Complete Guide to Goal Kick Handicap Betting for Beginners

Reputable best online bookmaker offers continuously introduce new betting markets to keep players engaged. Popular ones like Over/Under, Asian Handicap, and 1×2 remain at the top of the list in football betting. Recently, a new type of Asian Handicap market has emerged—Goal Kick Handicap Betting—and it has quickly gained attention from many punters. So, what should beginners know before getting involved in this market?

Understanding Goal Kick Handicap Betting

From the name alone, it’s clear this is a rather unique bet. Although it has been around for some time, it’s still relatively unknown to many bettors.

In goal kick handicap betting, the count is based on each time the ball completely crosses the defending team’s goal line (without a goal being scored), and the goalkeeper restarts play with a goal kick from the penalty area. That counts as one goal kick.

Some bookmakers may exclude certain situations—such as free kicks taken from the 16.5m line or passes deliberately played back to the goalkeeper. These special cases depend on the bookmaker’s rules, so players must follow their specific terms and odds settings. Normally, you just predict which team will have more goal kicks. If you’re correct, you win; if not, the bookmaker takes your stake.

Rules of the Market

Unlike standard Asian Handicap betting, here you don’t predict an exact number of goal kicks. Bookmakers won’t set a fixed total—your task is simply to predict which team will have more goal kicks than the other.

Tips for Beginners in Goal Kick Handicap Betting

If you’re new to betting and unsure how to analyze odds for this market, don’t worry—w88, a trusted bookmaker, has compiled essential tips for you.

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1. Research the Teams You’re Betting On

Research is vital in any betting market, including goal kicks. Study the team you plan to bet on, focusing on:

Players’ fitness levels

Injuries, suspensions, or lineup changes

Coach’s experience and strategy

Tactical approach for the match

Head-to-head history between the two teams

Checking recent match results is also important. If a team has been performing well, their morale will likely be high. Conversely, consecutive losses can negatively impact confidence and performance.

2. Favor the Underdogs

In most betting markets, stronger teams have the advantage. But in goal kick handicap betting, the opposite can often be true—underdogs may actually have the upper hand.

Why? Stronger teams tend to dominate possession and attack constantly, forcing the weaker side’s goalkeeper to take more goal kicks after defending shots (whether they result in a save or miss). This means underdogs often rack up more goal kicks over the match.

This pattern is most common when there’s a clear skill gap between the two sides, which you can easily identify from league standings or form tables.

3. Avoid Going “All In”

“All in” betting—staking your entire bankroll on a single wager—is highly risky and strongly discouraged. Even if you’re confident, it’s safer to bet only a portion of your funds. If you’re very certain, limit yourself to about two-thirds of your bankroll at most.

Football is unpredictable, and even strong analyses can be proven wrong. Overconfidence, whether from personal judgment or advice from others, can lead to heavy losses.

4. Use the Early Match Window Wisely

Goal kick handicap betting usually runs throughout both halves, excluding extra time. Many bookmakers allow bets during the first 15 minutes of the first half—this is your golden window.

Use this time to:

Watch the match flow

See if your pre-match predictions hold true

Count a few early goal kicks from both teams

No matter how good your pre-match analysis is, real-time observation is more accurate. Those first 15 minutes can give you valuable insights to place a more confident bet.

5. Trust Your Own Judgment

In any betting market, trusting your own decisions is key. Losses are inevitable, especially for beginners. Other players may win due to experience, luck, or quick analysis, but you shouldn’t let that fuel overconfidence or reckless betting.

Stick to your own assessments, and don’t blindly follow the majority or even so-called expert predictions from bookmakers.

Final Thoughts

The above tips are especially useful for beginners in goal kick handicap betting, but even experienced bettors can benefit from them. If you want to explore exciting markets like this one, wintips is where you can enjoy a safe and engaging betting experience. Good luck!