Originating in Indonesia, the term Asian Handicap was first decided upon by journalist Joe Saumarez Smith in November 1998 when he was asked to give a translation by Indonesian bookmaker Joe Phan to what was then called ‘hang cheng betting.’
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A Blast From the Past of Asian Handicap Betting
It’s fair to say not only the name but also this type of betting has since taken off, for it’s now a world-renowned market known by basically every serious sports bettor, with it being especially popular across Asia, America and Europe.
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A form of spread betting, by handicapping a particular team or player, either way, Asian Handicapping essentially levels the playing field between two opponents by giving one a head start and one a deficit.
A key upside to this style of wagering is that it eliminates the draw, as there has to be a winner. Typically the lines most frequently chosen are decimal numbers like -0.5, +0.5, -1.5, +1.5, -2.5 and +2.5. Although the possibility is there for you to choose whole numbers like a -1 or a +1, this is classified as a push (where you get your stake refunded) not a draw if your team loses or wins 1-0.
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There is also the opportunity for you to select a two-way handicap, which means half your stake is placed across two bets. For example, you could opt for the -0.5,-1.0, thus meaning you’d divide half of your stake into each one. This subsequently means if your team wins 2-1 you win half of the bet and the other gets refunded.
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The benefits of Asian Handicapping also transfers into accumulators, for the fact the draw is ostensibly removed as an outcome enhances your chances of winning.
Once you’ve grasped the concept of Asian Handicap betting, it can certainly be an extremely profitable option for you to explore. Now 21 years since officially being given its name, the market looks set to go from strength to strength in the future too, as its popularity continues to soar across the globe.
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