Betting on The Draw – Tips & Predictions

What is betting on the Draw?

Betting on a draw is quick and easy. Put into the simplest terms, it is placing a bet on a match result to finish the same for both teams, in any sport where a draw is a possible outcome. A draw can also be called a tie, and there are definitions in football of a scoreless or score draw as well. For the wager to be a winner the outcome needs to have both sides level at the required end stage of the match. The end point you choose can include a drawing at half time or full time bet, or an in-play bet which means you bet during the match for the result to finish as a draw by the final whistle, bell or hooter. A drawn game is most common in low-scoring sports such as football or field hockey. Draws are a possibility in various other sports such as Rugby (Union and League), Cricket and Basketball, but the way their higher scoring point systems work means it is a result that happens much less frequently. In terms of individual sports (For example, Snooker, Tennis or Squash) a draw is often an impossible outcome due to knockout tournament rules. You can back a draw in the sport of Boxing but it is not an outcome that occurs that often in bouts.

How to place a bet on the Draw

Placing a bet for a game to finish as a draw bet is a simple process, the steps to do it are listed below:

1. Log in to your betting account
2. Choose the games you think will be draws and tick them on the appropriate box
3. Check your Bet Slip, make sure they are all showing
4. Ensure you tick the box for an accumulator; it is usually the very bottom option
5. Add Your Stake amount
6. Place Your Bet.

Draw betting - How to decide which match to choose

If it is worth betting on a draw in a particular match-up, will depend heavily on the sport. Backing a draw in rugby or certain forms of cricket will likely not be worth it due to the extremely low chance that it would come in! In terms of football it can a bet that is worth placing but needs to be thought about. Test Cricket matches can finish in draws with some regularity while backing a draw in boxing can prove to be a shrewd choice in certain bouts. Let's look through each of these in a bit more detail.

Football Draw Betting

Draws in football’s top European Leagues happened around 23-28% of the time in the 2024/25 season. This makes it an interesting option to think over when you are considering  placing a bet on league matches. The low scoring system means a team that is less skillful can manage to hang on for a draw even if outclassed, and also that teams of equal skill can cancel each other out and produce a tied game.

Here are some things to bear in mind when betting for a draw in football;

• Team Motivation - Teams that need points are more likely to settle for a draw. This could be to try and avoid relegation or to maintain a position in the league. If two teams are playing each other and one point suits both sides these are good games to bet on.
• Goal scoring and conceding form - Look at teams that regularly draw, two of these playing each other is often a good sign. Also low scoring teams against teams that are strong defensively is a good recipe for a tie.
• Injury News - If a team's main goal threat or key players for assists are injured, this can lead to a higher likelihood of a close match as less goals will be scored.
• Head-to-Head & Team history - Derby days can often be tight matches between clubs. Also some teams will have a good history against certain opposition leading to extra confidence on the pitch and sometimes helping create a drawn game.
• Team Ability - If sides are more evenly matched a draw is generally more likely, look at teams that are close to each other in the league table (Can be top or bottom).

Test and First Class Cricket Draw Betting

In terms of One day and T20 cricket betting on a draw will generally be a foolish idea. It would require both sides to finish on the exact same amount of final runs; this has happened only 17 times ever in International T20 cricket, and these have all been settled by a Superover. In ODI’s a draw is equally unlikely with only 44 International ties ever being recorded since 1971. Of course rain can cause a match to be recorded as no result, and this can be a betting option in some cases. In cricket matches that run over several days however a draw is a result that comes in a lot more regularly. 56 of 407 test matches were recorded as draws between 2015 to 2024 making the likelihood of a draw around 13%. In the English county cricket system, where matches are played over 4 days, 28 of 120 games ended in a tie in the 2024 season, giving it a 23% probability of occuring.

When looking for a cricket match to be a draw you should consider a few factors:

• Weather conditions - The most common reason for a cricket match to be drawn is when bad weather causes days of play to be lost. This is usually rain, but in International matches you can also get other forms of bad weather like high winds that cause days of play to be lost.
• A good batting Wicket - The better the wicket is for batting the more chance you have of a draw. For the match to end in a result both teams will need to take 40 wickets between them. When playing on a pitch which bowlers find it hard to gain any advantage from then the odds of 40 batters getting out can be reduced. This is more common on very flat wickets such as those in hot countries like the UAE.
• Match Progression - By the time you get to day 4 or 5 of a match a draw may become the best possible result for a batting team. When this happens, they will instruct their batters to play defensively and try and survive until the end of the match. This makes a draw more likely as they are less prone to giving away wickets by hitting aggressive shots or be run out attempting quick runs.

Boxing Draw Betting

In boxing, draws are a possible outcome and can represent a bit of a cheeky side bet especially in high-profile fight nights. A draw in boxing will only occur when both fighters have completed the set amount of rounds (Between 4-12 in professional fights) and the result goes to the judges scorecards. A draw will be called if the judges scores end up equally scored for each fighter in the bout. There are no comprehensive statistics available on how regularly draws occur in professional boxing, but there have been some notable big world title fight draws in the past, for instance - Lennox Lewis vs Evandor Holyfield, Sugar Ray Leonard vs Tommy Hearns and Tyson Fury vs Deontay Wilder. Backing draws in any of those fights would have certainly earned you a good return on your stake!

Let’s look at somt things to bear in mind when backing a draw in boxing;

• Boxers' Weight and Styles - Lighter boxers are more likely to go the distance as they have less hitting power to stop their oppenents. Counter punchers and technical fighters will often have more stamina than boxers who simply go for quick wins. Look at the style and records of the fighters before the fight.
• Is the Champion (or favourite) at home - Home-town advantage can make a difference in boxing. Known as a hometown decision, you can sometimes see a boxer fighting at home get an unlikely draw after surviving to the end of a bout, even if many feel they should have lost, as judges will score them higher in the final reckoning.
• Does a Draw make money?- Boxing is known as prizefighting and is very money-oriented. Sometimes a draw means a guaranteed rematch and if both boxers are still on their feet at the end a draw makes good economic sense so they can do it again.

Conclusion

Betting on a draw adds an extra layer to your gambling options as and when that result is possible. As we have seen not every sport is suitable for this type of bet but when and where it is a possibility, some good pre-match research can pay dividends. Backing a draw is not everyone’s cup of tea as a gamble as it is often seen as “sitting on the fence” and not making a clear decision. However if you are careful with the matches you pick and choose and can look into the factors carefully, there can be a good satisfaction to take from when you call a game correctly as a tie. We always remind you to gamble responsibly and within your bankroll limits using only money that you can afford to lose and never to bet when angry or drunk. Basically keep your betting fun and do your research!