
Novig Announces New Chief Product Officer
Founding engineer Ari Hirsch promoted to lead product design and engineering following the company's nationwide expansion

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Last reviewed: November 3, 2026
Novig is a prediction market where users set prices for other users, while DraftKings is a traditional sportsbook where the house calculates and sets betting lines. Picking between the two depends on whether you want a familiar betting experience from a large brand or prefer greater control over pricing and lower or no trading fees.
| Comparison | Novig | DraftKings Sportsbook |
|---|---|---|
Product type | Sports prediction market | Online sportsbook |
Who you trade or bet against | Other users | DraftKings |
Can you set your own price? | Yes | No |
Pricing | No fee on pregame straight trades or maker orders | Margin built into sportsbook odds |
Markets | Sports only | Sports only |
Live markets and parlays | Yes | Yes |
Availability | Nationwide except Arizona, Nevada, Michigan, and Ohio | 27 states plus Washington, D.C. |
Minimum age | 21+ | Generally 21+; 18+ in D.C., New Hampshire, and Wyoming |
Regulation | CFTC-designated contract market | State gaming regulators |
Current new-user offer | Deposit $10, get $50 in Trade Credits | Bet $5, get $200 in Bonus Bets ($50 now, $150 over 21 days) |
On DraftKings, the house sets the prices, and you take them or you don't. On Novig, you can accept the best price immediately or post your own price and wait for another user to take the other side. The trade only goes through if another user accepts it, so posting an order is how you set your own line.
Both platforms cover core markets like game winners, spreads, totals, props, futures, live action, and parlays. DraftKings has the slightly larger menu here, with more extensive Same Game Parlay options and greater sports coverage into international categories like F1 and table tennis. Novig also offers SGPs, with most of its coverage focused on the largest American sports: football, basketball, baseball, hockey, golf, tennis, and MMA. Sports like soccer are also available.
Novig lets users sell eligible positions as long as another trader is willing to pay, which means exits depend entirely on the market. DraftKings offers Cash Out on select bets, with availability and pricing controlled by the sportsbook.
Like most sportsbooks, DraftKings doesn't charge a separate trading fee. Instead, it builds margin into its odds. For example, at a common -110 price on both sides, bettors need to win 52.4% of their bets just to break even. Novig doesn't build sportsbook vig into its orders since users set prices. Pregame straight trades are currently free for both sides, and maker orders have zero fees across all trade types. The only trading fees are taker fees on live trades and most futures under a published formula (golf and tennis futures are exempt), plus parlay fees that are already included in the quoted price. Separate deposit processing fees may apply depending on the payment method.
Current promotions for both platforms give betting currency in exchange for a real-money bet or deposit. Novig's new-user promo gives $50 worth of trade credits for a $10 deposit, with no qualifying trade or playthrough needed. Meanwhile, DraftKings is offering up to $200 in bonus bets after customers place at least $5 in qualifying bets, with $50 issued right away and $150 more paid over 21 days (offer ends Nov. 29, 2026). However, neither balance is the same as withdrawable cash.
Novig operates through Ludlow Exchange, designated as a contract market by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC). The platform is available throughout the U.S. except Arizona, Nevada, Michigan, and Ohio for eligible users 21+. Novig is also suing state officials in federal court over how it is regulated in Massachusetts, Missouri, New Mexico, New York, Washington, and Wisconsin. The Massachusetts case is paused until a similar Kalshi case finishes in the state courts, and the New Mexico case has been paused by court order since September 2, 2026. The outcomes could affect where prediction markets remain available and the costs users face if states are allowed to impose additional taxes or regulatory requirements.
DraftKings, like most sportsbooks, is regulated by individual states and is accessible in 27 states plus Washington, D.C. Users must physically be in an eligible state to place a bet, and must be 21+ in most states or 18+ in D.C., New Hampshire, and Wyoming. DraftKings availability remains subject to changes in state law and licensing.
Let's say the same side of a game is available for 50¢ on Novig and -110 on DraftKings.
On Novig, $100 at 50¢ buys 200 contracts. If the pick wins, those contracts settle for $200. You get your $100 back, plus $100 in profit. A pregame straight trade carries no fee here.
On DraftKings, a $100 bet at -110 returns about $190.91 if it wins. You get your $100 stake back plus about $90.91 in profit.
Actual prices vary; a Novig contract could trade at 52¢ while DraftKings moves to -105, for example. In general, Novig is better suited to users who care most about price, want to post their own orders, regularly trade pregame straight markets, or want access outside most sportsbook states. DraftKings makes more sense for users who prefer standard sportsbook betting slips, want a broader menu of markets and SGPs, or already use promos and rewards in the DraftKings ecosystem.
On fees, yes. Novig charges no trading fee on pregame straight trades and has no margin built into order prices, while DraftKings commonly has vig built into published prices. Novig still charges taker fees on live trades and most futures, and parlay fees are built into the quote, so the overall cheaper option depends on the market and trade type.
Yes. Novig is available in 46 states plus D.C., with the exception of Arizona, Nevada, Michigan, and Ohio, while DraftKings only operates in 27 states plus Washington, D.C. Availability can change as prediction-market litigation continues.
Both cover the core sports markets, including winners, spreads, totals, player props, futures, and parlays. DraftKings has the broader traditional sportsbook menu and deeper Same Game Parlay coverage, while Novig is more focused on major American sports and gives users more control over pricing.
It depends: Novig odds are set by users, so actual lines depend on how many traders are setting prices and how aggressively. Novig removes fixed house prices and fees on pregame straight trades. The better value still depends on the actual Novig contract price and DraftKings line when you enter the position.
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Founding engineer Ari Hirsch promoted to lead product design and engineering following the company's nationwide expansion

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