Match winner and handicap are two different terms that you might frequently hear in the betting communities. So, this brings us the question, what are their differences and which is better for you?
In this article, we'll be looking at the details of these two common betting terms that you can find in online sports betting companies.
Both are great options for sports betting, where one works better in specific scenarios where the only thing you need to think about is choosing the winning team. Let's look at the details of these two betting types.
Which One is Riskier?
Both handicap and match-winner have an equal amount of risk. Both betting types require an initial investment (your bet) and they have a winning chance outlined by the given odds.
For a clear example, here is a match between two equal teams. Below are the betting odds for a match-winner market:
- Team Y: 1.91
- Team X: 1.91
You'll find that these odds are identical as the bookie believes that each team has an equal chance of winning.
Now, let's look at the same match, except it's a handicapped bet:
- Team Y (-0.5): 1.91
- Team X: (-0.5): 1.91
As you can see, there is no difference in odds for both markets. Therefore, both markets provide equal risk.
Indeed, when a game isn't even, you'll find that odds change for the match-winner bet. This is because one team is more likely to win than the other. This doesn't change the outlay and neither does the risk.
Vegas Odds for Handicaps and Point Spread
Before we continue, you need to know that Vegas odds are simply another term for odds. And the two betting types also present their odds in different ways and are termed a little different.
For a bet where you can earn $100 from a $50 bet, you can look at match winner bets in many odds formats. This includes decimal (2.00), American (+100) and fractional (2/1).
These odds have the same number of risks and there's no difference in what you need to do to make a bet. This is also applied to handicap odds.
Vegas odds' terms can apply for both match winner and handicap betting odds, so make sure to pick the right line when you place your bet.
Which Bet is Better for Parlays: Match Winner or Handicap?
Parlays or accumulators are excellent ways to fill in your bank balance. Indeed, there are bigger risks when you bet on many games at once, but a bigger risk can also offer bigger returns.
There are no bad options for the two betting types of match-winner and handicap bets for either one of these to throw in an accumulator. It's even possible to use one or more for both options.
Let's say that you're betting on football and looking to two-end parlay on the outcomes for the two matches. In one game, the match-winner seems, even though you're confident with your chosen team, to end up winning.
In the second game, you may think the team doesn't have the edge as they are still rebuilding due to a new coach or player. Then you can jump into a good handicap bet (for example, over +1.5).
This way, you don't need to make any changes for the betting types you want to place as you're putting them on accumulator bets.
However, some sportsbooks don't let you make parlay bets on two outcomes (match winner and handicap) for the same game, but if they provide a 'same game parlay,' it usually comes with significantly lower odds. But they will give you a different market where you can choose the result and margin of winnings within a single bet.
Best Places for Handicap and Match-Winner Betting
Bettors are spoiled with the number of sports betting options available online.
Betway is a great place to look for odds for the world's most-watched sports, including football. All these odds will be subject to handicap and match-winner opportunities with frequently updated odds.
Live betting odds are also available for handicap and match-winner options and you can take advantage of the fluctuation odds and make some money. Bet365 is the place to catch your favourite game complete with an excellent user interface to make your live betting experience easier for the best live betting opportunities.
Powerplay is also another reputable sportsbook. They offer great sign-up bonuses and provide variable handicap options so you can choose your own line instead of relying on the bookies to tell you how you should bet.
If you’re a stat geek or looking for some useful stats to make better decisions on these betting options for football, then look no further than APWin where you’ll find the latest football statistics and updates of the major leagues and players.
One important thing to note is that even though the Handicap can be equal to the Match Winner (represented by the -0.5 Handicap), a Handicap bet offers so many more options. You can bet on handicaps from -1.5, -1.25, -1, -0.75, -0.5, -0.25, 0, +0.25, +0.5, +0.75, +1, +1.25, +1.5 and so on. So, even though there is one Handicap equal to the Match Winner, there are numerous other options to bet on a Handicap, which is why the pro bettors always choose the Handicap option.
It's truly a paradise for bettors out there, and handicap and match-winner bets couldn't be more accessible for everyone. Keep in mind that these sportsbooks may not be available in your country and make sure that it is legal for your region to bet on sports.
