Bovada Review
Overview
Bovada is a big name in the world of online gambling. They commenced trading in 2011, after Bodog – their parent company – ran into a number of legal problems, necessitating the need to change name. While this shady past might put a few people off playing at their site, the fact that they are one of the first so-called “mainstream” sites to adopt Bitcoin should ensure they attract more players than they lose. US players are welcomed at the site, and they offer a fully-stocked casino, as well as both poker and a sportsbook. It still remains to be seen whether they’ll stay as the only mainstream site accepting Bitcoin, or whether their move into virtual currency will spark many other large brands to do the same.
Promotions
There aren’t too many other Bitcoin sites able to match Bovada in both the scope and generosity of their bonuses. Welcome bonuses are offered to casino, poker and sportsbook players (although the casino welcome bonus is undoubtedly the best), while existing players are rewarded well, through both bonuses and daily promotions. The most regular players can also get access to the Red Room, which is Bovada’s club for their most loyal members. It should also be mentioned that there’s a juicy refer-a-friend bonus, which rewards players with 200% of the first deposit made by their friend.
Support
Getting help while playing at Bovada can be done by clicking on the speech bubble in the top right corner, which will bring up an email form. There’s also the options to call them or attempt to find answers to your questions using their FAQ section. There is no live chat feature though, which is disappointing – as well as potentially frustrating to those looking for quick answers.
Security
Bovada are certified by the Kahnawake Gaming Commission, and comply with the rules and regulations laid down by this organisation. The games at the site are not provably fair though, and there is no 2 factor authentication in place. All software downloaded from the site is certified, and their poker software uses random shuffling technology.
Is Bovada Provably Fair?
The gambling site Bovada does not currently offer a provably fair random number generator for any of its games.
What does it mean to be provably fair?
Restricted countries at Bovada
Below is a list of countries that are not eligible to deposit at Bovada:
Canada, Croatia, United Kingdom
Bovada not available in your country? Filter all bitcoin gambling sites by country here.
Pros and Cons of Playing at Bovada
- A well-established brand
- Fantastic selection of bonuses
- Extremely busy poker room
- Hugely detailed sportsbook
- No live casino
- Bitcoin is the only virtual currency accepted
- Slightly shady past
Bovada Casino Review
Casino Overview
It should come as no surprise that the Bovada casino looks and feels great, as it should, considering the amount of money they have to throw at it! This great design means that playing at Bovada is a pleasure, and this is only enhanced by the large selection of games that they offer. Bonuses are also found in abundance, and aren’t just there to suck in new players – they are also there to reward those playing regularly at the site. It’s clear that Bovada have really thought about what their customers want, therefore ensuring that almost everyone should enjoy their time there – providing they don’t want to play live casino games, as explained below…
Casino Games
Bovada offers a great selection of different games, with everything from slots through to video poker. They are part of the growing number of sites offering games from BetSoft, who are fast becoming the foremost name in the world of online slots, and some of the games found on the site include Gladiator, Good Girl, Bad Girl, and WhoSpunIt?. There are some games though, especially when it comes to the slots, that don’t quite come up to standard, and look out of place at such a well designed and professional site. You should be able to avoid these games though, and instead find plenty of high-quality ones to play.
There is a massive omission at Bovada though, and this is the fact that they don’t have live dealer games. This might be acceptable when it comes to some of the smaller Bitcoin casinos, but shouldn’t be the case at a site the size of Bovada. They do provide a guide to live dealers on their site though, so perhaps they are planning on adding them to their site soon? The lack of live dealers really is the only black mark against this casino, so most will really enjoy their time there.
Summary
The lack of live dealer games aside, Bovada represents a really great place for people to gamble with Bitcoin. The large selection of bonuses should put a smile on the faces of most players, while the many different (non-live) games are generally good quality, especially the ones from BetSoft. Large amounts of respect must also be given to Bovada for being the first large site to accept Bitcoin, and hopefully they’ll spur the other well-known sites to start doing the same. So, overall Bovada casino is a place that has to be highly recommended.
Bovada Poker Review
Poker Overview
Bovada poker really has the edge on many other Bitcoin poker sites, for one simple reason: the number of players it manages to attract to its site. There are other good points as well though, such as the many bonuses on offer, as well as the wide range of different games found on the site. For Bitcoin poker fans, Bovada poker really does represent a step up in quality when compared to many other sites, which simply can’t compete with this huge gambling brand.
Poker Activity
As you might expect, Bovada has a large player base. Much of this came to them during the transition from Bodog, however their fantastic offering has ensured that plenty of new players have also jumped on board with this site. The addition of Bitcoin as a currency should ensure that player numbers increase even more. The standard of players really does vary from table to table, however the lower stakes tables definitely have their fair share of fish.
More About Bovada Poker
Bovada (which, interestingly, is an amalgamation of Bodog and Nevada) offers much to all types of players, from those looking for occasional low-stakes action, through to those wanting to play at incredibly high limits. As part of the Bodog network, they offer software that is not only safe, but of extremely high quality, plus this high profile backing also ensures that they are able to offer generous bonuses, with the best being the 100% Welcome Bonus, which can be worth up to $1,000 (or its Bitcoin equivalent). The loyalty scheme is also a good one, with the added bonus being that points can also be converted into bonuses at Bovada’s casino and sportsbook.
But what of the game selection? Well, Bovada offers all the types of poker you’d expect to find at a larger online poker site, including Texas Hold ‘Em and Omaha. Cash games, Sit n Go tournaments and multi-table tournaments are also available, with the latter often having both large numbers of entrants, as well as large prizes. What’s more, all levels of players are catered for, from micro-stakes cash games, through to some tournaments with particularly high buy-ins. Therefore, regardless of whether you’re just starting out, or like to play nose-bleed stakes, Bovada has you covered.
Summary
There really isn’t anything bad to say about Bovada’s Bitcoin poker, as it has absolutely everything any player could need. You can start off by claiming a really nice welcome bonus, before taking part in all manner of different games, and at all manner of different stakes. While you’re playing, you’ll also be racking up loyalty points, which can then be exchanged for a variety of different bonuses or free gifts. So, if you are looking for a place to play poker using Bitcoin, Bovada is perhaps one of the best choices you could make.
Bovada Sportsbook Review
Sportsbook Overview
The Bovada sportsbook is an incredibly good one, able to match up to any other sportsbook out there, regardless of whether it accepts Bitcoin or not. You should find that navigating around the site is really easy, thanks to the intuitive design, and this is really important for those betting on sport. Why? Because it allows them to place bets quickly, without having to search around first. Players will also really enjoy the bonuses, with the Welcome Bonus alone potentially being worth $250. So, when you head to Bovada, don’t forget to claim your bonus for placing your first deposit!
Betting Options
Bovada is almost certainly the most comprehensive Bitcoin sportsbook around, as it covers an absolutely massive range of sports. These include the most popular ones, such as soccer and basketball, however also includes more niche sports, such as handball and volleyball. It’s good to see that eSports have also been included on their site, as this is an area that is really growing in popularity. Another great feature is the fact that they regularly have new sections on the site, dedicated to major sporting events, such as the World Cup and the Olympic Games. So, if it’s variety you want, there’s no better sportsbook to play at than Bovada.
Live betting is incredibly popular nowadays, allowing players to bet on games while they are in-play. Luckily for players at Bovada, this is an area of betting that they also cover extremely well. Every major sporting event is covered live, and in great detail, and many less feted sporting encounters are also featured. So, one minute you could be betting live on an NFL game, and the next you could be enjoying the excitement of the Argentine soccer league! It’s this depth that ensures that all players at Bovada’s live sportsbook should be able to find exactly what they need.
Summary
There’s no other way to say it: Bovada sportsbook is absolutely fantastic. The site is designed with maximum user-friendliness in mind; the range of different markets they offer (both standard and in-play) is incredibly comprehensive; and the bonuses will appeal to all players. All of the other Bitcoin sportsbooks are certainly going to have to step up their games now that Bovada has entered the world of Bitcoin in such an impressive way! So, why not head to Bovada and claim your juicy welcome bonus today?
Since they integrated bitcoins, I prefer using it as a deposit option. But in the past, Ive used credit cards.I've personally never had any problems with Bovada, and I've used them for a while now. Never had a problem depositing money, just use a visa credit card.
I didn't have to send them my photo ID. From what I understand, to cash out now I believe it is common for them to ask for photo Id's. Personally I use Bovada because they have the best interface, either on the computer or via mobile, in terms of ease of use.