What Is Draw No Bet (DNB) / Handicap 0?
Draw No Bet (DNB) means that if the match ends in a draw, your stake is refunded in full. You are only betting on which team wins: if your team wins, you win; if it draws, your stake is refunded; if it loses, you lose. The Asian handicap 0 (also called "level ball") is the same as DNB — both remove the draw as a losing result and turn it into a stake refund. This differs from +0.5 (where a draw counts as a win) and from 1X2 (where a draw is a separate outcome).
What Draw No Bet is
Draw No Bet (DNB) means exactly that — on a draw, there is no bet. If the match ends level, your bet is voided and your stake is refunded in full. You are essentially betting on one question: which team wins? Three possibilities:
- Your team wins → you win
- The match draws → stake refunded (no profit, no loss)
- Your team loses → you lose
The basics of the 1X2 market are covered in our market types guide: Types of Football Markets: A Beginner's Guide to 1X2, Handicap & Over/Under.
DNB and handicap 0 are the same
The Asian handicap 0 (zero), also called "level ball", works the same as DNB. No goals are given to either team. If the adjusted score ends level (i.e. the actual match is a draw), the stake is refunded. So DNB and handicap 0 are two names for the same concept. How the Asian handicap works is explained here: Asian Handicap Deep Dive: Half-Ball & Quarter-Ball (0.25 / 0.75).
Sometimes the odds for DNB and handicap 0 differ slightly between platforms, but the settlement mechanism is the same.
The difference from +0.5 and 1X2
Here are three different ways of handling the draw:
- 1X2 (win): if you pick a team to win and the match draws, you LOSE. The draw is a separate outcome (X).
- DNB / Handicap 0: if it draws, the stake is REFUNDED. No profit, no loss.
- +0.5 (half handicap): if it draws, you WIN, because +0.5 means your team only needs to avoid defeat.
So in terms of "draw protection": +0.5 is the safest (draw = win), DNB is in the middle (draw = refund), 1X2 is the riskiest (draw = loss). The odds reflect this difference — the safer option has lower odds.
Why use DNB
DNB is useful when you think a team will win but do not want a full loss if the match ends level. It gives "draw protection" without having to predict the draw specifically. Compared to 1X2, DNB odds are lower because the draw risk is removed.
One key point: because the draw is removed, the margin on the two-way DNB market is often lower than on the three-way 1X2 market. How to read odds is explained here: How to Read Football Odds: A Complete Beginner's Guide to Malay Odds.
Important note
This article is for educational purposes and does not encourage anyone to gamble. Understanding the DNB structure does not guarantee winning and does not change the operator's margin. Other terms can be looked up in our glossary: Football Betting Terms: A Complete Glossary for Beginners. If you choose to bet, do so responsibly: Responsible Gambling: A Practical Guide & Where to Get Help in Malaysia.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
- Is Draw No Bet the same as handicap 0?
- Yes. Draw No Bet (DNB) and the Asian handicap 0 (level ball) work the same way: if the match draws, the stake is refunded in full. Both turn a draw from a loss into a stake refund. The odds may differ slightly between platforms, but the mechanism is the same.
- What is the difference between DNB and +0.5?
- On DNB, a draw means the stake is refunded (no profit, no loss). On +0.5, a draw counts as a win because your team only needs to avoid defeat. So +0.5 gives more protection than DNB, and usually has lower odds.
- When is DNB useful?
- DNB is useful when you think a team will win but want protection if the match ends level. It refunds your stake on a draw, rather than making it a loss as in 1X2. The odds are lower than 1X2 because the draw risk is removed.