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Draw no Bet Strategy

Publication date: 01/02/2023

Draw no Bet is a bet on one of the teams to win, which is settled as a "return" in case of a draw. This type of bet is relevant for sports where the regulations stipulate three outcomes - a win for each side or a draw (1X2).


In this article, we will explain what this betting market is all about and give specific examples of how a Draw no Bet accumulator works.

What is a Draw no Bet?

A Draw no Bet turns an event with three potential outcomes (1, X and 2) into an event with two potential outcomes (1 and 2). The settlement of DNB betting is simple and involves these options:

  • The selected team wins - the bet wins.
  • The selected team loses - the bet loses.

  • A draw - the bet amount is returned to the account.

If you place a bet on one of the teams to win on the "Match Winner" market, a draw means you lose the bet. A Handicap 0 offers you insurance in case of a draw, which means you will get your bet amount refunded.


The bettor will, of course, have to “pay” for this insurance. The odds for Draw no Bet are considerably lower than the odds for a bet on the "Match Winner" market.

Match Result Odds

Match Result Odds

Draw No Bet Odds

Draw No Bet Odds

Draw no Bet: bookmakers symbols in sports betting

The Draw no Bet market is shown as a separate element amongst the match’s markets. It is usually listed under "Main" and "Popular" markets. Often, the full name of the market, Draw No Bet, is used.


When adding an event to the bet slip, the designation "Draw No Bet - team name" is most commonly used.

Draw No Bet designation in the bet slip

Draw No Bet designation in the bet slip

Football is one of the few sports where DNB betting is used. One out of every four or five football matches ends in a draw. For example, the average draw percentage in the English Premier League from the 2017/18 season to the 2021/22 season is 22.8%.


For an example of Draw No Bet, let's take the World Cup match between the Netherlands and Argentina. We’ll compare the odds for this market with the odds for the "Match Winner" market. In both cases, bets are accepted for the regular time of the match (90 minutes) + injury time.

Header

Netherlands

Draw

Argentine

Win

3.60

3.10

2.20

Draw no Bet

2.37

-

1.53

Let's say you believe that Argentina, the favourite in this match, will win. You're prepared to bet £20, but you're not sure which market to choose - Match Winner or Draw no Bet. Let's take a brief look at the options:

  • A £20 bet on Argentina to win on the Match Winner market. The bookmaker offers great odds of 2.20 and a large potential payout (a total payout of £44). The bettor will only be satisfied with a win for Argentina in regular time. If the match ends in a draw, or the Netherlands win, a £20 bet is lost.
  • A £20 bet on Argentina to win on the Draw no Bet market. When compared to the Match Winner market, the disadvantage is obvious. The bet is placed at odds of 1.53, which is lower than 2.20. The total payout in the case of Argentina's win will be £30.6. But in case of a draw, the initial £20 bet will be returned to your balance. The bet will only be lost if the Netherlands win in regular time.

Note that DNB betting only takes into account the regular time of the match, unless otherwise stated. Some bookmakers allow you to place a Draw no Bet on the entire match or on individual halves.

Example of DNB market with Full Time, 1 Half and 2 Half division

Example of DNB market with Full Time, 1 Half and 2 Half division

How does the DNB work in Aссa bets

We will explain how a Draw No Bet accumulator works separately. When calculating the final odds, all selections are multiplied. For example, the customer has placed a DNB bet on three events with odds of 1.63, 1.44 and 2.02. We multiply those values and get (1.63*1.44*2.02)=4.74. A £20 bet would guarantee a payout of £20*4.74=£94.82, but only if all three of our teams win.


Let's assume the match with odds of 2.02 ended in a draw. If that is the case, then the odds of 2.02 will turn into 1.00. Let's re-calculate, and we get (1.63*1.44*1.00)=2.34. Now the potential payout from a £20 bet turns into £46.94 instead of £94.82 previously.


But if at least one of the selections loses, the bettor loses £20.

Best Sports That Feature Draw No Bet Market

The Draw no Bet market is available for sports that involve the possibility of a draw. Normally, such sporting events are time limited and do not necessarily determine a winner. Therefore, DNB cannot be applied to tennis, motorsports or volleyball.


The most popular sport for applying the Draw no Bet strategy is football. Also, this betting market is available in cricket, Australian football, boxing and chess.


A curious situation is with basketball and ice hockey. In case of a draw in these sports, there are ways of deciding the winner - overtime (basketball) and overtime + shootout (ice hockey).


Bookmakers have a separate approach for these sports. They initially provide two betting options for a win: including OT and not including OT. With the no OT option, a draw in regular time will mean losing a bet. The Draw no Bet format in basketball or hockey has the right to life, as it will provide insurance and a refund in case of a draw.

How to make DNB prediction by Odds?

The odds on the Draw No Bet market reflect the balance of power. Favourites are traditionally given low odds, while underdogs are given high. But if there is no significant difference in the class of the opponents, the odds difference will be small. This might be a good time for the DNB.


If you're planning to place a bet on the Draw No Bet market, look for a situation where all three conditions are met:

  • You have doubts about whether the team will win.
  • You think a team win is more likely than a draw.

  • You want to bet at better odds compared to Double Chance.

Draw No Bet Betting Strategies

The Draw no Bet format is used in the following situations:

  • In a match between equal teams. If the opponents are about even, the probability of a draw is high. Therefore, a Draw no Bet will be useful as a backup.
  • Betting on a motivated underdog. If one team needs to collect points and the other team is not too dependent on the result, DNB betting might be a good option to bet on the underdog. 

  • Live betting at the end of the match when the score is tied. The odds on Draw no Bet don't look very attractive, although the chances of losing money are also low. In this case, you should bet on the team that has the edge in the game, hoping to see a goal scored.
  • Live betting on the favourite that is losing. If the favourites are losing during the match, they will definitely try to come back. If the team at least evens the score, you won't lose. And in the case of a comeback, you'll win with high odds.

Are DNB a good choice for you?

Draw no bet strategy reduces the risk of losing a bet on a win. However, it is very difficult to assess whether the odds drop proportionately with the probability of a draw. If you think this probability is high, it may be better to bet on a draw at the end of regular time with high odds.


DNB is suitable for bettors who prefer betting carefully. Because of the lower odds, you consciously give up some of your potential winnings, but you get extra insurance.

Pros and Cons of Draw no Bet

Pros:

  • Insures a bet on a win against a draw.
  • Can be used for single bets, accumulators and systems.
  • Lots of options to use in practice.
  • Available at almost all bookmakers.
  • DNB can be placed on the whole match or individual match periods.

Cons:

  • Lower odds compared to the "Regular time result" market.
  • This market is not available for all sports.
  • Bets on the DNB market sometimes do not count towards bonus wagering.

FAQ

Is Draw No Bet the Same as Double Chance?

No, these are two different bets. With a double chance, such as 1X, you win the bet in the event of a win for Team 1 or a draw at the end of the match. With Draw no Bet, you only win if Team 1 wins. In case of a draw, the bet amount is refunded. Therefore, the odds for a Double Chance market are lower than the odds for a DNB market.

Are Draw No Bet and Asian Handicap 0 the Same?

Yes. Asian Handicap 0 will produce an identical result as Draw no Bet for each of the possible outcomes (win for your team - win, draw - return, loss for your team - loss).