Draw No Bet Meaning in Cricket – Easy DNB Tips & Strategies (2024)

One of the best markets for cushioning risk, draw no bet (abbreviated as simply DNB) is commonly used in India and is available for several sports, but only those that entail the possibility of a draw. Getting the draw no bet meaning correctly will enable you to incorporate this strategy and bet confidently, which we’ll learn in this guide.

We will take you through what this bet type means and its possible applications in sports betting, offer real-life examples of how DNB in cricket works, and provide easy strategies to use draw no bet to safeguard your stake amid potentially unfavourable match outcomes.

Draw No Bet Meaning

What does draw no bet mean? Well, it’s exactly what it sounds like. This market converts three-way markets (such as the 1X2) to a two-way wager (home win or away win) without the possibility of a draw.

As a sport, cricket and football are ideal for placing a draw no bet. DNB in cricket means that you will only be betting on a home or an away win, and should the game end in a draw, your stake will be refunded to you. The majority of India's leading online cricket bookmakers provide this market across some of the top leagues and tournaments.

When compared to the traditional 1X2 market, draw no bet odds are considerably lower, as the risk is a lot less too. That's because, as previously mentioned, with the 1X2 market, if you put your money on one of the three possibilities (home win, away win, or draw), then any of the other two possibilities would spell doom for your wager.

DNB In Cricket – Understanding with A Real-Life Example

Simply put, DNB in cricket (or any other sport, for that matter) works like an insurance policy for your wager that you’d have otherwise lost on a drawn game. Let’s understand this with the following example:

How Draw No Bet in Cricket Works?

Suppose you’re betting on the IPL game between the Chennai Super Kings and Punjab Kings, and you’re backing a CSK win. Let’s say the 1X2 odds on CSK are 1.68; however, as previously mentioned, draw no bet odds will be lower because of the reduced risk quotient.

The DNB odds for both teams are given below:

Now, you choose to stake ₹200 on CSK in the DNB market. Here’s how the calculation will look like for any of the three match outcomes:

How to Make Your Own DNB Odds from the 1X2 Market

Do you have to stick to the draw no bet market offered by the bookmaker, or can you calculate your own DNB odds from the usual 1X2 market and accordingly decide on the stakes? The answer to this is that it's indeed very possible to work out the true DNB odds yourself simply from your preferred bookmaker’s 1X2 odds.

By following the two steps below, you can make your own draw no bet market from 1X2:

Let’s go step-by-step and understand with examples.

Step 1: Converting 1X2 Odds to Draw No Bet Odds

Let’s use the earlier CSK vs. PBKS example, considering you want to bet ₹200 on the Chennai Super Kings. Assume the 1X2 odds for the two teams are as below:

First, you will convert these above 1X2 odds to draw no bet odds. The formula for that is:

Step 2: Calculating Your Own DNB Stake

Now that you know it would be of more value if you converted 1X2 odds to your own draw no bet odds, the next thing to do is to work out how much of your ₹200 stake you should put on each outcome (draw and your preferred team to win) to make sure it’s the equivalent of an actual draw no bet market.

Here’s a formula for the same:

So, in order to get effective odds of 1.31 on a CSK win with DNB, you now know that you must put ₹154.55 on a CSK victory and ₹45.45 on the game to end in a draw.

Please Note: If you want to work out the true draw no bet odds on a betting exchange, you will have to factor in the rate of commission that the exchange charges by converting the betting odds.

Step 3: Calculating Profit from Your Own DNB Market

Below is the formula to work out your profit from your own draw no bet market that you carved out through the steps explained above:

Sports Ideal for Using the DNB Strategy

On that note, here’s a super insightful read on the average duration of Test matches and their result analysis, starting from 1877 to 2020. You can also check out this article from ESPNcricinfo on the Test matches results summary for all the Test-playing nations to get a fair idea about which teams have recorded the highest percentage of draws.

That said, a few other sports where this strategy can fit to the tee are hockey, rugby, ice hockey, kabaddi, and mostly other team sports. An exception to this would be boxing, which, despite being an individual event, throws up bouts that end in ties, although rarely.

Draw No Bet in Cricket: Strategies & Tips

There are several ways in which you can use a draw no bet market and hope to boost your profitability despite the lower odds. That way, it's indeed an underrated market that seasoned bettors often tend to overlook.

In this section, we’ve described in detail three strategies that you can apply:

1. Use DNB in Conjunction with Accumulators

As mentioned earlier, draw no bet odds are quite low—much lower than in 1X2 markets—because of the lower degree of volatility, as you're almost securing two outcomes with a single bet: any team win as well as a draw.

It is because of such subpar odds that the draw no bet meaning in cricket may be diluted since you'd want a higher ROI on your stake. And that's precisely why we suggest that you use DNB in cricket as part of an accumulator to create more value. What is an accumulator? It's a single bet containing multiple selections, where the odds for each selection are multiplied. So, the greater the number of selections, the higher the payout.

(Source: 10CRIC)

In the screenshot above, you will see three draw no bet selections—one from cricket and two from football—rolled into an accumulator. While the individual odds are not appetizing and barely encourage one to place a wager, when combined into an accumulator, they provide relatively better value.

2. Bet on Underdogs

In a 1X2 market, betting on the favourites at a very short price and hoping to extract value is asking for too much. After all, favourites are always priced ridiculously low for a reason: they will win 11 times out of 10. But at the same time, backing the underdogs in this market would make little sense, as they will likely lose eight days a week.

(Source: 10Cric)

The above West Indies vs. South Africa Test match is a classic example to drive home this point. The Proteas are strong favourites, which is why they are priced low at 5.90. The West Indies, on the other hand, are absolute outsiders and are therefore priced at eye-wateringly high odds of 40.00. But betting on this market can be a double-edged sword: you bet on a South Africa win, but the game ends in a draw (remember that it's a Test match, so there's a very high chance of it being a stalemate at the end), and you lose your stake entirely.

However, in the DNB market, the West Indies are priced at 5.90, and betting on them provides excellent bang for your buck, considering your stake is insured if it were to be a draw.

3. Target Test Matches & Identify Teams with High Draw Percentages

As we know, a draw no bet pays out when the team you’re backing wins and returns your stake if the game ends in a draw. And that’s precisely why it’s recommended to use this wager on teams that play solid, gritty cricket and are tough to beat but can also force a lot of draws.

For example, if you crunch some stats, you will find that Test-playing nations with a positive win/loss ratio along with the highest draw percentages are: India, Australia, England, Pakistan, and South Africa (see first screenshot below). So, these teams are undoubtedly ideal for you to place your draw no bet wager on.

Now, if you wish to wager on Team India’s matches, you can dig further into the stats and try to find additional value. You’ll see that against all Test-playing nations, the men in blue have the highest draw percentages against Australia (27.10), England (36.76), New Zealand (43.54), Pakistan (64.40), Sri Lanka (36.95), and the West Indies (47.00). See the second screenshot.

This will help you narrow down to only those Test matches where India plays opponents against whom the men in blue not only have a respectable win percentage but also have a high percentage of draws. Due to the healthy win/loss ratio between India and these teams, you will likely get a good price on India, and should the match end in a draw, you can at least get back your stake.

Draw No Bet in Cricket – Is It the Right Strategy for You?

Now that you know what draw no bet means, it's probably the right time to think it over and assess if it's an appropriate strategy for you.

And it is exactly here that a solid understanding of the sport—teams' H2H records, player stats, and their current form—is so crucial. When you perform a thorough analysis of cricket and stay on top of information like this, you give yourself a real shot at placing an educated wager and exploiting the inherent quality of the draw no bet strategy: insuring your stake in the case of a draw.

Also, if you're still dipping your toes in the online gambling arena, you might find draw no bets perfectly tailored to your risk appetite, especially in conjunction with free bets, as you still learn the ropes of betting on cricket online. On the other hand, if you're a seasoned punter regularly playing with high stakes, you might find DNB a little too conservative for your liking.

Draw No Bet – Advantages & Disadvantages

CricketBettingAdvice Final Say

Are you comfortable with low-risk, low-return bets? Are you confident about your grasp of the sport and think you can identify games that have a high chance of ending in draws? Do you understand how a betting market‘s odds are indicative of the risks and potential returns from it? Are you a casual punter who likes to bet for the fun of it? And finally, is protecting your funds your main priority instead of going for high payouts?

If you've answered in the affirmative to all the questions above, that would mean draw no bet is the best fit for you, irrespective of whether you're gambling from India, Pakistan, or Bangladesh.

To sum up, what draw no bet means to you will not be the same for other punters. If you like adopting a conservative approach to gambling and are absolutely comfortable with a relatively low ROI on your wagers, go ahead and embrace this bet type.

Additionally, check out our comprehensive and insightful cricket betting guides from our team of cricket buffs and enthusiasts for all the necessary resources you need to bet effortlessly on the sport.

And, as always, bet responsibly.

Draw No Bet Meaning FAQs

What does draw no bet mean?

DNB refers to a market where there's no option of backing a draw. Simply put, you can bet on any team to win, and should the game end in a draw, your stake will be refunded to your account.

'.get_bloginfo('name').'

What is the meaning of draw no bet in cricket?

DNB in cricket means exactly the same as in any other sport. You bet on your preferred team to win. If they do, your bet wins; if the opposition wins, your bet loses; and if the match ends in a draw, you get your stake back.

'.get_bloginfo('name').'

Can I use DNB in other sports apart from cricket?

Absolutely. This strategy can be used in any sport, so long as it's a team event and there's a possibility of a draw. Some major examples where draw no bet serves as an ideal option are cricket, football, hockey, and ice hockey. However, football is by far the best fit for this market.

'.get_bloginfo('name').'

Is draw no bet a good bet?

Yes, it is. That's because your wager wins if the team you're backing wins, or otherwise, you get your stake refunded if the match ends in a draw. The three key benefits of this kind of bet are: it brings down the possible outcomes from three to two; makes it easier to place a winner; and refunds your stake in case of a draw.

'.get_bloginfo('name').'

Is DNB similar to 1X2?

No. Unlike 1X2, the DNB market does away with the option to back a draw, hence the reduced risk.

'.get_bloginfo('name').'

How do DNB odds compare to 1X2?

Draw no bet odds are always lower than in the traditional 1X2 (three-way) market. That's because the risk is also less due to the ‘draw' option being eliminated. All in all, DNB is a low-risk, low-return market.

Also, do you know how bookmakers calculate odds for sports betting markets?

'.get_bloginfo('name').'

Can I place a DNB once a match is underway?

Yes, you can. But that will depend on the bookmaker entirely. That said, the chances of finding live draw no bet markets are much higher in football than in any other sport.

'.get_bloginfo('name').'

Can I combine DNB into accumulator bets?

Yes, you certainly can. Draw no bet is just like any other betting market and can be used as part of an accumulator.

'.get_bloginfo('name').'

Do DNB wagers include the super-over phase in cricket?

The answer is both yes and no! Depending on the operator's exact terms and conditions, DNB in cricket may entail the super-over stage as well. However, we recommend you always go through the bookie's T&Cs in detail.

'.get_bloginfo('name').'

How is DNB different from Asian handicap 0?

There's no difference, really. Both are exactly the same: returning your stake in the event of a draw. Only the odds are different from time to time, but we could not establish a reason behind it.

'.get_bloginfo('name').'

How is DND different from double chance?

The two concepts are different. In double chance betting, you can back two outcomes with one wager: ‘Team A wins or draws', or ‘Team B wins or draws', or ‘Team A wins or Team B wins). Double chance odds are even lower than draw no bet.

'.get_bloginfo('name').'

Pritthijit Ray

Sports betting buff with emphasis on cricket

Pritthijit is a seasoned writer, editor, and content manager with almost a decade's experience in the field. Having been born and raised in India, where cricket is a little more than just a way of life, it is no surprise that he knows the sport and understands its nuances like the back of his hand. Pritthijit’s exhaustive knowledge and proficiency extend beyond the general spectrum of sports writing, with a laser-sharp focus on cricket betting, a passion that he has cultivated over the last four years.

Pritthijit particularly likes to probe into bookmakers and weigh their pros and cons to give his reader community insights, enabling them to choose the best betting websites. Apart from that, he is a dyed-in-the-wool cricket buff, so he considers an Afghanistan-Netherlands game as important as an India-Pakistan one.

Further Reading

1. What Is Double Chance Betting in Cricket? (2024) Double chance in betting is a low-risk gambling strategy, whereby...
2. Sports Betting Terms Explained With Examples (2024) — Your Easy Betting Glossary Regardless of whether you've just started dabbling in online gambling...
3. The 26 Best Cricket Betting Apps in India for Android & iOS (2024) Ready to explore the epitome of cricket betting excitement? Here...