<p>You may have heard or seen the terms: “handicap”, “handicapped market”, or “handicap betting” in the world of wagering.</p> <p>You may have also thought, what is handicap betting?</p> <p>Well, never fear; as part of our <a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/huddle/punter-iq">Punter IQ series</a>, we are here to clear up any confusion you might have surrounding handicap betting.</p> <p>Depending on location, handicap betting can often be referred to by a number of different names. These include spread betting, margin betting and line betting.</p> <p>So, without further ado, let’s dive into a breakdown of how handicap betting works.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>What Does A Handicap Mean In Betting?</h2> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Simply put, a handicap is when a bookie determines one team is better than another and “handicaps” the market accordingly.</p> <p>You may wonder how you can define handicap betting? Simply put this means they create a specific margin or line between two sides, say 16.5 points. You can then place a bet on the handicapped side to win the game by 17 or more points and still get a competitive price for the other team. Now that you understand what handicap means in betting you need to know how handicap betting works.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>How Does Handicap Betting Work?</h2> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Handicap betting has two main functions. Firstly, it allows punters to identify potentially unexpected upsets before they happen, and secondly, it allows bettors to back underdogs without having to risk too much money upfront - something which is ideal for novice and casual punters alike.</p> <p>It’s important to remember the handicap can change in the lead-up to a match, depending on multiple circumstances, such as injuries or last-minute changes.</p> <p>So, it’s good to keep up to date with these changes in order to make informed decisions with your wagers.</p> <p>Figuring out if your handicapped bet is a winner is simpler than it seems at first glance.</p> <p>Depending on which way you wagered, simply add or subtract the handicap or margin from your chosen team’s score, then compare this number against their opposition's score. If your team’s score is higher after you have added or subtracted the handicap, well done, you’re a winner.</p> <p>When handicap betting, you need to focus on two key elements: understanding how lines are determined and gaining an awareness of changing circumstances that could affect your markets prior to kick off.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Handicap Betting Explained</h2> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Before we sign off, let’s put handicap betting into practice and have a look at an example.</p> <p>Let’s take an <a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/huddle/nrl">NRL</a> match between the Penrith Panthers and the New Zealand Warriors. In the H2H market, Penrith are the favourites paying 1.31 compared to the Warriors at 3.50.</p> <p>The handicap placed on this market is 10.5 points, paying 1.90 on either side. Therefore, If you backed the handicap on the Warriors and they only lost to Penrith by a single try (six points), your wager would be successful, making handicap betting a straightforward affair.</p> <p>See, when explained, it’s not so scary after all. Ultimately handicap betting allows you to back an underdog at a reasonable price, and who doesn’t love an underdog?&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>What is a Handicap Betting Market?</h3> <p>A handicap betting market is where you can place any handicap bets. Most if not all matches covered by Sportsbet will include a handicap market.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>What is a 3 Way Handicap Bet?</h3> <p>A three way handicap bet is the same as a standard handicap bet except it allows for one more outcome, making three in total. Who doesn’t love adding in more chances opportunities.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>Does Handicap Betting Include Overtime?</h3> <p>Yep it certainly does. Handicap betting includes all time, the only factor that affects the outcome is the score line.&nbsp;</p>