💡 How can I place an European Handicap bet?

There is no difference in the process of placing a Handicap bet compared to any other type. Just join or log into your betting site, find the match, add the bet, enter a stake, and submit.

💡 What is the difference between a European handicap and an Asian Handicap?

There are a few differences, the main to know about is probably that if after the handicap is applied it is now a draw then a European Handicap bet is settled as a loss but an Asian Handicap bet will return your stake.

💡 What is a -2 European Handicap bet

This is a bet where your team begins the game with the opposition in effect has a two goal head start. You team must win 3-0, or 4-1, etc, to actually win this bet.

What is a European Handicap +2 / -2 Bet?

Last update at 26 June, 2025⏲️ Reading time: 5 minutes

When you bet on a European Handicap market what you are doing is in effect giving one team a headstart before the game has begun. How many goals head start they get is represented by the number of the handicap. There are European Handicap bets and also Asian Handicap bets and they are pretty similar but there are some differences which it is important to know about.

A European Handicap of +2 is a pretty typical example of a European Handicap bet. It is basically just making the score 2:0 to one team as the game kicks off, and then they take it from there. Different bookmakers will call this market different things, some keeping it simple and using “European Handicap” as the heading but others could call it “TeamA +2” or “Handicap 1x2”, they are all the same thing.

Let us explain…

What does -2 European Handicap Mean?

The handicap -2 would be placed when one team is expected to win quite comfortably. It would be added to try to get the odds a lot closer to evens on either teams to win. A thing to note with European Handicaps is that there are three possible outcomes, your team wins by three goals and so beats the spread and you win, but if it matches (so is a draw after the handicap) or does not beat the spread then your bet loses. The possible outcomes of this bet are:

The team wins by 3 clear goals then the bet will win
The team wins by 2 goals this is now a loss
The team wins by 1 goal or draws or loses, this is a loss

Bet Type	Match result (pre handicap)	Bet result
-2 European Handicap	Win by 3+	Win
	Win by 2	Lose
	Win by 1	Lose
	Draw	Lose
	Loss	Lose

What does +2 European Handicap Mean?

This is the same as the -2 handicap but in reverse. It will be the number of goals that the underdog has (as far as this bet is concerned) at the start of the match, which will get the odds a lot more similar than they would otherwise be. This time the team can actually lose and you will still win, as long as they only lose by 1 goal. The possible outcomes of this bet are:

The team loses by 3 goals then the bet will lose.
The team loses by 2 goals then the bet will lose (it is now 2-2 so a draw not a win)
The team loses but only by one goal, draws or wins, then the bet wins.

Bet Type	Match result (pre handicap)	Bet result
+2 Asian Handicap	Win	Win
	Draw	Win
	Lose by 1	Win
	Lose by 2	Lose
	Lose by 3+	Lose

What does European Handicap Draw Mean?

The coefficient for the draw can be given as a negative or positive:

If Juventus wins by 2 goals, the draw wins
If Cagliari loses by 2, the draw wins
Any other outcome, the draw loses

Here’s an overview extracted from the European handicap chart:

Line	Win by 3 or more	Win by 2	Win by 1	Draw	Lose by 1	Lose by 2	Lose by 3 or more
EH (-2)	Win	Lose	Lose	Lose	Lose	Lose	Lose
EH (+2)	Win	Win	Win	Win	Win	Lose	Lose
EH Draw	Lose	Win	Lose	Loses	Lose	Win	Lose

Outcomes for a European handicap +/- 2 bet (With Examples)

To help get to grips with all that it might be better to show with a real example*.

In the Premier League game between Liverpool and Everton coming up with normal match odds Liverpool are 1.4 to win, Everton are 10, and the draw is 5. Liverpool are heavy favourites so the +2 handicap will even things up. The odds with this in place are:

Everton +2 @ 1.8
Liverpool -2 @ 4
Draw @ 4.5

So if we place a bet of 10 on each, let us look at what each bet returns for each applicable score:

Match Result	Everton +2 bet	Liverpool -2 bet	Draw
Any Everton win	+8	-10	-10
Any Draw	+8	-10	-10
Any 1 goal Liverpool win	+8	-10	-10
Any 2 goal Liverpool win	-10	-10	+35
Any 3 goal or more Liverpool win	10	+30	10

European Handicap Calculator +/-2

Currency settings: GBP

Selection

Select the team you believe will win the match. This choice is crucial for calculating potential winnings.

Home team Handicap

Adjust the selected team’s handicap to provide them with an advantage or disadvantage for betting purposes, which will influence how the match outcome is calculated in your bet.

Away team Handicap

Adjust the selected team’s handicap to provide them with an advantage or disadvantage for betting purposes, which will influence how the match outcome is calculated in your bet.

Odds

Used to determine the total return for every $1 bet, including the amount of money risked.

Stake

The amount of money risked or invested on a bet. Stake can also be called a wager.

GBP

Home Team Score

Away Team Score

Result

Payout

Profit

Where can I place European Handicap +/- 2 bets?

There are a lot of betting sites out there and more often than not they will be offering European Handicap bets to their customers. The ones that we recommend who not only have this type of Handicap betting but also good odds and great bonuses are in the table below. The data provided is the actual odds and the margin that they were offering on a UK Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Everton FC:

Liverpool - 2	Draw	Everton +2	Margin	Welcome Offer
3.65	4.2	1.75	8.35%	100% Deposit Match
3.66	4.2	1.72	9.27%	100% Deposit Match
3.56	4.05	1.75	9.92%	100% Deposit Match
3.56	4.05	1.75	9.92%	100% Deposit Match
3.56	4.05	1.75	9.92%	100% Deposit Match

European handicap betting conclusion

Handicaps can be a little more complicated than regular bets but it is absolutely nothing to be afraid of. They can be a useful tool to give you better odds on a team winning where you are certain that they will win by a lot. They have a time and place to be used, and learning the nuances now will stand you in good stead.

FAQ. Frequently Asked Questions

There is no difference in the process of placing a Handicap bet compared to any other type. Just join or log into your betting site, find the match, add the bet, enter a stake, and submit.
There are a few differences, the main to know about is probably that if after the handicap is applied it is now a draw then a European Handicap bet is settled as a loss but an Asian Handicap bet will return your stake.
This is a bet where your team begins the game with the opposition in effect has a two goal head start. You team must win 3-0, or 4-1, etc, to actually win this bet.

European Handicap