Draw no bet meaning: Explaining a popular betting market

You are probably reading this because you have seen the “draw no bet” or “dnb” betting market in a Sportsbook or an article and are wondering what it means.

We will gladly explain everything you need to know about the betting market, like where it is used and what it means. We will also give you some examples so you can understand them better.

Whatever you decide to do, check out our football betting tips today using some of the best football betting sites in the United Kingdom.

Draw No Bet Explained

Draw no bet sounds complicated if you have no idea what it means but the truth is that it is straightforward. The betting market is becoming quite popular among bettors who prefer not to take risks when betting. Draw no bet, or dnb allows you to wager either on the “home” or “away” outcome on three-way markets.

You are probably asking yourself what happens to the third possible outcome. Well, the “draw” possibility is scratched out. This means that if a draw, also called a “tie,” occurs, your stake will be returned in full.

When placing these types of bets, you should not expect great odds. The odds will most likely be lowered because of the type of betting market and because it has less risk for customers. That is why betting markets like draw no bet and double chance usually have worse odds than match winner or correct score, for example.

Remember that not all bookies offer this betting option for different sports, mainly because sports like Basketball and Tennis cannot end in a draw (because more time is added or a unique rule is put in place, like the tiebreaker in Tennis). This leaves the betting option only for select sports, like football.

Some bookies might offer the draw no bet market option for the first and second half of matches in addition to the full-time match market. Below, we will give you a couple of examples across different sports.

Sports that feature draw no bet market

Bookies cannot offer draw no bet wagering on all sports because not all sports end in a tie. The most popular examples of sports that can end in a draw/tie are Cricket and Football, which can also be great sports to bet on using the acca technique. Sports that can end in a tie/draw and where the betting market can be applied are:

  • American football (rarely)
  • Soccer
  • Cricket
  • Australian rules
  • Chess
  • Ice hockey
  • Boxing
  • Horse Racing
  • Other Racing Sports

Remember that some of these sports have specific rules in place so that the match is not too long, as the tiebreaker rule in Tennis. This mostly ensures that the match will not end in a tie, and that's why you don't see the “draw no bet” or “dnb” market selection on Tennis or Sumo (where matches are usually rescheduled, forfeited, or more breaks are added if a draw occurs).

Examples of Draw No Bet Wagers and Outcomes

Let's say you want to bet on a match between Tottenham and Southampton. The odds for each of the two outcomes of this hypothetical match are listed below:

  • Southampton – 21/20 (2.05)
  • Tottenham – 7/10 (1.70)

If we were talking about the game-winner betting market, the odds would look something like this:

  • Southampton – 21/10 (3.10)
  • Tottenham – 29/20 (2.45)

Because the “draw” outcome is taken away, the odds are lowered, so it is fair game.

Let us say that on the “draw no bet” betting market we listed above, you bet £20 that the Spurs will win the match. If they do win, you stand to win £21, and the total pay-out you will receive will be £41. If the match ends in a draw, you will receive the full amount (£20) of your stake back, and it would be as if you did not place the bet in the first place. If Southampton wins the match, you will lose the £20 you bet on the event.

Similar betting markets

There are similar betting markets you can try if a bookmaker does not provide the “draw no bet” market. One example is the “double chance” market because it still gives you the same percent security as the “draw no bet” market. When placing a double chance bet, you back two out of the three outcomes in three-way markets, for example:

  • Home and draw
  • Home and away
  • Away and draw

The odds on this type of market wouldn't be as good as the match betting market, but if you prefer to place low-risk bets, this is perfect for you.

Another similar, or some might even say the same betting market, is a variation of an Asian Handicap. Only Asian Handicaps with a 0 handicap are the same as the “draw no bet” market selection. If the match ends in a draw, you will get your stake back. There are many different ways to play that are available using this technique. You have at least got the insurance that you are having fun while you are at it.

Premier League DNB odds for the weekend

Match Date/Time (UK) Home win (DNB) Away win (DNB)

Sunderland vs Nottingham Forest

Fri 24th Apr, 8pm

10/11

10/11

Fulham vs Aston Villa

Sat 25th Apr, 12:30pm

1/1

20/23

West Ham United vs Everton

Sat 25th Apr, 3pm

7/10

6/5

Liverpool vs Crystal Palace

Sat 25th Apr, 30pm

1/5

21/5

Wolverhampton Wanderers vs Tottenham

Sat 25th Apr, 3pm

5/2

3/10

Arsenal vs Newcastle United

Sat 25th Apr, 5:30pm

2/11

9/2

Manchester United vs Brentford

Mon 27th Apr, 8pm

2/5

2/1

Our weekend picks for the DNB market

Wolverhampton Wanderers vs Tottenham – Wolverhampton Wanderers (DNB)

Our first pick is Wolverhampton Wanderers as they host Tottenham at Molineux on Saturday afternoon. While Wolves are bottom of the league and relegated, they have been better under Rob Edwards.

All the pressure is on Spurs, who have yet to win a league game in 2026. Wolves' 5/2 DNB odds are certainly tempting.

Manchester United vs Brentford – Brentford (DNB)

Monday Night Football sees Manchester United host Brentford at Old Trafford. The Red Devils lost 2-1 to Leeds United last time out on home soil.

Meanwhile, Brentford are pushing for a first-ever European campaign, and have caused plenty of upsets here. We are backing the Bees for a positive result at 2/1 DNB odds.

Frequently asked questions regarding draw no bet

What do I do if the bookie does not offer to draw any bet?

You can request the betting market if the bookmaker offers the “request a bet” feature, or you can create the same outcome by dividing your stake by the decimal odds for a draw. Place the amount you got from the calculation on the event to end in a draw and the rest of your stake on your favourite team. This is essentially the same as the “draw no bet” market.

Can I combine the draw no bet market into a multiple bet or an accumulator?

Yes, you can.

Will the whole accumulator be voided if there is a draw no bet selection and the match ends in a draw?

No, your accumulator bet should not be voided. This depends on the bookmaker you are betting with; some might decide to void the whole wager, while others might void only the draw, not the bet selection, and leave the rest of the wager.

Summary

The draw no bet is a popular betting market, especially when it comes to football betting and many people enjoy placing these types of bets as singles or combine them in accumulators because of the lower risk involved. By now, you should already know what this bet stands for, and you can start including it in your selections. Who can resist low-risk wagers?

Most of these operators also offer some amazing welcome offers for new customers. You can check the following articles to know more about them:


Adam is a lead writer on Football Whispers. He is a big Arsenal fan, and also follows his local club Wealdstone, made famous by The Wealdstone Raider, who he has interviewed. Adam also follows darts, boxing, cricket and tennis, among many other sports.