Draw no bet, or DNB, removes the draw from a match for you. You back a team to win, and if the game ends level your stake comes straight back. It is the safety net between a straight match-result bet and a double chance, and it shines when you fancy a side but the draw worries you. This guide explains how draw no bet works, what you give up for the insurance, and when the shorter price is worth taking.
Key takeaways
- Back a team on DNB and a draw refunds your stake in full.
- You only win if your team wins; you only lose if your team loses.
- The price is shorter than a straight win bet because the draw risk is removed.
- DNB suits tight games where you lean one way but fear a stalemate.
- Double chance covers more outcomes but pays less. Pick the one that matches your read.
What draw no bet means
A standard match-result bet has three outcomes: home win, draw, away win. Back the home side and a draw loses. Draw no bet takes that middle result off the table. You back a team to win; if they win, you collect; if they draw, you get your money back; if they lose, the bet is down. In effect you are paying a little in price for the draw to be voided.
How your stake is returned on a draw
The refund is the whole point. Stake £20 on a team at draw no bet and the match finishes 1-1, and £20 lands back in your account. No profit, no loss. Some bookmakers settle DNB as a single market; others build it from two bets behind the scenes (your team to win, plus the draw as an insurance leg). Either way the result for you is the same: the draw is neutral.
Draw no bet versus the straight win price
Insurance costs money, and here it costs you odds. Say a team is 2.10 to win outright. On draw no bet the same team might be 1.65, because the bookmaker no longer pays out the times the game ends level. You are trading a chunk of the price for protection against the draw. Whether that trade is worth it depends on how likely you think a draw is. If two evenly matched sides look set for a tight game, the draw is a real threat and DNB earns its keep. If you expect a comfortable win, the straight price pays more for the same call. Our odds converter turns both prices into a percentage so you can compare the implied chances side by side.
Draw no bet versus double chance
Both markets reduce risk, but they do it differently. Draw no bet refunds your stake on a draw. Double chance pays out on a draw if you backed the right combination, but at much shorter odds because you are covering two of the three results. The quick rule:
- Draw no bet: you want the win, and a draw to cost you nothing.
- Double chance: you would take a draw as a result and want a return for it.
DNB returns more when your team wins; double chance returns something when they draw. Choose based on whether a draw is “no harm” or “still a win” in your eyes. For a different way to handle mismatches, the Asian handicap also removes the draw and adds a goals buffer.
When the price is worth it
Draw no bet makes most sense in three spots:
- Tight, evenly matched games where the draw is a live outcome.
- Backing an away side that you fancy to nick it but could easily be held.
- Building safer multiples, where one stalemate refunding instead of losing keeps a slip alive.
It makes least sense when you expect a clear winner. If a strong favourite should win at a canter, you are paying for insurance you will not use, and the straight win price (or a handicap) gives you more for the same opinion.
Which bookmakers price it best
Draw no bet odds vary more than you might think, because firms build the market from their own draw prices. Shopping two or three bookmakers for the same selection often turns up a meaningfully better number. Our bookmaker reviews flag which sites offer the deepest football markets and the keenest prices, and the betting odds guide helps you spot the value once you are comparing.
Used in the right game, DNB is a tidy way to back a winner without sweating the draw. Keep stakes sensible, and if betting ever stops being fun, our responsible gambling tools can help.
Frequently asked questions
What happens to a draw no bet if the game is a draw?
Your full stake is returned. You make no profit and take no loss. You only win if the team you backed wins, and you only lose if they lose.
Why are draw no bet odds lower than the win price?
Because the bookmaker refunds your stake on a draw instead of keeping it. You are paying for that insurance with a shorter price than a straight match-result win bet.
Is draw no bet better than double chance?
Neither is “better” outright. Draw no bet returns more when your team wins and refunds a draw. Double chance returns something on a draw but at shorter odds. Pick draw no bet if a draw is no harm to you, and double chance if you would happily take a draw as a result.
Can I use draw no bet in an accumulator?
Yes. Many bettors add DNB legs to multiples so that a drawn match refunds that leg rather than losing the whole slip. Check how your bookmaker settles a void leg within an acca, as it usually recalculates the remaining selections.
