Handball betting guide for 2024

Handball is a sport with a large global following. It's also popular in Canada, especially in Alberta and Quebec. Handball is fast, flowing and great fun to bet on.

In this guide we'll give you an introduction to handball betting and tell you what to look out for on sites that offer handball odds. We'll look at:

How to sign up for a handball betting site
How handball odds work
How to bet live on handball

Top handball betting sites in Canada

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Enjoy a safe & fun experience We only list fully licensed and regulated sites.

How to bet on handball

Once you feel you are ready to bet on handball, decide which site you want to use
When you get to the homepage, it will be easy to find a 'Register' or 'Sign Up' button
Put all the details required into the registration form
At this point there may be a security question and answer that you should input for extra protection
Choose your username and password
If you have been given a promotional code, enter it to generate a bonus
Confirm you are old enough to bet, then agree to the site's terms and conditions

An introduction to handball

Handball is an indoor team game played on a court measuring 40m x 20m. The team scoring more goals wins.

There are seven players on each team, six outfielders and a goalkeeper
Each match comprises two periods of 30 minutes each
The object of the game is to throw the ball into the opponents' goal. Goals are two metres high and three wide
If the scores are level at full-time, there are two periods of overtime of five minutes each
If the scores are still level, there is a penalty shootout
World championships are now held in alternate years; they are dominated by European nations
Canada's best performance in the men's world championship was 15th in 1978, in the women's it was 10th in the same year
Indoor handball has been an Olympic sport for men since 1972 and for women since 1976. Canada has never won a medal
Canada competes in the Pan American Handball Champions, which have been traditionally dominated by Cuba, Brazil and Argentina
Canada's women's team were champions in 1989 and the men were runners-up in 1979

How handball odds work

Betting on handball is similar to the action on other head-to-head team sports. This is a basic guide to how the odds work.

Take the example of a match between Canada and France. The odds, expressed as decimals, may read:

Canada

3.2

France

1.5

If you stake C$10 on France, the favourite, you get back C$15. If you put C$10 on Canada, the underdogs, your return is C$32.

Odds can be expressed in other formats, such as fractional and moneyline (also known as American) odds.

But most sportsbooks let you swap between systems to let you choose how you view prices. Try out our Odds Calculator to see how they compare.

Handball betting options

Match bets

The point spread

Also known as handicap betting. The sportsbook sets a figure predicting by how many points one side will win, then gives you a 50-50 choice. You decide whether you think one side will win - or lose - by more than that margin.

Eg:

Canada
-5.5
1.90

Croatia
+5.5
1.90
The moneyline

This time there isn't a handicap, simply a straight choice. Which team is going to win the match?

Eg:

Canada
1.70

Brazil
2.25
Total points - over or under

How many points do you think both teams will score in total? If you think it'll be a higher-scoring match than the sportsbook, the overs are for you.

Eg:

Over
60.5
1.90

Under
60.5
1.90
Half bets

Which side will score more points in the first half?

Eg:

Canada
1.75

Argentina
2.15
Prop bets

Proposition bets, as they are more formally known, do not relate to the outcome of the match. These are special markets on events within a game.

Eg:

Canada to score
the first goal
2.2

Types of handball betting bonuses

Given the amount of competition out there, sportsbooks know that they need to go the extra mile to incentivize today's bettors to sign up with them - and to stick around.

That's why many offer new and existing customers various types of bonuses, the most common of which we've listed below:

Welcome bonus
- When you sign up for a sportsbook as a new customer, you get a free bet as a reward for your decision
- This is very common among modern sportsbooks, though the bonus can take many forms
- We strongly advise you to check the T&Cs so you can be sure the bonus is the real thing
Enhanced odds
- If there's a big event coming up, it's a good time to look out for enhanced odds
- These usually apply to the result of a match, but sometimes they relate to a prop market
- Stake limits may apply, but this offer tends to be open to existing customers as well as new ones
VIP club
- Sportsbooks sometimes try to give regular bettors extra value by inviting them to join a VIP club
- The idea is to make a customer feel special and included - and it's a way of promoting special offers to them
- VIP status sometimes will sometimes win you a free bet or enhanced price that less loyal customers will not get

Mobile handball betting

Everyone in Canada, it seems, has a smartphone. With the betting industry being ultra-competitive, operators vie to make their odds as mobile-friendly as possible.

You'll be able to use betting apps and sites on all types of devices, such as Android and iPhone models. This makes mobile handball betting as straightforward as it can be. As long as you have an internet connection, you'll be able to wager quickly and easily.

What is handball live betting?

This is a method of wagering after the game has started
Sportsbooks will offer odds that fluctuate quickly according to the way the match flows
You can stake on markets such as who wins the next half
You can still wager on the overall outcome
Bettors enjoy trying to move fast and outsmart sportsbooks as the action unfolds

Brief timeline of handball

The first set of rules is written by a Danish gym teacher, Holger Nielsen, as the sport grows in popularity in Denmark, Germany, Norway and Sweden

1906

Field handball, an outdoor version of the sport, is played by men at the Berlin Olympics

1936

The International Handball Federation (IHF) is formed

1946

Hosts Sweden win the second men's World Championship, 16 years after the first

1954

Handball Canada is founded to grow the sport across the nation

1962

Handball joins the Olympic programme for men, with the women's sport following in Montreal for the next edition four years later

1972

Canada's men finish runners-up to Cuba in the inaugural Pan American championship. They have since taken Bronze in 1983 and 2004

1979

Canada's women win the Pan American championship, they were runners-up in 1986, 1991 and 1997

1989

Canada's women finish 20th in the World Championship. They have not qualified since

1997

Canada finishes 23rd in its most recent appearance at the men's World Championship

2005

The IHF estimates there are 19 million players across 166 member federations

2009

Brazil wins the women's Pan American title for the 10th time in 11 tournaments

2017

Denmark wins the men's world title for the first time in 24 participations

2019

How we review the best handball sites

Licensing

We check for licensing and certification on sites offering SSL encryption

Security

We ensure that all our recommended sites are safe and trustworthy to give you peace of mind

Range of bets

The site in question needs to offer a wide selection of handball markets

Bonuses

Sportsbooks that go the extra mile to give more value to bettors score very highly with us

Payment options

We award extra kudos to sportsbooks that offer plenty of choice - and larger payout percentages

FAQs

What are the best handball betting sites?

The number of handball betting sites is constantly growing, and it can be confusing to know where to go.

Use our guide to find the best places to bet on this exciting sport. That should help you find a site that is fully licensed and offers SSL encryption.

The best sportsbooks offer a wide variety of ways to wager on a game. They also feature bonuses when you sign up, and reward regular customers too.

Where can I bet on handball?

One of the happy consequences of the digital age is that you can now bet on sporting action wherever you are in Canada - relaxing at home or travelling to work.

Most leading sportsbooks now offer extensive markets on the big handball action taking place all over the world.

How do I bet on handball?

You will be able to place bets through your desktop, laptop or smartphone. Most modern sportsbooks have state-of-the-art, user-friendly apps that make betting a straightforward process.

Is handball betting legal in Canada?