A handicap is a theoretical advantage or disadvantage applied to a participant when calculating a market's result.
Check which participant it applies to, along with its sign and number. In football, for example, a −1 handicap subtracts one goal from that team's result for the calculation.
Check the specific type and rules: European handicaps, Asian handicaps and fractional lines are not interpreted in the same way. To understand a particular bet, review its exact selection and the applicable rule.