How does handicap betting work? I have no idea but i'm hoping some of the smarter people on here can fill me in.
In one main street bookies I can get Arsenal -1 at 4/9 and Portsmouth +1 at 4/1 for the weekend.
What does this mean and what result do I need to make money from a bet.

donegal_insider (Donegal) - Posts: 584 - 22/08/2009 11:27:35    399752

It means Pompey get a one goal head start

If you back Arsenal -1 they need to win by two goals or more for you to win
If you back Pompey +1 you will win of Pompey win or draw

A one goal win for Pompey is a draw under the handicap - so unless you back a handicap draw this is a bookies result
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Another way of doing this is to back the spread
Arsenal are + 2 on the spread so if you buy arsenal at say 50 euro you break even at a two goal win and win 50 euro for every goal the win by (over two goals)
eg a four goal win pays 100 - however if pompey won by a goal you lose 150

ruanua (Donegal) - Posts: 4966 - 22/08/2009 11:50:11    399773

If you back Pompey +1 you will win of Pompey win or draw

A one goal win for Pompey is a draw under the handicap - so unless you back a handicap draw this is a bookies result.
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So if I back Pompey +1 what happens if they win 1-0?

So if I walk in and pretend like I know what i'm doing and put €50 on "Arsenal -1" on the slip then I need Arsenal to win by 2 goals to make some money.
Right or wrong?
Is it the same in GAA handicap betting?

donegal_insider (Donegal) - Posts: 584 - 22/08/2009 12:16:34    399788

If you back pompey at +1 and they win 1-0 you win (you also win if they draw) so you win at the quoted odds

Correct on the arsenal bet they need to win by 2 goals or more for you to win
yes gaa works the same (obviously the quoted hcap is in points)

To be honest the bookies see this as a 2 goal handicap to be 50/50 so the odds will be poor on Arsenal if you are betting on a one goal handicap

If I had a strong view on this game I would bet using a spreadbet (see my previous post) the spread is 2 goals

ruanua (Donegal) - Posts: 4966 - 22/08/2009 12:48:48    399809

A one goal win for Pompey is a draw under the handicap - so unless you back a handicap draw this is a bookies result.

Think I understand it now but that sentence still doesn't make any sense to me.


Can you only bet on the handicap offered by the bookies or can you add your own? Within reason obviously.
As you've probably guessed by now you're dealing with a simpleton, so take it easy on me.

donegal_insider (Donegal) - Posts: 584 - 22/08/2009 12:59:47    399822

OOPs typo - should have been one goal win for Arsenal means a hcap draw.
Clearly a 1-0 win for pompey is win for Pompey under that bet.Make

yes you can get odds for either a 1 or 2 goal handicap
The 2 goal odds are arsenal 7/5 - Pompey 13/10 - 11/4 the draw

you can get these on-line

If you are going to shop be clear on the slip eg if you are backing Pompey with the Hcap

HCAP
Portsmouth + 1
Portsmouth to win
50 euro win

ruanua (Donegal) - Posts: 4966 - 22/08/2009 13:18:25    399844

Thanks ruanua. Think I have it now.

donegal_insider (Donegal) - Posts: 584 - 22/08/2009 19:38:01    400091

Be careful of spread betting. There is nothing wrong with it as such but if you do not fully understad it dont touch it.

lochgarmanabu (Wexford) - Posts: 1022 - 23/08/2009 00:18:13    400299

LochgarmanABU

Yes it important to read the rules and then double read them
There are a number of pitalls
The first time I placed a bet on golf tournament I "bought" the player that I felt would do well
He did do well and when I checked my acount I discovered that I had lost 150 euros - In golf if you are betting on a good positional finish you have to sell
as a score of 1 is obviously the score that the winner ends up with.

However the great thing about spread betting is that it certainly keeps you interested in the game you are backing as your gain/Loss remains open to impact until the final whistle.

ruanua (Donegal) - Posts: 4966 - 23/08/2009 08:48:22    400342