Popular throughout much of Europe, handball is a game played by teams of seven (one goalkeeper and six outcourt players) across two 30-minute halves. Whilst versions of handball were played throughout northern Europe in the 19th century, the modern rules were first published in Berlin in 1917.
With its fast, aggressive pace of play and strategic depth, handball is an exciting game to watch. And with a wide range of handball betting markets to choose from – across multiple national leagues and international competitions – it’s an ideal sport to bet on too.
To get you set up with handball betting, we’ll explain how handball betting odds work and how to bet on a range of handball competitions. Plus we’ll give you some top handball betting tips.
How do Handball Betting Odds Work?
All the odds for our handball bets are written as fractional odds. An example of this is odds of 3/1 that Bergen Håndball will beat Fjellhammer. These odds (3/1) mean you’d make three times the amount you wager on a winning bet. So, if you bet £1 at 3/1 and Bergen Håndball wins, you’ll get £3 back. Your £1 stake will also be returned to you, for a total of £4.
The odds you’ll see for our handball betting markets are a judgment of how likely a bet is to happen. Odds of 3/1 that Bergen Håndball will beat Fjellhammer means that if the two teams played four times, we’d expect Bergen Håndball to win three of those four and Fjellhammer to win once. Handball betting odds are calculated based on a range of factors, like:
● The current form of teams
● The record of head-to-head matches between teams
● Player form, injuries, and suspensions
● Home-ground advantage
● Team playing styles
● The importance of the match
● Line-up changes or last-minute team updates
You’ll find up-to-date odds for a selection of handball betting markets here at BoyleSports. Our most popular handball bets include:
● Match Betting: Bet on the home or away team to win, or bet on a draw.
● Match Handicap: Bet on the home or away team winning with a goals handicap applied, such as plus 1.5 goals for the underdog or minus 1.5 goals for the favourite.
● Match Total Goals: Bet on the total goals scored in a match being over or under a certain amount, such as over or under 57.5.
● 1st Half Goals Over: Bet on the 1st half goals being over or under a certain amount.
● Total Corners Over: Bet on the total number of corners in a match being over or under a certain amount.
● In-Play Bets: Bet live during handball matches.
● Outright Bets: Bet on the overall result of leagues and tournaments.
How Do I Bet on the European Handball Championships with BoyleSports?
The European Handball Championships are held biannually in the even-numbered years between the World Championship. It is Europe’s premier national handball competition, with tournaments for both men’s and women’s teams.
The European Championship begins with 24 teams playing in a preliminary league round of six groups of four sides each. The top two nations from each group progress to the main round of two leagues of six. The top two sides from each group then play each other in a knockout stage of a semi-final and final.
Of the 16 men’s European Handball Championships played up to 2024, Sweden has the most wins with five, with France close behind on four wins.
Every two years, as the European Handball Championships are played, you’ll find our full range of handball betting markets available to you – from Match Betting and Over/Unders on goals scored to In-Play handball bets and Outrights.
How do I Bet on International Handball Competitions with BoyleSports?
International competitions exhibit some of the best handball play and often see unexpected upsets. You’ll find handball betting markets and handball odds at BoyleSports for all the top international competitions, including:
● IHF World Men's Handball Championship: The top title in men’s handball, played every two years on odd years.
● IHF World Women's Handball Championship: The highest international title in women’s handball. Like the men’s tournament, it's held every two years on odd years.
● European Men's Handball Championship: The premier European handball tournament, held every two years on even years, to complement the World Championship.
● European Women's Handball Championship: The women’s version of the European tournament, also held every two years on even years.
● Olympic Handball: Handball has been an Olympic sport since 1972 for men’s handball and 1976 for women’s handball.
● South and Central American Men's Handball Championship: Held every two years on even years, featuring six Central and South American nations.
● North America and Caribbean Championship: Also held every two years on even years, with seven participating nations, including the US, Canada, Puerto Rico and Greenland.
● Asian Handball Championship: Held every two years on even years, featuring 28 nations from across Asia, as well as Australia and New Zealand.
How Do I Bet on Women's Handball with BoyleSports?
Women’s handball is as popular and just as competitive and exciting as the men’s game. You’ll find a range of handball betting markets and handball betting odds at BoyleSports for women’s handball, including:
● IHF World Women's Handball Championship
● European Women's Handball Championship
● Olympic Handball
● EHF European Champions League
● Ligue Butagaz Énergie (France), also known as the Championnat de France Féminin de Handball
● Women’s Handball Bundesliga (Germany)
● Liga Guerreras Iberdrola (Spain)
● REMA 1000-ligaen (Norway)
● Gjensidige Kvindeliga (Denmark)
What is the Most Profitable Way to Bet on Handball with BoyleSports?
You can’t win every bet, but you can maximise your chances of being successful by betting with your head and by following these handball betting tips:
● Follow the teams and players closely: Research team and player form to understand how teams are performing.
● Analyse head-to-head records: Study how teams have performed against each other in recent matches, as some teams may consistently outperform others.
● Consider home vs. away form: Home-court advantage is often significant in handball, but some teams can have spells where they play better away from home.
● Pay attention to team depth: Handball is physically demanding, and team depth can be crucial. Teams with strong benches tend to maintain performance better throughout matches.
● Understand the tournament format: In knock-out tournaments, teams may play more conservatively than in league matches, impacting the match's flow and scoring.
● Analyse the statistics: Learn to understand and analyse handball stats to get insight into the game and expected performance.
● Understand the bets you place: Ensure you know the details of the bets you’re making, including being clear on how you win.
● Place In-Play bets: Take advantage of our live betting opportunities to capitalise on developments during play.
● Diversify the bets you place: Spread your risk by betting across matches to ensure you’re not putting all your eggs in one basket.
● Look for value bets: Look for bets where you think the odds are shorter than the ones offered by bookmakers.
● Gamble responsibly: Set yourself a limit and don’t exceed it. Don’t bet when you’re intoxicated or are in a heightened emotional state.
Bet on the Handball with BoyleSports
Whether you’re betting on the IHF World Handball Championships, handball at the Olympics, or the Ligue Butagaz Énergie, you’ll find betting markets and the latest handball odds right here at BoyleSports. Join us now and place your first bet on handball today.
