Draw No Bet vs Double Chance: What Is the Difference?
Draw no bet and double chance both protect bettors from one match result, but they do so differently. Compare settlement rules, risk, odds and when each market may suit a football bet.
A football match can finish with a clear winner, yet the draw is often the result that makes a pre-match prediction uncomfortable. Draw no bet and double chance markets both offer a way to reduce that uncertainty, but they do not provide the same protection or returns.
The central difference is simple: draw no bet refunds a winning-side stake if the match ends level, while double chance makes two of the three regular match outcomes winners. That extra coverage usually comes with lower odds.
How draw no bet works
With a draw no bet selection, you choose either the home team or the away team. If that team wins, the bet wins. If the match is drawn, the original stake is returned. If the selected team loses, the bet loses.
For example, suppose you back Arsenal in a draw no bet market:
- Arsenal win: the bet wins.
- Draw: the stake is refunded.
- Arsenal lose: the bet loses.
This market is sometimes described as a European handicap of 0. It removes the draw from the settlement equation, making it useful when you believe one team has the stronger chance of winning but do not want to accept a draw as a full losing result.
Because the selection still needs to win for a profit, draw no bet odds are generally higher than the odds for backing that team in a double chance market. The refund on a draw is protection, not a winning return.
How double chance works
A double chance bet covers two of the three possible results in the standard 1X2 market. The available options are:
- 1X: the home team wins or the match is drawn.
- X2: the match is drawn or the away team wins.
- 12: either team wins, so only a draw loses.
If you select 1X, your bet wins when the home side wins or draws. It loses only if the away side wins. Unlike draw no bet, a winning double chance bet pays a profit when either covered result occurs; there is no stake refund for one of those outcomes.
Double chance is therefore broader match-result cover. It can be particularly attractive when a team has a strong record of avoiding defeat but is not reliable enough to back for an outright win.
Draw no bet vs double chance compared
| Feature | Draw no bet | Double chance |
|---|---|---|
| Outcomes covered | One team wins, with a draw refund | Two of the three match results |
| Draw result | Stake returned | Bet wins if the draw is included |
| Team loss | Bet loses | Bet may still win if that loss is not covered |
| Typical odds | Higher | Lower |
| Main purpose | Back a team while removing draw risk | Cover two match outcomes |
Consider a match between a strong home team and a cautious away side. A home draw no bet wager is profitable only if the home team wins, while a 1X double chance bet also succeeds if the contest ends level. The 1X selection has more ways to win, so bookmakers normally price it at shorter odds.
Which market offers better value?
Neither market is automatically better. The right choice depends on your assessment of the match and the price available.
Draw no bet may suit you when:
- you expect a particular team to win more often than not;
- the possibility of a draw is your main concern;
- you want more potential return than a double chance bet offers;
- you are comfortable losing if your selected team is beaten.
Double chance may suit you when:
- you think a team is unlikely to lose but are not confident it will win;
- the match could be tight or low scoring;
- the draw is a realistic result that you want included as a winning outcome;
- you prefer wider protection over higher odds.
A common mistake is to compare only the labels rather than the implied risk. Draw no bet does not cover defeat, and double chance does not usually offer a refund. Read the settlement terms and compare the available odds before placing a wager.
Examples from football betting
Imagine a league match in which the home side has performed well at home, while the visitors have struggled away. You might choose home draw no bet if your view is that the hosts have the better chance of winning, with the draw as the main threat.
If both teams have produced several draws and neither has shown consistent finishing, 1X double chance could be more logical. A level score would count as a successful result rather than returning the stake.
The 12 double chance market has a different purpose. It covers either team winning and loses only on a draw. It can appeal when a match is expected to be open, but it provides no protection against the result that draw no bet specifically neutralises.
Check the settlement rules before betting
Match markets can have conditions that affect settlement. Confirm whether the selection applies to the result after 90 minutes plus stoppage time or includes extra time and penalties. In most standard football match-result markets, extra time and penalties are excluded, but competition-specific markets can differ.
Also check what happens if a fixture is abandoned, postponed or played at a different venue. Sportsbooks may apply their own rules for these situations. Understanding the market is only part of the decision: compare prices, set a fixed budget and avoid treating reduced-risk betting as risk-free.
