It’s time to take the plunge and do something that we have been avoiding for a long time; it’s time to reviewBovada. It’s a name that most casino gamblers recognise and one that crops up on every list of the best US online casinos, as well as the best Bitcoin online casinos. But despite all of that, there is one glaring omission that concerns us, an omission that has, until now, placed Bovada right down near the bottom of our priority list.
Bovada offers a 50% signup bonus up to $250 and a bitcoin sports bonus of 50% up to $500 with a promo code. There is also a 100% match bonus eligible up to $1,000 and a bitcoin casino signup bonus of.
Bet on football at Bovada and get a free 50% bonus. The New York Giants denied Brady two rings and the defensive coordinator against those Patriots teams is the same one right now in Kansas City – Steve Spagnuolo. Esports odds, games lines and player prop bets. Bet on your favorite Esports teams and get into the game now with live sports betting odds Bovada Sportsbook.
there is one glaring omission that concerns us
We’ve reviewed hundreds of top BTC online casinos here at Coinbuzz. We have covered many unique themes,bonuses, and more. We’ve seen casinos based on nonsensical space-based warrior mascots, casinos that were seemingly written by a 10-year-old using Google Translate, and casinos with designs that are so good they could rival Pixar.
So, what makes Bovada so different?
Basics
Bovada doesn’t have a casino license.
No, that was not a typo. We have encountered a few unlicensed online casinos in our time and have dismissed every single one of them, unwilling to add such a risky prospect to our list. Bovada is a little different though, because it’s not a scam site, it’s not unsafe, and if you’re in the United States, it could be one of the best options that you have at your disposal.
In the past, Bovada had a license from the Kahnawake Gambling Commission, but it didn’t renew its license in 2016 and it has operated without one ever since.’
That’s the bad news, and as far as bad news goes, it’s pretty substantial.
On the plus side, it means that Bovada is open to players from the United States. There is no gambling authority that operates across the US and offers licenses in the same way as authorities in the UK or Curacao, and Bovada seems to exist in a grey area of sorts, but if you’re a US player desperate for some real money gambling action, it’s definitely better than nothing.
And while Bovada doesn’t have the backing of a major regulator, it is still a big company and it has been around for a long time. In fact, Bovada first opened its virtual doors in 2011 and its traffic exceeds 3 million a month, making it the largest gambling site in the USA by a country mile. It is also very secure and is committed to keeping its players safe throughout their time here.
Software and Games
Regular readers will know that we absolutely adore NetEnt, Blueprint Gaming, and Yggdrasil Games. In our opinion, a good online casino should work with at least one of these developers and if not, they better have a pretty good excuse!
The fact that Bovada is not regulated means that it doesn’t have the same extensive list of top-tier developers that you would find at Joo Casino and other big sites. In fact, not only are all of those creators omitted from the Bovada roster, but you won’t find Microgaming or Playtech either.
The only big developer here is RealTime Gaming, and while it has over 2 decades of experience behind it, RTG also has a fairly dubious reputation when compared to others. It’s certainly not a scam in itself, but it tends to give its casinos more freedom when it comes to adjusting odds and payouts and it has also been associated with many scam casinos in the past.
We tend to think of it as the Western Union of iGaming developers. Western Union was a legitimate service that was accessible to everyone and made it easy to move payments, but because of those features, it became popular with scammers, and so it earned a bad reputation. RTG, for whatever reason, seems to be the software provider of choice for many dodgy sites and that will make some players wary.
Personally, we’re not that bothered, as we know that both Bovada and RTG are legitimate services, but what we are concerned about is that we’re very picky when it comes to slot machines and there’s very little in the RTG range that excites us.
Bovada also has a sportsbook attached and many players flock to the site for this reason alone. It offers a variety of sports betting markets across a number of sports, but it cannot compare to major European or Asian sportsbooks like Fezbet.
There are a few reasons for this, but it all comes down to the fact that Bovada doesn’t face a great deal of competition and doesn’t have a regulator breathing down its neck, so it doesn’t need to be as generous as a major sportsbook in the UK.
It also adopts a policy known as DualLines, which essentially means that it will give you lesser odds if it determines that you’re a skilled bettor. In other words, if you start winning big, you’ll find your odds dropping as the site tries to accommodate for those big wins and tip the odds back in its favor.
Imagine you’re playing a game of Blackjack that pays a 3:2 for a Blackjack and has a house edge of 0.3%. You’re on a roll, hitting Blackjack after Blackjack, and using a solid system to get the edge over the casino. But as soon as you’re in the green, they drop the payment to 6:5 and add another deck to the shoe. After dipping into the red and then finding your way back into the green again, you’re suddenly told that a Blackjack will now pay even money and the shoe is maxed-out with decks.
This is essentially what this feature boils down to.
Bonuses and Promotions
Bovada offers all new players up to $3,750 in Bitcoins when they first join. To say that there isn’t a great deal of information on this bonus would be an understatement, but it seems to be structured more like an old-school poker bonus, in that you have to wager a certain number of times before you unlock parts of the bonus. Still, we’re not complaining, because in an industry where there isn’t much competition (US online gambling) it’s a surprise that Bovada has any kind of promotion.
It even has a Loyalty Club, whereby players are given access to faster transactions and looser limits, along with exclusive bonuses. It’s not quite on par with the Kingdom Casino loyalty bonus, but we’ll take it, and we’re sure many US-based players will as well.
Payment Options
Bovada accepts payments using credit cards, as well as Bitcoin. The problem is, while the first credit card deposit is free you will be charged anywhere from 5% to 9.9% thereafter. That’s a huge sum of money and it’s even worse when you consider that your credit card provider will add a cash transaction fee on top of that.
If you’re going to use Bovada, you need to dig out those Bitcoins, as this is really the only viable option. You don’t need to pay for a deposit or a withdrawal with Bitcoins and you can also collect the biggest and best bonuses that the site has to offer.
On the withdrawal side of things, Bitcoin payments are processed instantly but other options, including Wire Transfer and Check, can take up to three weeks and come with a $50 flat fee. You need to withdraw a minimum of $20 for Bitcoin and you can only withdraw through this method if you previously used it to deposit.
Highlights
- One of the Few US Casinos
- Also Has a Large Sportsbook
- Live Casino Games
- A Big Bitcoin Welcome Bonus
- A Loyalty Scheme
Is Bovada Legit?
This is a question that needs to be addressed as it is one that will be on the lips of most prospective players. It’s not that easy to answer, because it all comes down to what you classify as “legit”.
In the past, we’ve talked about how the online casino industry is so tightly regulated that an operator can’t fart without an audit learning about it, filing a report on it, and then fining them for gross indecency. In the UK, for instance, casinos are constantly being fined for breaching responsible gambling guidelines and offering bonuses that could, potentially, appeal to underage gambling.
Trying to rig a slot game among all of that red tape is like trying to rob a multinational bank of every last penny while working as a clerk. It just doesn’t happen—the industry is watertight.
But what happens when you take away the regulator and the auditor; what happens when there is no one there to guarantee that a site is fair and you have to basically take the casino’s word for it?
On the one hand, Bovada wants to be the biggest and the best, and it knows that doing so means carefully curating a reputation as an honest and transparent operation. But at the same time, it does things that casinos and sportsbooks in the UK would never get away with.
If a UK sportsbook suddenly started reducing the odds of successful players, insisting on a 9% deposit fee, and requiring them to accept withdrawals via check or Bitcoin, we’d probably tell you to stay the hell away and if we saw a logo from the UK Gambling Commission, we’d be inclined to think it was fake. If we were to hold Bovada to the same standard, then this review wouldn’t even exist and it would be right down the bottom of our list.
But we’re talking about a US-based casino here. It operates in a country where gambling is tightly controlled; a country that doesn’t have the auditors, regulators, and even the developers willing to take a chance, and one where it can be impossible to find a willing merchant. Once you take all of that into account, Bovada’s structure becomes more of a necessity than a concern.
Final Thoughts
Once you get past all of the “maybes” and “what ifs” of an unregulated casino, what really matters is what can a regulator do for you?
If you have an issue with a site in the UK or EU, you can go through the complaint’s department and then try to get their attention through a third-party complaints site. If that fails, you can contract the regulator and request mediation.
This is a good option to have, and it’s something that Bovada lacks, but as someone who has been through that process following a blatant casino mistake, we can tell you that it is neither pleasant, quick, or favourable. As much as they like to position themselves as the neutral party, the UK Gambling Commission (in our experience at least) tends to gloss over the player’s issue and focus on appeasing the casino.
As a UK-based player, you can also go to your payment provider and rely on a strict series of well-defined laws to help you out. Generally, if you’re wronged in any way, the law is in your favour and can come down heavy on the casino. With US-based players on sites like Bovada, that’s not really the case, but that’s the risk that you take if you want to gamble online.
If you’re in the US, it’s worth signing up to Bovada and taking a look around. See if it works for you and if it has what you’re looking for, just don’t expect too much. If you’re in the UK, Australia, Canada, or another major gambling region, we recommend taking your money elsewhere.
When you live in a country where online gambling is legal and closely regulated, you don’t need to take a chance on unregulated sites. Spend some time and money at Bitstarz instead, or try one of the many other regulated sites we have covered.
What is the LV Domain Extension?
Bovada Free Bets
The .LV domain extension is the top-level domain for Latvia.
How Can I Get Help?
Bovada directs many of its customer queries through the Bovada Community. This is incredibly frustrating if you have a real issue that needs to be addressed, but the community is actually a lot of fun and is a great place to swap tips and speak with fellow bettors.
Is Bovada Regulated?
Bovada does not currently hold a license with any gaming authorities.
Is Bovada Available in the UK?
As Bovada isn’t licensed by the UK Gambling Commission, it can’t be accessed from the country. We gained access using a VPN set to the United States.
Is it Legal?
It really depends on where you are, but the good news is that you probably won’t be arrested and charged for playing here. Just don’t take our word for it—it’s a mad world out there and the US doesn’t have the same lax attitude to online casinos that it has to land-based casinos.
Can I Use Bitcoin at Bovada?
Not only is Bitcoin available here but it is the method that we recommend the most.
50% Cash Bonus
Friendliest Sportsbook & Best Betting Software
Bovada Sports Lines
One of the stereotypes on Canadian people is that they are very friendly and apologize a lot. If that were true, Canada would be the perfect place for any company to have their customer support center! That is, except for one minor detail, the cost. There is a reason why almost all companies including Amazon have their support centers in third world countries. The minimum wage in North America makes it cost prohibitive. We are not suggesting that the top sportsbooks in Costa Rica, Antigua and Curacao don’t now have quality support but their leaders will tell you it was a constant struggle to get there. In fact, the customer support industry in Costa Rica was largely grown from the ground up with, and by, its online gambling industry. Frankly, for us players it used to be hit or miss when calling the sportsbook. Sometimes an individual clerk could give you such bad information it could actually cost you money… Unless you were a player at Bovada, at the time called Bodog.
Bodog invested in the user experience from day one. Most of the top sportsbooks used one of three out of the box software solutions for their sportsbook interface. Bodog spent millions building its own from the ground up. Its service center was so good and friendly, that customers would call to chat about the games when they didn’t really need any assistance. Bodog eventually had to incorporate limiting casual conversation into their training because players enjoyed using customer support for the social element. To this day, Bovada remains focused on a pure experience for their bettors. While some sportsbooks treat their bettors as stock market day traders, Bovada emphasizes the entertainment aspect of betting on sports. Bovada believes that the act itself of betting and collecting your money should be an enjoyable experience, hence the 2011 rebranded website Bovada.lv. The branding is meant to be synonymous with a bettor’s favorite place, Las Vegas, Bovada.
Bovada Overview
Bovada Sportsbook Details
Online Since: | February, 2001 |
---|---|
Sign up Bonus: | 50% Cash up to $500 |
Bonus Fine Print: | 10X rollover with lower of bet’s risk or win amount counting toward rollover |
Reduced Juice: | No |
Unique Odds: | No - Bovada will be in line with the market with slightly better underdog pricing |
Deposits: | Bitcoin, Visa, Mastercard, Amex |
Bitcoin: | Yes, Held in USD |
Payouts: | Free Check once per 3 months. 2nd Check is $100. Bitcoin - always free |
Bovada Pros: | Best Customer Service and Big Deposit Bonuses. |
Bovada Cons: | Relatively late to hang lines and low limits |
Bovada Sportsbook was the first quality mainstream sportsbook
Yes, there were big sportsbook brands in the media. BetOnSports.com and Sportsbook.com being two of them. BetOnSports was even publicly traded. But those and those like them didn’t have a perfect record of being fair. Over ten years ago most mainstream books knew they didn’t have to treat players well. They didn’t have to honor rolled over bonuses for huge winners or take part in arbitration when there was a wagering dispute. In some cases, they simply didn’t pay. That is because the big books which were more adept in marketing than they were bookmaking knew that in those early days an ad spend could drown out the individual player. Paying big winners would actually be argued as a bad business decision. Bodog on the other hand was front and center representing responsible entertainment sports betting. There went on to be magazine covers, TV interviews with ownership and branded MMA promotions featuring the best fighters in the world including Fedor. Fast forward a decade later, online reputation means everything and Bovada is one of the biggest sportsbooks today.
But the internet wasn’t nearly what it is today. Back then you could take a crazy mardi gras picture with half your face in the frame and not think for a second that in 15 years artificial intelligence facial recognition software was going to match your big ole pair of… eyes… to your personal profile! For better or for worse, the internet does not forget! That is why the Bovada Brand is one of the strongest in Gaming Entertainment now.
Sign-up Bonus - It may be the best
Getting 50% Cash added to your account with only a 10x rollover is significant. That is, as long as you are a player who typical deposits at this size. If you are betting $10,000 per game, you already left this review… in which case I was just talking to myself right there.
The requirements are relaxed enough that a player can get in and out in the same NFL weekend, bringing all his money and his new earned cash home. But the best thing about the bonus that we haven’t talked about yet… You can double dip. Let’s say you want to get in the game this weekend and don’t want to bother setting up a bitcoin account. As we just mentioned, you make a regular deposit, play, win, then withdraw the entire balance. Now, if you liked what you saw at Bovada and are ready to create that bitcoin account, you can jump back in the water for a 100%, max $1,000, cash bonus on the bitcoin deposit. Even though you won the first time around, Bovada will promo you again for trying them with Bitcoin.
Bonus Terms - No Calculator or Spectacles Needed
Bovada knows they are getting many new players and those that primarily want to enjoy watching the game… not feel like they are opening a line of credit at Bank of America. For that reason, keeping the most straightforward sports betting bonus requirements of all online sportsbooks just makes good business sense.
Reduced Juice - Nope, But There Is Value to be Had
Reduced juice is great. It means if you have a sportsbook that operates on a lower margin all the time. But keep in mind that sometimes books move lines differently, and that means you may see the Boston Celtics +1 (-105) at a reduced-vig sportsbook while also finding Celtics +1 (-105) at Bovada because the team the Celts are playing, the Bulls, happen to be favored by one at -115. To Summarize, different lines can bring more value in unique situations.
More importantly, with the Bovada Bonus, you are essentially getting your juice reduced to zero during the course of your 5X roll-over. That’s because the bonus is worth more than the sportsbook’s vigorish before you withdraw. I know… that can be confusing.
Think of it like this: You buy a Hummer instead of a Tesla. The Hummer comes with a free gas card for the first 10,000 miles. All other things being equal that Hummer has the cheapest gas mileage in the beginning stage.
Unique Odds - Dogs bark at Bovada
This title was cooler when it was “Dogs bark at BoDog” but… they do bark under the new brand Bovada. A lot of bettors think lines are meant to trap or trick players. That’s not the case, especially at Bovada where the sportsbook is not looking to take any opinionated position on games. The lines they put out are a representation of supply and demand just like retail products. Many players at Bovada are likely to play the favorite and over the total. That’s because it’s easier for fans to root for the better team and the scoring of points versus a bad team and the game clock to tick. Since bettors are more likely to bet the favorites at Bovada, that very slightly moves the line making the underdog price a bit sweeter.
Bitcoin - The new eWallet
Bovada will pay you $9500 in Bitcoin every three days at no cost. It takes 24-48 hours for the sportsbook to process the request.
When Bitcoin betting first came out, it was a novelty. The big sportsbooks didn’t offer it so about 50 “bitcoin sportsbooks” popped up. They were all new and untested, so it was a constant effort to move money to BetBitCoinHerePrettyPlease.com and back as fast as possible after the game. Also a negative, was your funds were held in bitcoin. You could be watching the game, be WINNING that game, and still lose money if bitcoin were to drop in value while Tom Brady was getting you that TD you needed. Now, Bitcoin is primarily another method to move dollars.
Bovada Cons
Bovada has a few negatives depending on the type of bettor you are.
1) Bovada lines come out a bit later than other books, but only a bit. As I write this at 10 pm, tomorrow’s baseball lines are already up. In years past it wouldn’t be until the morning of. However, their baseball 10c line is 20c until 9:00 am EST. That’s a negative compared to 5c and 8c MLB overnights being offered elsewhere. Limits are low on overnight lines.
2) Bitcoin payouts can take up to 48 hours to process. In our experience its closer to same day but with a max of only $9500 per transaction we would like to see Bovada commit to the same day.
3) Bovada is not a high limit book. Most bettors bet below $1000 per game and therefore won’t mind. But limits on college basketball are mostly $500, and an NFL halftime bet is maxed at only $1,000.
Bovada Pros - Bovada is the Apple of Sportsbooks
Do you know someone who is an iPhone user but saw the specs on paper of the latest Android phone, switched, but then they came back because the experience just wasn’t as smooth? That seems to us how many Bovada players feel when they are tempted elsewhere. Android has a lot of impressive features… that most iPhone users aren’t going attempt to use and iPhones just work. Bovada just works. It’s not made from different platforms and third-party plugins. It’s built from the ground up by Bovada with the same goal in mind, to entertain and offer the best service. We have talked about the bonus and how easy it is to cash out. Unless you’re a whale who doesn’t need a free $500-$1000, the bonuses are a big enough perk that makes it worth it to find out if Bovada is a good fit for you.
Highest College Limits
A Top Sportsbook For High Limits &
$2,500 Bonus Offer
$2,500 Bonus Offer
Vip Style Perks
100% Cash Bonus &
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Fastest Depositing
First Online Sportsbook
Great betting menu
Online for Over 20 Years
Online for Over 20 Years
100% Bonus Offer!
Up to $300 in Free Bets!
Real Cash Bonus!
(5X Rollover)
Real Cash Bonus!
(5X Rollover)
Bovada Free Bonus
Professionals Welcome
Bovada Free Blackjack Online
High Bonus Max & High Limits
1% Volume Cash Back
Get 1% Cash Back On Everything Win or Lose
Create Your Own Prop Bets
100% Free Play Offer
Create Your Own Wagers
Create Your Own Wagers