Handicap Market On Football

Handicap betting, also called “point betting,” or “line betting,” is used to even out the playing field between two teams who are not evenly matched. The bookmaker gives a virtual advantage to the weaker team, and a virtual disadvantage to the stronger side. If you bet on the weaker team to win, they would have the edge over the stronger team, and chances would be even. If there weren't a handicap placed by the bookmaker, the stronger side would have won against the weaker team, and it would have been monotonous and predictable. Handicaps are displayed in brackets after the name of the team. For example, let's say you are betting on a match between Leicester City and Manchester United. 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)

Leicester City is beginning the match with a 1.5 goal advantage compared to their opponent.
Because the advantage isn’t more than one goal but not two, there couldn’t be a draw.
If you bet on Manchester United to win, they would need at least two goals if you want to win the wager.
If you are wagering on Leicester City, they have to either win the match, draw, or concede by a single goal, to win the wager.
What is a No Draw Handicap Bet?
When a handicap is a decimal number, it's called a “no draw handicap bet,” It would effectively eliminate the possibility of a draw because, in football and many other sports, there are no half goals. Keep in mind that in handicap betting the actual advantage or disadvantage is only given to the team you are wagering on.

West Ham (2) vs. Newcastle (-2)

If you bet on Newcastle to win, they have to win by a margin of three or more goals.
If you bet on West Ham to win, you would win if they lose by a margin of only one goal.
If you are backing West Ham, then they lose by two goals your bet would be void, and your stake returned.
Since there is no decimal in this handicap, the stake is refunded to you in the event of a draw.