Draw No Bet Explained: Meaning, Examples and Payouts

Draw no bet explained in simple words means one thing: you back a team to win, and a draw gives your money back. For example, you back the home team and the match ends level, so the bookmaker returns your full stake. The bet still wins in full if your team wins, and it loses if your team loses.

Last updated: November 2026

Quick answer: DNB in short

• Draw no bet explained in short: you back one team to win, and a draw refunds your stake.
• Your team wins: the bet wins and pays out at the DNB odds.
• Match draws: your full stake is refunded, so you lose nothing.
• Your team loses: the bet loses.
• DNB odds sit below the same team’s 1X2 win odds, because the draw cover costs something.

What does DNB mean?

DNB meaning is easy to grasp. DNB stands for draw no bet. You choose one team to win the match. If that team wins, your bet wins. If the match ends in a draw, your stake comes back in full. That refund is called a push, or a void bet.

The only way to lose a DNB bet is for your team to lose outright. For example, you back the home team and the away team wins 1-0. In that case, the bet loses, and no refund applies. A draw can never lose a DNB bet.

Draw no bet explained: how the bet settles

Draw no bet explained in full starts with the settlement rule. The bet settles on the result after 90 minutes plus stoppage time. Goals in extra time do not count. In addition, penalty shoot-outs do not count. The bet uses the full-time result only, unless the bookmaker states a different rule in clear terms.

For example, in cup matches, a team may win in extra time after a 1-1 draw, yet the DNB bet still refunds.

Match result	What happens to a home DNB bet
Home team wins	Bet wins, paid at the DNB odds
Match draws	Full stake refunded, no win and no loss
Away team wins	Bet loses, stake is gone

A win pays, a draw refunds, and a loss loses.

Draw no bet explained: odds and payouts

Draw no bet odds are shorter than the same team’s 1X2 win odds. The reason is simple: the draw cover has a price. The bookmaker removes the draw as a losing result, so the payout drops. For example, a team may have 1X2 win odds of 2.00, while the DNB odds sit near 1.65.

Return equals stake times decimal odds, and profit equals return minus stake. For example, a stake of ₦1,000 at odds of 1.65 returns ₦1,650. The profit is ₦650. In addition, a stake of ₦2,000 at odds of 1.50 returns ₦3,000. The profit is ₦1,000.

Implied probability is 1 divided by the decimal odds, times 100. Odds of 1.65 give 60.6% implied probability. At 1.50, the figure is 66.7%. At 2.00, it is 50.0%.

Odds	Implied probability
1.50	66.7%
1.65	60.6%
2.00	50.0%

As a result, the gap shows the cost of the cover: less profit, but no loss on a draw.

Draw no bet explained: DNB vs double chance

Draw no bet vs double chance is a common point of confusion. Both markets add cover, but they treat a draw in a different way. Double chance 1X or X2 wins on a draw, and it pays out. DNB only returns the stake on a draw, and it pays nothing extra. As a result, double chance pays less than DNB in most cases.

Draw no bet explained this way, the choice depends on your view. A bettor who expects a draw should look at double chance first. For example, two even teams may draw often. In that case, a 1X or X2 bet turns those draws into wins. A DNB bet turns them into refunds, which adds no profit. In addition, a bettor who expects a win should look at DNB first, because the odds pay more than double chance.

Read our guide to double chance meaning in betting and check today’s double chance predictions to see the market in practice.

Draw no bet explained: DNB vs 1X2

The 1X2 market is the basic three-way market: home win, draw, or away win, and only one result wins. For example, a home win bet at odds of 2.00 returns ₦2,000 on a ₦1,000 stake. The profit is ₦1,000. However, that bet loses on a draw and on an away win.

DNB changes the draw result from a loss to a refund. For example, the same home team at DNB odds of 1.65 returns ₦1,650 on a ₦1,000 stake. The profit is ₦650. As a result, the payout drops by ₦350, but the draw no longer loses the stake.

Market	What happens on a draw	What happens on a loss	Odds level
1X2 home win	Bet loses	Bet loses	Longer
Draw no bet (home)	Stake refunded	Bet loses	Middle
Double chance 1X	Bet wins	Bet loses	Shorter

1X2 pays the most but loses on a draw, while DNB sits in the middle.

Asian handicap 0

Asian handicap 0 is functionally identical to DNB. The two markets work in the same way. A bettor backs a team with no goal handicap. A win for the team means a winning bet. The stake comes back in full on a draw. Also, the bet loses when the team loses. As a result, there is no practical difference between them.

Bookmakers may list the market under either name, but the settlement is the same.

Draw no bet explained: when it helps

Draw no bet explained in simple terms, the bet suits matches where a draw looks likely. For example, a strong team may play away from home against a tough side. A DNB bet on the away team wins if the team wins, and it refunds if the match ends level.

It also helps when a home team rarely loses at home, or in tight matches between even teams, where a draw is one of the most likely results.

Visit the Betting Academy and check the free football predictions page for more guides.

Draw no bet explained: when it does not help

DNB does not help in every match. For example, it does not help when the odds are very short. A bet at odds of 1.20 returns only ₦1,200 on a ₦1,000 stake. The profit is ₦200. As a result, one loss wipes out five wins at those odds.

It also fails when a bettor expects a clear win, because a heavy favourite may win by two or three goals. In that case, the draw cover adds little value, and a straight 1X2 win bet may suit the view better.

DNB also fails when a draw is the main expectation, because the bet then returns the stake with no profit, while double chance would pay out.

Draw no bet explained: common mistakes to avoid

The first mistake is to treat a refund as a win. A refund returns the stake, but it adds no profit.

A second mistake is to back DNB on a heavy favourite at tiny odds. At odds of 1.10, a ₦1,000 stake returns only ₦1,100. However, one upset loss costs the full ₦1,000.

A third mistake is to forget the 90-minute rule. Most DNB bets settle on full time. After that, a late extra-time goal does not change the bet.

A fourth mistake is to place DNB and Asian handicap 0 on the same match. The two markets are identical. As a result, the bettor doubles the stake on one result by accident.

FAQ

What does DNB mean in betting?

DNB stands for draw no bet. Draw no bet explained simply: you back one team to win, and a draw refunds your stake in full. The bet only loses if your team loses outright.

What happens if the match draws on a draw no bet?

The bookmaker returns your full stake. The bet is a push, or void. It is not a win, and it is not a loss.

Is draw no bet better than double chance?

It depends on your view. Double chance wins on a draw, while DNB only refunds on a draw. As a result, double chance pays less in most cases. If you expect a win, DNB pays more. If you expect a draw, double chance pays out.

What is the difference between draw no bet and Asian handicap 0?

There is no practical difference. In other words, Asian handicap 0 is functionally identical to DNB. Both refund the stake on a draw, win if your team wins, and lose if your team loses.

Do DNB odds pay less than 1X2?

Yes. DNB odds sit below the same team’s 1X2 win odds, because the draw cover is priced in.

Conclusion

Draw no bet is a middle path between a straight win bet and double chance. Your team wins, and the bet pays. The match draws, and the stake comes back. Finally, your team loses, and the bet loses.

In short, draw no bet explained gives more safety than 1X2 and more payout than double chance.

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Betting is for adults aged 18 and over only. Betting is entertainment, not a way to make money or solve money problems. Only stake what you can afford to lose. If gambling affects your money, family, or health, get free and private support on the Responsible Gambling page.

Whatever market you choose, protect your money with bankroll management for football betting.

For another draw-based game, read our guide to Football Pools Terms Explained: Every Word on the Coupon.