What does draw no bet mean?

Draw no bet is a type of wager where your stake is refunded if the football match ends in a draw. This betting option reduces risk by removing the draw as a losing outcome, giving you a safety net while betting on a team to win.

In this article, I’ll break down how draw no bet works, provide some examples of this type of bet, and compare it to other popular betting markets.

Draw no bet meaning

The draw no bet market removes the draw outcome, giving you a safety net if the match ends in a tie. When you place a draw no bet wager, you’re backing a team to win. If they win, you get a payout. If the match ends in a draw, your stake is refunded. However, if the team you have bet on to win, loses, the bet is lost.

Comparison with Three-Way markets

In traditional three-way markets (also known as 1X2), you have three options:

• Home win (1)
• Draw (X)
• Away win (2)

If you back a team in a three-way market and the match ends in a draw, you lose your stake. The draw no bet market offers a more cautious approach by eliminating this risk.

Odds difference

Because the draw is removed in draw no bet, the odds are lower compared to a three-way market. Football bookmakers reduce the payout to account for the added protection of refunding your stake if the match ends in a draw.

Draw no bet example 

Let’s use a Premier League match between Liverpool and Chelsea to illustrate how the draw no bet market works.

Three-way market odds

In a standard three-way market, the odds might look like this:

• Liverpool to win: 4/5
• Draw: 12/5
• Chelsea to win: 7/2

If you bet £10 on Liverpool to win at 4/5 in the three-way market, and Liverpool wins, your return would be £18 (a profit of £8). However, if the match ends in a draw, you lose your stake entirely.

Draw no bet market odds

In the draw no bet market for the same game, the odds would typically be shorter, like this:

• Liverpool to win: 4/11
• Chelsea to win: 5/2

If you bet £10 on Liverpool to win in the draw no bet market at 4/11:

• If Liverpool wins, your return would be £13.64 (a profit of £3.64).
• If the match ends in a draw, your £10 stake is refunded.
• If Chelsea wins, you lose your £10 bet.

Comparing the odds

In the three-way market, the potential payout is higher because you’re taking on more risk. In the draw no bet market, the odds are shorter due to the protection of getting your stake back if the match ends in a draw.

This trade-off makes draw no bet ideal for cautious bettors who prefer a safety net over the chance of higher returns. It’s especially useful when betting on closely matched teams where a draw is a realistic outcome.

Draw no bet compared to other betting markets

Draw no bet is a popular option for bettors who want to reduce risk, but it’s not the only market offering safety nets. Let’s compare it to other well-known betting markets in the UK, such as BTTS (both teams to score), double chance, and handicap betting.

BTTS (both teams to score)

In the BTTS market, you bet on whether both teams will score in a match, regardless of the final result. For example, Betfred might offer these odds for a match between Manchester City and Tottenham:

• BTTS – Yes: 8/11
• BTTS – No: 1/1

With BTTS, your bet is focused on goals, not the winner. This makes it different from draw no bet, where you need your selected team to win for a payout.

Double chance

Double chance lets you cover two outcomes:

• Home win or draw (1X)
• Away win or draw (X2)
• Home win or away win (12)

Because you cover two possibilities, the odds are shorter than draw no bet. For instance, Betfred might offer:

• Manchester United (win or draw): 2/7
• Chelsea (win or draw): 4/9

While safer, double chance greatly reduces potential profit compared to draw no bet.

Handicap betting

In handicap betting, a virtual advantage or disadvantage is given to a team. For example, Betfred might offer:

• Liverpool -1 handicap: 6/5
• Chelsea +1 handicap: 4/6

Unlike draw no bet, handicap bets rely on the team overcoming or maintaining a goal difference. It offers higher odds but carries greater risk due to the need for a specific goal margin.

Choosing the right market

• Draw no bet: Ideal when you want to reduce risk but still believe in a team’s chances of winning.
• BTTS: Best when you expect an open game with goals but are unsure of the winner.
• Double chance: A very cautious option when betting on a match with a likely underdog.
• Handicap betting: Good for higher payouts when you’re confident in a team winning by a clear margin.

Each market has its advantages, and the choice comes down to your betting strategy and the level of risk you’re comfortable with.

About the author

Dean Etheridge

Dean Etheridge is an experienced freelance sports betting writer who specialises in football. He predominantly covers the Premier League and Champions League but can turn his hand to all aspects of the beautiful game. You can follow Dean on LinkedIn (@deanetheridge)

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