what does handicap means in betting

Handicap betting is a type of bet that evens up the chances of both players or teams winning a specific event. It is a way for bookmakers to make a sporting contest a more even event. Handicapping refers to giving a weaker team an advantage to make a match more even. Handicaps are typically numerical, with the stronger team awarding points to the weaker team before the start of the game. Handicaps are also commonly referred to as ‘underdogs’ or ‘favorites’ . In handicap betting, the bookmaker gives a virtual advantage to the weaker team and a virtual disadvantage to the stronger side. The handicap is displayed in brackets after the name of the team. For example, if the bookmaker declared a handicap of 1.5, then the results would look like this: Leicester City (1.5) vs. Manchester United (-1.5) . If you bet on Leicester City, they would begin the match with a 1.5 goal advantage compared to their opponent. If you bet on Manchester United, they would begin the match with a 1.5 goal disadvantage compared to their opponent. The actual advantage or disadvantage is only given to the team you are wagering on. Handicap betting allows you to adjust your bets so that you win more money if your selection wins or lose less money if your selection loses by a more significant margin than expected.