1X2 vs Draw No Bet: What Is the Difference?
Learn how 1X2 and Draw No Bet football markets work, how draws are settled, and which risks and odds differences bettors should understand.
1X2 and Draw No Bet are different football betting markets. In a 1X2 bet, you choose the home win, draw, or away win, and all three outcomes are possible results. In a Draw No Bet wager, you choose either team, but your stake is returned if the match ends level.
How the 1X2 market works
The “1X2” format uses three outcome selections:
- 1: the home team wins
- X: the match ends in a draw
- 2: the away team wins
For example, in a match between Liverpool and Brighton, a 1X2 bet on Liverpool wins only if Liverpool finishes ahead after the bookmaker’s stated regulation-time period. A draw loses that selection, as does a Brighton win.
1X2 is also called the match result market, three-way betting, or home-draw-away betting. It is usually settled on the result after 90 minutes plus stoppage time in football. Extra time and penalties generally do not count unless the market rules specifically say otherwise.
How Draw No Bet works
Draw No Bet, often abbreviated to DNB, removes the draw as a losing outcome. You select the home or away team:
- If your team wins, the bet wins.
- If the match is drawn, your original stake is refunded.
- If your team loses, the bet loses.
Suppose you back Arsenal in an Arsenal–Chelsea Draw No Bet market. An Arsenal victory produces a winning return, a draw returns your stake, and a Chelsea victory loses the wager. This makes DNB similar to the “pick a team to win, with draw protection” concept, although the exact settlement depends on the sportsbook’s rules.
1X2 vs Draw No Bet compared
| Feature | 1X2 | Draw No Bet |
|---|---|---|
| Available outcomes | Home win, draw, away win | Home win or away win |
| What happens on a draw? | The draw selection wins; team selections lose | Stake is refunded |
| Typical odds | Often higher for a team selection | Usually lower because of draw protection |
| Main risk | A draw can defeat a team selection | Your team must still win to produce a profit |
| Common use | Predicting the exact match result category | Backing the stronger team while avoiding draw risk |
The main difference is the treatment of the draw. A 1X2 bet includes the draw as a separate outcome, while DNB voids the bet if the match finishes level. Because DNB reduces one way to lose, its odds are normally shorter than the equivalent team selection in the 1X2 market.
Worked example with odds
Imagine a sportsbook lists these prices for a match:
- Home win in the 1X2 market: 2.00
- Draw: 3.40
- Away win: 4.00
- Home team Draw No Bet: 1.45
A $10 1X2 bet on the home team at 2.00 returns $20 if the home side wins, including the stake. It loses if the match is drawn or the away side wins.
A $10 DNB bet on the home team at 1.45 returns $14.50 if the home side wins. If the game ends in a draw, the $10 stake is returned. If the away team wins, the stake is lost. The lower DNB price reflects the refund protection.
Odds vary by bookmaker, competition, market margin, team strength, injuries, and expected draw probability. Comparing the headline price alone is not enough; check whether the markets use the same match period and settlement rules.
When each market may be relevant
1X2 is the clearer choice when you want to assess all three possible match results, including the likelihood of a draw. It is also the standard market for a simple home-versus-away-versus-draw prediction.
Draw No Bet may be considered when you think one team has an advantage but expect a draw to be a meaningful possibility. It can reduce draw-related risk, but the lower odds mean the potential return is smaller. DNB is not a guaranteed-win market: a loss by the selected team still loses the bet.
For matches where the draw is especially likely, bettors sometimes compare DNB with the double chance market. Double chance selections cover two of the three results, such as home win or draw, but they generally offer lower odds and have different settlement mechanics. Asian Handicap 0 is another closely related market and often operates in a similar way to Draw No Bet, though the sportsbook’s rules should be checked.
Settlement rules to check
Before placing any football bet, read the market terms for details that can change the outcome:
- Match period: confirm whether the bet covers regulation time only or includes extra time.
- Abandoned matches: bookmakers may void or resettle bets according to competition-specific rules.
- Postponements: a rearranged fixture may have a cancellation deadline.
- Neutral venues: some markets still label teams as home and away even when the match is played elsewhere.
- Accumulator treatment: a void DNB leg may be removed from an accumulator rather than counted as a winning selection.
Terms can differ between operators and sports, so the market description takes priority over general definitions. Betting involves financial risk; use only money you can afford to lose and follow the rules that apply in your location.
