Draw No Bet Explained: Reducing Your Risk

Draw No Bet (often abbreviated as DNB) is one of the simplest risk-reduction tools in football betting. The concept is straightforward: you back a team to win, but if it ends in a draw, your stake is returned as if the bet never happened.

This article covers what Draw No Bet is, when to use it, how it compares to similar markets, and whether it offers value.

What Does Draw No Bet Mean?

You place a bet on one team to win. Three possible outcomes:

1. Your team wins: You win at the odds quoted.
2. Your team loses: You lose your stake.
3. It's a draw: Your stake is returned. No win, no loss.

Example: You back Arsenal to Win Draw No Bet at 1.56 against Fulham.

• Arsenal wins 2-0: You win at 1.56. A 10 unit stake returns 15.60.
• Arsenal loses 0-1: You lose your 10 unit stake.
• Match ends 1-1: Your 10 unit stake is returned. You break even.

It's a simple but effective way to remove the draw outcome without needing to understand half-goal lines or more complex markets.

How DNB Compares to Match Result (1X2)

In 1X2, you pick one of three outcomes: Home, Draw, or Away. If you pick Home and it's a draw, you lose.

In Draw No Bet, you're effectively removing the draw outcome. It's equivalent to saying, "I think this team will win or draw" (a combination of two 1X2 outcomes), but only paying for the winning outcome because draws are voided.

Odds comparison:

Hypothetical match. 1X2 odds:

• Home: 1.70
• Draw: 3.50
• Away: 2.20

In 1X2, if you think Home will win or draw (roughly 45% of probability), you can't bet that directly. You'd need to bet Home at 1.70 (losing if there's a draw) or Unders at 3.50.

Draw No Bet solves this. Home Draw No Bet at 1.56 lets you back Home with draw protection. If it draws, you get your money back. If Home wins, you win at 1.56.

The odds are shorter than 1X2 Home (1.56 vs 1.70) because you've added protection. You're sacrificing some upside (lower odds) to reduce downside risk (draw returns your stake).

DNB vs Asian Handicap 0

Draw No Bet and Asian Handicap 0 are functionally identical.

Asian Handicap 0 means your team must win for you to win. If they draw, your stake is returned. The outcome is exactly the same as DNB.

Example:

• Arsenal Draw No Bet at 1.56
• Arsenal Asian Handicap 0 at 1.56

Both bets have identical outcomes. The terminology differs, but the result is the same.

Why use one or the other?

Many sportsbooks don't explicitly label markets as "Draw No Bet." They simply call it "Asian Handicap 0" or list it under 1X2 alternatives. Others label it DNB. Use whichever terminology your bookmaker uses. The odds should be identical.

When DNB Is Useful

Scenario 1: Backing a Slight Favourite Where a Draw Is Real

You have strong conviction that Team A will win, but the team is not a heavy favourite. The draw is a realistic outcome (maybe 25-30% probability).

1X2 odds: Team A 1.75.

Draw No Bet: Team A 1.50.

If you think Team A wins 60% of the time and draws 25% of the time (loses 15%), then:

• Betting Team A 1X2 at 1.75: You win 60% at 1.75 odds. Expected value per 1 unit = (0.60 × 0.75) - (0.40 × 1) = 0.45 - 0.40 = +0.05 units (good value).
• Betting Team A DNB at 1.50: You win 60% at 1.50 odds, draw 25% (break even), lose 15%. Expected value = (0.60 × 0.50) + (0.25 × 0) - (0.15 × 1) = 0.30 - 0.15 = +0.15 units (better value).

In this case, DNB at 1.50 offers better expected value than 1X2 at 1.75 because you've correctly assessed that draws will happen and you want to avoid the downside.

Scenario 2: Accumulators With Draw Risk

Building an accumulator with multiple teams can be risky if any draw kills the entire bet. Using DNB on some legs removes that risk.

Example 5-leg accumulator:

• Man City vs Burnley: City 1X2 at 1.40
• Liverpool vs Wolves: Liverpool 1X2 at 1.65
• Arsenal vs Brighton: Arsenal 1X2 at 1.70
• Tottenham vs Leicester: Spurs 1X2 at 1.60
• Chelsea vs Fulham: Chelsea 1X2 at 1.50

Combined odds: 1.40 × 1.65 × 1.70 × 1.60 × 1.50 = 10.6/1.

But any draw (City, Liverpool, Arsenal, Spurs, or Chelsea drawing) busts the entire accumulator. The probability of at least one draw in five matches is high (probably 50%+).

Using DNB instead:

• Man City Draw No Bet: 1.30
• Liverpool Draw No Bet: 1.50
• Arsenal Draw No Bet: 1.55
• Tottenham Draw No Bet: 1.48
• Chelsea Draw No Bet: 1.38

Combined odds: 1.30 × 1.50 × 1.55 × 1.48 × 1.38 = 4.7/1.

The odds are lower, but the bet is much more likely to win because draws don't bust the accumulator.

Whether DNB accumulators or 1X2 accumulators are better depends on your view of draw probability. If you think multiple legs will draw, DNB offers better expected value. If you think draws are unlikely, 1X2 offers better odds.

Scenario 3: Backing a Slight Favourite When You're Unsure About the Draw

You think Team A is slightly better, but you're genuinely uncertain whether they'll win or draw. You don't have a strong conviction on the draw probability.

1X2 Team A might be 1.90. You're nervous that it could draw.

DNB at 1.55 lets you back Team A without the draw risk. Lower odds, but less risk.

This is purely preference. If your draw probability estimate is weak, removing the draw via DNB makes sense. If you're confident the draw is unlikely, backing 1X2 at higher odds is smarter.

When DNB Does NOT Make Sense

Scenario 1: Very Short Odds on a Heavy Favourite

Team A is heavily favoured. 1X2 odds are 1.20. DNB is 1.10.

Draw probability is very low (maybe 10%). The odds reduction for draw protection doesn't compensate for a low-probability event.

In this case, back the 1X2 at 1.20. The draw is unlikely, so paying for protection via lower odds is poor value.

Scenario 2: Strong Conviction That the Other Team Will Win or Draw

You think Team A will probably not win. They might draw (25%) or lose (65%). Backing Team A DNB at 1.55 doesn't make sense because you think they're unlikely to win.

Back the other team instead.

Scenario 3: The Draw Is Very Likely

If you think a draw is 40%+ probable and Team A winning is only 35%, DNB doesn't reduce risk intelligently. You're still mainly exposed to losses and draws (which break even). Consider a double chance bet (Team A or Draw) instead, or just accept the draw risk and move on.

DNB vs Double Chance

Double Chance and DNB are similar but not identical.

Double Chance: Bet two of the three outcomes (Team A or Draw, Away or Draw, Team A or Away).

Example: Arsenal or Draw at 1.50. Arsenal wins? You win. It's a draw? You win. Only an away loss loses the bet.

Draw No Bet: Team A to win, with draw returning stake.

Example: Arsenal DNB at 1.50. Arsenal wins? You win. Draw? Stake returned. Away loss? You lose.

The difference: Double Chance pays full odds on draws. DNB returns stake on draws (no win, no loss).

If Arsenal vs Brighton, typical odds:

• Arsenal 1X2: 1.75
• Draw: 3.50
• Brighton: 2.20

Arsenal or Draw (Double Chance) might be: 1.55 (a simple calculation: roughly merging the 1.75 and 3.50 odds).

Arsenal DNB might be: 1.50 (different odds because draws are voided, not paid).

Both remove the away team risk. Double Chance pays on draws (lower odds but more upside). DNB voids on draws (slightly lower odds but less upside).

If you're genuinely unsure about the draw, DNB is cleaner because you're not overpaying for a draw payout. If you're confident the draw is unlikely, 1X2 at 1.75 is smarter than either.

How to Determine If DNB Offers Value

Like any bet, DNB offers value when your estimated probability exceeds the bookmaker's implied probability.

Example: Arsenal DNB at 1.50.

Implied probability: 1/1.50 = 0.667 (66.7%).

This is the bookmaker's estimate that Arsenal will win (not draw).

Your estimate: You think Arsenal will win 70% of the time (and draw 20%, lose 10%).

You estimate 70% probability, bookmakers quote 66.7% implied. There's a 3.3 percentage point edge.

Is it value? In absolute terms, yes. In practical terms, 3.3 points on a 70% probability event isn't dramatic. You'd need many such bets to see the edge materialize.

Compare to other markets. If 1X2 Arsenal at 1.75 offers similar or better value (your 70% win probability vs bookmaker's 57% implied), then 1X2 is smarter despite the draw risk.

Common DNB Mistakes

1. Using DNB for accumulators without considering the math

Yes, DNB protects against draws. But combined odds are lower. Verify the expected value is better before automatically switching from 1X2 to DNB.

2. Overestimating draw probability

A team might draw 20% of the time, not 35%. If you pay the draw protection cost (lower odds) for a 20% event, you're sacrificing value for rare downside.

3. Using DNB on heavy favourites

1.15 for a heavy favourite at 1X2 becomes 1.08 DNB. The draw is 3-4% probable. Not worth the odds reduction.

4. Comparing DNB odds across sportsbooks

Different bookmakers quote different DNB odds. Shop around. Some bookmakers are more generous than others on draw protection costs.

5. Assuming DNB is always safer

Lower odds = safer, but not always smarter. If the draw is unlikely, 1X2 at higher odds is better. Risk reduction isn't inherently good if it comes at too high a cost.

Advanced Consideration: DNB in Different Leagues

Draw frequency varies by league:

• English Premier League: Roughly 25% of matches end in draws.
• Serie A: Roughly 28% (historically high).
• Bundesliga: Roughly 22%.
• La Liga: Roughly 26%.
• Championship: Roughly 24%.

Higher-draw leagues make DNB more valuable because the draw protection is worth more. In Serie A with 28% draw rate, DNB protection has real value. In Bundesliga with 22%, the value is lower.

Use this context. In Serie A, DNB might offer good value. In Bundesliga, be more cautious.

In Summary

• Draw No Bet is a straightforward risk-reduction tool.
• It eliminates the draw outcome by returning your stake if the match finishes level.
• It's useful when you have conviction in a team but acknowledge that a draw is a realistic possibility.
• DNB is functionally identical to Asian Handicap 0, just with different terminology.
• The key to using DNB profitably is comparing expected value.
• Your estimated win probability must justify the lower odds you receive versus 1X2 betting.
• In some matches, it does.
• In others, 1X2 offers better value despite the draw risk.
• DNB is excellent for accumulators where you want to reduce draw exposure on select legs.
• But don't automatically swap all legs from 1X2 to DNB.
• Analyse each match individually.

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FAQ

Q: Is Draw No Bet the same as Asian Handicap 0? A: Yes, functionally identical. Both mean your team must win for you to win. A draw returns your stake. The terminology differs, but the outcome is the same.

Q: When should I use DNB instead of 1X2? A: Use DNB when you're confident in a team winning but acknowledge real draw probability. Back the 1X2 if the draw is unlikely, or you're certain of the team winning.

Q: Should I always use DNB in accumulators? A: Not always. Compare expected value. If you think draws are likely across multiple legs, DNB accumulators offer better expected value. If draws are unlikely, 1X2 accumulators have higher odds.

Q: How much lower are DNB odds compared to 1X2? A: Depends on draw probability. If a draw is 20% likely, DNB odds are typically 5-8% lower than 1X2. If a draw is 35% likely, DNB odds might be 12-15% lower.

Q: Is Double Chance better than DNB? A: Neither is inherently better. Double Chance pays on draws (lower odds). DNB voids on draws (slightly different odds structure). Use whichever aligns with your view of the match.

Q: Should I avoid DNB on heavy favourites? A: Yes, generally. Heavy favourites have low draw probability. The odds reduction for draw protection isn't worth it. Back the 1X2 instead.

Q: Can I find value in DNB bets? A: Yes, if your win probability estimate exceeds the implied probability from the odds. This requires accurate probability estimates across many matches to be profitable long-term.