Handicap betting adds a unique twist to sports wagering by leveling the playing field for teams or players of skill levels. The goal is to offer various betting choices and ensure all participants are matched fairly based on their skills. This article will discuss handicap betting, ways to make the most of it, and common mistakes to avoid.

What Is Handicap Betting and How Does it Work?

Handicap betting is a concept used in sports betting to level the playing field between two unevenly matched teams or players. This technique involves providing one side with an advantage or handicap by adjusting the number of goals/points allocated, influencing each side’s chances of winning. It’s a fun way to bet, but it’s not available with all betting platforms. Gambling expert Khadija Bilal says that bettors should seek out an app that provides several betting lines, including moneylines, point spreads, over/under bets, props, futures, round robins, teasers, same-game parlays, and traditional parlays for more ways to win. These, and handicap betting, are more exciting bets than simply picking the winning team or athlete. Thankfully, through many of the trusted apps listed on readwrite.com, bettors can place their handicap bets where bookmakers offer an advantage to the team and a disadvantage to the stronger team, as this way of betting is becoming more popular. Let’s say there is an NFL match between the Miami Dolphins and the New York Jets.

The Dolphins are favored to win and have a -7.5 point spread against the Jets, who have a +7.5 spread. For your bet to be successful, the Dolphins need to win by more than 7.5 points, whereas the Jets, on the other hand, would need to win the game or lose by more than 7.5 points.

Handicap betting aims to increase sports events’ competitiveness and entertainment value by providing varied odds beyond straightforward win, draw, or loss results.

Handicap Betting Variations

Handicap betting in sports can take on different forms, each providing a unique variation to standard betting:

Half-Number Handicaps

Half-number handicaps are a common type of handicap bet expressed in decimals, for example, -7.5 and +7.5. This particular format guarantees that there will always be a definitive outcome without the chance of a tie, making it easier for bettors to understand. 

Single Handicap Betting

Single handicap betting is a type of wager in which one team is given a virtual advantage over the other to make the odds more even. This entails allocating specific points/goals to one team, either given or received.   

For instance, in a Premier League match between Manchester United and Liverpool, Manchester United is predicted to win by the sportsbook. If Manchester United has a -1 handicap, they need to win by more than one goal for bets on them to be successful. 

If Liverpool has a +1 handicap, bets on them must win or lose by only one goal for them to be successful. If you wager on Manchester United with a -1 handicap and they win 2-0, your bet is a winner. However, if they win 1-0, your bet is unsuccessful. This form of betting offers chances to take advantage of forecasts while keeping the odds in check.

European Handicap Betting

European handicap betting entails adjusting the score by adding or subtracting goals/points to create equality between teams with different ability levels. This method is frequently used in football, rugby, basketball, and tennis to provide a fairer betting environment and improve the overall gambling experience. 

Asian Handicap Betting

Asian handicap betting has become popular globally. It removes the chances of a tie by offering fractional handicaps. For example, the Lakers are expected to win in an NBA match between the Los Angeles Lakers and Golden State Warriors. With an Asian Handicap line at Lakers -4.5, they must win by more than 4.5 points for bets on them to be successful.   

If you bet on the Warriors with a +4.5 handicap, they must win or lose by less than 4.5 points for the bet to be successful. This type of betting eliminates the possibility of a draw, which is why it is well-liked worldwide. 

No Draw Handicap Betting

No-draw handicap betting eliminates the possibility of a draw and centers on each team’s performance. This type of betting simplifies the process and provides clearer results than traditional handicap betting.

First-Goal Betting

First-goal betting focuses on predicting which team will score the first goal in a match. It differs from traditional handicap betting in that it does not consider the game’s final result but focuses exclusively on the initial goal. 

Top Strategies for Handicap Betting

If you have effective strategies in place, handicap betting can be exceptionally profitable:

Understand Different Handicap Markets

Get acquainted with different handicap betting options, such as mixed handicap wagers, Asian handicap wagers, and regular handicap wagers, to select the best option, depending on the game and teams. Also, I understand the odds and possible results of being successful in handicap betting.

Bet on Unequally Matched Teams

Focus on betting on matches with a noticeable gap in strength between the teams. Handicap bets can add excitement to these games by giving the less powerful team an advantage before the game starts.

Use Asian Handicap to Eliminate Draws

Asian handicap bets remove the possibility of a draw, enabling you to concentrate on forecasting outcomes between two options. This can streamline your betting choices and enhance your likelihood of winning.

Consider Value Handicaps

Look for betting opportunities in handicap markets where the odds are undervalued compared to their true worth. By choosing bets that offer greater potential rewards and minimal risks, you can increase your profits in handicap betting.

Common Mistakes in Handicap Betting

When participating in handicap betting, avoiding common mistakes affecting your chances of winning is essential. Here are some common mistakes that should be avoided:

Chasing Higher Odds

Resist the urge to seek out higher odds by choosing larger handicaps to potentially earn more money. This strategy could reduce your chances of winning because meeting the necessary conditions for the bet may become more difficult.

Betting Based on Missed Lines

Avoid focusing too heavily on missed opportunities or try to compensate for missed opportunities without fully understanding the consequences. Instead, evaluate the impact of the new opportunity and make well-informed choices based on its worth.

Overpaying and Making Minimal Bets

Overpaying for odds or placing small bets without considering value can negatively impact your success in handicap betting. Evaluating the value of odds and determining stake size strategically according to potential returns is crucial for profitability in this type of betting.

Like physical cricket matches, fantasy cricket has also taken over the hearts of cricket fans and is one of the top rated fantasy sports in today’s date. Playing cricket fantasy league online has become a daily routine for cricket lovers and many people or even earning money along with having fun. Fantasy cricket gained popularity during the Indian T20 league seasons and now has spiked competition amongst various fantasy cricket apps with different variations and advantages for the users.

Fantasy cricket is an online cricket league platform where players select the best of 11 players for their virtual teams. The user chooses a group of players from both the playing teams. The player’s win depends on how many runs a batsman scores or how many wickets does a player talk or how many runs does a field receive and various other factors.

While choosing players for your team and making the best team in order to win fantasy cricket, you must follow the points mentioned below –

• Analyze the weather and pitch report – the reason behind analyzing the weather, forecast and pitch report before choosing a player plays a significant role in deciding the actual playing 11 for both teams. Get an idea about the pitch behavior from the previous matches before selecting the players. As the basic understanding about the pitches is a paradise for bowlers and helps batsmen for scoring more. Runs.
• Compare players performance – Put your emotions aside while choosing your best 11 players. Most of the players make an error by selecting the players based on the reputation and not by reviewing their current performance. Do not repeat this mistake. Check the players past performances on the pitch before adding them to your team.
• Creating a team – after doing a good research on the weather, forecast and player performance comparison. It’s finally time for you to select players. Although it is advisable to follow your instance, while choosing a player, keeping these tips in mind will help you build a better team and win the fantasy cricket league.
• Don’t be greedy – once you are done with your team and start playing fantasy cricket online, it’s time for you to invest money. Take care of your investments as many people go with the flow and over invest in fantasy cricket which results in losing all of their money in the end. Hence, if you win a match, divide your amount in two parts and then move on with further investment. In this way, you can save and earn even more money by playing fantasy cricket online.
• Bonus points – lastly, fantasy cricket can flip you’re fed. In an instance, if you play the league intelligently. According to the fantasy cricket system, there are several rewards and advantages for the players. The awards would be given to each run, catch, wicket, stump and run out. So keep a track of players while you watch cricket, as it is very important. Hence, select players who perform consistently well and prove their worth in the team.

Cricket is an obsession for the Indians would be an understatement. People glued to their TV sets or in front of their mobile screens is a common sight whenever the Indian team is in action. Well, the craze is not just restricted to viewership as fantasy cricket games have revolutionized how fans are now interacting with the game. 

Fantasy cricket games are a platform where the users build their own virtual team of 11 cricket players for an upcoming fixture. Depending upon the result of the actual match and the performance of the individual players then determine the points scored by the players who are playing the games. Here the users who are making their dream fantasy team are in command of their destiny.

It was an alien thought a decade ago that you can build your own fantasy team online and compete with other cricket enthusiasts for cash prizes and rewards. However, in today’s reality, you cannot deny that fantasy games have reached far and wide across the country impacting how fans connect with their beloved game. 

Here’s how fantasy cricket has impacted the fan’s interaction with cricket

1. The Feeling of Ownership

Fans were only able to view the games and make their opinion based on the results. They would not get their say in team selection and the outcome of the game. Well, all of this changed with the outburst of fantasy cricket. Not only now the users were able to pick their preferred players but also were rewarded for the same if they managed to get their picks on points. Here they have absolute command over their fascination and ideas about the game. 

2. Bragging Rights on the Line 

It is not a cricket game if you see two individuals or a group debating on the selection of the players before and after the game. Often these discussions had no end results as no one knew the formula to find out who has a better understanding of the game. But the game is changed for good now all thanks to fantasy cricket game. Put your money where your mouth is now ever so relevant, one can easily judge their prediction and knowledge of the game with the points scored and leaderboard standings. So the debate is easily settled with fantasy cricket acting as a mediator between the fans. 

3. Competitive Spirits Are On A High 

Fantasy cricket games are sure fun to play but when it comes to reaching the top of the leaderboard you will be up against the absolute best. Many cricket enthusiasts have turned full-time fantasy players as the rewards to reap are huge and therefore the competitive nature of the game notches up. This in turn makes the game rather more interesting with players getting into the different strategical approaches and planning which does add strength to their team.

4. Fans Have Now Found an Avenue to Make Real Money through Gaming

If the thrill of gaming was not enough incentive for the fans to play fantasy cricket games, the prospect of making real money has surely gotten them intrigued. The process for the same is an easy one, the users build their dream team based on their knowledge and research, and then the winning amount is distributed amongst the players depending on their scores. The lucrative cash tournament and the T20 franchise leagues have further fueled the involvement of users being attracted to the cash games. 

Conclusion

Cricket was just a sport back in the day but now this has become more than just a passion, for some, it is a means of making money, for some it is the perfect platform to express their opinions about the game, and there are those also who just love the game for what it is. Fantasy cricket games, fair to say have added the flavours of true cricket entertainment and link that were missing for a long time.