A handicap gives one team a virtual head start or deficit before the match. It balances uneven matchups, so the odds on the favorite are not as low as in a plain win market. Handicap markets are offered in football, basketball, esports and other sports (see the 1xBet betting rules).
1xBet lists several formats: Handicap 1 and Handicap 2, European Handicap, Total Map Handicap for esports and baseline odds. They do not settle the same way, so check the market type first.
How a Handicap Works
The handicap is added to the final score for settlement only. It does not change the match result.
- A negative handicap on a team means it must win by more than the stated margin
- A positive handicap on a team means it can lose by less than the stated margin and still win the bet
Example: Team A -1.5 vs Team B +1.5. Backing Team A -1.5 needs a win by 2 or more goals, a 1-0 win is not enough. Backing Team B +1.5 wins if Team B wins, draws or loses by exactly 1 goal.
Handicap 1 and Handicap 2
The notation shows which team carries the adjustment. The number in brackets is the adjustment itself, for example Handicap 1(-1.5).
| Notation | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Handicap 1 | The figure applies to Team 1 (first-listed team) |
| Handicap 2 | The figure applies to Team 2 (second-listed team) |
A positive figure is a cushion, a negative figure is a demand. If the sign is not shown, check which team is the favorite: the favorite normally carries the negative line.
Handicap 1(0): Refund on a Draw
A zero handicap gives neither team an advantage. A draw returns the stake.
| Match result | Handicap 1(0) bet |
|---|---|
| Team 1 wins | Bet wins |
| Draw | Stake refunded |
| Team 2 wins | Bet loses |
A plain 1X2 “1” selection loses on a draw. The refund is paid for with lower odds than the 1X2 home win.
Half-Goal Lines: Handicap 1(-1.5) and 2(+1.5)
Half-goal lines cannot produce a refund because every result has a winner.
| Result | Handicap 1(-1.5) | Handicap 2(+1.5) |
|---|---|---|
| Team 1 wins by 2 or more (3-0) | Wins | Loses |
| Team 1 wins by 1 (1-0) | Loses | Wins |
| Draw (1-1) | Loses | Wins |
| Team 2 wins | Loses | Wins |
Basketball example: Team A -4.5 vs Team B +4.5. Team A wins 98-95. The margin of 3 is below 4.5, so Team B +4.5 wins although it lost the game. Whole-number lines (1, 2, 3) can be refunded when the margin equals the line.
European Handicap
European Handicap keeps the three outcomes of 1X2. It applies a whole-number adjustment and the draw stays a possible result. Asian Handicap on half lines has no draw.
Example: Team 2 +1. Team 1 wins 2-1, so Team 2 counts as 1+1 = 2. The adjusted score is 2-2 and the market settles as a draw (X).
| Actual result | Adjusted score (Team 2 +1) | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| 3-0 | 3 vs 0+1 = 1 | 1 (Team 1 wins) |
| 2-1 | 2 vs 1+1 = 2 | X (handicap draw) |
| 1-1 | 1 vs 1+1 = 2 | 2 (Team 2 wins) |
| 0-1 | 0 vs 1+1 = 2 | 2 (Team 2 wins) |
| Feature | European Handicap | Asian Handicap |
|---|---|---|
| Outcomes | Three (1, X, 2) | Two (Team 1, Team 2) |
| Draw | A selectable outcome | No draw outcome on half lines |
| Refund | No refund | Possible on whole-number lines |
European Handicap suits bettors used to 1X2. The draw outcome means a handicap selection can still lose in a third way.
Map Handicap in Esports
Total Map Handicap applies the same logic to esports, where maps replace goals. In a best-of-three or best-of-five series:
- Team 1 (-1.5) must win the series 2-0, a 2-1 win is not enough
- Team 2 (+1.5) wins if it wins at least one map
| Series result | Team 1 (-1.5) | Team 2 (+1.5) |
|---|---|---|
| Team 1 wins 2-0 | Wins | Loses |
| Team 1 wins 2-1 | Loses | Wins |
| Team 2 wins 2-1 | Loses | Wins |
| Team 2 wins 2-0 | Loses | Wins |
A strong favorite at -1.5 maps pays more than the match winner market, but it needs a clean sweep.
Baseline Odds
Baseline odds is the main handicap line of an event, the one with the most balanced prices. Other lines of the same event are alternatives with different odds and risk. The main line is shown first, before the other markets are expanded.
| Use case | Why the baseline matters |
|---|---|
| Comparing odds | It is the reference line for like-for-like comparison |
| Reading the market | A shift of the main line, for example from -1.0 to -1.5, shows where the money moves |
| Choosing a line | Alternative lines change both the odds and the margin you need |
Worked Example: Asian vs European Handicap
Team A is the heavy favorite and wins 1-0.
| Market | Selection | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Asian Handicap -1.5 | Team A | Loses |
| Asian Handicap -1.0 | Team A | Refunded, the margin equals the line |
| European Handicap -1 | Team A | Handicap draw (X), 1-1 = 0 |
One result gives three different outcomes depending on the market, so read the exact handicap format before you confirm.
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