Draw No Bet Explained – Beginner-Friendly Guide for 2025
Accumulator bets can be super exciting but a draw can sometimes stop it in its tracks, which can be frustrating. This is where the betting market ‘draw no bet’ – often shortened to DNB – can come in very handy.
If the team you back wins, then you can get your winnings as normal. But if the match ends in a draw, you won’t lose your stake, instead you’ll get it back. It’s not a magic wand that will turn every bet into a win, but it’ll provide you with a bit of a safety net.
What does draw no bet mean?
If you’ve ever had an accumulator (acca) fall apart because one game ended in a draw, you’re not alone – trust me, I’ve been there more times than I care to admit. But there’s actually a solution that many bettors seem to overlook: draw no bet. As the name suggests, draw no bet is exactly what it sounds like. You’re betting on a team to win, but with one key safety net – if the match ends in a draw, your stake is refunded. This basically removes the risk of a draw ruining your bet, making it a solid option for both cautious and experienced bettors looking to reduce risk. But remember, there’s always risk when it comes to betting.
You can use draw no bet for single wagers as well as with accumulator bets at some of the best sports betting sites. In singles, your stake is returned if it’s a draw – sounds simple because it is. With an accumulator bet, if one leg is a draw no bet and that match ends in a draw, that leg then becomes void, and your acca continues. Just keep in mind that even though your accumulator will continue, it may have reduced odds.
Pros and cons of a draw no bet
- Make bets slightly less risky
- A draw means you get your stake back
- Can be used as part of a larger accumulator
- Not available at all bookmakers
So what might draw no bet look like?
Let’s walk through some examples to really understand how draw no bet works in different betting scenarios because it can be a little confusing at first. I’m hoping that these examples will be helpful for you to see how you could apply the strategy whether you’re betting on singles or building an acca.
Example 1: Single match
| Match: | Newcastle United v Brighton & Hove Albion |
| Bet: | Newcastle to win (Draw no bet) at 6/5 odds |
| Stake: | £20 (or your local currency equivalent) |
Match:
Newcastle have a good home record, but Brighton are tough to beat on the road (for example!). So let’s imagine that you’re confident Newcastle might edge it, but you’re also wary of a potential 1-1 draw.
Outcome scenarios using £ as an example:
- Newcastle win 2-1: You win the bet and your return is £20 x 6/5 = £44 total (£24 winnings plus your £20 wager).
- Match ends 1-1: Your bet would be void and you’ll get your initial stake back.
- Brighton win 1-0: Your bet loses and you lose your stake.
So why does this work? Well, you get to back the team that you want to without the full risk of a draw. As you’d expect, a win pays out, but a draw doesn’t cost you anything.
Example 2: Backing an underdog
| Match: | Crystal Palace vs Chelsea |
| Bet: | Crystal Palace (DNB) at 4/1 |
| Stake: | £10 |
Okay for the final example, let’s say that Chelsea are favorites, but their away form has been a little bit inconsistent, whereas Palace have a solid run at home. You may feel that Palace has a shot at an upset but you maybe don’t want to fully risk it.
Scenario outcomes:
- Palace win 2-0: Your wager would have a potential return of £50, including your initial stake.
- 1-1 draw: Your bet would be voided and your initial stake would be refunded.
- Chelsea win 3-1: This one is simple – you’d lose the bet.
If you use the draw no bet in this scenario, you can go for long-odds bets on the underdog while giving yourself a little bit of a safety net if the game ends in a draw.
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Top tips for using draw no bet
To help you get the most from this betting market, here are some practical tips and insights based on my experience.
If two closely matched teams are facing off, it can be hard to call a clear winner. Draw no bet lets you back the side you believe has the edge, without the risk of losing your stake on a draw. So, this can be really good for mid-table clashes and first legs of knockout games.
As I outlined above, you can back an underdog with ‘draw no bet’, and you can still get some decent odds with a little bit of a safety net. If they don’t pull it off, but manage a draw, then you won’t lose anything. This is great if an underdog team has strong recent form or if neither team has the home advantage.
You can protect against last-minute disasters by throwing in a DNB. Even though your potential return will be slightly lower, your acca has more chances to survive so it’s worth considering.
Home teams often perform better, but if they’re not the clear favorites, then DNB gives you a way to back them without the full risk. A draw at home is common enough that using draw no bet would be useful, and allows you to bet on the home team with slightly less risk.
You can use draw no bet in quite a few scenarios and even combine it with other strategies like Double Chance or even when learning the basics of Asian Handicap betting.
Final thoughts on draw no bets
At the end of the day, betting should be fun – but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be smart about it and use certain strategies to your advantage. Draw no bet is a type of betting market that gives you a bit of breathing room. It won’t guarantee you a win, but it will give you a fair shot when a match is too close to call.
Whether you’re placing a single bet on a match or building a weekend accumulator with a few wildcards, draw no bet gives you a way to stay in the game a little bit longer. If you’re new to the world of football betting, then this can be a solid market to get started with. You can also check out my guide on top free bet welcome bonuses to make the most of the betting action.
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FAQs
❓ What is a draw no bet?
Draw no bet is a betting market that basically removes draw as a possible losing outcome. If you back a team to win and the match ends in a draw, then your stake will be refunded. If your team wins, then you get your winnings as usual.
💰 Can I use draw no bet in an accumulator?
Yes! Draw no bet can be used in an acca and if one leg ends in a draw, then that leg just gets removed, while the rest of the acca will continue. Just remember that the overall odds and potential returns will adjust accordingly if this happens.
📊 Do draw no bet odds differ from regular match odds?
Yes, they can. Since you’re essentially taking away a match ending in a draw as a risk, the odds on each team will be slightly lower than a standard match result bet. This is important to keep in mind and you may want to compare the odds before choosing to use draw no bet.
