Asian handicap is a handicap that removes the draw, leaving a clean two-way bet on whether your team covers a line. It's the reason a heavy favourite can be backed at close to even money, and the quarter lines are why a single goal can win you half a bet and refund the other half. The line types look fiddly at first, but each one follows a simple rule. This guide breaks down level, half, whole and quarter lines with worked examples.
What is Asian handicap betting?
Asian handicap is a form of handicap betting that removes the draw, turning football's three-way result into a two-way market. One team gets a virtual head start (a plus line) and the other a deficit (a minus line), and you back whichever side you think covers. Because there's no draw to dodge, the odds on each side sit close to even money, which is why it's the handicap of choice for serious football bettors. It's one of the core markets in our betting markets guide.
The favourite always carries the minus line and the underdog the plus line. Back the favourite and they must win by more than the handicap; back the underdog and they only need to stay within it. What sets Asian handicap apart from the European version is the half and quarter lines. They fine-tune the bet and decide exactly how a near miss settles.
The Asian handicap line types
Every Asian handicap is one of four line types, and the type tells you whether a refund or a part-settlement is possible. The table sums up how each handles the result.
| Line | Type | What happens on the key result |
|---|---|---|
| 0 | Level (level ball) | A draw voids the bet and refunds the stake (same as draw no bet) |
| -0.5 / +0.5 | Half line | No push: a clean win or loss, the draw cannot save a -0.5 bet |
| -1.0 / +1.0 | Whole line | Push: an exact one-goal margin refunds the stake |
| -0.25 / -0.75 | Quarter line | Stake splits across two lines for half-win and half-loss results |
So a -0.5 favourite simply has to win. A -1.0 favourite needs a two-goal margin, with a refund if they win by exactly one. The plus lines mirror this for the underdog: +0.5 covers a win or draw, and +1.0 covers a win, draw, or a one-goal defeat (which pushes).
How do quarter lines work?
Quarter lines, the .25 and .75 prices, are the part that confuses beginners. Your stake is split equally across the two nearest lines, so the bet can half-win or half-lose instead of landing all or nothing. A -0.75 bet is half your stake on -0.5 and half on -1.0; a -0.25 bet is half on 0 (level) and half on -0.5.
| Team backed at -0.75 | Settlement |
|---|---|
| Wins by 2 or more | Full win (both halves win) |
| Wins by exactly 1 | Half win (-0.5 half wins; -1.0 half pushes and refunds) |
| Draws or loses | Full loss |
The plus quarter lines work the same way in reverse. A +0.25 underdog is half on level (0) and half on +0.5, so a draw is a half win: the level half refunds and the +0.5 half wins. Only .25 and .75 lines produce these split results; level and half lines never do, and whole lines push instead.
Asian Handicap 0 and draw no bet
Asian Handicap 0, also written +0/-0 and called level ball, gives neither team a head start, so a draw voids the bet and refunds your stake. That makes it mechanically identical to draw no bet: you win if your team wins, get your money back on a draw, and lose only if your team loses.
The difference between the two is pricing, not settlement. Asian Handicap 0 is quoted on the Asian line alongside the other handicaps, which often carries a tighter margin than the standard draw no bet market, so the favourite can be a touch better priced there. If both are offered, it's worth comparing the two before you stake.
How are Asian handicaps settled?
Standard Asian handicaps settle on normal time only, 90 minutes plus stoppage. Extra time and penalty shootouts in a knockout do not count unless the market is explicitly labelled to include them, so a side that loses in extra time can still cover a +0.5 from the 90-minute result. This is the same full-time basis used across most football markets, including our over/under totals.
To settle any line, add the handicap to the final score and read the adjusted result, splitting the stake first if it's a quarter line. An abandoned match is normally voided and the stake refunded.
When should you use Asian handicaps?
Asian handicaps shine when the straight result offers poor value. A short-priced favourite becomes a fair bet at -1 or -1.5, and a competitive underdog can be backed at +0.5 or +1 to keep the margin close rather than win outright. The quarter lines let you tune the risk precisely, sitting between the all-or-nothing half line and the refund-prone whole line.
They're also offered in-play, where the line shifts goal by goal, and on goals as the Asian total (or Asian goal line), which applies the same quarter-line logic to over/under markets. Pick the line that matches your confidence: a half line for conviction, a quarter line to soften a near miss, a plus line when you only need the underdog to stay close.
FAQ
What does Asian Handicap 0 mean?
Asian Handicap 0, also called level ball, gives neither team a head start. If the match is drawn, the bet is void and your stake is refunded, so it settles exactly like draw no bet. You win if your team wins and lose only if it loses.
What do .25, .5 and .75 mean in Asian handicap?
Half lines like .5 give a clean win or loss with no push. Whole lines like 1.0 can push and refund the stake on an exact-margin result. Quarter lines like .25 and .75 split your stake equally across the two nearest lines, which creates half-win and half-loss outcomes.
What is the difference between Asian Handicap -0.5 and draw no bet?
At -0.5 a team must win outright; a draw loses the whole bet. Draw no bet refunds your stake on a draw instead. They differ only on the draw: -0.5 treats it as a loss, while draw no bet (which equals Asian Handicap 0) treats it as a void.
What is a push in Asian handicap?
A push is when a whole-number line lands exactly on the result, so the bet is void and the stake refunded. For example, a team at -1.0 that wins by exactly one goal produces an adjusted draw, which pushes. Half and quarter lines handle the same margin differently.
What does Asian Handicap +1.5 mean?
A +1.5 handicap gives the team a 1.5-goal head start, so it covers if it wins, draws, or loses by exactly one goal. Because it is a half line, it can never push: the team either stays within 1.5 goals or it doesn't. It is a lower-risk way to back an underdog.
Does Asian handicap include extra time?
No. Standard Asian handicap markets settle on the result after 90 minutes plus stoppage time. Extra time and penalty shootouts in a knockout do not count unless the market is explicitly labelled to include them.
Compare Asian handicap odds
Asian lines and prices vary between bookmakers, and the level-ball and quarter-line markets reward shopping around. Our reviews compare odds, margins and markets.
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