How does draw no bet settle?
You back one of the two teams. After the final whistle in normal time:
- Your team wins — you are paid at the DNB odds.
- The match is drawn — your stake is returned. No win, no loss.
- Your team loses — the bet loses.
Extra time and penalties are normally excluded; DNB is settled on the 90 minutes plus stoppage time, unless the market says otherwise. That matters in cup matches.
Why are the odds lower than the 1X2 price?
Because the draw outcome has been taken away from you as a loss. The bookmaker is now on the hook for returning your stake in every drawn match, and prices that into the odds. In a fair market, the DNB price for a team is what you would get by backing that team on the 1X2 market and laying off just enough on the draw to get your money back if it happens.
A rough way to see it: if the draw is a likely outcome, the DNB odds fall a long way below the 1X2 price; if the draw is unlikely, the two prices are close. That is why DNB looks most generous in exactly the matches where it protects you least.
When does DNB make most sense?
- Tight, low-scoring leagues. Matches where both sides defend first and goals are scarce produce more draws, and DNB removes the most common bad result.
- Favourites away from home. A strong side travelling to a difficult ground may still win, but a point is a realistic outcome. DNB backs the win while forgiving the point.
- Accumulators. One drawn match kills a 1X2 accumulator. In a DNB accumulator, a draw usually means that leg is treated as void and the accumulator continues with one fewer leg. Check the operator's rules on void legs.
When is DNB the wrong tool?
- When you think the draw itself is the value. Then back the draw.
- When the favourite is overwhelming. The DNB odds are almost the same as the win odds, and the protection costs little but gives little.
- When you actually think the underdog is likely to avoid defeat. Then double chance (underdog or draw) is the more direct bet.
DNB, double chance and Asian handicap 0: what is the difference?
| Market | Your team wins | Draw | Your team loses |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1X2 (match result) | Win | Lose | Lose |
| Draw no bet | Win | Stake returned | Lose |
| Asian handicap 0 | Win | Stake returned | Lose |
| Double chance (team or draw) | Win | Win | Lose |
Asian handicap 0 is the same bet as DNB under another name; bookmakers may price them slightly differently, so it is worth comparing both. Double chance covers two outcomes and pays at short odds. Our guides to what a push means in football betting and to doubles cover the vocabulary that comes with these markets.
A worked example
Suppose a home side is priced at 2.10 to win on the 1X2 market and 1.55 on draw no bet. You stake R100 on DNB:
- Home win — you receive R155 (R55 profit).
- Draw — you receive your R100 back.
- Away win — you lose R100.
On the 1X2 market the same R100 would return R210 for a home win and nothing for a draw. You are trading R55 of potential profit for insurance against the draw. Whether that is a good trade depends on how likely you think the draw is — which is the whole skill of the bet.
Does DNB exist outside football?
Yes, in any sport with a common draw. In cricket Test matches, some operators offer a market that voids bets on a draw; in rugby, where draws are rare, a handicap line is the more useful way to protect a bet on a favourite. For a broader view of football markets, see our sports betting guide.
Quick answers
Is a returned stake counted as a winning bet for a bonus?
Usually not. Voided or returned bets do not count towards most wagering requirements. Read the bonus terms.
What if the match is abandoned?
Abandonment rules are separate from DNB and set by each operator; a common rule voids the bet if the match is not completed within a set period.