Handicap 1/-1 in Sports Betting: How to Bet with 1-Goal Edge?

Lina Almans

07 December 2023

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Handicap +1 and -1 (aka point spread) is a type of bet where you give or take a one-goal edge to or from a team before the match kicks off.

It’s a great way to bet on games (or for a part of it: half, quarter, set), especially when one team is much stronger or weaker than the other.

Here’s how it looks at 1xBet:

What Does +1 and -1 Mean in Football?

+1 or 1 means that the team you pick starts the game with a one-goal lead. This means that they only need to draw or win the game to make your bet win. For example, if you bet on Liverpool +1, it means that Liverpool has a 1-0 advantage before the game even starts. So, if the game ends 0-0, 1-1, or Liverpool wins, you win your bet.
-1 means that the team you pick starts the game with a one-goal deficit. This means that they need to win the game by more than one goal to make your bet win. For example, if you bet on Man City -1, it means that Man City has a 0:-1 disadvantage before the game even starts. So, if the game ends 0-0, 1-1, or Manchester City loses, you lose your bet.
+/-1 also means that you can get your money back if the game ends in a draw after applying the handicap. For example, if you bet on Liverpool +1 and the game ends 2-1 for Man City, you will get your stake back. Similarly, if you bet on Man City -1 and the game ends 1-0 for Liverpool, you will also get your stake back.

Note: The sign (+ or -) before the number shows which team has the edge or the gap. The number (1) shows how big the edge or the gap is.

The Logic Behind It

Let’s say you want to bet on the game between Liverpool VS Man City. Man City is the favorite team, so they have a -1 handicap. Liverpool is the underdog team, so they have a +1 handicap.

The table below shows the outcomes of betting on either -1 or +1, depending on the actual score of the game:

Wager	Actual Score	Adjusted Score (with handicap)	Outcome
Liverpool +1	1-3	2-3	Lose
	1-2	2-2	Draw (Money Back)
	1-1	2-1	Win
Man City -1	1-3	1-2	Win
	1-2	1-1	Draw (Money Back)
	1-1	1-0	Lose

Note: The adjusted score is the real score, plus or minus the handicap.

What are the Benefits of Handicap +1/-1?

Pros	Cons
Higher odds for favorite. Get a bigger payout for the favorite team by choosing a larger margin than the normal win odds (1X2 market). Edge for underdog: Win the bet with the underdog team by picking a smaller margin than the normal loose odds, or a draw, even if they lose the game by 1 goal. Money back for draw: Avoid losing the bet if the game is a draw after the handicap, as the stake will be refunded. Flexibility and control: Make the bet for the whole game or for a part of it. This can allow more options and adjustments according to the game situation.	Lower odds for underdog: Get a lower return for the underdog team by choosing a one-goal edge than the normal loose odds. Higher risk for favorite: Take a higher risk with the favorite team by choosing a one-goal gap than the normal win odds. More complexity: Add more confusion to the bet by adding or subtracting one goal from the real score. This can make it harder to follow the game outcome.