Popular Betting Markets: How to Choose Between Totals, Handicaps, and Outcomes?

Sports betting continues to gain popularity around the world, and with growing interest comes a wider variety of markets offered by bookmakers. Both beginners and experienced bettors regularly face the question: what’s better — betting on a total, an outcome, or a handicap? Each type of bet has its own specifics, advantages, and strategic nuances. In this guide, we’ll break down the key betting markets, help you choose the best option for your betting style, and provide a comparison table for clarity.

What Are Match Outcomes and When to Bet on Them?

Understanding the Outcome Market

Outcome betting is the most basic and intuitive market in sports betting. The bettor chooses between three main options: home win, draw, or away win. In football, this is known as 1X2 betting:

• 1 — Home team wins

• X — Draw

• 2 — Away team wins

In sports like tennis or basketball, it’s usually just a straight bet on the match winner.

Benefits of Betting on Outcomes

• Easy to understand, perfect for beginners

• Suitable for multi-bet slips and parlays

• Available from all bookmakers with strong liquidity

However, due to their simplicity, outcome bets often have lower odds and higher bookmaker margins. Still, for matches with a clear favorite, they can be a solid option for consistent — though smaller — returns.

What Are Totals and How Do They Work?

Definition and Types of Totals

A total bet is a wager on the number of points, goals, or other measurable events in a match. For example:

• Over 2.5 goals means the game must have at least 3 goals in total

• Under 2.5 goals means there should be 2 goals or fewer

There are also team totals, half-time totals, corner totals, and even bookings (yellow/red cards).

When to Use Totals

Totals are especially popular in football, basketball, and hockey. They’re ideal when predicting a match winner is difficult but you can anticipate the match style — whether it will be defensive or open.

Example: In a match between evenly matched, defensive teams, betting on Under makes sense. For attacking teams, Over is the better option.

Why Totals Are Valuable

• You can win regardless of who wins the match

• Great for live betting strategies

• Useful in arbitrage and value betting with shifting lines

What Are Handicaps and How to Use Them?

Handicaps: Leveling the Field

A handicap gives a virtual advantage or disadvantage to a team. For example, -1 handicap on the favorite means they must win by at least two goals. A one-goal win would result in a lost bet.

There are Asian handicaps and European handicaps. Asian lines (like -0.25) reduce risk by allowing partial refunds on draws.

Using Handicaps Effectively

Handicaps are used when there’s a clear mismatch in team strength. Instead of betting on a low-value favorite win, you can bet on a handicap and get better odds. This strategy is widely used in tennis, football, and basketball.

Example: In tennis, a heavy favorite may have low odds for a simple win (e.g., 1.15). Betting on -3.5 games could raise the odds to 1.7 or more.

Comparing Betting Markets: Which Should You Choose?

Your decision between outcomes, totals, and handicaps depends on several factors:

• Sport Type – Football often favors totals and outcomes; basketball is more handicap-driven

• Analytical Approach – Data-driven bettors lean towards totals, especially team-specific

• Risk Appetite – Outcomes are more predictable, but handicaps offer higher returns with higher risk

Strategy Examples for Different Betting Markets

Below is a list of common strategies used for each betting market:

Outcome Bets:

• Classic value betting

• Draw prediction in football

• Martingale on favorites

Total Bets:

• Under in derby matches or high-stakes games

• Over in live bets after a scoreless first half

• Over on team total for strong attacking sides

Handicap Bets:

• Positive handicap on underdog in unpredictable games

• -1.5 handicap on tennis favorite in early rounds

• Asian handicap for reduced risk and partial refunds

Comparison Table of Popular Betting Markets

Conclusion: How to Choose the Right Betting Market?

Ultimately, the choice between totals, handicaps, and outcomes depends on your goals, experience, and analytical preferences.

Outcomes are perfect for beginners and those who bet on match winners. They’re simple but often offer lower odds. Totals are ideal when you understand game dynamics and can predict the flow of play — potentially delivering great value. Handicaps are best for experienced bettors who can assess team strength and find value in spread betting.

Don’t be afraid to mix markets in your bet slips, try new strategies, and track your results. Over time, you’ll discover which market suits your style best.