Handicap Betting Guide

Dive into our all-encompassing guide to handicap betting, where we demystify this intriguing form of wagering. Our seasoned analysts break down how handicap betting balances the scales and reveal various forms, such as football handicap betting. You'll also find examples from sports like rugby, AFL, and cricket to illustrate how it's done. After you've finished reading this, you'll have all the tools you need to make handicap bets with confidence at your preferred bookmaker. We're also eager to share three of our top recommendations. betting sites to get started at right now.

Through rigorous evaluation of numerous bookies available in Australia, considering factors like their market breadth, betting options, and enticing promotions, we've pinpointed three standout platforms for handicap betting in the region. banking methods TonyBet Sportsbook – Ideal for Soccer Enthusiasts

TonyBet offers a reliable platform for Australians, with a rich focus on European sports, providing vast choices in soccer, cricket, and tennis markets. The convenience of instant deposits through various banking options and the availability of mobile apps for both iOS and Android make it a compelling choice.

When registering at TonyBet, you unlock a 100% matching bonus on your first deposit up to $100. Don't miss out on their casino promotions if you're inclined towards spinning slots or playing table games.

TonyBet allows for diverse methods of both depositing and withdrawing funds, including using payz, Jeton, AstroPay, and Bitcoin. Deposits are instantaneous, while withdrawals are generally processed within 1-3 days.

For mobile bettors, TonyBet's app, downloadable from Google Play and Apple stores, is intuitive and far simpler to navigate than their desktop site, making it a must-have on your phone. Visa , Mastercard , Skrill , Neteller TonyBet covers a vast array of European sports markets, especially in soccer leagues. You can also place bets on basketball, tennis, golf, volleyball, and more, though the AFL offerings could be more expansive.

TonyBet offers a native mobile app Limited ongoing promotions for sportsbook users.

Primarily oriented towards European sports markets.

Pros 

• Excellent live betting options.
• Good selection of banking options.
• The app is available on iOS and Android.

Cons 

• Not the easiest site to navigate.
• William Hill – Perfect for Competitive Odds
• Being one of the industry's pioneers since 1934, William Hill comes with a formidable reputation and is duly regulated by the UK Gambling Commission. Their odds are impressively competitive, and the depth of their betting opportunities makes them a top pick for sports aficionados.

William Hill regularly updates its promotional offers, granting a welcome bonus of $30 in free bets upon new account creation and additional daily promos to bolster your balance.

Deposits at William Hill can be made through several avenues such as Visa, Mastercard, Neteller, Skrill, ecoPayz, and bank transfers. However, withdrawing funds could take nearly five days, which we found to be less than speedy. live betting Whether you're on a smartphone or tablet, placing bets is seamless with the William Hill mobile app, which works smoothly on both iOS and Android systems, ensuring a user-friendly experience.

The diversity of sports betting markets at William Hill is commendable, including rugby, footy, soccer, golf, tennis, and virtually every sport celebrated in Australia. Their live betting feature is equally remarkable, and they are known for consistently offering favorable odds.

A broad array of sports betting options to explore.

Backed by regulatory governance from the UK Gambling Commission.

The available promotions aren't as generous as some rival services.

Pros 

• We confidently vouch for 32Red because of its exceptional horse racing market coverage. If you're into racing, take advantage of their daily price boost promos for enhanced odds, and explore their wide array of other Aussie-favored sports.
• While many of 32Red's promotions cater to online casino enthusiasts, their daily horse racing price boosts ensure you get unmatched odds on premier races.
• Long-established brand.

Cons 

• Not the fastest payouts.
• Email support could be quicker.
• At 32Red, deposits and withdrawals can be made using debit cards and several e-wallets, but direct bank transfers aren't an option. Our test revealed most payouts processed within just 1-2 days.

32Red – Best for Horse Racing Betting

32Red's iOS and Android apps make sports betting on the go pleasant, featuring impressive in-play betting options so you can wager as the action unfolds.

You’ll find a comprehensive sports market range at 32Red, covering everything imaginable. While it could use more AFL representation, sports like rugby, soccer, tennis, and golf are well-covered.

You’ll find a comprehensive sports market range at 32Red, covering everything imaginable. While it could use more AFL representation, sports like rugby, soccer, tennis, and golf are well-covered.

Extensive betting market range, particularly for horse racing.

Daily price boosts on horse racing.

Superior cash-out options for sports betting.

Pros

• Promotions centered around casino rather than sports.
• Lack of support for bank transfer deposits.
• Handicap betting provides a twist where the sportsbook assigns a points differential, or a 'handicap', to the team thought to have an edge, making the contest challenging against a less fancied opponent.

Cons

• Meanwhile, the underdog receives a head start of points or goals; as long as they don't lose by more than that head start, you've got a winning bet.
• No cryptocurrency deposits.
• This positioning allows gamblers to pursue better odds when siding with the favorite while offering a buffer when trusting the underdog.

It's precisely this dynamic that makes handicap betting a sizzling choice among sports wagers. Let’s delve deeper into the mechanics. The onset of handicap betting involves tagging the favorite and the underdog. As expected, the favorite is viewed as most likely to win, and the underdog as the likely loser. Factors such as the perceived imbalance between teams help the sportsbook determine the 'line'—how many goals or points handicap are attributed to the favorites. In soccer, this might translate to one or two goals, although the numbers fluctuate across different sports, as we'll discuss shortly.

How Handicap Betting Functions Across Various Sports Having grasped the basics of handicap betting, let's turn to examples from popular Australian sports: Handicap betting in football or soccer is highly favored, especially in Europe. Given that soccer is generally a low-scoring sport compared to rugby or Aussie rules, the handicap is typically smaller. Here's a sample EPL scenario illustrating this:

Conversely, those betting on Bournemouth win if the team avoids a loss by more than two goals.

Rugby follows a similar handicap approach to soccer, though the points margin tends to be larger, reflecting rugby's higher scoring nature.

Manchester City (-2.5) vs. Bournemouth (+2.5)

Take this NRL game, for example, where the Panthers face the Bulldogs as clear favorites, inviting a 13.5 point margin. Bets favoring the Panthers succeed if they surpass this gap, whereas the Bulldogs must limit their loss to under 14 points. When comparing handicap betting for football, rugby, and AFL, differences are minor; however, note that most sportsbooks calculate based on total points, not just goals. Here’s how an AFL game might play out:

In this scenario, Hawthorn starts with a head start of 19.5 points against the Lions. A sufficiently narrow loss under 19 points ensures victory on a bet for Hawthorn. For believers in the Lions, they must secure a win by at least 20 points. Cricket's handicap betting intricacies stem from its varied game formats. To simplify, consider this Big Bash League example:

Panthers (-13.5) vs. Bulldogs (+13.5)

Perth Scorchers (-10.5) vs. Hobart Hurricanes (+10.5)

The thrilling nature of Big Bash League matches often culminates in nail-biters. However, this example reflects the bookmaker's prediction of an 11-run disparity between the Scorchers and Hurricanes.

Brisbane Lions (-19.5) vs. Hawthorn (+19.5)

Here, should the Scorchers set the Hurricanes a 174-run challenge, and the Hurricanes achieve 159-8, a Scorchers bet wins due to the winning margin exceeding 11 runs.

So as you've seen, embracing handicap betting is straightforward. However, it's crucial to recognize its varieties, which we’ll elaborate on next.

Handicap betting is designed to balance the competition between two teams that are mismatched. Discover the ins and outs of handicap wagering and how to place your bets successfully with top Australian bookies.

Dive into our comprehensive guide on handicap betting. Our specialists provide clarity on how this betting style creates a more even playing field, exploring various kinds, including football handicap betting, and showcasing real examples from sports like rugby, AFL, and cricket. By the conclusion of this guide, you'll be equipped with all the essential knowledge to start placing handicap bets with your chosen betting platform. We also highlight three outstanding bookmakers you'll want to consider.

Top Sportsbooks for Handicap Betting Enthusiasts

After thoroughly evaluating numerous betting sites available to Australian punters, along with their vast market selections and bonuses, we have identified three standout sportsbooks for handicap betting down under:

TonyBet Sportsbook – Exceptional for Soccer Wagering

TonyBet stands out as a robust digital bookie widely accessible to Aussies. While its main focus is on European leagues, bettors can explore a vast array of soccer, cricket, and tennis markets. Quick deposits can be made via several payment methods, with user-friendly mobile applications tailored for iOS and Android devices, making TonyBet a compelling option overall.

Upon registering at TonyBet, you're eligible for a first-deposit matching bonus, offering 100% up to $100. Additionally, those interested in TonyBet's casino can tap into various promotional deals for slot and table games. At TonyBet, there's flexibility in handling funds, with deposits and withdrawals available through channels like AstroPay, payz, Jeton, and Bitcoin. Deposits process instantly, and withdrawals are usually handled within 1-3 days. Available on Android and iOS, you can obtain the app from Google Play or the Apple App Store. Our experience with the app was notably smooth, offering a more streamlined experience than the desktop platform, so we highly advise downloading it for handy access.

Promotions available for sportsbook users might feel somewhat limited. Primarily centered on European sports markets.