Handicap 1.5. How to Bet with a 1.5-Goal Edge?
Lina Almans
04 January 2024
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What is Handicap +1.5/-1.5?
Asian handicap +1.5 and -1.5 (aka point spread) is a type of half-goal spread where you give or take a 1.5-goal edge to or from a team before the game starts.
Note: It works for any sport where players can score (goals, points, pucks, sets).

What It Means in Sports Betting?
- +1.5 means that the team you pick starts the game with a 1.5-goal lead. This means that they only need to draw or lose by 1 goal to make your bet win.
- -1.5 means that the team you pick starts the game with a 1.5-goal deficit. This means that they need to win the game by at least 2 goals to make your bet win.
- +/-1.5 also means that there are no draws possible. There are only 2 outcomes: win or lose. This is different from the regular whole-goal handicap, where you can get your money back if the game ends in a draw after applying the handicap.
Note: The sign (+ or -) before the number shows which team has the edge or the gap. The number (1.5) shows how big the edge or the gap is.
How It Works: In Action
Let’s say you want to bet on the game between Aston Villa and Everton. Everton is the favorite team, so they have a -1.5 handicap. Aston Villa is the underdog, so they have a +1.5 handicap.
The table below shows the outcomes of betting on either -1.5 or +1.5, depending on the actual score of the game:
Wager | Actual Score | Adjusted Score | Outcome |
Aston Villa +1.5 | 0-1 | 1.5-1 | Win |
2-2 | 3.5-2 | Win | |
0-2 | 1.5-2 | Lose | |
Everton -1.5 | 0-2 | 0-0.5 | Win |
1-2 | 1-0.5 | Lose | |
3-3 | 3-1.5 | Lose |
Note: The adjusted score is the real score, plus or minus the handicap.
Pros and Cons of Handicap +1.5/-1.5
Pros | Cons |
Big payout: Boost your payout by picking a larger edge than the regular odds for the favorite team. | Big risk: Take a higher risk with the favorite team by choosing a bigger edge than the regular win odds. |
Small loss: Win the bet with the underdog by choosing a smaller edge than the regular lose odds. | Small edge: Lose the bet with the underdog by choosing a smaller edge than the regular win odds. |
No draw: Avoid the draw scenario and simplify the bet with only 2 outcomes. | No refund: Lose your entire stake if the game is a loss after the handicap. |
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