What Is a 1.5 Handicap? How to Read and Bet on the 1.5 Goal Handicap in Football

What Is a 1.5 Handicap? How to Read and Bet on the 1.5 Goal Handicap in Football
What does a 1.5 handicap mean? Is it easy to understand how to read the 1.5 goal handicap odds? If the match you’re interested in has been given a 1.5 handicap by the bookmaker, how should you bet to avoid losing? Let’s explore this in detail with Win tips in the following guide.
What Is a 1.5 Handicap?
A 1.5 handicap is a type of football bet in which the stronger team (the favorite) gives the weaker team (the underdog) a 1.5-goal head start.
In Vietnamese betting slang, this is also known as a "one-and-a-half goal handicap." On most reputable sports betting platforms, this handicap is displayed as 1.5.
This type of bet is often offered for the second half of a match. However, there are instances where a 1.5 goal handicap is applied even in the first half, especially when the favorite is dominating and already leading by more than one goal.
A key feature of the 1.5 handicap is that the outcome is always a full win or full loss—there are no half-win/half-loss results like with a 1.25 or 1.75 handicap. If the final score is a draw, the underdog wins the bet outright.
So, is it easy to read this kind of bet? Let’s look at how to interpret it correctly.
How to Read the 1.5 Handicap Odds in Football Betting
Now that you know the basic concept of a 1.5 handicap, you can start betting more confidently. But to make sure you’re placing the right bet, it’s crucial to understand how to read this betting line properly.
In general, handicaps in the N.5 format (e.g. 0.5, 1.5, 2.5, Etc.) are among the easiest to understand. However, if you’re only glancing at the odds without understanding what they mean, you might make the wrong call.

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With a 1.5 handicap:
The underdog gets an additional 1.5 goals added to their final score.
Based on the final match result, the outcomes are as follows:
If the favorite wins by 2 goals or more → Bet on the favorite wins fully, bet on the underdog loses fully.
If the favorite wins by exactly 1 goal → Bet on the favorite loses fully, bet on the underdog wins fully.
If the match ends in a draw or the underdog wins → Bet on the favorite loses fully, bet on the underdog wins fully.
As you can see, in order to win a bet on the favorite, they must win by at least two goals. That’s why, in most cases when the handicap is 1.5, many bettors prefer to bet on the underdog—unless the favorite is clearly dominating or the underdog lacks any offensive power.
Should You Bet on Matches with a 1.5 Handicap?
New bettors often wonder whether they should place bets on matches with a 1.5 goal handicap. And if they do, how should they choose?
The decision is always up to you. But if you’re interested in a match and the bookmaker sportsbook offers a 1.5 handicap, it’s worth considering a bet.