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Bovada Review
- 20+ Sports
- A+ Mobile App
- Fast Payouts
- Easy to Use
Editors Summary
It is not our usual practice to review any sportsbook that does not operate under a license. However, in the case of Bovada, its unique connection with the long-standing and very credible Bodog sportsbook makes this an exception. Although Bovada currently remains unlicensed at present, customer loyalty has not been affected, and there has not been an upsurge in complaints or issues involving this operator.
Risk Warning: The products offered by the companies listed on this website carry a high level of risk and can result in the loss of all your funds. You should never risk money that you cannot afford to lose.
Ad Disclosure: Some of the links that you will find on this website are advertisements for which we do receive financial gain for referring new customers.
Introduction
A spin-off from the Canadian-orientated Bodog operation, which has been around since 1994, Bovada was launched in 2011 intended to serve the growing US sports betting, casino and poker markets, but became a company in its own right in 2016. US participants who previously placed their bets with Bodog were automatically moved over to the Bovada site.
Because of this unique connection to Bodog, Bovada enjoys the same level of credibility; it is just modified to suit a different market and is accessible only to those of you who reside in the United States, Mexico or Brazil. From 2011 until 2016, Bovada had full licensing under the Canadian Kahnawake Gaming Commission. However, this is no longer the case and at the time of writing, Bovada is running unlicensed.
Bovada chooses to attract players by offering alternative wagering options and a unique sports betting live interface rather than by having a particularly exceptional list of sports to wager on. Not surprisingly, the onus is mainly on the US favourites of football, ice hockey, basketball and baseball, together with some popular international sports and novelty options to add family entertainment value.
Gaming Experience
Bovada chooses to maintain around 20 options on its sportsbook, plus some eSports and a few entertainment items for novelty value. Twenty may seem a low number by comparison to other sportsbooks, but it is Bovada’s live betting action and a massive list of wagering options that not only attract participants but encourage them to stay long-term. Below are a few examples of what Bovada can offer you:
Basketball
Major NBC events are frequently part of the Bovada live-betting lineup. When you are logged in to your account and access the dynamic interface option, you will be offered a series of in-play bets, almost by the minute, on a ‘what happens next’ basis. If that level of excitement is not for you, then you can stick to the standard half and full-time scoring options.
Soccer
English Premier League games are equally well serviced by Bovada, with multiple wagering options for standard bets as well as some less-than-standard variations such as: which side will win the coin toss for kick off, how many corners or missed goals there will be during a pre-determined period or how many fouls there will be.
Horse Racing
If you are uninspired by the usual basic wagers available for horse racing, then Bovada probably has some options that may be of interest. As well as opting for one of Bovada’s exotic accumulator-style bets, you can also customise a wager to encompass factors in one race, the full racecard at one track, or across multiple tracks. All you have to do is complete the details and Bovada will calculate the odds and potential prize money for you.
eSports
To add some novelty value to its sporting line up, Bovada regularly offers wagers for some well-known e-sport leagues and tournaments. Currently, trending games include Counter-Strike, StarCraft and League of Legends. If that is not sufficient involvement for you and your family, wagers on many favourite TV talent shows, quizzes and soap operas are also available.
Bonuses And Promotions
Range of
Sports
Although Bovada operates a fee-based banking system (excepting Bitcoin users), it more than makes up for that with some generous bonuses and incentive schemes. As well as high-value welcome packages, its referral, loyalty and VIP rewards are considered some of the best in the business.
Popular Bonuses
Bovada’s standard sportsbook ‘Welcome’ package works on a ‘50% match bet’ basis. This bonus is worth up to $250, with only a 5 x playthrough requirement (deposit and bonus). There is currently a 100% bonus option, up to a maximum of $1000 if you opt to join the casino side of Bovada as well. For poker players and Bitcoin sign-ups, additional concessions are available. Bovada also routinely provides a selection of personalised teasers for those who already have accounts, dictated by their activity.
VIP Account
First launched in 2016, Bovada’s VIP account is known as ‘The Red Room’. The Red Room is considered by many to be one of the best VIP reward accounts in the business, outdoing most in terms of consistent member benefits and the value of its regular prize awards and other giveaways. Also, all members of the Red Room receive accelerated payouts free of charge and have named customer support staff assigned to them. Access to this elite section of Bovada is strictly by invitation only and despite numerous player forums trying to second-guess when they will receive the coveted invite, nobody knows.
Loyalty Program
As soon as you make your first deposit to Bovada, you are automatically a part of its loyalty program, at ‘Starter’ level. Every time you use the site after that, you will earn points, which will enable you to work through the four baseball-themed levels: Rookie, Pro, All-Star and Legend, once complete you will climb up to the next tier. Higher rewards in terms of point redemption and ‘cashback’ are on offer for every level and each of three tiers, with the final ‘home run’ being placed in the Hall of Fame.
Extra Value
One way that Bovada extends player participation is through its ‘Refer-A-Friend Bonus’. Every friend you refer that opens an account and makes a deposit, can earn you up to $100 for a $50 deposit, as the bonus on offer currently stands at 200%. As Bovada charges relatively high fees for depositing and withdrawing, another way to gain extra value from your account is to use Bitcoin as your currency as those transactions will be free of charge.
Software And Security
The most impressive thing about the Bovada sportsbook is its live-action interface, developed initially as bespoke software to service Bodog; this has been revamped to suit Bovada’s uniquely US market. With a suitable network connection, players can open the dynamic interface and wager in-play, on any aspect of the live game they choose.
Bovada’s security is no less thorough; the entire website uses https:// and sensitive data has the added protection of the latest 128-Bit SSL encryption. One more unusual feature is Bovada’s ‘anonymous player’ option, which is made possible by explicitly blocking any software that could otherwise identify you.
Mobile Gambling
Understanding US players so well, Bovada is fully mobile-ready for participants. When you go to the website, it will automatically recognise the device you are using, allowing you to start wagering straight from the browser. There are also apps available to download for iOS and Android users by scanning the QR Code on Bovada’s website, but this is not essential.
Mobile players are further rewarded by automatically being awarded a minimum $25 welcome bonus the first time they make a deposit; this is in addition to any standard welcome offer provided by Bovada. To obtain the best results from all of Bovadas real-time options, you will need a relatively modern smartphone or tablet and a secure WiFi connection.
Bovada brings an exceptionally high level of entertainment value for bettors, plus bonuses, promotions and its range of unique exotic wagering options.
Deposits And Withdrawals
Options for funding your account are slightly limited and all credit/debit card deposits to Bovada attract a fee. You can use Visa and Mastercard (5%) or American Express (9.9%). The reasoning behind this appears to be that Bovada is actively encouraging players to carry out transactions using Bitcoin, as transfers made with this cryptocurrency are free.
It is a similar story for withdrawals, Bovada charges a flat fee of $50 per transaction and the only option is by cheque, which can take 10-15 days in total to process. Bitcoin withdrawals are free-of-charge and completed within 1-3 days. Unless you are specifically averse to using crypto, there is no contest!
Special Features
Bovada has a policy of individualising accounts, with monitoring based on the level and type of interaction with its sportsbook. There is a very positive aspect of this, as it means you will receive bonuses and incentives keyed to your favoured sports and your typical wagering habits.
The slight downside to the monitoring will become apparent if you anything more than a ‘recreational’ bettor, or are lucky enough to have a series of decent wins. Bovada operates a ‘Dual Lines’ policy, which means account holders who show evidence of ‘skilled’ betting tactics will be offered less preferential odds when they next log in.
Customer Support
Most standard questions are amply covered within Bovada’s FAQ section. However, if you do not find out what you need to know, its support and wagering staff are accessible to you 24/7 every day of the year, even on Christmas Day. Contact options are a fast-answer toll-free phone number, a live chat window or a support contact form for written enquiries.
Support staff are in two teams, one who specialises in betting queries and the other which is responsible for website or account problems. Team members are all highly trained and knowledgeable, so whatever your reason for contacting Bovada, you are highly likely to get a rapid and accurate response.
We want to help our readers in any way we can, but sometimes it's better to talk directly with your investing site to get the answers you need. For example if you have a specific query about your account you'll need to contact them in person due to security.
Alternatively, if you find that contacting your investing partner isn't working, you can contact us and we will be more than happy to try on your behalf. We have excellent working relationships with many of the sites we list and recommend.
Bovada
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Email:
[email protected]
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Phone:
+1 866 234 1324
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Address:
Morris Mohawk Gaming Group, Mohawk Territory of Kahnawake, Quebec, Canada
Conclusion
It is not our usual practice to review any sportsbook that does not operate under a license. However, in the case of Bovada, its unique connection with the long-standing and very credible Bodog sportsbook makes this an exception. Although Bovada currently remains unlicensed at present, customer loyalty has not been affected and there has not been an upsurge in complaints or issues involving this operator.
While Bovada does not offer the biggest list of sports available, what it does do is bring an exceptionally high level of entertainment value for bettors, plus bonuses, promotions and its range of unique exotic wagering options. All of which is backed up by a rarely-equalled customer support team.
If you feel that Bovada is a sportsbook where you would like to participate, do give some thought to using Bitcoin as your currency. Even if you have not used it before, it is not a complicated process to go through and is likely to save you a substantial amount if you become a regular at Bovada.
Our Review Rating System
Frequently Asked Questions
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Is Bovada legit? Will they scam me?
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We believe that Bovada is a legitimate operation, but you should be aware that it is currently operating without a license. However, they have a close association with the long-standing Bodog.
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Do they have a decent mobile or tablet app?
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Bovada welcomes and encourages mobile users to its site. Any mobile device can access all features of the website in a user-friendly version.
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What bonus do they offer for new players?
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The current standard welcome bonus is offered as a ‘match bet’, up to the value of $250. Additional bonuses are available for new mobile participants and there is another generous bonus if you intend using Bitcoin.
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How hard is it to deposit and withdraw?
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Although depositing to and withdrawing from Bovada are straightforward processes, it does charge fees for both, which vary between 3% to 9.9% for depositing and a standard flat fee of $50 for withdrawals.
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Is the Bovada verification process easy?
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Bovada does not publicise specifics about the verification process on its website or in the FAQs. If you require these before you apply, you will need to contact the customer support team.
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Risk Warning: The products offered by the companies listed on this website carry a high level of risk and can result in the loss of all your funds. You should never risk money that you cannot afford to lose.
Ad Disclosure: Some of the links that you will find on this website are advertisements for which we do receive financial gain for referring new customers.
Adam has been an author for us since our launch in 2012. When it comes to all thing’s sports and betting, Adam knows his stuff. Having worked in the industry for most of his adult life in a variety of positions he’s definitely experienced.
