Draw no bet (DNB) is a football market that removes the draw from the equation. You back a team to win; if they win, you collect at the stated odds. If the match ends in a draw, your stake is returned in full. The only way to lose the bet outright is if the other team wins. It is a form of insurance against the draw result.
How DNB differs from a straight win bet
The critical difference is in the draw outcome. On a standard 1X2 market, backing the home team at 2.0 wins if the home team wins and loses if the match draws or the away team wins. On a draw no bet market, the same home team might be priced at 1.65 — a shorter price, because the draw outcome is now refunded rather than lost. DNB trades some expected return (via shorter odds) for the elimination of draw risk. Whether this is worthwhile depends on how likely you believe the draw is in the specific match.
DNB and the implied draw probability
The difference in price between a standard win bet and a DNB bet reveals what the bookmaker thinks the draw probability is. If the home win is 2.0 (implied probability 50%) and the DNB home price is 1.65 (implied probability around 60.6%), the implied draw probability is approximately 1 — (1/2.0) ÷ (1/1.65) = roughly 24%. This is a useful sanity check: in most even Premier League fixtures, draws occur in around 24–27% of cases, so the implied draw probability should be in that range. If the market implies a significantly higher or lower draw probability, there may be a mispricing worth investigating.
DNB vs Asian handicap 0
DNB is mathematically identical to Asian handicap 0 (AH0). Both markets refund the stake on a draw and win if your selected team wins. The difference is presentation: AH0 is offered within the Asian handicap framework, while DNB is typically listed alongside 1X2 markets. Some bookmakers may price them slightly differently due to different margin structures, so it is worth comparing prices on both markets if both are available.
When to use draw no bet
DNB makes most sense when you have a moderate preference for one team to win but are genuinely uncertain about whether the match might end level. It is particularly useful for away team backers in tight fixtures, where draws are structurally common and the away win price feels too long for the confidence level. For strong home favourites at short odds, the difference between the win price and DNB price is small, making the insurance less valuable relative to its cost. 18+ — Gambling Awareness Trust: 1800 753 753.
Frequently Asked Questions
Your stake is returned in full, with no profit and no loss. The bet is effectively void on a draw. This is the core mechanism of draw no bet and what distinguishes it from a standard win bet.
Yes, they are mathematically identical. DNB and Asian handicap 0 (AH0) both refund on a draw and win if your selected team wins. The labelling differs by bookmaker and market section, but the settlement rules are the same.
DNB odds are always shorter (worse) than the equivalent straight win bet on the same team, because the draw outcome is refunded rather than lost. The price reduction reflects the probability of the draw. For a typical even fixture, DNB odds are roughly 15-20% shorter than the win-only price.
Yes. DNB legs can be included in accumulators. If any leg in the accumulator ends in a draw, that leg is effectively removed from the accumulator and the remaining legs run as normal (the stake does not change, but the draw leg is treated as a push). This reduces but does not eliminate the overall accumulator multiplier.
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