What is the European Handicap
in Sports Betting?
If you’ve been around the betting world for a while, you’ve probably come across the concept of handicap , and in particular, you’ve heard of the Asian handicap . However, there is another variant that’s much more common in Europe: the European handicap .
In this article, we’ll explain clearly what the European handicap is, how it differs from the Asian handicap, what risks it entails, and when it makes sense to use it. We’ll also look at how an automated strategy like BetOven ‘s can help you intelligently take advantage of or even avoid these types of markets.
What is the European Handicap?
The European Handicap is a type of betting that aims to balance the odds of a sporting event, especially when there is a clear favorite and a very weak team. To achieve this, a fictitious advantage (positive) or a fictitious disadvantage (negative) is assigned to one of the two teams before the match begins. This advantage or disadvantage is applied to the final score and determines whether a bet is a win, loss, or draw based on the modified result.
What differentiates the European handicap from the Asian handicap is the result structure:
While the Asian handicap is based on only two possible results (win or lose, no draw option), the European handicap maintains the three classic possibilities:
Team A wins with the handicap applied
Team B wins with the handicap applied
Tie with the applied handicap
This makes it a more rigid and, often, riskier type of bet.
Classic example of European Handicap
Let’s suppose that Barcelona vs Cádiz play .
The bookmaker offers the European Handicap market with the following options:
Barcelona -1
Tie (Hándicap -1)
Cádiz +1
What exactly do these options mean?
👉 Option 1: Barcelona -1
You’re subtracting one goal from Barcelona’s final score .
This means that, for your bet to win, Barça must win by at least two goals .
If Barcelona wins 2-0 → with the handicap it would be 1-0 → YOU WIN
If you win 1-0 → with the handicap it would be 0-0 → DRAW, but you lose your bet
If you tie or lose → with the handicap you would be worse → YOU LOSE
👉 Option 2: Draw with handicap -1
Here you’re betting that, once the handicap is applied , the match will end in a draw.
For this bet to win, Barcelona must win by exactly one goal.
If you win 1-0 → with the handicap it would be 0-0 → YOU WIN
If you win 2-0 → with the handicap it would be 1-0 → YOU LOSE
If you draw or lose → it is still a handicap defeat → YOU LOSE
👉 Option 3: Cadiz +1
Here you’re adding a goal to Cádiz’s score .
This means your bet will win if Cádiz loses by just one goal, draws, or wins .
If Cádiz loses 1-0 → with the handicap it would be 1-1 → DRAW → YOU WIN
If it ties 0-0 → with the handicap it would be 1-0 → YOU WIN
If win → you also WIN
But if you lose 2-0 → with the handicap it would be 2-1 → YOU LOSE
Why is it important to understand this?
The European handicap may seem attractive because it offers higher odds in unbalanced situations. For example, if a strong team is narrowly winning and you think they can score another goal, you could back them with a negative handicap to get a better payout.
However, it is a much more restrictive market than the Asian market , since it does not allow partial bet returns (as in Asian handicaps with quarter or half points) and you can lose even when your prediction was quite accurate.
Imagine betting on Barcelona with a -1 handicap, winning 1-0… and still losing . Even though the team you picked won, the European handicap doesn’t forgive you.
The European handicap is not suitable for impulsive or poorly managed strategies . It requires:
A very precise analysis of the match
Good capital management
And, above all, understand that it’s not enough to guess the winning team: you have to guess the exact goal difference with the handicap applied.
It’s a market that can be frustrating if not fully understood , especially for new bettors who think they’re “playing it safe” by picking a favorite… but don’t see the real impact of the handicap on the final score.
Differences between the European Handicap and the Asian Handicap
Feature | European Handicap | Asian Handicap |
Number of results | 3 (winner, tie, loser) | 2 (winner, loser) |
Money back | No | Yes (in some types like 0 or -1) |
Ideal for surebets | Less frequent | Very common |
Complexity | Easier to understand | Requires experience |
Risk | Greater (more possible outcomes) | Minor (fewer lossy paths) |
In short: The European handicap is easier for beginners to understand, but it’s less flexible and more risky than the Asian handicap. Especially if you’re looking to build a long-term strategy.
Does it make sense to use the European Handicap?
The reality is that it doesn’t always make sense to bet on European handicap markets . Why? Because you’re increasing the chances of losing your bet. Instead of working with a binary system (win or lose), as with the Asian handicap, you now introduce the tie option, which reduces your probability of success and complicates hedging.
👉 This makes it a less suitable market for automated strategies like surebets, as the “handicap draw” outcome cannot be hedged as efficiently.
Do you really want to miss out on the opportunities AI offers us today? Or would you rather pursue the same strategies used 50 years ago?
Let me tell you, you’d be wasting your time.
What should you do instead?
Many bettors make the mistake of jumping into markets like the European Handicap based on intuition or the famous FOMO (fear of missing out). They see high odds, a match that “seems easy,” and feel like they could be missing out on a gold mine. But what they don’t see is the mathematical reality behind it: a poorly informed strategy, lacking data or money management, is a perfect recipe for losing money over the long term.
🎯 You should never commit money you can’t afford to lose to a strategy you don’t even know is profitable. Betting uncontrolled, without understanding the real risk, just because it “looks good” or “sounds professional,” is the attitude of an amateur.
Professional gamblers do just the opposite: they coldly assess the true value of a bet, prioritize long-term profitability, and only make decisions that maximize available capital while minimizing risk.
The key? Designing a strategy that’s solid, repeatable, and based on logic, not impulses. A strategy that’s based on data, not hunches. And above all, a strategy that makes the most of the available tools to operate efficiently.
Automate the European Handicap with BetOven
It’s true that exploring complex markets like the European handicap can make you feel more technically inclined or sophisticated. You can spend hours analyzing matches, formulas, combinations, and so on, feeling like you’re on the verge of discovering a “holy grail” of betting.
But let’s be realistic:
Is it worth the hassle of strategies full of difficult-to-control variables when you have at your disposal an artificial intelligence that analyzes hundreds of events, detects real value opportunities, and executes bets in a matter of milliseconds?
Remember that the European handicap is not a strategy in itself, but rather a type of market. And while it can add a layer of complexity in some sports, it also offers interesting opportunities that often go unnoticed.
For example, in sports where there’s no possibility of a tie—such as tennis or basketball—this type of market may offer more favorable odds compared to more typical options such as match winner or totals. Furthermore, in highly liquid situations, as is the case with more popular markets, it’s harder to find pricing errors. But in markets where the European handicap applies, bookmakers sometimes make mistakes… and that’s where BetOven comes in.
💡 BetOven analyzes hundreds of events in real time, detects value bets and sure bets—including those in markets like the European handicap—and automatically executes bets when it detects valuable opportunities.
You don’t need to obsess over complex formulas or try to predict every variable. You can take advantage of these opportunities automatically, with pinpoint accuracy and statistical support .
🎯 If you’re looking for efficiency, results, and peace of mind, there’s no need to reinvent the wheel: automate your strategy and let AI work for you, even in markets where others don’t dare to venture.
In the following video, you can see how BetOven’s AI works and how you can try it for free to maximize your profits in sports betting:
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