what we mean in more detail. Tottenham Hotspur are playing Eintracht Frankfurt in the UEFA Europa League. The odds on Spurs to win are 1.78, the Frankfurt win is priced at 4.10 and the draw is at 3.75. If we want to bet on the home win, the odds aren’t particularly attractive. To increase the odds, we could look at the Handicap market instead.
Let’s give Eintracht Frankfurt a hypothetical edge. For this, we’ll use the European Handicap +3/-3. So, we’re going to give Spurs a -3 deficit, and Frankfurt a three goal advantage. In other words, Spurs are starting the game -3-0, essentially three goals behind. In turn, the odds have changed. Spurs are now 12.0 to win the game. If we bet on Spurs to win using this market, we need them to win by four goals. If Spurs were to win the match 3-0, this just takes our hypothetical score to 0-0.
Equally, we might bet on Frankfurt +3. This means they start with a hypothetical three goal advantage. Our bet will win, as long as Frankfurt don’t lose the actual game by more than three goals.
We’d like to point out, using the +3/-3 Handicap should only really be considered if you’re expecting one side to completely trounce their opponents. Winning by such a margin, especially in a high profile European football competition, is a rarity.
Let’s look at another sport. Los Angeles Lakers are playing Orlando Magic in the NBA. If we expect the Lakers to win the match comfortably, we might look at the Handicap market. For our example, we’ll give the Lakers a -8 hypothetical disadvantage. For our bet to win, we would need the Lakers to win by nine points or more.
What Does European Handicap +1/-1 mean?
We’ve looked at some alternative European Handicap bets above. Now, let’s consider the +1/-1 market. We’ll return to our Tottenham Hotspur v Eintracht Frankfurt example from earlier.
Now, we think Spurs will win the game, but the odds of 1.78 don’t particularly attract us. An alternative bet is the European Handicap +1/-1 market. If we give Spurs a hypothetical 1 goal disadvantage, this increases the odds on their victory to 3.0, much more palatable.
Of course, this bet provides greater risk, but not as much risk as other Handicap alternatives. For our bet to be successful, we’ll need Tottenham to win by two goals or more - one goal would make the game, for betting purposes at least, 0-0, so two are required for a successful bet.
Let’s give Frankfurt a +1 advantage. This means they are, in hypothetical terms, starting the match one goal up. So, for this bet to win, we’d need Frankfurt to win or draw. If Frankfurt lose then we lose our bet.
What sports is the European Handicap market useful for?
The European Handicap market is available on a number of different sports. There are different uses for this market, depending on the level of advantage or disadvantage you’re giving to a particular team or player. For instance, if a handball team are heavy favourites to win the match in the Match Result market, therefore having very short odds on the win, giving them a Set disadvantage can increase the odds by quite a bit.
We’ve used football for most of our examples in this guide, but the +1/-1 can be useful in many different sports.
Where to bet on European Handicaps
As we’ve touched upon, European Handicap bets are widely available at a plethora of online bookmakers. When you’re looking for a new betting site, and you’re interested in this market, make sure your choice has plenty of Handicap options for you to add value to your bets.
There are other considerations, too. The best sites tend to offer a myriad of markets on a variety of sports, along with live betting options. In addition, the best sites offer plenty of promotions, for both new and existing customers, a user-friendly desktop and mobile site as well as a range of deposit and withdrawal options.
Our top betting sites are listed in the table below, along with details of their current new customer offers.
| Betting Site | Welcome Offer |
|---|---|
 | 100% Deposit Match |
 | 100% Deposit Match |
 | 100% Deposit Match |
 | 100% Deposit Match |
 | 100% Deposit Match |
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This market is available on many different sports. It’s often used for football betting, but you can find this market on many other sports and events, like basketball, volleyball and handball.
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The European Handicap market can be easier to understand than its Asian Handicap counterpart. The latter is slightly more advanced, due to the usage of half and quarter numbers. Understanding how both markets work can be beneficial for your betting, though, as they can help you find greater value than a standard Match Winner bet.
