Double Chance and Draw No Bet can both reduce a football result market to fewer outcomes, but they settle a draw in different ways. A Double Chance selection includes a draw as one of its covered results. A Draw No Bet selection does not win on a draw; under the standard rule, the stake is returned instead. Understanding that difference matters before comparing prices or reading a bet slip.
This guide explains the market labels and settlement logic only. It is not a prediction tool or a recommendation to place a wager.
It is intended for adults where participation is permitted. Read the event rules, set time and spending limits, and never chase losses.
The basic difference
In a standard 1X2 football market, the three possible full-time results are Home win, Draw and Away win. Double Chance combines two of those three results into one selection. Draw No Bet keeps one team selection, but removes the draw from the win-or-loss outcome.
| Market | A selection can win when | What happens on a draw? | What it does not cover |
|---|---|---|---|
| Home or Draw (1X) | Home win or draw | Win | Away win |
| Draw or Away (X2) | Draw or away win | Win | Home win |
| Home or Away (12) | Either team wins | Loss | The draw |
| Home Draw No Bet | Home win | Stake returned | Away win |
| Away Draw No Bet | Away win | Stake returned | Home win |
The letters used for Double Chance come from 1X2 notation: 1 is the home team, X is a draw and 2 is the away team. The label is useful, but the actual market title on the event page remains the final reference.
How Double Chance works
Double Chance is a result market with two covered outcomes. Choosing Home or Draw (1X) means the selection settles as a win if the home team wins or if the match finishes level. It settles as a loss if the away team wins.
For example, imagine Riverside are at home to Harbour.
- A Riverside or Draw (1X) selection covers 1-0, 2-2 and 0-0 as winning results.
- The same selection loses if Harbour win 0-1 or 1-2.
The other Double Chance options work in the same way. Draw or Away (X2) covers a draw plus an away win. Home or Away (12) covers either team winning, so it specifically excludes the draw. It is sometimes called “no draw”, but that label should not be confused with Draw No Bet.
How Draw No Bet works
Draw No Bet is a two-way market attached to one team. If the selected team wins, the selection wins. If the other team wins, it loses. If the match is drawn, the stake is normally returned under that market’s settlement rule.
Using the same fixture:
- Riverside Draw No Bet wins if Riverside win.
- It is refunded if the match ends 0-0, 1-1 or 2-2.
- It loses if Harbour win.
A returned stake is not a winning result and does not produce a profit. It means that particular selection is settled without a gain or loss to the stake, subject to the operator’s published rules. This boundary is the key difference from Home or Draw: Home or Draw treats a draw as a win, while Riverside Draw No Bet treats a draw as a refund.
Worked scoreline examples
The table below compares three common selections for the same home team. It assumes a full-time result market and standard settlement. It does not include extra time or a penalty shoot-out unless the market itself says otherwise.
| Final score | Home or Draw (1X) | Home Draw No Bet | Home win in 1X2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Home 2-0 Away | Win | Win | Win |
| Home 1-1 Away | Win | Stake returned | Loss |
| Home 0-1 Away | Loss | Loss | Loss |
The 1-1 row resolves a frequent misunderstanding. All three selections are linked to the same home team, but they do not have the same draw treatment. Comparing their displayed prices without first comparing their settlement conditions is not a like-for-like comparison.
Double Chance is not Asian Handicap
These markets can look similar because each can change how a draw affects settlement, but their mechanics are different. Double Chance combines two named 1X2 outcomes. Draw No Bet is commonly presented as the same practical idea as a zero handicap: a draw returns the stake under the relevant rules.
An Asian Handicap guide explains handicaps as adjusted-score markets, including whole and quarter lines. This article is narrower: it explains the football result labels themselves. For the original three-outcome market, see 1X2 betting explained. If the question is whether two prices express the same value, the separate betting odds formats guide covers Decimal, Hong Kong, Malay and Indo displays.
Check the market period first
“Home or Draw” only says which results are covered; it does not by itself tell you the time period. A page may offer Full Time, First Half, Second Half or another period. A full-time result and a first-half result can therefore settle differently even when both use the same Double Chance label.
Also check the event rules before treating a final score as decisive. In football, “full time” often means the specified regulation period plus added time, while extra time and penalty shoot-outs may be excluded unless the market says otherwise. The event’s settlement rules control that detail.
A quick reading checklist
- Identify whether the market says Double Chance or Draw No Bet.
- Read the exact selection: 1X, X2, 12, home DNB or away DNB.
- Confirm the market period, such as Full Time or First Half.
- Distinguish a stake return from a win.
- Read the event and settlement rules before relying on a scoreline.
- Keep spending within a personal entertainment limit; a market label cannot make an outcome certain.
For a broader safety reminder, read the Responsible Gaming and Account Security Guide. Online gaming is for adults where permitted by law and should not be treated as income or a way to compensate for an earlier result.
Frequently asked questions
Is Double Chance the same as Draw No Bet?
No. Double Chance includes two named match results. Draw No Bet has one selected team, and a draw normally returns the stake rather than settling as a win.
What does 1X mean in football betting?
1X means Home or Draw. The selection covers a home-team win and a drawn match, but not an away-team win.
What happens if a Draw No Bet match is drawn?
Under standard Draw No Bet settlement, the stake is returned. Always read the operator’s specific market rules because wording and event periods can vary.
Does Home or Away (12) cover a draw?
No. The 12 Double Chance selection covers either team winning and loses if the match is drawn.
Do extra time and penalties count for Double Chance or Draw No Bet?
That depends on the market rules. Do not assume that a market labelled “Full Time” includes them; check the specific event’s settlement terms.
Sources
- Betfair betting glossary: Double Chance and Draw No Bet — terminology example from a sportsbook provider; it does not set rules for every operator.