Draw No Bet – Why Do UK Punters Favour This Wager?

What Does Draw No Bet Mean in Sports Betting?

The draw no bet meaning is quite simple. This wager type eliminates the tie outcome, and punters must choose between the victory of the favourite or the underdog. Sometimes it’s possible for almost a quarter of all matches in a certain league to end in a tie. If people wagered on a team winning with regular 1X2 gambles, they would have lost every fourth one. Therefore, it is often safer for punters to rely on draw no bet markets.

Draw No Bet Rules and How Does It Work

The draw no bet market offers only two outcomes for either team to win. The possibility of them ending in a tie is entirely ignored. See draw no bet explained in the following example: let’s say we gamble on Manchester United to win, and the match ends in 1:1. In this case, the wager will be voided, and the stake goes back to the punter – hence the name. Moreover, the bookmaker will not charge for any commission in the event of a tie.

However, this advantage comes literally at a price. If you examine the following 1X2 selection for the same match, you will see there is a significant difference in the odds between the outcomes of both wager types. Instead of splitting the tie between the other two outcomes evenly, the bookmaker increases the commission on the draw no bet. This is the standard approach for sportsbooks. Moreover, while the increase may seem like a lot at a glance, the commission is just 3% more – from 4% to 7%.

Alternatives to Draw No Bet

Now that we have the draw no bet explained, let’s examine some valid alternatives. Most bookmakers offer this market, especially for football. However, on the rare occasion that this wager is missing, there are a few alternatives which punters can use. We are listing them here in order of complexity:

• Asian handicap 0. This wager is identical to the draw no bet, though it is probably not as common. It is an excellent choice in the rare event that a bookmaker is offering an Asian handicap 0 but no draw no bet.
• Double chance. This wager is a good alternative that offers a similar level of risk. However, a double chance gamble usually has significantly reduced odds, so it is not as profitable to place.

How to Make Your Own Draw No Bet?

If the above alternatives are not available, there is one more course of action for the shrewd punter: to create his own draw no bet. This is easily achieved by betting once for your preferred team on a regular 1X2 wager and then punting again on a tie outcome for example (or double chance).

In order to do it effectively, bettors should wager the appropriate sums on each selection. The easiest way to do it is to use a draw no bet calculator. However, since we believe in teaching people to fish, we are including the formula for calculating each stake.

Let’s say we have a total of £100 for betting, and we want to convert the above 1X2 wager. First, we need to calculate the stake on the tie, then the stake on the desired selection. These sums will be our stakes for the respective outcomes.

1. Stake on the draw selection = Total Stake/Draw Odds = 100/3.75=£26.67
2. Stake on the Preferred Winner = Total Stake – Draw Stake = 100 – 26.67 = £73.33

Frequently Asked Questions

Lower Risk Comes with a Price

Many punters value this wager for a reason. It certainly has its advantages by lowering the overall risk and being suitable for accumulators. However, the odds are significantly lower than what a 1X2 offers. Therefore, it is best used after careful consideration between costs and the chance for a tie.