Draw No Bet

What is Draw No Bet?

Draw No Bet, or simply DNB, is a market where you pick a winner but if the match ends in a draw, you get your stake back. Simple as that. You win if your team wins, you lose if your team loses, and if they draw, it’s as if nothing happened.

It’s the exact equivalent of an Asian Handicap 0. If you already know that concept, DNB will feel familiar. If not, think of it as a built-in anti-draw insurance on your bet.

This market exists because the draw is the great ghost of football betting. How many times have you backed a team that dominated the entire match, had 15 shots, 70% possession, and ended up drawing 0-0 or 1-1? DNB removes that pain. You don’t win on the draw, but you don’t lose either. Your bankroll lives to fight another day.

How does it work?

Imagine an Inter Milan vs Roma in Serie A. In the 1X2, Inter is at 1.75, draw at 3.60, Roma at 4.80.

Draw No Bet offers: Inter at 1.45, Roma at 3.20. Just two options, no draw.

You bet $200 on Inter DNB at 1.45. Three possible scenarios:

Inter wins 2-1: you collect $290. You profited $90. They draw 1-1: you get your $200 back. No win, no loss. Roma wins 0-1: you lose $200.

Compare with the 1X2: had you bet on Inter at 1.75, you’d have won $150 with the win but lost $200 on the draw. DNB gives you less profit ($90 vs $150) but protects you from the draw. It’s a tradeoff of return for safety.

DNB odds are always lower than 1X2 because you’re paying for that protection. The more probable a draw is in the match, the bigger the gap between the two prices. In matches where a draw is highly likely, the reduction is large. In matches where one team should clearly win, the difference is minimal.

When to bet Draw No Bet?

DNB is perfect when you trust a team but the draw worries you. Champions League matches between equally matched sides are the classic example. A Real Madrid vs Manchester City in the quarterfinals: you think Madrid at the Bernabéu can win, but it’s City and a draw is perfectly possible. DNB on Madrid gives you peace of mind.

It also works well in early matchdays of a league season, when teams haven’t found their form and results are unpredictable. Betting DNB in those matches protects you from the typical early-season draws.

Another ideal scenario: when you back an away side you consider undervalued. Backing the away win in the 1X2 is risky because home teams have natural advantage. But taking DNB on the away side protects you from the draw, which is the most likely result when a quality team visits a decent one. An Inter Milan visiting Lazio, for example.

The general rule: if when watching a match you think “I believe X wins but they could draw,” DNB is your market. If you think “X wins for sure,” stick with the 1X2 and collect more. If you think “I have no idea,” don’t bet.

Practical example

Match: Sevilla vs Villarreal, La Liga.

Sevilla at home has a decent record: 7 wins, 5 draws, 2 losses. Villarreal on the road is dangerous: 4 wins, 4 draws, 6 losses. The head-to-head shows 3 draws in their last 5 meetings. The draw is clearly a likely outcome.

1X2 odds: Sevilla 2.10, draw 3.30, Villarreal 3.60. DNB: Sevilla 1.55, Villarreal 2.40.

You decide to bet $250 on Sevilla DNB at 1.55 because you think Sevilla has the edge but the numbers tell you draws appear too often. The match ends 1-1. You get your $250 back, every cent of it.

If you’d bet Sevilla at 2.10 in the 1X2, you’d have lost $250. DNB saved your bankroll. Sure, if it had ended 2-1, you’d have won $137.50 with DNB versus $275 with 1X2. That’s the cost of insurance.

Common mistakes

1. Using DNB when a draw is very unlikely. If Manchester City plays at home against a newly promoted side and the draw is at 5.50, the implied probability is low (18%). In that case, paying for DNB protection isn’t worth it because it barely reduces your odds without adding much real safety. Go straight to the 1X2.

2. Believing DNB is a riskless bet. The refund only applies on a draw. If your team loses, you lose your money the same as in any other bet. DNB isn’t magic; it’s partial risk management. Don’t relax and stake amounts you can’t afford.

3. Not comparing with Double Chance. The 1X in Double Chance covers the same scenarios as the home-side DNB (win or draw), but instead of refunding you on the draw, it pays you. Double Chance has lower odds than DNB but always pays out on the win-or-draw scenario. Compare both and pick what fits your strategy.

4. Putting DNB in parlays without understanding the implications. If you include DNB in a parlay and that match ends in a draw, the selection is voided and the parlay continues with the rest. Your total odds drop because that selection is treated as if it didn’t exist. Some bettors don’t know this and are surprised when their parlay pays less than expected.

Frequently Asked Questions

What’s the difference between DNB and Asian Handicap 0?

None in practical terms. They’re exactly the same market with different names. Some books list it as DNB and others as AH 0. Odds should be identical. If you see a difference between the two at the same book, take the higher price.

Does DNB work for the first half?

Yes. You can bet DNB First Half, where if the first half ends in a draw you get your money back, and you only win if your team is leading at halftime. It’s an interesting market because many first halves end in a draw (roughly 40% in the major leagues), so the DNB protection has real value there.

When is DNB better than Double Chance?

When the DNB odds compensate for the lack of profit on a draw. If DNB pays 1.60 and Double Chance 1X pays 1.30, ask yourself: do I prefer winning $30 per $100 every time my team doesn’t lose, or winning $60 when they win and getting my stake back when they draw? If draws are frequent in this kind of fixture, DNB is superior because you’re not “buying” profit on draws at the cost of much lower odds. Run the numbers with the percentages you estimate and pick the more profitable option.