Handicap betting in cricket happens when in a game between two sides, one team is obviously much stronger than the other. For instance, in an Asia Cup game between India and Hong Kong, India are always expected to win. In such cases the bookmaker may offer a handicap of (say) 20 runs on India. Thus, Hong Kong will start the game with a virtual advantage. If Hong Kong lose the match by 19 runs or fewer, a punter who has backed Hong Kong will stand to win his bet.