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Guide · updated 08 Jul 2026

Draw No Bet: How It Works

Draw no bet is the market where a tie simply doesn't count. Back a team with draw no bet and, if the match ends level, your stake comes back in full, no win and no loss. It's popular with Kenyan bettors who like a team but can't shake the nagging feeling that the match might end 1-1.

How draw no bet actually settles

There are only two possible settlements once you understand the mechanism. Your team wins, you get paid at the quoted odds. The match is a draw, your stake is refunded, full stop. Your team loses, you lose the stake. The draw outcome is effectively removed from the equation, which is why some sites label it "void on draw" instead.

This differs from double chance, which pays out on a draw rather than voiding it. Draw no bet gives your money back; double chance turns the draw into a win. People mix the two up constantly.

Why the odds sit where they do

Because a draw removes the stake from play rather than paying it, draw no bet odds land between the plain win price and the double chance price. A home win alone might pay 1.90. The 1X double chance on the same match might pay 1.35. Draw no bet on the home side typically lands somewhere around 1.55 to 1.65, since it carries more risk than double chance but less than a straight win bet.

That middle-ground pricing is the whole appeal. You get a meaningfully better price than double chance while still removing the draw as a losing outcome.

Where it fits your betting week

It works well against low-scoring, cagey opponents where a draw genuinely feels live. Mid-table FKF Premier League matches are notoriously low-scoring, and unders and draws land more often than casual bettors expect, which makes this exactly the kind of fixture where draw no bet earns its keep. You're not betting the draw won't happen. You're just refusing to let it cost you if it does.

One thing worth saying plainly: this market rewards patience more than instinct. It's not built for the matches you're most excited about. It's built for the ones where you're genuinely unsure, and want to remove one specific outcome from ruining your week.

A word on late European kickoffs

European kickoffs land late for Kenyan bettors, with La Liga evening games often starting around 22:00 to 23:00 EAT. Draw no bet on a tight La Liga fixture that kicks off near midnight is a reasonable way to have a stake in the game without needing to stay up watching every twist, since a stalemate simply returns your money rather than requiring a nervy last-minute check of the scoreline.

Worked example

You back Manchester City with draw no bet at odds of 1.60, staking KSh 300. If City win, you collect KSh 480, a KSh 180 profit. If the match ends in any draw, 0-0, 1-1, 2-2, your KSh 300 stake is simply returned to you, no profit and no loss. Only if City lose outright do you forfeit the KSh 300. Compare that to a plain win bet at 1.90: a City win pays KSh 570, more profit, but a draw wipes out the full stake instead of returning it.

Common mistakes

  • Confusing draw no bet with double chance; one voids the stake on a draw, the other pays out on it.
  • Assuming a draw refund means the bet was 'free' to place; it still tied up your stake for the match duration.
  • Using draw no bet on matches where a draw is very unlikely, where the odds improvement over a plain win barely exists.
  • Placing many tiny draw no bet stakes across a slip and losing value to M-Pesa transaction fees on each small bet.
  • Forgetting draw no bet still loses outright if your team loses; it removes one outcome, not two.
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Frequently asked questions

What does draw no bet actually mean?

It means your stake is refunded if the match ends in a draw. You only win if your selected team wins, and only lose if your selected team loses.

Is draw no bet better than double chance?

Neither is universally better. Draw no bet pays higher odds because it only refunds on a draw, while double chance pays lower odds because it actually wins on a draw. Which suits you depends on how confident you are the draw won't happen at all.

Does draw no bet apply to extra time?

Almost always no for standard match markets: it settles on the 90 minutes plus stoppage time only, unless the specific bet explicitly states it includes extra time.

Can I use draw no bet on both teams in the same match?

Yes, technically, though backing both sides with draw no bet guarantees a stake refund on a draw and a loss on one side whichever team wins, which rarely makes financial sense once odds and fees are factored in.

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