What Does Draw no Bet Mean in Sports Betting?

In the past we have already covered a number of different types of sports bets and what they actually mean – the last one so far was double-chance. This time we would like to explore “Draw no bet”, which is also often referred to as simply DNB.

In essence it is quite similar to the regular “Match Result” (1×2) betting market, with the main difference being the number of selections. The classic 1×2 market consists of three selections, where you get to pick who will win the game: home, away or if the game will end in a draw.

what is draw no bet

“Draw no bet” removes some uncertainty from the spectrum of potential outcomes. You will have only two selections to choose from, it is either home to win or away to win. Obviously, since this bet type requires a winner, it also includes extra time and any additional game periods, where applicable.

Why Choose One Over the Other?

As we already mentioned above, having two selections in a way increases your chances of winning. Simply from a probability standpoint, if you try to guess the correct outcome in a DNB market – your chances of winning are 50%, while in a regular 1×2 they are nearing 33%. These are likely the two most popular bets and pretty much all online betting sites offer them whenever possible.

draw no bet market

Of course, we aren’t saying that you should not go around trying to guess who will win, because that is just not what a successful sports betting strategy looks like. You will need to use your knowledge, experience and do your own research in order to take advantage of this. Feel free to use various betting tips and statistical reports, follow your trusted sources, but make sure to filter the information you consume.

What About Arbitrage Betting?

Well, now you might think: “If there are just two selections, why can’t I just place two separate bets on each one of them and get a guaranteed profit?”. You could potentially do that, however bookmakers aren’t that stupid, they keep track of their margins and manage their risk, otherwise they will be quickly out of business. Having said that, likely no bookmaker will have odds of over 1.99 on each selection, since that will just not make sense from a business standpoint.

Then again, if you know what arbitrage betting is all about – “Draw no bet” can be a good betting market to keep an eye out for. The fact that the same bookmaker will not allow guaranteed profit, doesn’t mean that you can’t achieve that with different betting sites.

Sportsbooks don’t always quote the same odds for the same selections and in a closely matched game it might be possible that one selection will have odds of over 2.00 with one bookmaker and the other selection will have the same high odds with a different bookmaker. If you happen to find something like that – you are all set, placing bets on both selections with different sportsbooks will give you a guaranteed profit. But remember, arbitrage betting is something people put time and effort into, you will not just “stumble” upon such things by chance.

What is the Takeaway?

It’s simple, the answer to the main question of “What is draw no bet?” is – it is a betting market, where you determine who will win the game, without the possibility of a draw. This is one of the first bet types most novice punters familiarize themselves with due to its simplicity and high winning probability.

Advanced bettors know how to leverage such markets to their advantage, we described one such strategy above. Then again, people who have been into betting for quite some time are likely reading some more advanced guides and strategies. If you are reading this now, we hope you can put this information to good use.

Bet Responsibly

Finally, we would like to mention the importance of betting responsibly. It is vital to remember that sports betting is first of all a hobby and is just a little something to make your favorite sporting events even more exciting. It isn’t something you should rely on as a means to resolve financial difficulties and attempts to do so will likely result in even bigger issues.

If you feel like you need to take a break – do it. Most sportsbook operators allow you to self-exclude yourself or set deposit and spending limits. Lastly, if you feel like your hobby might be getting out of control, it is always a good idea to seek assistance. A good place to start is https://www.gamblingtherapy.org/en – they offer free support groups and individual help sessions, where you can discuss your issues and get advice.