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's 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's 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 shouldn't 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 can't 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 can't 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 isn't too long, as the tiebreaker rule in Tennis. This mostly ensures that the match won't 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 Hotspur and Southampton. The odds for each of the two outcomes of this hypothetical match are listed below:

  • Southampton – 21/20 (2.05)
  • Tottenham Hotspur – 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 Hotspur – 29/20 (2.45)

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

Let's 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 payout 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 didn't 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 doesn't 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've at least got the insurance that you are having fun while you're at it.

Premier League DNB odds for the weekend

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

Arsenal v Fulham

Tuesday 1st April / 19:45

1/12 (1.08)

11/2 (6.50)

Wolves v West Ham

Tuesday 1st April / 19:45

6/10 (1.60)

6/5 (2.20)

Nottm Forest v Man Utd

Tuesday 1st April / 20:00

4/7 (1.57)

5/4 (2.25)

Man City v Leicester

Wednesday 2nd April / 19:45

1/80 (1.01)

10/1 (11.00)

Southampton v Crystal Palace

Wednesday 2nd April / 19:45

3/1 (4.00)

1/5 (1.20)

Bournemouth v Ipswich

Wednesday 2nd April / 19:45

1/12 (1.08)

11/2 (6.50)

Brighton v Aston Villa

Wednesday 2nd April / 19:45

1/2 (1.50)

7/5 (2.40)

Newcastle v Brentford

Wednesday 2nd April / 19:45

2/7 (1.29)

23/10 (3.30)

Liverpool v Everton

Wednesday 2nd April / 20:00

1/14 (1.07)

6/1 (7.00)

Chelsea v Tottenham

Thursday 3rd April / 20:00

3/10 (1.30)

11/5 (3.20)

Our weekend picks for the DNB market

Newcastle v Brentford – Brentford (DNB)

Our first pick is for Newcastle to suffer something of a hangover from their stunning Carabao Cup victory. Despite St James' Park's reputation as a fortress, the Magpies have actually lost three of their last four on home soil.

Those defeats came against Bournemouth, Fulham and Brighton, all tricky sides but from outside the traditional ‘Big Six'. They will face another side of that ilk in Brentford on Wednesday night.

The Bees are in formidable form on the road too, and have not lost any of their last seven on their travels, winning five.

Bryan Mbeumo and Yoane Wissa have become one of the Premier League's most underrated double acts, and we back them to cause Eddie Howe's side serious problems.

Brighton v Aston Villa – Aston Villa (DNB)

Our second pick is for Aston Villa to make it five wins on the spin and defeat Brighton on the road.

At a glance, it seems to mad to go against the Premier League's form side. Only Liverpool can match the Seagulls' points tally in their last five matches. However, we think Villa are well-placed to upset Fabian Hurzeler's side under the AMEX lights.

Unai Emery's side have won their last four in a row, including an impressive 1-0 away win to Brentford, and boast an almost full compliment of players, while Brighton have a huge nine players unavailable due to injury concerns.

The biggest factor in Villa's favour, however, is their record against Brighton. The Champions League side have lost just once in their last eight meetings with the Seagulls.

At 7/5, Villa could more than double your money with three points, and allow you to break even if they leave with a point.

Frequently asked questions regarding draw no bet

What do I do if the bookie doesn't 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 shouldn't 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:


William Evans is a football and politics fanatic. A first-class graduate of UEA's Broadcast and Digital Journalism MA course, he also achieved a first class degree in politics and media studies during his time at UEA.