Polymarket vs DraftKings for NBA games
Polymarket prices NBA games as shares that pay $1, and many of its sports markets charge no taker fee. DraftKings builds its margin into American odds. Here is how to put the two on the same scale.
| Polymarket | DraftKings | |
|---|---|---|
| Price format | Cents per $1 share | American odds |
| Cost | Market-specific taker fee; many sports markets are fee-free | Vig built into both sides of the line |
| Price discovery | Order book traded by users | Set by the sportsbook |
| Exit before the game | Sell shares at the current bid | Cash-out offer |
Tonight’s biggest Kalshi–Polymarket gaps
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A fee-free market changes the math
When a Polymarket market charges no taker fee, the share price is close to your all-in cost. Compare it with the margin-removed sportsbook probability: if the share costs less than that fair value, the market is cheaper than the book.
Remember that the visible price is only good for the size on the book. Larger orders cost more as they fill deeper levels.
Check settlement wording
Polymarket resolves each market under its own written rules. Read them, especially for postponed games. Courtside flags pairs whose rules may settle differently from the sportsbook bet.
Common questions
Is Polymarket cheaper than DraftKings?
On fee-free markets it often is, before accounting for order-book depth. Compare the share price with Courtside’s margin-removed fair value for each game.
How do Polymarket NBA markets settle?
By the winning team in the official result, under each market’s resolution rules. Read the rules for postponement and overtime handling.
Can I sell a Polymarket position before tip-off?
Yes. You can sell shares at the current bid at any time the market is open.
What does a 55¢ Polymarket price mean?
The market implies about a 55% chance. In American odds that is roughly −122.