Handicap betting seems complicated only until you start thinking of it as a simple adjustment to the score.
You do not need to memorize dozens of rules. If the bet includes +1.5, add 1.5 to the selected team's result. If it includes -1.5, subtract 1.5. Then simply compare the adjusted scores.
The main rule of this entire article:
Add a "+" handicap, subtract a "-" handicap, then compare the two sides.
In this article, we will focus specifically on how standard handicaps work. If you need a broader guide to totals, Asian lines, European handicaps and overtime settlement rules, see our separate article: What Are Totals and Handicaps in Betting?.
What Is a Handicap in Simple Terms?
A handicap is a virtual adjustment to a team's or player's result that is used only to settle the bet.
Imagine a football match:
Team A 2:1 Team B
The real match ended 2:1. But if you bet on Team B with a +1.5 handicap, the bookmaker effectively adds 1.5 goals to Team B's score for settlement purposes:
1 + 1.5 = 2.5
The adjusted score becomes:
2 : 2.5
Team B is ahead after the handicap is applied, so the bet wins.
The team that wins the actual match and the team that wins after the handicap is applied do not necessarily have to be the same.
One Match — Five Different Bet Results
This is probably the easiest way to understand handicap betting.
Suppose the match again ends:
Team 1 — Team 2: 2:1
Now look at what happens with several different handicap bets on exactly the same match.
| Bet | Calculation | Adjusted score | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Team 1 (-0.5) | 2 - 0.5 | 1.5:1 | Win |
| Team 1 (-1) | 2 - 1 | 1:1 | Refund |
| Team 1 (-1.5) | 2 - 1.5 | 0.5:1 | Loss |
| Team 2 (+1) | 1 + 1 | 2:2 | Refund |
| Team 2 (+1.5) | 1 + 1.5 | 2:2.5 | Win |
This is why you cannot simply look at whether a team won or lost the match. The same final score of 2:1 can result in a win, refund or loss depending entirely on the handicap you selected.
What Do Team 1 and Team 2 Mean?
Bookmakers normally list the two participants in a specific order:
- Team 1 — the first team listed in the betting market;
- Team 2 — the second team listed.
Therefore:
- Team 1 (-1.5) — subtract 1.5 from Team 1's result;
- Team 2 (+1.5) — add 1.5 to Team 2's result;
- Team 1 (0) — a bet on Team 1 with a zero handicap.
"Team 1" and "Team 2" simply refer to the order in which the participants appear in the bookmaker's market.
How Does a +1.5 Handicap Work?
A positive handicap gives the selected side a virtual advantage.
In football, a Team 2 (+1.5) bet wins if Team 2:
- wins the match;
- draws;
- loses by exactly one goal.
The bet loses only if the team is beaten by two or more goals.
Score: 1:1
Team 2 (+1.5):
1 + 1.5 = 2.5
Adjusted score: 1:2.5.
Win.
Score: 2:1
Team 2 (+1.5):
1 + 1.5 = 2.5
Adjusted score: 2:2.5.
Win. The team lost the actual match but still covered the handicap.
Score: 3:1
Team 2 (+1.5):
1 + 1.5 = 2.5
Adjusted score: 3:2.5.
Loss.
How Does a -1.5 Handicap Work?
A negative handicap does the opposite: it reduces the selected team's result.
In football, for a Team 1 (-1.5) bet to win, Team 1 must win by at least two goals.
Score: 3:0
Subtract 1.5:
3 - 1.5 = 1.5
Adjusted score: 1.5:0.
Win.
Score: 3:1
After applying the handicap:
3 - 1.5 = 1.5
Adjusted score: 1.5:1.
Win.
Score: 2:1
After applying the handicap:
2 - 1.5 = 0.5
Adjusted score: 0.5:1.
Loss. The fact that the team won the match does not automatically mean that a negative handicap bet also wins.
What Is a 0 Handicap and Why Is It Used?
A zero handicap does not add or subtract anything from the score. Its purpose is different: a draw results in a refund.
For a Team 1 (0) bet:
| Match result | Team 1 (0) |
|---|---|
| Team 1 wins | Win |
| Draw | Refund |
| Team 1 loses | Loss |
Payout Example
You bet $1,000 on Team 1 (0) at odds of 1.75.
If the team wins:
$1,000 × 1.75 = $1,750
Your net profit is $750.
If the match ends in a draw, the bookmaker returns your $1,000 stake.
If the team loses, the bet loses.
0 Handicap and a Straight Win Are Not the Same Bet
At first glance, the two markets look similar: in both cases you want your chosen team to win. The difference is what happens if the match ends in a draw.
| Result | Team 1 to Win | Team 1 (0) |
|---|---|---|
| Win | Win | Win |
| Draw | Loss | Refund |
| Loss | Loss | Loss |
The protection against a draw comes at the cost of lower odds. This is why the odds on Team 1 (0) are usually lower than the odds on a straight Team 1 win.
Why -1 and -1.5 Are Completely Different Bets
This is where beginners make mistakes particularly often.
Suppose your chosen team wins 2:1.
Team 1 (-1)
2 - 1 = 1
After applying the handicap, the score becomes 1:1.
Refund.
Team 1 (-1.5)
2 - 1.5 = 0.5
The adjusted score becomes 0.5:1.
Loss.
Just half a goal in the handicap line completely changes the result of the bet.
What Is the Difference Between +1 and +1.5?
Again, take a match that ends 2:1 and suppose you bet on the losing second team.
Team 2 (+1):
1 + 1 = 2 → adjusted score 2:2 → refund
Team 2 (+1.5):
1 + 1.5 = 2.5 → adjusted score 2:2.5 → win
Whole-number handicap lines can result in a refund.
Half-point lines ending in .5 eliminate the possibility of a refund.
How Handicap Lines Affect the Odds
A bookmaker usually offers several handicap options for the same match. The easier it is for the selected team to meet the condition, the lower the odds will normally be.
Here is a simplified example for a favourite:
| Bet | What is required | Example odds |
|---|---|---|
| Team 1 (0) | Win; draw results in a refund | 1.35 |
| Team 1 (-0.5) | Any win | 1.55 |
| Team 1 (-1) | A 2+ goal margin is required for a full win | 1.85 |
| Team 1 (-1.5) | Win by at least 2 goals | 2.20 |
The odds in this table are purely illustrative and are used only to demonstrate the principle.
The harder the condition is to meet, the lower its implied probability and the higher the odds may be. We explain how to convert betting odds into percentages in detail in our article How to Convert Betting Odds into Probability.
How Handicaps Work in Different Sports
The basic principle stays the same. Only the unit being measured changes.
Football
Handicaps are normally expressed in goals.
- -1.5 → the team must win by at least two goals;
- +1.5 → the team can lose by no more than one goal;
- 0 → a draw results in a refund.
Basketball
Handicaps are measured in points.
For example:
Team 1 (-5.5)
means that the team must win by at least 6 points.
Score 110:104 — margin of 6 → the bet wins.
Score 110:105 — margin of 5 → the bet loses.
Ice Hockey
Handicaps are measured in goals.
For example, a -1.5 handicap requires the team to win by at least two goals.
Tennis
A handicap can be applied to games or sets.
If a player wins 12:7 in games and you backed that player with a -3.5 game handicap:
12 - 3.5 = 8.5
8.5 is greater than 7, so the bet wins.
In tennis, always check exactly what the market refers to. A game handicap and a set handicap are two different betting markets.
How to Calculate Any Standard Handicap in 10 Seconds
Step 1. Identify the team you selected.
Step 2. Check whether the handicap is positive or negative.
Step 3. Add a positive handicap or subtract a negative handicap.
Step 4. Do not compare the adjusted result with zero.
Step 5. Compare the new score with the opponent's score.
Quick Test
The match ends 4:2. Your bet is Team 2 (+2).
Calculate:
2 + 2 = 4
The adjusted score is:
4:4
Because this is a whole-number handicap and the adjusted score is tied, the bet is settled as a refund.
Three Common Handicap Betting Mistakes
Mistake 1. Looking Only at Who Won the Match
The team won 2:1, so a bet on that team must have won too, right?
Not necessarily.
- Team 1 to win — win;
- Team 1 (-0.5) — win;
- Team 1 (-1) — refund;
- Team 1 (-1.5) — loss.
Mistake 2. Comparing the Adjusted Result with Zero
With a score of 2:1 and Team 1 (-1.5), you cannot reason like this:
2 - 1.5 = 0.5; 0.5 is greater than zero → the bet wins.
That is incorrect.
You need to compare 0.5 with the opponent's score of 1:
0.5 : 1 → the bet loses.
Mistake 3. Ignoring the Difference Between Whole and Half Handicaps
-1 and -1.5 differ by just half a goal, but if the team wins 2:1, the two bets have completely different outcomes: a refund and a loss.
Quick Handicap Betting Cheat Sheet
| Handicap | What is required in football |
|---|---|
| +1.5 | Win, draw or lose by no more than 1 goal |
| +1 | Lose by exactly 1 goal → refund |
| 0 | Win → win; draw → refund |
| -1 | Win by 1 goal → refund; win by 2+ → win |
| -1.5 | Win by at least 2 goals |
How Are Handicaps and Odds Connected?
Choosing a handicap simply because it offers higher odds is a mistake. Higher odds usually mean that the condition is harder to meet.
For example, suppose a bookmaker offers the following lines on the same favourite:
- Team 1 (0) — 1.35;
- Team 1 (-1) — 1.85;
- Team 1 (-1.5) — 2.20.
This does not mean that -1.5 is automatically "better value." You first need to estimate the probability that the team will actually win by the required margin.
Bookmaker odds also already include a bookmaker margin, so it makes sense to compare not only different handicap lines but also the odds offered by different bookmakers.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does a +1.5 handicap mean?
1.5 goals, points or another scoring unit are added to the selected team's result. In football, the bet can still win even if the team loses by one goal.
What does a -1.5 handicap mean?
1.5 goals, points or another scoring unit are subtracted from the selected team's result. In football, the team must win by at least two goals for the bet to win.
What is a 0 handicap?
If the selected team wins, the bet wins. If the team loses, the bet loses. If the match ends in a draw, the stake is refunded.
Can a +1.5 or -1.5 handicap result in a refund?
No. A half-point handicap makes an adjusted draw impossible, so the bet can only win or lose.
Which is better: -1 or -1.5?
They are different betting conditions, so neither is always better. A -1 handicap gives you the protection of a refund if the team wins by exactly one goal, while -1.5 will normally offer higher odds.
Why did my team win but my handicap bet lose?
Because the bookmaker settles the bet after applying the selected handicap. For example, a 2:1 win does not cover a -1.5 handicap.
Conclusion
You do not need to memorize a long list of formulas to understand standard handicaps. Simply apply the handicap value to the selected side and compare the adjusted score with the opponent's result.
- +1.5 — the team can lose by one goal;
- -1.5 — the team must win by at least two;
- 0 — a draw results in a refund;
- +1 — losing by one goal results in a refund;
- -1 — winning by one goal results in a refund.
The most useful skill is not memorizing the outcome for every possible handicap. It is learning how to adjust the score yourself. Once you can do that, even an unfamiliar handicap line becomes easy to understand in a few seconds.
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