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Draw No Bet: Everything You Need to Know About This Bet Type

This is certainly one of my favourite online betting options to make use of. From domestic league fixtures in the PSL to those closely contested cup games, it’s a betting market that often comes in handy. For many bettors, it is a safer option, but I prefer to see it as a risk adjustment option – one which protects your value without losing your betting angle. Let me break it all down for you and show how this could really level up your betting opportunities.

Last updated: 09-04-2026published: 09-04-2026

Ryan Liberty

Sports Betting & Casino Editor

Fact checked by:

Chad Nagel

Sports Betting & Casino Editor

6 minread6 minutes read

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Draw No Bet!

Table of Contents

What is Draw No Bet Betting?

Simple to understand, this is a betting option where you back a team to win a game but in the event of a draw, your stake is refunded. There really is nothing more to this betting market, but here is a look at how you can use this to your advantage and maximise the potential outcomes and strategies.

Say for instance we wanted to take the DNB option in the Korea vs Ivory Coast fixture (International Friendly, 28 March 2026), you would notice that betting operators will only offer options on either side winning. This is because you essentially pick a side to win, knowing that a draw will void the bet and see your money returned.

How Draw No Bet (DNB) Works

There is no need for overcomplicating the intricacies of the betting option, but I like to break it all down like this:

You need to first choose either Home DNB or Away DNB
If your team wins the match overall, you win.
If the match ended in a draw, you have your stake refunded.
If your team loses, you lose.

All bets are settled in the usual 90 minutes (regular time) window and do not include penalties or extra time.

Consider, for example, the PSL match between Durban City and Richard Bay (22/03/2026). Durban City were the underdogs according to the available betting odds, but considering their recent performances, they were certainly worth the punt.

Our sportswriter offered a bet on the Durban City win as a value option, trading at around 2/1. While the game ended 1-0 to Durban City and so our pick landed, a potential safer option for punters not comfortable with the extra risk would have been backing the hosts to win with the extra layer of the DNB market.

Best Sports for Draw No Bet Betting

This is the sort of betting angle best used for sports where a ‘draw’ result is a realistic outcome, and you need to consider it. This is a closer look at sports which lend themselves to this betting market well.

Soccer

Why draws happen:

Low scoring nature
Tactical balance
Late-game conservatism

Example (PSL):

Mamelodi Sundowns vs Amazulu (PSL, 24/02/2026)

Sundowns dominate xG but struggle to break compact teams
Amazulu is a strong defensive side away from home

My angle: Sundowns DNB

Win means Profit
Draw means Refund (common in tight PSL clashes)

The odds available on the game favoured the Sundowns win. This game ended in a 0-1 win for Sundowns, reflecting the tight nature and cagey approach of the fixture, and our DNB betting option would have been in safe hands – especially considering the winning goal was only scored in the 84th minute.

Hockey

This is an often-overlooked sport for betting purposes, but at the risk of offending hockey lovers out there – the nature of the game is incredibly aligned with that of football. Of course, with the slight addition of sticks and a hard ball! Nevertheless, the draw result here is a probability and so can be considered within this betting market.

What Happens if the Match is Draw?

This is where many beginners get confused.

Your stake is refunded
You make no profit
You make no loss
The bet is voided

It’s as if the bet never happened.

Why Does Draw No Bet Exist?

Let’s not get this twisted, bookmakers don’t offer this betting market to help us, they offer the bet so as to repackage probability. This is how I see it:
In a normal 1X2 market, probability is split across:

Home win
Draw
Away win

With DNB:

The draw probability is removed
It gets redistributed into the win/loss pricing

This is the reason you can expect to see Draw No Bet odds lower than traditional 1X2 betting odds, but still higher than Double Chance betting. Therefore, in a sense, we are paying to remove one outcome.

Draw No Bet vs Other Betting Markets

This is a look at other betting options in comparison to the Draw No Bet option. The Double Chance and Asian Handicap option is closely linked to the Draw No Bet option, but for me it all comes down to maximising value. If you can find maximum value that should always be your pick.

Market	Win	Draw	Loss
1X2	Win	Loss	Loss
Double Chance	Win	Win	Loss
Draw No Bet	Win	Refund	Loss
Asian Handicap (0)	Win	Refund	Loss

Draw No Bet vs 1X2 Betting

Obviously, backing a team in the outright market exposes your bet to the draw option. The risk is far higher and often the reward can be misleading in certain circumstances. Consider my recent example.

Orlando Pirates away from home while chasing a PSL title for the first time in years.

Yes, they are a strong side,
But often draw in tight matches playing under immense pressure.

1X2:

Higher odds
But a draw means full loss

DNB:

Lower odds
But protects against the most likely “miss” outcome

The Draw No Bet Match Archetype Framework

In many environments where I have opted to make use of the Draw No Bet option, there are specific circumstances where the bet stands the best chance at finding success.

Slight favourite often means a high draw risk.

Profile:

Two structured teams
Tactical setup
Low tempo

Example:
Consider the PSL fixture between TS Galaxy and Orlando Pirates on the 22nd of March. Everything about this encounter would point us toward backing Pirates to come away with all three points – and I would certainly be on that bandwagon as well!

Slight favourite often means a high draw risk

Consider the fact that they have only seen one draw in their last five encounters, taking a bet here in the DNB market would likely make the most sense and provide a better risk to reward ratio.

Pros and Cons of Draw No Bet Betting

Pros

Protects against the most common upset (the draw)
Keeps odds relatively strong
Ideal for tight matches
Works well in structured leagues like the PSL where winning margins are not incredibly big

Cons

Lower odds than 1X2 betting
Not useful on heavy favourites
Often misused as a “safe bet”

Common Draw No Bet Mistakes

Using DNB on heavy favourites
Automatically choosing DNB “for safety”
Adding DNB blindly into your bigger accumulators

Draw No Bet Betting Checklist

Before I choose to place a bet in the Draw No Bet category, I run through this personal checklist. I must be able to tick off most of these on my list before I proceed.

Is one team slightly better?
Is the draw genuinely possible?
Are the odds still acceptable?
Is the match tempo low to medium?

Conclusion

Ultimately, you must understand that this is a precision tool for maximising betting returns. It is not a comfort blanket or something you can opt for instead due to safety.
For long term success you need to be able to find the right fixtures to make use of this betting option. It is not a frequency play but a unique and selective angle worth considering.

Draw No Bet FAQs

Is Draw No Bet profitable long term?

Yes — but only if used selectively.

Is DNB safer than Double Chance?

Not exactly.
Double Chance offers more protection, but DNB often provides better value for slightly stronger teams.

Can DNB be used in accumulators?

Yes, but I avoid it unless necessary. It reduces overall odds and can weaken accumulator value.
This playbook is built on practical application and structured analysis, aligned with real match preview thinking and betting frameworks used in South Africa.

Ryan LibertySports Betting & Casino Editor

Ryan Liberty is a sportswriter known for his conversational style and ability to make content feel both engaging and easy to follow. With a genuine passion for sport, his work is driven by a love for football, horseracing, Formula One, and tennis, among others, allowing him to cover a wide range of topics with confidence. 