Launched a while ago, it has gained a great reputation within bettors in the US. It can be used in some other countries, though. It offers a huge variety of sports to bet on, including eSports and horse racing. You can opt to bet on your favorite basketball or soccer team, or you can choose to bet on a Bovada eSports team, for instance, on a Counter-Strike or Dota team. Check out the article to learn more.
4.5/5 Overall Rating
- 4.6 Esports Offered
- 4.5 Customer Service
- 4.4 Deposit Options
- 4.5 Player Value
About
Bovada is an online sports betting platform. It’s a sportsbook where fans of most popular US kinds of sports can bet on their favorite teams and gain money for that. It is not only a place where you can bet on a favorite team, but it is also a platform where you can enjoy gaining money from horse racing. It also has a casino with numerous games, including poker. Overall, it has a large number of things to offer, and you can find about those features from this Bovada review.
How Does Bovada Work?
Bovada has several options for bettors and players to enjoy. The thing you need to remember is that the minimum bet is $1. The main attraction of this website is the sportsbook, including Bovada eSports. It also offers lots of mobile games, as well as slots, poker games, blackjack, etc. It even has a live card games options.
How can that be true? You get connected to a real-time dealer game. You can see the dealer and send messages through the chat room. It has a solid software, and that is exactly how it operates. But some people claim that the software is a little bit outdated and right after the updates, it is becoming a force. Not in terms of the way the site works, but pictures are blurry, as well as some texts.
Welcome Bonus
Like any other similar ePlatforms and sites, Bovada grants a bonus after registration. You won’t be able to withdraw this bonus from your electronic wallet immediately, you have to play or bet first – that is a general rule for most casinos and eSports platforms, not just for Bovada. Bovada bonus is light, as most users claim.
To get this Bovada bonus, you have to make a deposit. The very first deposit made on Bovada has an up to 500 dollar bonus. The bonus depends on the sum of money you put on the deposit, so don’t be too happy and don’t expect to gain a $500 bonus by making a $1 deposit. This is a Bovada welcome bonus, and unfortunately, the site does not offer good bonuses to constant players and bettors.
Location & Age Restrictions
The Bovada betting site is registered in Costa Rica, not the US. Some US states have limited the usage of this website. It will either show you that this site has nothing to offer in your area, or you simply won’t be able to access it. If you are less than 18 years, then you are not allowed to bet or play games. This is due to Bovada rules, and people can’t break them.
Esports to Bet on
Major games are Dota 2, Counter-Strike, League of Legends, and some other games. To bet on an eSport, choose this category, then the game, and make a bet. bettors note that there is no live bet option, which is frustrating. Nonetheless, Bovada offers more than other bettors platforms.
Types of Bets
The minimum bet you can make is $1, the maximum varies, sometimes it is $100, sometimes a couple of thousand dollars. Bovada also offers recreational and professional rates. And you should also know about one peculiarity – skilled bettors gain different odds than recreational players. The moment Bovada notices you are a player who is using knowledge, not just pure luck, then you will be tagged as a skilled player, and the Bovada odds will be different.
Sign Up
If you live in a country where you can’t bet on Bovada, the service will show you the message that they can’t offer services. So you won’t even have a chance to create an account. But if everything is ok, then you can click on a “Join” button and fill in all the information required in a standard Bovada registration form.
Promotions and Bonuses
On Bovada, you can even gain bonuses in Bitcoins if you are a cryptocurrency enthusiast. The welcoming bonus might be up to 250 dollars if you are planning on betting. The casino has a different bonus, which may go up to 1,000 dollars. But you can claim it only of you do all the requirements (for instance, 25+ spins, etc.), so you can’t just create an account and immediately withdraw the bonus.
If you are into Poker games, then you might gain a bonus of up to 500 dollars. But to gain this bonus, you have to play enough times to reach the highest level, which is level 6. There is a table of bonuses and points so you can check them out on Bovada.
Special Features
There is a VIP program, and every player or bettor starts earning points right after they start playing or betting. There are six VIP levels, and you can climb through them and earn some special features and bonuses. The highest level will give the best advantages for playing in the Casino or betting on eSports and regular sports in the sportsbook. You even earn cashback on your losses, and the higher the VIP level, the bettor is the cashback.
Payment Methods
You can use credit, debit cards, or Bitcoin to make a deposit. To withdraw the money you win, you can use Check, Bitcoin Cash, Bitcoin, or PayPal. Skillful users claim that Bitcoin is the best option. The first deposit you make via a card is free, but during the next ones, you will be charged a small fee each time. But Bitcoin has no fees. There is a guide on Bovada how to use this method so you can avoid paying fees all the time. Players claim it is really easy to use Bitcoin.
Privacy and Security
Bovada is a reputable sportsbook with no major problems. There are no known facts about hacking the platform. The website offers a secure connection to the Internet, meaning you won’t have your data stolen. It is a pretty secure sportsbook, and most users have only complaints about the dual lines system of Bovada when professionals and simple players get different odds. Other than that, Bovada is a good sportsbook and a great way to spend your time.
Customer support
You can either send an email or start a live chat with a representative of the team if you have problems or questions. It is claimed that you will gain an answer within 24 hours if you use an email form. Live chat offers bettor conditions since you might get an answer pretty soon within an hour or even less. The same thing if you use the telephone. This feature is available for free only to the US users, and you can call the support any time. You will have to wait for the operator to answer your call, though.
Pros / Cons
Pros
- Great reputation.
- Payouts are pretty fast.
- Accepts Bitcoin.
- No fees on Bitcoin.
Cons
- Dual lines.
- The software needs optimizations.
Final Verdict
The major thing that is being constantly criticized by experts is the dual lines for bettors. Other than that, the sportsbook is reputable with good bonuses and lots of games and sports (including eSports). The site has a secure connection, and it protects the user’s privacy.
FAQ
Is Bovada Legal?
You would think that Bovada betting is illegal, but that is incorrect. It is based in Costa Rica (registered in Costa Rica), meaning it is not operating under the US law. This makes it legal to bet on your favorite teams. To make it more clear, the Bovada site is relatively safe for players and bettors, and if one of the US states forbids its operation in the US, you simply won’t get access to Bovada. It will say “We don’t have services in your area”. So is Bovada legal? For sure.
What Sports You Can Bet On?
Most sports that are popular in the US, including Olympic games, kinds of sports (when it is time for the Olympic games), esports, soccer, UFC, MMA, cricket, etc. It has different eSports for bettors to try their luck. If speaking about horse racing, Bovada reviews from real users claim that Bovada is publishing the odds so that bettors have a better understanding of a situation.
What Can You Find In Bovada Casino?
Bovada offers tons of interesting games, including slots, card games, bingo, keno, etc. In total, the Bovada app offers around 250 games for users to enjoy. First, you have to create an account (registration is simple) and add your credit card or electronic wallet.
ESports Offered By Bovada
While the casino and mobile games on Bovada were added just for fun but not as the main focus, eSports is something that Bovada pays a lot of attention to. You can choose from the most popular eSports games to bet on. The only inconvenient thing is that when it is time for a tournament or league play, there are no direct links towards these tournaments. So you have to choose the game, and only then you can opt to bet on someone in league or tournament.
Is Bovada Safe?
It seems that Bovada owners have decent software. It might need some updates and optimizations, but it doesn’t seem that it can endanger players and bettors somehow. But still, be careful and don’t ever transfer money or information to suspicious people while using Bovada.