Novig

At first, Novig was prepared to enter the U.S. market in Colorado as an exchange sportsbook, hence the name. However, the company has since shifted their strategy and decided to launch as a sweepstakes sportsbook, which instantly gave them access to 42 states across the country.

The sweepstakes aspect of Novig allows bettors to play for free and make wagers using in-app currency, which in this case is Novig cash and coins. Novig cash can be redeemed for real cash prizes, but coins are meant for fun and are the basis of the app's "free-to-play" aspect. In order to use the app and redeem winnings, a customer must be at least 21 years old.

Freedom is one of the biggest things that Novig brings to sports bettors, along with the highly competitive prices, which were the entire basis of the entire product when it was first set to launch. For bettors in certain states, this app allows some semblance of sports betting when it may not be legalized in that location, and in other states, it can help alleviate the stress of wagering with real money.

Not only is Novig accessible in terms of available states, but it can also be downloaded from the App Store. Aside from accessibility, simplicity also comes to mind when talking about the Novig app, as it is highly efficient to navigate and makes it easy on customers who have never used a sweepstakes sportsbook before.

Sports Betting Markets & Lines

Novig currently offers markets for eight different sports and leagues. While that is not a vast list that can be found on most traditional sportsbooks, they are some of the most significant leagues in the U.S. These leagues include the MLB, NBA, NFL, NHL, WNBA, NCAAF, NCAAB, and NCAAW.

As the product grows, more leagues are expected to be added to this list, but for right now, customers have a good basis of markets to wager on.

Bets & Odds

When it comes to betting markets available, Novig keeps things very simple, offering moneylines, point spreads, and totals for each game. Beyond that, customers will be able to find player props, but those markets may not be as vast as they would be in a traditional licensed sportsbook. Markets like team totals or other game props cannot be found, but at the end of the day, it is easy to look past that since the pricing on available bets is highly advantageous.

With the concept of no vig on bets, customers can get edges on traditional markets that may not be available elsewhere. For example, for a Thursday Night Football game between the Falcons and Buccaneers, we got both sides of the point spread at (-105) on Novig, but on DraftKings, the point spread market was set at (-110). Additionally, Novig allows bettors to set their own custom bets or compete against friends, which is an advantage of using a social sportsbook.

Live Betting

The ability to live bet is fully available on the Novig app. Customers can find live odds for points spread, moneylines, and point totals in the same efficient way they would be able to find them pregame. Being able to check live stats or follow the play-by-play of a game is not available, but users can see the score of each game.

Much like a traditional sportsbook, the live odds are constantly updating. Still, like pregame wagers, customers do not need to pay a commission on their bets, which opens the door for better live pricing on a plethora of live markets.

Novig Payment and Withdrawals

Unlike traditional sportsbooks, customers cannot deposit money into their accounts to start playing. Instead, they can purchase coin packages, which give the player additional Novig cash. Customers do have unlimited access to coins, as bettors get a free refill once they dip below 100 coins. As we touched on in the bonus section, Novig cash can also be received for free through daily log-ins.

Since the amount of Novig cash given through daily log-ins is still limited and takes a while to build up, buying coin packages allows users to build their cash bankroll quickly. However, Novig cash is not like traditional cash, as it is considered bonus funds, so for in-app cash to become redeemable for withdrawal, bettors must stake the in-app cash at least once. In order for prize cash to be redeemed, a customer must reach 20 Novig cash, which is a good deal compared to other social sportsbooks.

The app's payment methods for buying coin packages are fairly limited, though. Bettors can only use Visa, Mastercard, or Trustly to do so. This is one area of the product we would like to see receive an upgrade, and over time, this may become the case. Withdrawals, or in this case, redemptions, can only be done through Trustly. As previously stated, these redemptions can only be made when a customer has a minimum of $20 redeemable Novig cash.

Deposit Methods

• Visa

• Mastercard

• Trustly

Withdrawal Methods

• Trustly

Accepted Currencies

• USD

Customer Service and Support

If a problem or question arises when using the Novig app, customers can contact customer support in multiple ways. For starters, users can call the customer service line to speak to an agent over the phone. If the line is busy or customers would rather use another method, they could always utilize the live chat function or reach out to the product on social media.

Of course, the alternative is to check out the helpdesk, which can be found in the app. This will bring customers to the FAQ section, which is very thorough. It has multiple articles explaining different aspects of the app, along with commonly asked questions, which could help a customer solve a problem before reaching out to customer service.

Overall, for a newer product that is strictly a sweepstakes sportsbook, Novig has customers covered in the customer service realm, which allows for an even more flawless experience.

Responsible Gaming Tools

Even though Novig is a social sportsbook that does not require real-money wagering, it has responsible gaming tools ready for its customers. Under the "Responsible Gameplay" section on the app, users can find the product's responsible gameplay policy, along with a direct link to an addiction hotline.

While their responsible gaming tools may not be as extensive as those on a licensed sportsbook, users can still find the necessary tools to address any gambling problems they feel they may be having.

Mobile Betting with Novig

For bettors who are used to a traditional sportsbook, using a social sportsbook may seem confusing, but that is not the case. Novig is simple; from the concept to the layout, it does not take long to get started on the product and quickly learn how to operate it. Overall, it is a product that works well for both experienced and new bettors.

Sure, the fact that no real currency is used can be confusing, but once customers use the product, they'll see how easy it is to operate. Once the cash vs. coin system is understood, bettors can hop right into a product that allows for premier betting edges with no commission on bets, all on an app so simply laid out that it makes finding a game or market a blazing fast process.

While using the app, we ran into no responsiveness issues under a stable internet connection, so there was no need to worry about the app crashing, no matter how long we were using it. Novig can be as interactive as customers want it to be. They can keep it like a traditional sportsbook and just make wagers on lines that are already offered. However, they can also interact with friends, check leaderboards, and set their own markets for people to bet on.

Downloading the Novig App

Bettors in 42 states across the U.S. can download the Novig app from the App Store. Currently, the product is not offered in Android format, but the company has clarified that they plan on changing this shortly. This opens up the chance to place wagers and experience the feeling of sports betting in states where legislation on the matter has not been passed.

At the time of writing this, the product has a 4.3 out of 5-star rating on the App Store, which is unsurprising given its simple and appealing design, which makes it feel like a licensed sportsbook.

Web Platform

Novig is strictly a mobile-only social sportsbook, so the option to use the product on the web is not available. While the product does have a website, it is used to explain the product and show where users can download the app.