- Casino Welcome Bonus: 125% up to $3,750
- Sports Welcome Bonus: 50% up to $1,000
- Poker Welcome Bonus: 125% up to $3,700
- Minimum Deposit: $5
Review Summary
- Time played/spent on site: 18 hours
- Money Spent: $225
- Earnings: $185
- Devices used: PC and Android
- Payments Used: MasterCard and Bitcoin
- Experience: Excellent
Online Since | 2011 |
Restricted Countries | United Kingdom, Australia, Ireland, Canada, Italy, France, Spain, Germany, Austria, Switzerland |
Restricted US States | Nevada, New York, New Jersey, Maryland, Delaware |
Banking Methods | Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Bitcoin, Ethereum, Tether, Litecoin, BitcoinSV, Bitcoin Cash, Check by Courier, Bank Wire, Vouchers, Match Pay |
Payout Speed (average/fastest) | 3-5 business days/24 hours |
Player Protections | License, TSL protection, RNG Testing |
Available Sports | Football, Baseball, Basketball, Hockey, Soccer, Tennis, Golf, Horse Racing, and 30+ more |
Available Casino Games | Slots, Blackjack, Table Games, Roulette, Video Poker, Specialty, Live Dealer |
Available Poker Formats | Knockouts, Sit-and-Go, Turbo, Zone Poker, Cash Games |
Contents of This Bovada Review
My Experience at Bovada
I was thrilled to take on this Bovada review to help those interested in this online gambling site. It’s a platform where you can do it all, including playing casino games, enjoying poker against other players, and making bets at their sportsbook. Even if you’re a casual gambler, you’ve probably heard of Bovada, which is one of the most popular gambling sites in the US.
Based on my experience, I can understand why Bovada is so beloved. Their sportsbook’s features and coverage are first-rate, they’ve got an outstanding poker site, and the range and impact of the bonuses and rewards program are exceptional.
On the negative side, the number of casino games is only average, and the fees attached to traditional methods of payment put non-crypto users at a disadvantage.
However, the excellent variety of sports betting options, the juicy promotions, the great poker room, and the high-quality games available at Bovada deserve your attention. I dissect all of the site’s pros and cons in the next section.
Bovada Pros & Cons
PROS
- An Elite Sportsbook
- Top-Notch Poker Room
- Hot Drop Jackpot Games
- Top Selection of Live Dealer Games
- Lifetime Levels in the Rewards Program
Cons
- High Fees for Non-Crypto Withdrawals
- Limited Variety of Casino Games
- Lack of Bonuses for Existing Players
Use the dropdowns below to find out more about the Bovada pros and cons listed above. You could also simply keep reading the review, because I provide more detailes about them in the suitable sections.
Bovada’s sportsbook goes above and beyond when it comes to the markets offered, both in terms of pre-game and futures wagers and in-game bets, all at the most competitive odds you can find. The margin stands at 5% for popular events and markets and 7% for more obscure ones, as opposed to 5-10% at other sites. Their prop builder feature allows you practically limitless options on top sports such as baseball, football, soccer, hockey, and basketball.
There aren’t too many top gambling sites that allow you to play poker against other players, as opposed to against the house. Bovada’s online poker room features a deep player pool, many different types of games (Hold’em, Omaha, Hi/Lo), and a wide range of formats (Sit and Go, Turbo, Zone Poker). The buy-ins cover both recreational players and high-rollers.
The Hot Drop Jackpot games at Bovada guarantee progressive jackpots “dropping” at specific times. At other sites, you can play progressive games forever and never know if a jackpot is coming. Hot Drop games remove the mystery with jackpots that will definitely happen within the hour or day (or before the jackpot hits a certain amount.)
Bovada exceeds the number of live casino games that you can find at other sites. You can play different variations of blackjack, baccarat, Super 6, and roulette. There are many different bet limits, and the large number of tables, including blackjack tables with unlimited seating, mean you’ll be able to play at any time.
Most rewards programs require you to stay active to keep your perks, but Bovada's promo is better. Once you reach a level, you never lose it. That's great news for players who like to take breaks or play in other sites too. You can return to Bovada at any given moment without missing a beat.
If you’re not a crypto user, you’ll have to pay if you want to withdraw on a frequent basis. With a bank wire, you get one free every three months, but have to pay $100 for any more than that. Any check withdrawal will cost you $100 at any time.
Although Bovada is partnered with some top software providers (Rival, BetSoft, and RealTime Gaming), they don’t go very deep into their library. Only 200 slots or so is low compared to most other top online casinos. For example, DuckyLuck casino features over 400 games.
One of the downsides of Bovada is the lack of regular reload bonuses. That means it’s hard for to you get too much of a boost when you add money to your account once the welcome bonus is cleared. Still, the site offers an excellent rewards program (that I dissect later), so existing players can earn extra cash and other perks.
Bovada Bonuses and Promotions
Like all top gambling sites, Bovada offers you different types of bonuses to help you maximize your profit potential. Let’s take a look at the top promos available at the site, starting from the sportsbook.
Bovada Sports Bonus
Criteria | Bovada | Industry Average | Best |
---|---|---|---|
Match % | 50% | 100% | 150% (BetUS) |
Min Deposit | $20 | $25 | $10 (BetNow) |
Max Bonus | $1,000 | $1,000 | $2,500 (BetUS) |
Wagering Requirements | 5x | 10x | 5x (Bovada) |
Bovada delivers a decent maximum with their sports welcome offer that also easy to claim on the low end because of the low qualifying deposits. They also come through with a low 5x rollover, which means casual players have a better chance to cash in on their winnings.
Bovada Casino Bonus
Criteria | Bovada | Industry Average | Best |
---|---|---|---|
Match % | 125% | 200% | 500% (DuckyLuck) |
Min Deposit | $20 | $25 | $10 (BetNow) |
Max Bonus | $3,750 | $1,000 | $10,000 (LasVegas USA) |
Wagering Requirements | 25x | 35x | 25x (Bovada) |
The standard welcome bonus for the Bovada casino comes in right about at the industry average, but the rollover requirements are great compared to what everyone else expects from you.
Bovada Poker Bonus
Criteria | Bovada | Industry Average | Best |
---|---|---|---|
Match % | 100% | 100% | 100% |
Min Deposit | $20 | $25 | $20 (Bovada) |
Max Bonus | $500 | $100 | $500 (Bovada) |
Wagering Requirements | $5 per 150 points earned (50-70% rakeback) | 35% | 50-70% (Bovada) |
This is a rock-solid poker bonus as well. The rakeback level is higher than what you can find at many other sites, which means you should be able to meet your requirements a little bit quicker than otherwise.
Bovada will bring you occasional promos that are either one-off or temporary offers, so you should always keep an eye out for them. On top of the limited-time deals and the welcome bonuses I covered, there are other offers that are up at Bovada at all times, such as the following:
The welcome bonuses take a jump if you make your first deposits at Bovada with cryptocurrency. The sports welcome stands at 75% up to $750, while the casino bonus with crypto is 125% up to $3,750 (spread out over the first three deposits.) That’s on top of other benefits you get at Bovada for using crypto, such as exclusive rewards, match bonuses for deposits even after the welcome, and unique promotions.
Bovada lets you earn points for all gambling activities (poker, casino, sportsbook.) They can be turned into cash, as you move up through six different levels that begin at Starter and move up through Hall of Fame. At each level, the redemption rate is lowered (for example, 2,500 points for $1 back at the Starter level compared to just 1,000 points for $1 at the Hall of Fame level.)
On top of that, there is no way you can lose your rewards levels that you’ve already earned. Many other sites will dock you if you don’t play for a while. That’s not the case at Bovada.
This is a free monthly contest that simply requires you to be an active member at Bovada and to have made at least one deposit in cryptocurrency into your account. If you’ve done that, you can play Crypto Miner, a 60-second game where you amass points, as much as you want in that monthlong period. Your highest score could net you a top prize of $1,000 in crypto out of a monthly prize pool of $500.
If you like parlays, you will love this promotion. Bovada's Parlay Boosters brings you a bunch of extra perks regularly, including higher odds and more Rewards Points. Simply go to the "Parlay Boosters" menu offered by Bovada in the sportsbook (found in the navigation menu on the left) and see what's available.
The bookmaker features various parlays with improved odds there, including cross-sport parlays, player props, and other specials. Every wager you place gives you an entry to a draw for Reward Points that boost your level in the Rewards Program and can be exchanged for cash. There's no limit on the number of entries you can earn.
Bovada Casino
- Number of Casino Games: Over 200 (Plus Over 40 Live Dealer games)
- Software Developers: Rival, BetSoft, RealTime Gaming, Visionary iGaming
- Live Dealer Games: Yes
- Demo Mode: Yes
Bovada’s casino is more of a workmanlike casino than a standout offering. You can tell that they put a bit more emphasis on their sportsbook and their poker rooms. That said, the games that they offer are reliable and from top software companies, which means you’ll be getting fair action.
They have two areas where they stand out. First, there’s the inclusion of Hot Drop Jackpots in their slots menu. Not only do these games guarantee that someone will win a jackpot at a certain time, but they also clue you in on when the jackpots must be hit. You can go to the Hot Drop page and see when they’re due to hit, which allows you to time your sessions.
The other area where Bovada stands out is in the live casino offerings. The range of betting limits is nice (as low as $1 to as high as $50,000 per bet) as you play blackjack, roulette, and baccarat. I love the fact that there are cool variations like Super 6 baccarat and Early Payout blackjack. The tables also have unlimited tables and bet behinds, making the games very player friendly.
The digital games are easy to find because the navigation allows you to quickly switch between different categories and features.
The games don’t display RTP info, which isn’t ideal. Beyond that, I found the general Bovada casino options to be solid. Read on to find out my experiences with each category of game.
Bovada features around 200 slots in its online casino, a somewhat modest number compared to other sites. For example, DuckyLuck features over 400, while Thunderpick checks in at over 3,000.
On the bright side, 200+ is decent and the quality is high. On top of that, 11 of those Bovada games fall in the Hot Drop Jackpot department. Here’s how the prizes look like:
• Hourly: $500
• Daily: $10,000
• Super Jackpot: $100,000
As I scrolled through the different slots games available, I liked that there were banners letting me know the size of the jackpot for the games that had them. I had a pretty good run playing Mythic Wolf, but, alas, my efforts to win the Hot Drop Jackpot on Year of the Rabbit came up short when somebody beat me to the punch. Still, the fact that Bovada offers that opportunity is a real plus for them.
There are eight blackjack games that you can play in the digital casino (along with the 30+ tables that I found in the live casino.) Because Bovada deals with multiple software providers, there was some redundancy. For example, there were two different versions of Single Deck Blackjack available.
I also found games which altered the basic payback structure a bit, such as Zappit Blackjack and Perfect Pairs Blackjack. I kept it simple and played Single Deck.
Although my automated dealer turned out to be a mean one, I still enjoyed what turned out to be a losing session because it was easy to play and offered nice low limits of $1 per hand. On the other end, high-stakes players have the option of going as high as $5,000.
There are 20 digital table games available at Bovada. That includes two versions of baccarat, which you can also play in the live casino. It was nice to see some jackpots involved in this section, with games like Let ‘Em Ride and Caribbean Hold’em offering the chance to win over $60,000 in one strike.
I like that there was an automated craps game available, and the site had recently added a new game called Rocket Dice. I chose craps and enjoyed a bit of a heater. There’s nothing too fancy here, but enough variety to keep things fresh.
Bovada gives you the chance to play four different types of roulette. It basically breaks down to two types though, with two versions of both American and European roulette.
Betting limits are between $1 and $500 for these games. You might prefer the live casino roulette at Bovada because you’ll have the chance to go for much higher limits (up to $3,000) if you choose. I took a few spins of European Roulette just to see that everything looked and played right. It did, so I moved on to the next category, since I’ve never had much luck with that darn spinning wheel in any casino!
I’m much more inclined to play video poker all day long than play roulette for even an hour. I was pleased to see eight versions of video poker at Bovada. In addition, it was good to see that the pay table for Jacks or Better was a “9-6.” I don’t want to bore anybody with the ins and outs of video poker pay tables, but rest assured it means that the house edge is extremely small, coming at around .46% with optimal strategy.
I also liked the fact that Bovada included a 10-hand option of Jacks or Better. That allowed me to rev up the pace of play. My video session at Bovada went smoothly (and also included probably the most success I had in the casino.)
You can find 21 games at Bovada that fall into the “Specialty” category, which basically means that they don’t really fit into the sections already listed. The list includes common Vegas games such as Keno or Bingo and more obscure titles, such as Penguin Payday and the Bovada exclusive Thunder Crash.
I dabbled a bit playing Plinko, if only because I love watching when they play it on The Price is Right. Admittedly, I’m a bit fonder of strategy games, but the specialty offerings at Bovada are right around the industry average in terms of variety and payback potential.
Bovada Sportsbook
As I mentioned above, Bovada stands right at the top of the ladder when it comes to sports betting. This is especially true for American audiences, who benefit from the strong focus on top US sports like football, basketball, ice hockey, and baseball.
That’s not to say they don’t include plenty of markets for top international markets like soccer, especially for bigger events like the World Cup. It’s just the sports mentioned above are a year-round focus, which means you can find plenty of futures markets.
Bovada lets you make all the specialty wagers you might imagine, including prop builders and parlays (including same-game parlays.) The live betting options are superb, whether you’re talking about a huge NFL Sunday game or a random weekday tennis match.
For example, a typical NFL game features multiple alternate point spread lines, as well as point spread and points lines for each quarter and half. You can bet at Bovada for as little as 50 cents or go as high as $5,000 for an NFL spread bet.
The interface at Bovada makes all of this easy, even if you’re doing something a bit more complicated like a prop builder. I used Bovada even before I was assigned to this review because I love sports betting, and they truly deliver everything I need.
I provide more information about the distinct features the Bovada sportsbook offers below.
Although they’re not the only site that provides this feature, Bovada really has it down to a science. The idea is that you have all the possibilities for prop bets in an event laid out before you, so you can easily pick and choose the wager you want to make.
I looked at a typical Thursday night NFL game and found a ridiculous number of opportunities.
You can also choose the “build” mode, which allows you to construct your own props separate from the site’s predetermined props. For example, I devised a prop where Green Bay Packers tight end Luke Musgrave would have more receiving yards than Detroit Lions tight end Sam LaPorta.
This is a fun contest that Bovada runs that lets you win crypto, free sports bets, free spins, and prizes if you can flash a little hand-eye coordination. All you need is a Bovada account, and you can play for free. You can play as much as you want as you attempt to make the leaderboard each week during the NFL season. The object is to make your “runner” jump over obstacles and collect coins.
The top prizes are $200 in free cryptocurrency, $120 in free bets, or 65 free spins. During Week 18 of the 2023 NFL season, prizes included cool electronics like an iPad Pro, or NFL memorabilia like a signed Tom Brady jersey.
Bovada goes very deep into the political scene for unique betting markets. Most of them are centered around American politics, specifically the Presidential Election and the top candidates. You’ll find a lot of markets related to former President Trump’s legal issues and President Joe Biden’s future.
If you’re looking for markets relating to international politics, Bovada includes a solid variety, too. When I checked recently, there were lines relating to the European Union, Canada, Argentina, and Russia. Political bettors will love the options at Bovada.
The esports offerings at Bovada are right around the median when you compare them to what other top sports sites offer. As with other sites, you’ll see familiar names such as CS 2, League of Legends, and Dota 2. They also come through with a solid range of markets, with every match offering around 12 to 15 bets.
For example, you can make standard wagers like spread, moneylines, and totals, with special markets tied into exact score and (for the games where they come into play) over/under on the number of kills.
Bovada also includes links to live streams for the esports on which you can bet. It’s a solid overall esports menu, certainly enough for enthusiasts to enjoy.
I’m a bit of a pop culture nut, so I loved the fact that Bovada’s range of entertainment bets was so extensive. There’s a focus on major awards shows like The Academy Awards, with early lines available even before the nominations have been announced.
You can follow along with the exploits of major celebrities like Taylor Swift and the Kardashians and make bets about them at Bovada. Their entertainment betting menu includes everything from celebrity boxing to the Nobel Prize Awards. I enjoyed this part of the site a lot, and I had to pull myself away to get to other sections of the Bovada sportsbook.
Bovada Poker
Along with the sportsbook, the online poker room at Bovada is probably their greatest strength. It’s impressive how they offer something from every level of player, both in terms of skill set and budget. There are weekly tournaments that feature guaranteed purses of as high as $200,000. There are also tournaments with buy-ins for as low as $1.
If you’re new to poker, Bovada offers a strategy section that can give you important tips to help you get started. You can play games like Texas Hold’em, which is the most popular format in the game, or more obscure options like Omaha and Omaha Hi Lo.
The poker bonus at Bovada is solid (up to $500) that equates to around 50% for cash and most tournaments, a figure that will help you realize your rewards pretty quickly.
It would be easy to clear it since Bovada has the deepest player pool available to US players. That means that you’ll never go lacking for a game. As a poker player, I don’t have any major complaints, and the variety and special features really put them over the edge.
If you want more info on the different formats and features, I share more details below.
Cash Tables
Bovada offers cash games in Texas Hold’em, Omaha, and Omaha Hi-Lo, and you can play these games in the pot limit, no limit, or fixed limit formats. Limits for these games go as low as 50 cent buy-ins, while, on the higher end, there are fixed-limit tables at $30 for the small blind and $60 for the big blind. Traffic is excellent (as it is for just about every form of poker at Bovada) because it shares players with the Bodog network.
Multi-table Tournaments
Micro stakes tournaments are available, with buy-ins maxing out at $5. If you prefer to go a little bit bigger, you can play tournaments where the buy-in is $75. For the chance at the biggest wins, you should play in the major online tournaments Bovada holds every Sunday.
If you want a different tournament experience, the knockout events might be the way to go. With these tournaments, you get extra money for knocking out players from the event. That can help you cover your fees and then some even if you don’t end up winning the whole thing.
SNG Tournaments
Sit-and-go tournaments allow you to get started quickly as soon as enough players have signed up, and you can choose how deep of a pool you want to face (from 2 to 45.) You can also choose your stakes as well, ranging from $1 to $200 buy-ins. There are a variety of formats as well, including double and triple ups (get money for surviving a certain percentage of the field), turbo and hyper turbo (blinds rise faster than normal), and satellites (which could gain you entry into bigger tournaments.)
For a quicker pace, you can try Jackpot SNGs at Bovada. Even if you’re an average player, you can legitimately hope to win big with this style of play, and that’s even with a small buy-in. A spinning wheel determines the multiplier, which can boost the purse up to 1000x.
Quick Seat
One of the frustrating parts of other poker sites can be the time it takes you to register for one and finally get started. Bovada alleviates that with their Quick Seat option. A couple clicks is all it takes, and you’ll be seated at the next available game.
Just pick your game type and your buy-in preferences, and you’ll be ready to roll. That’s perfect for when you just want to get started without a lot of thought behind it. It’s a nice perk that, like many of Bovada’s other poker features, lets you concentrate on the game play without having to worry about the setup hassle.
Anonymous Tables
This isn’t a totally unique feature (sites like Ignition and BetOnline also offer it), but it’s a very welcome one. I consider myself a bit of a poker novice, and I was worried about getting pounced on by sharks who look for tables with weak players. The anonymous tables at Bovada prevent that.
Basically, it means that you can play at a table without anybody knowing who you are. They also won’t know your tendencies or your preferred levels of risk. In other words, it evens the playing field and protects the weaker players. That leads to softer games overall, which is excellent news for poker fans!
Zone Poker
Here is another instance where Bovada is doing something to make things more convenient for poker players. Instead of getting stuck at a table waiting for other players to finish out a hand, you can immediately move onto another one. The second that you fold your hand at one table, you can start playing at the next.
I enjoyed this process, especially the animation that shows up when you decide to move onto another table. One table slides out of the picture and another one moves in. Bovada seems dedicated to having poker players playing and not sitting and waiting, and I appreciate that effort.
Bovada App
I tested the different aspects of the Bovada site on my Samsung Android to see how everything worked on the go. Here are the results that I found.
Bovada Casino App
The large majority of the casino games offered on the main Bovada site are available on mobile devices. In addition, they have some exclusive games that can only be played on mobile. Jackpot Pinatas, one of these exclusive offerings, gives you a chance at both a progressive jackpot and a 200x maximum payback on your wager.
The games look sharp on the Bovada app, which is actually just a mobile version of the main site that adjusts to your devices. I played live dealer blackjack and the experience was great.
Bovada Sports Betting App
Bovada’s top-notch sportsbook is easily accessed on your mobile device, simply by visiting the site on your browser. The top of the sports page hits on some popular sports or some upcoming events that will draw a lot of betting. For example, when I tested the app for this review, the Ryder Cup in golf was coming up in a few days, and there was a dropdown link for betting on that event.
The main page also includes the top live betting options that are taking place at that time. It’s easy to access everything, even it might take a few more clicks (or touching the screen) to get to the sports and bets not right in front of you on the main page. I had no problems using the Bovada sportsbook via their app.
Bovada Poker App
The Bovada poker app allows you the opportunity to play in all of their tournaments and cash games on whatever mobile device you have. As is the case with the sportsbook and casino, the poker gameplay on the app is sharp and the navigation is intuitive.
You can find the menus of the different tournaments available very easily and take advantage of all the features I mentioned above (Zone poker, anonymous tables, etc.)
I played poker on the Bovada mobile site and didn’t find any glitches that compromised my play. While you might prefer the comfort of sitting at your computer and playing, I can tell you with confidence that mobile poker is a smooth experience.
You don’t have to make any downloads. When you’re playing poker on a mobile device at Bovada, you can access up to four tables at a time which is very decent for mobile.
Bovada Deposits and Withdrawals
Bovada’s banking methods are diverse, with standard options like credit cards combined with alternative options like Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies. Take a look at the chart to find out more.
Banking Method | Min/Max Deposit | Min/Max Withdrawal | Fastest/Average Payout Time |
---|---|---|---|
Visa | $20/$1,500 | Deposits Only | Deposits Only |
MasterCard | $20/$1,500 | Deposits Only | Deposits Only |
American Express | $20/$1,500 | Deposits Only | Deposits Only |
Direct Bank Transfer | $50/$450 | Deposits Only | Deposits Only |
Player Transfer | $10/$50,000 | Deposits Only | Deposits Only |
Bitcoin | $10/$5,000 | $10/$9,500 | 48 hours/ 72 hours |
Bitcoin Cash | $10/$5,000 | $10/$2,500 | Up to 24 hours/36 hours |
Bitcoin SV | $10/$5,000 | $10/$9,500 | Up to 24 hours/36 hours |
Litecoin | $10/$5,000 | $10/$2,500 | Up to 24 hours/36 hours |
Ethereum | $50/$5,000 | $10/$2,500 | Up to 24 hours/36 hours |
Tether | $5/$5,000 | $10/$2,500 | Up to 24 hours/36 hours |
MatchPay | $20/$1,000 | $20/$2,000 | 48 hours/72 hours |
Bank Wire | Withdrawal only | $1,500/$9,500 | 12 days/15 days |
Vouchers | Withdrawal only | $10/$3,000 | 48 hours/72 hours |
Check by Courier | Withdrawal only | $250/$3,000 | 12 days/15 days |
You should really consider crypto if you’re going to play at Bovada regularly. That’s the cheapest and the fastest way to do business with the site. The only fees you’ll have to play are the small ones attached to blockchain processing, and you’ll be able to get your money in withdrawals in the neighborhood of 24 to 48 hours most of the time.
By contrast, the fees for using traditional methods such as credit cards, bank wire, and checks can cut into your profit margins. $100 for every bank wire transaction (aside from one free one every 90 days) and $100 for every check transaction can be costly.
Bovada does get a few points in this department from me for offering a few methods that other sites don’t. MatchPay allows you to buy and sell credit at the site from other willing partners.
In addition, you can use vouchers at Bovada. A voucher can be bought or sold to another Bovada member, and they can then be used for deposits or withdrawals. It’s just another way to play without having to deal with crypto, credit card companies, or banks.
Is Bovada Legit?
Yes, Bovada is a legit gambling site with a license from the Curacao gambling commission, top-notch TLS certificates, and other safety measures designed to protect the players. Here is more info on that:
Gambling License | TLS | Additional Testing | Other Security Measures |
---|---|---|---|
Curacao | TLS 1.2, ECDHE_RSA with X25519, and AES_128_GCM | RNG | Dispute Resolution Office |
Bovada is one of the most well-respected gambling sites in part because of the precautions it takes to make sure every customer is protected. Beyond the measures mentioned In the chart above, the transparency of the website is outstanding, as you can easily find all this information with a quick search.
The Curacao license ensures that Bovada’s operators were thoroughly vetted, while the TLS protection means that the site is safe from being hacked.
Meanwhile, RNG technology for the digital casino games ensures that each outcome for each game you play is fair. You can gamble at Bovada, just like I did, with complete confidence.
Bovada Customer Service
I contacted Bovada both via live chat and email. The email response took them a day (around the industry standard) and they were very quick with their chat feature. Here are a few of the questions I asked:
• What happens if you request a payout before clearing a bonus?
• What do I do when a live sports bet is interrupted by a game being suspended/rained out?
• What happens if you registered for a poker tournament and get disconnected because of technical issues before it starts?
Here’s how I rate the interactions:
Channel | Response Time | Helpfulness | Availability | Languages |
---|---|---|---|---|
Chat | Immediate | 4 of 5 | 24/7 | English, Spanish |
1 day | 4 of 5 | 24/7 | English, Spanish |
When I say the chat response was immediate, I should explain that it was first from a chatbot, something most gambling sites do these days.
This feature gave me one helpful response and tried to point me in the direction of the others via the help center feature. Once I asked for a live agent, it was only a few minutes before one popped on and gave me thorough answers to my questions.
The email response was a little bit slower, as you might expect. I’m not sure why anybody would go that route unless they’re a little bit shy. Overall, Bovada provided excellent customer service.
How to Join Bovada and Start Gambling
You can probably tell from all I’ve mentioned so far that I feel pretty good about Bovada as an all-in-one gambling site. That’s why I want to help you with setting up an account, including signing up, depositing, withdrawing, and verifying your account.
How to Sign up at Bovada
Step 1: Go to the Bovada website using the button below.
Step 2: Click on the Join button. You’ll find it in the top right as a red banner.
Step 3: Fill out the information asked for on the page.
At that point, you might be asked for additional information to verify your account. You can find that out in the “messages” section of your account. Barring that, creating an account is as easy as can be.
How to Deposit at Bovada
Here are the steps for putting money into your Bovada account.
Step 1: Once you’ve signed up, click on the deposit link.
Step 2: Choose one of the deposit methods from those listed on the screen.
Step 3: Choose a denomination amount from one of the preset amounts or add a custom amount in the space listed.
This process is a simple one that you should have no trouble handling. You’ll get an immediate notification saying that your deposit is complete.
How to Withdraw at Bovada
Your withdrawal process will basically be the same as what I described with the deposit, only just remember to click on the proper link to begin.
Step 1: Click on the blue “withdrawal” box.
Step 2: Choose your method of withdrawal.
Step 3: Choose your amount.
You’ll get a confirmation very quickly.
How to Verify My Bovada Account
Bovada claims on its website that you “may” be required to verify your account. If you don’t, it appears you could be restricted from certain features at the site, which is something you don’t want. Luckily, Bovada makes it easy with an automated registration process. All you need:
- Your driver’s license, passport, or other government-issued ID.
- Your face (for facial recognition verification) using the camera on your device.
You should take care of this whenever Bovada asks for it (probably upon your first deposit.) That will ensure that you won’t have any issues and will have the entirety of the site and its features at your disposal.
Final Verdict – Is Bovada Good?
I feel like some popular gambling sites might be overrated by people who believe in the brand name and overlook the faults. However, Bovada deserves to be as popular as it is. The sportsbook is fantastic, and the fact that you can play in all kinds of poker tournaments is a wonderful perk.
Bovada’s casino only suffers in comparison to the other parts of the site, but it stands up well against other online casinos.
It’s not a perfect site, with the high fees for standard banking methods the main drawback. Of course, most sites have them, so Bovada isn’t that out of the ordinary in that respect. If you can get past that, you will find that Bovada has earned its reputation as an elite online gambling option.