Guides · Handicaps
Spread betting: handicaps, Asian lines and how they settle
Spread betting gives one side a head start so that both sides are priced close to even. In the US it means point spreads; in football it usually means Asian handicaps; in cricket it can be a runs handicap.
Below we settle the common lines step by step, including half and quarter handicaps.
- Even-money handicap
- 1.91 = 52.4%
- Line −0.5
- Must win no draw
- Line 0
- Draw refunds draw no bet
- Line −0.25
- Split stake half on 0, half on −0.5
Short answer
How does a handicap bet work?
Add the handicap to your side's score, then compare. If the result still favours your side, you win; on a whole-number line a tie refunds the stake.
Worked examples
Settling handicap bets
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Asian handicap −1.5
Your team must win by two goals or more. A one-goal win loses the bet.
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Asian handicap −1
Win by two: bet wins. Win by one: stake refunded. Draw or loss: bet loses.
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Quarter line −0.75
Half the stake on −0.5, half on −1. A one-goal win: the −0.5 half wins, the −1 half is refunded.
-
Cricket runs handicap
With −20.5 runs, the side must win by 21 runs or more when batting first.
Glossary
Glossary
- Handicap
- A head start of runs, goals or points given to one side. So what: it turns an uneven match into a close-to-even price.
- Line
- The price and condition a bookmaker sets for a market, such as a handicap or a total. So what: the same line can be priced differently at different bookmakers.
- Draw no bet
- The stake is returned if the match is drawn. So what: useful in Test cricket and football, where a draw is possible.
- Over/under
- A bet on whether a total, such as runs, ends above or below a line. So what: you bet on the number, not on who wins.
- Margin
- The share of all stakes a bookmaker keeps on average, built into the odds. So what: a lower margin means more of your stake comes back over time.
FAQ
What is spread betting in sports?
A bet where one side gets a handicap. You win if your side covers it: the favourite must win by more than the spread, or the underdog must lose by less.
What is an Asian handicap?
A football handicap in half or quarter goals that removes the draw. A −0.5 line means the team must win.
How does a quarter line settle?
Half the stake goes on each neighbouring line. On −0.25, half is on 0 and half on −0.5: a draw refunds half and loses half.
Is financial spread betting the same?
No. In the UK the term also means a leveraged product where wins and losses grow with the margin of the result. This guide covers fixed-odds handicaps only.
Is online betting legal in Bangladesh?
No. The Gambling Prevention Act 2026, passed on 1 July 2026, replaced the Public Gambling Act 1867 and makes online gambling and online betting offences, with prison terms of up to five and seven years respectively, or fines, or both. A bookmaker's foreign licence does not change this. See our responsible gambling page.