How Draw No Bet Odds Work
Learn how draw no bet betting works, how odds are calculated, what happens if the match ends level, and how this market compares with standard match-result bets.
Draw no bet odds offer a way to back a team without losing your stake if the match finishes in a draw. You choose either the home team or the away team. If your selection wins, the bet pays out at the listed odds; if the game is drawn, your original stake is returned; if your selection loses, the stake is lost.
What does draw no bet mean?
A draw no bet, often shortened to DNB, is a two-way football betting market. The draw is removed from the standard home, draw, away market, so the bookmaker settles the bet only according to whether your chosen team wins or loses.
- Selected team wins: the bet wins.
- The match is drawn: the bet is void and the stake is refunded.
- Selected team loses: the bet loses.
For example, suppose Manchester United is priced at 1.80 in a draw no bet market against Everton. A £20 stake returns £36 in total if Manchester United wins, including the £20 stake. If the match ends in a draw, the £20 is returned. If Everton wins, the full £20 stake is lost.
How draw no bet odds are calculated
DNB odds are usually lower than the equivalent odds on the same team in a standard match-winner market. That is because the draw outcome does not count as a losing result: it leads to a refund instead.
Decimal odds show the total return for each unit staked. The basic calculation is:
Total return = stake × decimal odds
At odds of 1.75, a £50 winning bet returns £87.50, made up of £50 stake and £37.50 profit. A drawn match returns the original £50 but produces no profit.
Bookmakers set DNB prices by estimating the probability of a home win, away win, and draw, then adjusting the prices to include their margin. Because the draw probability is excluded from the win-or-lose settlement, DNB odds can be useful when you believe one team has a clear advantage but still see a meaningful chance of a stalemate.
Draw no bet compared with other football markets
The closest alternatives are the standard match-result market and double chance betting, but they provide different levels of protection and different potential returns.
| Market | What happens in a draw? | Typical risk and return |
|---|---|---|
| Standard match result | A bet on either team loses | Higher risk, usually higher odds |
| Draw no bet | Stake is refunded | Medium risk and medium odds |
| Double chance | A bet covering a team and the draw wins | Lower risk, usually lower odds |
With double chance betting, you can select home win or draw, away win or draw, or either team to win. Unlike DNB, a draw is a winning result rather than a void bet. Double chance odds are therefore often lower because two of the three possible match outcomes are covered.
When can draw no bet be useful?
DNB markets are commonly considered when a match appears relatively even but one team has a stronger underlying case. Factors may include home advantage, recent performances, injuries, expected line-ups, tactical matchups, and the difference between league and cup competition.
The market can also suit bettors who do not want a draw to count as a loss but who want a higher potential return than a double chance selection. That does not make DNB risk-free: a defeat still loses the stake, and the odds must be assessed against the estimated chance of each outcome.
Compare the available DNB price with the team’s likely probability of winning. A short price may offer little value if the team has only a modest advantage, especially when the opponent is difficult to beat. Price movement before kickoff can also reflect team news, weather, suspensions, or changes to the expected starting lineup.
How draw no bet bets are settled
Always check the bookmaker’s market rules before placing a wager. Most football DNB markets are settled on the result after 90 minutes plus stoppage time. Extra time and penalties usually do not count unless the market specifically says otherwise.
Postponements, abandoned matches, and changes to the scheduled venue can have separate settlement rules. Some bookmakers also apply different rules to competitions, friendlies, and matches played over two legs. In an accumulator, a drawn DNB selection is normally treated as a void leg, so the bet is recalculated using the remaining selections. The exact treatment depends on the operator.
Common mistakes with DNB odds
- Confusing a refund with a win: a draw returns the stake but does not generate profit.
- Ignoring the price: protection against a draw does not automatically make a bet good value.
- Assuming extra time counts: standard match markets usually apply to regular time only.
- Overlooking team news: a late injury or rotated lineup can materially change the balance of a match.
- Calling it risk-free: the selected team still has to avoid defeat, and a loss normally means the stake is gone.
Draw no bet odds are best understood as a trade-off: you give up some potential return compared with a regular team-to-win bet in exchange for a stake refund if the match ends level. Read the settlement terms, compare prices, and only bet amounts you can afford to lose.
