Best Handicap Betting Sites in the UK 2023
This is our guide to handicap betting in the UK. We’re going to explain how handicaps work and have tips to make the most of them. We’ve got sportsbook reviews, information on different types of handicaps and how they can be used when betting on various sports. Let’s start off with a list of our favourite handicap betting sites.
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List of Leading Betting Sites with Handicap Betting
Here’s a little more information about our recommended handicap betting sites for UK punters. Many of these are top online bookmakers in general, but our focus here is on the handicap markets they provide:
- BetUK – Our top pick for betting on handicaps
- Spreadex – Spread betting specialists also have fixed odds
- 10bet – Slick looking site has great handicap markets
- LiveScore Bet – Latest score experts have turned to betting
- BoyleSports – Irish bookie have one of the best apps around
- QuinnBet – Regular flow of customer promos to use on handicaps
- bet365 – Betting behemoth have a great all-round product
- Virgin Bet – Famous brand name making waves on the gambling scene
- Betfred – The Bonus King delivers on handicaps
- 888sport – Another big name bookie you can rely on
Reviews of Best Handicap Betting Sites in the UK
Now we’re going to examine our favourite sportsbooks for betting on handicaps, with some in-depth reviews.
1. BetUK – Bet £10, Get £30 In Free Bets
Launched in 2012, Brit-focused brand BetUK has become a major name on the UK gambling scene. They have a very well designed website that is easy to navigate around and find their various handicap markets, within sports such as football, basketball, golf, tennis and eSports. There’s an impressive range of handicap markets overall and the odds are very competitive.
There’s a BetUK Specials section that features enhanced odds bets, which can often include handicaps. BetUK also features expert betting tips, a generous welcome offer, one of the best acca clubs around and a regular stream of free bets.
- Lots of handicaps with competitive odds
- Generous welcome offer
- Well designed website
- Daily BetUK specials
- No live streaming yet
2. Spreadex – Get £50 In Bonuses
As the UK’s number one site for sports spread betting, the core Spreadex product is very similar to handicaps, as you are hoping that your selection wins by a large margin, in order to win big yourself. They also feature a regular fixed odds service, which has plenty of traditional handicap markets available.
With features like live streaming and cash out available, Spreadex can more than hold their own with the established giants of the betting world. They deliver a no-nonsense betting experience, free of the flashy graphics and ads that feature heavily at other online bookies. Spreadex also have one of the very best welcome offers around, which is not just generous, but gives you a chance to try out a range of their betting products.
- Handicap markets and spread betting available
- One of the very best welcome offers around
- Watch the action with live streaming
- Cash out available
- Could have more offers for existing users
3. 10bet – 100% First Deposit Bonus Up To £50
Launched back in 2003, 10bet has quietly and confidently established itself as one of the top UK bookmakers around. They have developed a slick website that is an absolute pleasure to use and to look at. Navigating around is a breeze and you’ll easily find any event that you’re after, along with a wide range of handicap markets, featuring strong odds.
There’s a big welcome offer available and 10bet always have a number of unique betting offers for existing customers, which change on a regular basis, based on the big sporting events of the day. You should also look out for features such as cash out and bet builder available, along with Pulse Bet, which enhances your live football betting experience.
- Wide range of handicap markets
- Slick website is a pleasure to use
- Pulse Bet feature
- Regular unique offers
- High wagering requirements for welcome offer
4. LiveScore Bet – Bet £10, Get £20 In Free Bets
A relatively new name in the betting industry are LiveScore Bet, who only launched in 2020. They’re part of the LiveScore brand that specialises in correct scores and for a newcomer, they have an impressive all-round product, which of course means plenty of handicap markets.
There’s live streaming on offer and a cash out facility available. There’s a solid new customer offer that doubles your first bet and a regular stream of free bets for existing customers. This is a bookmaker to watch out for. They’ve made a confident start in their formative years and we expect them to grow.
- Impressive all-round product, including handicaps
- Keep up with action with live streaming
- Free bets for users new and old
- Take early profit with cash out
- Could have more payment options
5. BoyleSports – Bet £10 Get £20 In Free Bets
One of the biggest bookmakers in Ireland are BoyleSports and they are increasingly building a reputation in the UK. As you would expect from an Irish bookie, they are big on horse racing, but also specialise in sports such as football, golf and tennis, where handicap markets are very popular.
The site is well designed and BoyleSports have some of the best mobile betting apps around. There’s daily price boosts, which can include handicap markets and a range of offers, with this bookie particular excelling when it comes to acca deals. With a great tips site to point you in the right direction, BoyleSports is a smart choice for punters.
- Good coverage of sports with feature handicap markets
- One of the best betting apps around
- Superb range of acca deals
- Advice available at tips site
- Promos could cover wider range of sports
6. QuinnBet – Get 50% Back As A Free Bet Up To £35 + 10 Free Spins
Another bookie from Ireland making waves in the UK are QuinnBet. Their site features a very clear and crisp design, making it easy to find what you want. The in-play section is particularly good and features lots of sports where handicap markets are available.
QuinnBet is arguably the best bookie around when it comes to providing a regular stream of offers for existing customers. There’s all sorts of insurance deals, free bets and cash rebates available. At Quinnbet, you’re always being given back a little bit extra, which you can use for betting on handicaps.
- Outstanding array of offers for existing customers
- Daily free bets
- Clean and crisp design
- Good in-play section for live handicaps
- Welcome offer could be better
7. bet365 – Bet £10 & Get £30 In Free Bets
One of the biggest names in the gambling industry is bet365. As a long-established company, they have been able to invest heavily in their product and the result is a brilliant all-round betting product. There’s countless markets for big events, with a really wide array of handicaps available, with the amount of Asian handicap betting markets for football, being particularly impressive.
As you’d expect, the site is packed with features. Live streaming, bet builder, cash out and betting tips are all available. There’s a strong welcome offer and a massive amount of promos for regular users. Overall, bet365 is a superb choice for fans of handicaps.
- Brilliant all-round betting product
- Large amount of Asian handicaps
- Bet builder and cash out available
- One of the best tips sites
- Site design needs a refresh
8. Virgin Bet – Bet £10 Get £20 In Free Bets
As a relatively new betting company, having launched in 2019, Virgin Bet has links to the well-known wider brand and hit the scene with an impressive product at launch and has continued to make strides forward. Their aesthetically pleasing site makes it easy to find your chosen event and in our review, we found a good range of handicap markets available, with competitive odds.
There are daily price boosts available, which can often include handicap bets. Existing customers can also enjoy weekly free bets. Virgin Bet has positioned itself strongly for horse racing punters, with live streaming, Best Odds Guaranteed, extra places, money back deals and ticket offers all available.
- Lots of handicaps with competitive odds
- Strong for horse racing
- Weekly free bets
- Good looking site
- Could have more non-horse racing offers
9. Betfred – Bet £10 Get £40 In Bonuses
Returning to one of the major players in the betting industry, we have Betfred. ‘The Bonus King’ as it is known, has been online since 2004 and has been able to build a formidable offering. Their prices are amongst the best around and this includes their numerable handicap markets.
The welcome offer is a big one, as you’d expect from a bookie famed for their promos. Existing customers get treated to odds boosts, insurance deals, free bets and much more. This site is feature-rich, boasting of live streaming, cash out, bet builder and tips, along with excellent betting apps.
- Good prices on handicaps
- Wide array of promos
- Rich with features
- Apps for iOS and Android
- Website is rather dated
10. 888sport – Bet £10, Get £30 Free Bet + £10 Casino Bonus
Another of the bigger bookies on the UK scene, are 888sport. They can boast of a great all-round betting product. There’s a huge amount of markets for events, which means lots of handicaps and thanks to the size of the company, odds are extremely competitive. That’s certainly the case with 888sport’s daily specials, which feature enhanced odds that can include handicap markets.
Again, this is another site packed with features. Live streaming, a betting tips site, cash out and bet builder are all present. There’s a big welcome deal and a good array of offers for existing customers, many of which are compatible with handicaps.
- Handicap markets with competitive odds
- Top tips site
- Cash Out and Bet Builder
- Watch action with live streaming
- No free bets club
What is Handicap Betting?
There may be some you wanting an explanation of what handicaps are. So if you’re looking for a handicap betting meaning, carry on reading.
>Handicaps are applied to even up a betting market that is considered one-sided. If there’s a big favourite that is widely expected to win, the odds will be very short and unattractive to punters. By applying an extra handicap and virtual deficit to the superior team that needs to be overcome, the odds can be made more even and enticing for customers.
This also works the other way. You can give outsiders and underdogs a positive handicap, like a pretend advantage in runs, points or goals, for them to hold on to. If they beat the favourites or lose the match, game or event by a smaller margin than is set in the bet, then you’ve got yourself a winner.
That’s really all there is to it, though it can look a little more complicated when you look at a handicap market for the first time. In the next section, we’re going to take you through an example.
How Does Handicap Betting Work?
We’re going to show you an example of a handicap market. If a bookmaker were handicap betting football and Manchester City were playing Ipswich Town in the FA Cup, the regular odds for a City win would be extremely short. You would need a handicap to get any value out of the market.
So, for example, Manchester City could be given a handicap of -2.5 goals, with Ipswich getting +2.5. That would mean that if you backed City, they would have to win the game by a three-goal margin, in order for the bet to be a winner. If you backed Ipswich with +2.5, for your bet to be a winner, they could either win the game, draw, lose by a one-goal margin, or lose by a two-goal margin.
You can hopefully see how such a handicap evens up the respective chances of the two teams and helps to make the prices in a market, become more attractive.
How We Rank Bookies with Handicap Betting Explained
Having seen our ranking of the best sites for handicap betting, you are probably wondering how we came to our conclusions. Here are some of the factors that we considered.
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Range of Handicap Markets
When judging the sites in this category, naturally a lot came down to how many handicap markets were on offer. We were looking for handicaps to be available across a wide range of different sports, with plenty of variety in terms of the markets, with Asian handicaps present. -
Odds
If you’re placing a bet, the very least that you will expect is that the odds are competitive. Our recommended bookies can be relied upon in this regard. We always recommend having a few bookmaker accounts set up, rather than just one, so you can check between the various prices and pick the sportsbook that offer the most value. -
Features
Bet Builders will allow you to add handicap bets to your selections, while Cash Out enables you to bank an early profit. Live streaming allows you to watch the action, at the same time as you’re placing bets. Most bookies provide mobile betting apps these days and many have tips sites, offering valuable insight. -
Bonuses & Offers
When you sign up with a sportsbook, you’ll want a generous welcome offer, that give you some extra money to use with your new account. Offers for existing customers are just as, if not more important. The bookies that really excel in this area, give a lot of extra value to their users. -
Safety & Security
Opening a bookmaker account involves giving your personal information, adding a payment method and depositing some money. Put simply, you are putting a lot of trust in the bookie. We make sure that our recommended choices are all fully licensed with regulatory gambling bodies, who ensure that your details and money are safe.
How Bookmakers with Handicap Markets Compare
Below is a table that displays the various features available at our recommended sportsbooks for handicap bets.
| Betting Site | Asian Handicap | Number of Sports | Live Streaming | Cash Out |
| BetUK |  |
Over 30 |  |
|
| Spreadex | |
Over 20 | |
|
| 10bet | |
Over 30 | |
|
| LiveScore Bet | |
Over 35 | |
|
| BoyleSports | |
Over 30 | |
|
| Quinnbet | |
Over 30 | |
|
| bet365 | |
Over 35 | |
|
| Virgin Bet | |
Over 30 | |
|
| Betfred | |
Over 25 | |
|
| 888sport | |
Over 25 | |
|
Most Popular Sports for Handicap Betting
In this section we’re going to explore some of the sports where betting on handicaps tends to be popular.
Football
The biggest sport at online bookmakers is football betting, and with good reason. It’s the most popular sport in the world and this extends to betting. You’ll find that football is at the front and centre of the homepages of most bookmakers, so you’ll have no trouble tracking down the match that you want to bet on.
Football handicap betting accounts for a fairly large portion of the markets that are available on any match. There are a lot of leagues where one or two teams are really dominant and win a lot of matches easily, so handicaps are a great way of making things more even.
The English top flight is famed for being a competition where the smaller teams can spring upsets, for all Manchester City keep winning it and yet, Premier League handicap betting remains very popular. Betting on the margin of victory in football, is a great way to get some extra value.
Rugby
Rugby handicap betting is extremely common. In fact, it is fair to say that it tends to be more popular than the match winner market. While the margins of victory in football tend to be slim, in rugby they are generally larger, so handicaps make sense. The sport of rugby has two codes. Rugby union handicap betting is given more prominence by bookmakers.
The annual Six Nations Championship in the British Isles and Europe is a hugely popular event, expanding throughout its history from just the Four Nations to include France and Italy. There are many other international and domestic rugby union competitions that attract a lot of interest from punters.
Rugby league handicap betting is not quite so popular, but the sport still has a very strong following in areas such as the north of England and Australia, where it is popular. The Super League is the major domestic competition for the UK, with the NRL being the equivalent in Australia. Among the markets on show, rugby league betting with handicaps is popular as teams like Leeds Rhinos, St Helens and Wigan Warriors have enjoyed periods of dominance in this code of the sport.
Tennis
Tennis is a staple at online bookmakers. It’s a sport with a year-round schedule, which produces matches on a daily basis, with ATP and WTA tournaments generally starting on a Monday and ending on a Sunday.
Along with the flow of regular tournaments, tennis betting and the sport’s annual calendar punctuated by major events. The biggest events on the tennis schedule are the Grand Slams, which comprise of the Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon and US Open. In the UK, Wimbledon is a particularly popular when it comes to betting, with lots of promotions available based around the event.
Tennis handicap betting is a useful way for punters to gain some extra value. In the early rounds of tournaments especially, there can be some very short-priced favourites. So in such instances, you might back the likes of Novak Djokovic with -1.5 sets, meaning that he would have to win a match in straight sets or 3-1. There are also handicaps available for games, so you could back Djokovic with -9.5 games, for example.
Basketball
There are few sports that can compete with basketball betting for producing high-scoring encounters. It’s a slam dunk! Consequently, basketball handicap betting tends to be more popular than simply betting on the result.
Betting on the margin of victory, is a way to get more favourable odds. So for example, in the NBA, you could bet on the Golden State Warriors with a handicap of -7.5 points, to beat the Boston Celtics. That would mean that the Warriors would need to win by eight points or more, in order for the bet to be successful.
In the UK, the majority of basketball bets are placed on the NBA in America, which is the top competition in the world. However, there is also the British Basketball League and also lots of thriving basketball leagues across Europe, Asia and elsewhere. So even when the NBA is out of season, there are plenty of opportunities to bet on basketball.
Asian Handicap Betting
A type of handicaps that you may have heard mentioned is Asian handicap betting. The ‘Asian’ part of the name, comes from the fact that this sort of handicap originated in Indonesia. They are used in sports where a draw is a possibility, with the intention of eliminating the possibility of a stalemate result.
The Asian handicap bet is especially popular in football. So say Liverpool are plating Everton. In a regular market, there is the possibility of a Liverpool win, an Everton win or a draw. An Asian handicap takes the draw out of the equation. So Liverpool would start with -1.5 goals and Everton would have +1.5.
Obviously, it is impossible for a team to score half a goal, so there can be no tied result. Liverpool need to win by a two-goal margin for a bet on them to be a winner. If they only win by a single goal, then Everton are the winner in the handicap market, as is the case if the match is drawn, or Everton win.
You may have seen Asian handicap markets where a team has two handicaps. These are sometimes referred to as ‘Quarter goal handicaps’. So Manchester City say, might have handicaps of -2.5 and -2. In such an instance, your bet is split evenly between the two handicaps. A £20 bet would see £10 go on Manchester City -2.5 and £10 on Manchester City -2.
In this example, if Manchester City win by three goals or more, both parts of the bet win. If they win by two goals, the -2.5 part of the bet loses, but the -2 is a draw and that half of your stake is refunded. If Manchester City only win by one goal, or draw, or lose, then both parts of the bet are losers.
Pros & Cons of Betting on Handicaps
As tends to be the case with most things, there are both positives and negatives with handicaps. Below, we have highlighted some of the pros and cons.
- Helps to make uneven markets, more even
- Gives punters extra value, with higher odds
- Rewards being able to predict margin of victory
- Adds variety to a betting event
- Not always available on all sports
- Confusing for beginner bettors
Standard Betting vs. Handicap Markets
We’ve talked a lot about handicap markets. So is it better than traditional betting? In our experts’ opinion, it all depends on the event in question.
If two teams or competitors are well-matched, then there’s an argument that there’s no need to place a handicap bet. The regular result market will provide strong odds and by trying to be specific regarding the margin of victory, you are adding a level of complexity to the bet, that makes a loss more likely.
On the other hand, if there’s a strong favourite, there is often very little point in placing a bet on the straight result. It’s only with handicap markets, that some value can be delivered to the customer.
Top Offers on Handicap Betting Sites
There are many bonuses and promotions, both for new and existing customers, that can be used in conjunction with handicaps. Here are some of the best betting offers and deals that you can enjoy.
- Acca Bonus – The more selections you add to your acca, the bigger the potential percentage bonus on your winnings.
- Acca Clubs – Place regular acca bets and these clubs reward you with free acca bets to use.
- Cashback Deals – These offers give you a percentage rebate on any losses that you might think.
- Deposit Bonuses – Available for some welcome offers and sometimes for existing customers, you get a percentage bonus on your deposit.
- Enhanced Odds – The prices of certain markets are boosted beyond the normal level that would be expected.
- Free Bets – This is the most common type of welcome deal and free bets are often available for existing users. To qualify, you generally you place a bet for a certain amount and in return you get a free bet.
- Insurance Deals – Bookmakers can offer insurance on accas if only one leg lets you down, or if certain conditions in a contest are met, such as a football game ending 0-0. You get your stake back, normally in the form of a free bet.
- Risk-Free Bets – As the name suggests, this is a bet without risk. Sometimes given as a welcome offer, you place a bet in which your stake will be returned, if it’s a loser.
Best Mobile Apps for Betting on Handicaps
All of our recommended bookmakers for handicaps have dedicated mobile apps for iOS and Android devices. This gives you the option of placing handicap bets, wherever you are.
You can access your betting account via a mobile browser, but we would always suggest using an app instead. They tend to be more secure, faster and are designed specifically for the dimensions of the smaller screen.
All of the handicap markets that you would find on the regular betting site of an online bookmaker, will be available on the app. When it comes to recommending a particular bookie for their betting app, we would point you in the direction of BoyleSports.
Handicap Betting Tips
In this section we are going to give you a few tips that should help when placing bets on handicaps.
Tip 1: Do Your Research
With handicaps you are not just betting on a result, but also the margin of the result. It’s therefore important that you do your research. So if you were football handicap betting, you would want to look into team news, home/away records, xG and goal records.
Tip 2: Consider the Outsider
People often tend to look at the favourites with handicap markets and it’s obvious why. They’re often very likely to win, so betting on them with a handicap gives the price a boost. However, there can often be just as much value in betting on the outsider. They may lose the contest, but if they can keep things close then they could win the bet. Look out for selections that keep things competitive in defeat.
Tip 3: Think About Motivation
For a selection to win by a big amount, they often have to be motivated to do so. For example, a football team that has already won their league, or a side guaranteed of a mid-table finish, have nothing left to play for and may have mentally switched off. In contrast, a poor team that are in danger of relegation, will be putting in maximum effort.
Tip 4: Compare With Other Markets
Look between handicaps and other similar markets, to see which has the best price. So if you’re considering betting on a football team to with a handicap of -1.5, it may be worth seeing what the odds are for that team to win and for there to be over 2.5 goals, or for the side to win half-time/full-time.
Tip 5: Give Yourself the Best Chance
Every little advantage that you can give yourself will be a help. So if you’re going to bet on a handicap market, make sure that you get the best odds, which you can do by opening a few betting accounts and comparing prices. Also, lots of handicap bets will be compatible with promotions and bonuses, so take advantage of those too, when you can.
Tip 6: Consider Expected Goals
Before looking at the handicap betting odds, it’s worth looking at the xG in football stats for a game. These give you an idea of how many goals a team should be scoring and conceding in a match. You can then pick the right handicap market accordingly based on this data. Although you can’t and shouldn’t solely rely on it, this can help inform any betting decisions.
Conclusion
We hope that you enjoyed our guide to handicap betting. As you will have seen, there are a lot of quality sports betting sites available for betting on handicaps. In our review, it was BetUK that came out on top in this particular category.
FAQs
What is a handicap in betting?
Why do we have handicap bets?
What’s the difference between European and Asian handicaps?
How does full, half and quarter goal handicap betting work?
What does +1 handicap mean?
Which sports are most popular for betting handicap markets?
What’s the difference between handicap and spread betting?
A writer and editor for some of the top names in the gambling industry for nearly 20 years, Dan also works as a freelance sports journalist for publications and websites such as ESPN, FourFourTwo and LiveScore.
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