Let Our Unbiased Review of Bovada.lv Show You the Real Truth
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Bovada Poker – 100% up to $500 deposit bonus. I have been playing at the Bovada.lv poker room for some time now and thought it best to inform you on everything that the platform provides. So, why not take a look through this review and find out why it’s known as the top poker room for US players. Bovada casino allows you to bet sports online as they are one of the largest US friendly Sportsbooks and Racebooks online. Also, Bovada casino offers good real money online poker tournaments all day and night. Play their online casino games with money, Bitcoins or Bitcoin Cash.
Deposit & Payout Options
Welcome to my Bovada.lv site review. I’m glad you decided to pay me a visit.
Now, before we get into this one, I need to make something crystal clear from the starting line – Bovada.lv is the most popular US online gambling site by a heck of a margin (roughly 10x on its biggest competitor), and if I know anything about US-friendly gambling sites, it’s that these waters are full of sharks and other predators licking their lips at the prospect of the greenbacks they intend to strip you of. They’ll take you into the depths and financially annihilate you if you make the mistake of falling into their clutches, so it’s best to exercise extra caution when looking for a US gambling site.
Don’t worry, though, because while you might not have the experience to tell whether a gambling site is legit or not, I do, and I’m not going to let you swim in the waters where monsters lurk. As you’ll see if you look around this site some, I regularly harpoon sharks and grill them for dinner. It’s just the way we do things here at LegitGamblingSites.com.
I’ll be assessing Bovada in detail in the rest of this review. Is it legit, or is it simply the biggest and meanest shark of them all? Let’s find out!
Is Bovada Legit?
Yes, Bovada is legitimate. Here’s a quick summary of how I know this:
- It’s been operating since 2011, and scam gambling sites don’t last that long
- It’s run by a highly experienced operator associated with Bodog and some other successful online gambling sites
- Bovada gets 3.4 million visitors a month according to Alexa, which is ten times more traffic than BetOnline (the closest US competitor).
- It operates on a secure, SSL-encrypted connection. You can verify this by checking the left-hand side of the web address where it says “secure” and has a green padlock symbol
- Bovada.lv is highly ranked and is the most visited US online gambling site by far. Check out the Bovada Google trends stats in the interactive graph below to see just how much interest there is in this site
About Bovada
Bovada.lv officially separated from Bodog in 2011 and now operates under it’s own brand. Here’s what else I found out about them.
| Operator | Morris Mohawk Gaming Group |
|---|---|
| Year Established | 2011 |
| Other Sites Owned | N/A (previously associated with Bodog) |
| License(s) | N/A |
| Payouts Verified By | N/A |
Unfortunately, Bovada is currently operating with no license. While they used to be licensed by the Kahnawake Gambling Commission, Bovada failed to renew it in 2016 and has been operating without one ever since. The fact that the operator also ran Bodog does give me confidence in the legitimacy of Bovada, since it means the team must know what it’s doing, as these are two of the biggest brands on the US online gambling scene. However, the lack of a license cannot be overlooked, and players should research the risks of gambling on unlicensed sites before signing up.
As far as web design, navigation, and layout are concerned, Bovada.lv is world-class. It’s simple, clean, and extremely easy to use on any device. That’s the experience of this operator shining through.
Who Can and Can’t Play at Bovada?
While US players are welcome at Bovada, players from the following states won’t be able to register or play here: Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, and Nevada.
While the Bovada.lv terms of service don’t list all of the restricted territories, I visited on my VPN from several regions and learned that it’s not available to players from the following countries:
- UK
- Australia
- Ireland
- Canada
- Italy
- France
- Spain
- Germany
- Austria
- Switzerland
There are lots of other restricted territories at Bovada. Do be aware that this site aims mainly at the US market.
If you’re from one of the prohibited countries above, take a look at some of our other gambling site reviews.
The Good Stuff
Let’s start by looking at Bovada’s strong points.
Great Track Record
Bovada has a long history and a solid track record of dealing fairly and paying players on time.
As the information above shows, this casino is run by a legit operator with lots of experience in the industry. This is exactly what I look for in an online casino.
The Bovada management team launched and runs Bodog and several other US-friendly gambling sites. I know I would rather be in the hands of people who know what they’re doing. Wouldn’t you agree?
Fast Payouts
Bovada processes payments rapidly, and if you choose to use Bitcoin, you will have your money within minutes of the cashier clearing it.
Other payment methods will take longer, but the point is that Bovada processes the payment quicker than most of its competitors, despite being much bigger. That’s impressive!
US-Friendly
If you’re an American player, you will already know that it’s hard to find a quality online gambling site as a US player/bettor. Bovada.lv may just be what you’ve been looking for all this time.
It’s US-friendly, and it accepts Bitcoin as both a deposit and withdrawal method. If you believe you have the right to do what you want with your own money, despite what the government has to say about it, then you’ve found your new gambling home in Bovada.
The Bad Stuff
No Bovada review would be truly objective or fair without considering the site’s weak points. Let’s look at these now.
Deposit and Withdrawal Fees
I get into the deposit and withdrawal fees at Bovada in much more detail below. At this stage, let me just say that you will find them excessive if you use credit or debit cards, but there is a solution.
If you’re willing to take a leap and try Bitcoin, you will pay no fees. In this regard, Bovada is clearly incentivizing players to use Bitcoin. That’s not surprising, given that its founder is one of the biggest cryptocurrency advocates on the planet.
This is the perfect opportunity to try Bitcoin. It has several advantages over other payment methods, and I suggest that you use it at Bovada.
Dual Lines
If you’re going to bet on sports at Bovada.lv, you need to be aware of the “dual lines” policy.
In a nutshell, this means that Bovada will give you different odds if they identify you as a skilled bettor. You might notice this when you place a few bets and win. You might also notice it when you visit Bovada.lv, check the odds, then log in and see different numbers.
It’s a known fact that recreational bettors stick to placing wagers on well-known teams and often do so without much knowledge or research. Educated bettors, on the other hand, often bet on obscure teams and outcomes to get better odds. This behavior will get you tagged by Bovada, and you’ll get sharp lines from then on in.
Game Selection
Bovada doesn’t work with a large range of casino software providers, but it does offer a diverse selection of games. It isn’t the largest games library I have ever seen, but it does cover the main games. It offers something for everyone.
As you’ll see in this section, Bovada offers video slots, table and card games, video poker, bingo, keno, scratch cards, and live casino games.
Which variants does it offer, and are the games any good? That’s what you’ll find out here.
Software
Many of the games at Bovada.lv are run by RealTime Gaming. This is a casino software firm with a long history going all the way back to 1998. That means it has been providing games since the very beginning of the online casino industry.
I wouldn’t say RTG is the best casino games company, period, but it’s definitely a competitor, and it produces some great games. It also produces a full range of games including video slots, table and card games, and video poker.
Some games are powered by Rival. This firm launched in 2005 and has a solid track record for producing high-quality casino games.
Poker Bovada Lv Download Poker
Slots
The Bovada slots selection is decent and will be more than enough for most players. You’ll be able to play the following RTG slots:
- A Night With Cleo
- Atlantic Treasures
- Derby Dollars
- As the Reels Turn
- Heavyweight Gold
- Lion’s Roar
- Heavyweight Gold
- Reel Crime 1: Bank Heist
- Secrets of Geisha
- Wheel of Cash
- World of Oz
- Nuclear Fishin’
- Japan-O-Rama
- Gushers Gold
- Fast & Sexy
- Fruit Frenzy
- Gold Rush
- Psychedelic Sixties
- Hole In Won
- Robin Hood
- Spy Game
- Bust-A-Vault
- Atomic Age
- Pistols & Roses
There are over 300 video slots available at Bovada. You’ll be able to check them out for yourself in “practice play” mode. Each of the games also has a description of its bonus rounds and features if you want to read about them before playing.
Video Poker
I’m a big fan of video poker, so I always pay special attention to the titles on offer at the casinos I review. Bovada has a solid selection. It’s neither the biggest nor the smallest video poker library I have seen, but it will do the job for most players.
- Bonus Deuces Wild
- Bonus Poker
- Bonus Poker Deluxe
- Deuces Wild
- Double Bonus Poker
- Double Jackpot Poker
- Double D Bonus Poker
- Double D Jackpot Poker
- Jacks or Better
- Joker Poker
- Loose Deuces
The above is the total number of games offered, although there are multi-hand versions of most. These are also RTG games, so they’re of good quality.
Again, you’ll be able to check them out in “practice” mode. Just enable Flash. You don’t even need to create an account to load them up.
Bets start at $0.10 and go all the way to $50 per hand. Whether you’re a penny player or a high-stakes player, this should let you bet at your comfort level.
Table Games
There are a decent number of table and card games available at Bovada.lv. You won’t find every exotic variant of the games, but you will be able to play the main “popular” games. Check these out:
- American Roulette
- Classic American Roulette
- Classic European Roulette
- Caribbean Hold’em Poker
- Caribbean Stud Poker
- Tri Card Poker
- Let’Em Ride Poker
- Vegas Three Card Rummy
- Pai Gow Poker
- Let ‘Em Ride
- Roll the Dice
- Baccarat
- Craps
As with the other games at Bovada, you don’t need to rely on me to tell you what they’re like. You can play them yourself for free with your fun balance. Bets range from $1 to $500, which means you’ll be able to bet with any bankroll.
Live Casino
There are four live games available at Bovada:
- Baccarat
- Blackjack
- Roulette
- Super 6
The games load quickly, are top-quality, and the dealers are both friendly and polite. However, you won’t be able to play these games for free as with the others.
- If you play blackjack, you’ll be able to bet between $5-$2,500
- If roulette is your game, you’ll be able to bet between $1-$3,000
- If you like baccarat, you will be able to play for as little as $5 or as much as $2,500
- You can also play Super 6 for between $5-$2,500
Other Games
If you want to take a break from traditional casino games, the following games are offered:
- Bingo
- Keno
- Sudoku
- Scratch Cards
My Favorite Find at Bovada.lv
I sincerely enjoyed Goldenman slot at Bovada. I really like the theme, and it immediately attracted me to play it. As you can see from the screenshot below, it’s awesome-looking. It has a free spins bonus round, a bonus round where you need to shoot jets out of the sky for cash prizes, and a decent jackpot of 500x. Give it a try. You’ll enjoy it!
Poker
Bovada does offer online poker tournaments, so if you’re into those, you’ll be happy here.
Sit-and-Go, turbo, $100k guaranteed, high roller, and jackpot tournaments are just some of the weekly offerings at Bovada. They work as follows.
Sit-and-Go
Sit-and-Go tournaments give you maximum choice. You can choose whether to play Texas Hold’em or Omaha, the number of players you want to compete against (between two and 45), and the buy-in levels you’re comfortable with (between $1 and $200).
There are also some unique twists on Sit-and-Go tournaments. You can choose to play “Deep Stack” for double your starting chips, “Satellite” which allows you to win your way into bigger tournaments, or “Turbo” for faster blind levels. There are some other options available, too.
High Roller
If you like high-stakes poker, this is the tournament for you. There’s $75k in guaranteed prize money available, and these take place every Sunday at 6pm ET.
You’ll have to qualify to participate in this one, though. You can find out about the different paths to do so directly on the site.
Turbo
Some people just have a thing for speed. If you fit that description, the daily turbo tournaments could be for you.
Turbo tournaments are defined by the fast blinds which increase every two to six minutes. There are even “hyper” and “super” turbo tournaments if you really want to turn up the heat.
If you play on Thursdays or Fridays, these turbo tournaments have $75,000 in guaranteed prize money.
Bovada Poker Site
$100k Guaranteed
Sunday seems to be the big poker day at Bovada, as this is another big-money tournament which happens at 4pm ET on a Sunday.
There’s $100k guaranteed, and the top prize is $20k. Again, you’ll have to qualify for this one. You can find out how to do so on the Bovada poker page.
Jackpot Sit-and-Go
If you don’t have the time to play through the qualifying rounds to make your way to the big-money tables, these tournaments are a solution.
They involve only three players, follow the “hyper turbo” structure, and the prize pool is determined randomly by a spinning reel once all three players have bought in. You could win up to 1,000x your buy-in.
General Thoughts
This is a comprehensive poker section, and I can see why it’s one of the leaders in the US market. I like that there are games for every type of player and that they’re regular.
I also like that the poker section has additional useful features such as guides on how to play poker, anonymous tables, the ability to chat while you play, the ability to customize your tables by picking your language or your preferred card design, and a mobile poker platform.
Sportsbook
As the leading US online sportsbook, I had high expectations when I landed in the Bovada sports lobby. The following is a summary of what I found.
You’ll be able to bet on:
- Baseball
- Basketball
- Football
- Soccer
- Tennis
- Golf
- Boxing
- Cricket
- Cycling
- Darts
- Esports
- Entertainment
- Futsal
- Gaelic Games
- Handball
- Hockey
- Horse Racing
- Motorsports
- Numbers Games
- Politics
- Rugby
- Specials
- Table Tennis
- UFC/MMA
You can place moneyline, parlay, proposition, and in-play bets at Bovada.
The interface is simple, clean, and intuitively easy to understand. Odds are displayed in American format, and the betting slip is lightning-fast since there is no “review” stage. You just place your bets and click for instant action.
Bovada.lv is totally mobile-friendly, and when you visit, you’ll see a version of the site compatible with your device. You can visit on any device to play directly from your mobile browser, or you can download the Bovada app if you’re playing on an Android or iOS device.
You can get this by downloading it from the site or by scanning the Bovada QR code directly on the site.
Esports
Esports options include Dota 2, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, League of Legends, and StarCraft.
This isn’t the biggest selection of esports games I have seen at online bookmakers, but most of the betting action happens on these games, so it should be enough for most.
You’ll be able to bet on annual global tournaments such as the Summer Brazil and the Oceana, as well as the ongoing esports leagues.
Live Betting
You can enjoy Bovada live betting on soccer, tennis, esports, snooker, cricket, and table tennis. Click the “live” symbol, and you’ll see all of your betting options and the Bovada live betting odds.
For example, if you bet on soccer, you will be able to place bets on game results, first and second half results, corners, corners in each half, which team will kick off, which team will score next, team totals, and whether or not both teams will score.
Betting Limits
Bovada doesn’t publish betting limits, but a quick look at popular gambling forums will show you that they have small betting limits. Why they do this is obvious – high-stakes bettors willing to bet thousands of dollars on a bet tend to be educated or possibly have a winning tip.
Also be aware that Bovada.lv offers different lines for different players. If they tag you as a recreational bettor, as opposed to an educated one, you’ll get better odds. Dual lines, as these are known, are the main gripe Bovada bettors have with this sportsbook.
Promotions
You’ll notice that the Bovada bonuses are bigger than you might find elsewhere, especially if you choose to use Bitcoin.
Better still, there are bonuses for sports bettors, casino players, poker players, and Bitcoin enthusiasts playing any game.
Are the bonuses fair, and do they have reasonable terms and conditions? I plan to lay that out for you in detail here.
Sports Welcome Bonus
If you’re aiming to bet on sports at Bovada, you’ll be able to claim a welcome bonus of 50% up to $250.
The rollover requirements are 5x on this bonus, which is reasonable. You’ll have to wager the deposit amount plus the bonus amount, though.
Casino Welcome Bonus
If you’re out to play casino games at Bovada, you’ll be able to claim a deposit bonus and two reload bonuses each worth 100% up to $1,000.
You’ll need to use the Bovada bonus code NEWWELCOME to claim these. You’ll need to meet the 25x playthrough requirements on the first before you can claim subsequent bonuses.
Bitcoin Welcome Bonuses
If you prefer to use Bitcoin, the world’s most popular cryptocurrency, you can claim sportsbook and casino Bitcoin bonuses, too.
As a sports bettor, you can claim 50% up to $500 by using the bonus code BVSBITCOIN50. You’ll need to wager the deposit and withdrawal 5x before you can withdraw it.
As a casino player, you can claim a 150% deposit bonus up to the value of $1,500. Use the bonus code BVCBITCOIN150. You’ll be able to claim this three times, giving you a grand total of $4,500 in Bovada bonus cash when using Bitcoin. You’ll need to wager your deposit plus bonus 25x.
Poker Welcome Bonus
The Bovada poker rooms are well worth a look if you normally enjoy poker. To get things kicked off, you’ll be able to claim a poker welcome bonus of 100% up to $500.
As with many online poker bonuses, this one is released in stages as you accumulate points. You’ll need to download the Bovada poker client and start playing. Each time you reach a new level, you’ll get the next stage of your bonus cash. There are no rollover requirements on poker bonus cash.
Banking
If you’ve ever considered using Bitcoin before but haven’t quite had the incentive, you will when you understand Bovada’s fee structure. This casino gives you one free deposit via credit or debit card but then charges 5.9% on all Visa and Mastercard transactions. If you opt to use Amex, you’ll pay a 9.9% fee.
With regards to withdrawals, Bitcoin transfers are free, whereas the first check each month is free, and a flat fee of $50 is applied to each check thereafter.
Avoid these unnecessary fees and try using Bitcoin! Trust me when I tell you that it’s nowhere near as scary as it seems, and once you try it, you will never go back to everyday payment methods when gambling online. Bovada has even created a detailed Bitcoin guide explaining what it is, how to get it, and how to use it.
This is an okay number of ways to make deposits and withdrawals, given that it’s a US casino and the number will necessarily be limited as a result. Ideally, I would like to see a few more altcoins accepted, although Bovada does allow you to withdraw by Bitcoin Cash.
With regards to Bovada’s payout times, expect Bitcoin withdrawals within minutes of them being processed. If you choose to withdraw by check, expect your check within 10 days.
The minimum withdrawal is $20. The maximum is $3,000 by check every 1-7 days and $9,500 by Bitcoin every 1-3 days. Note that you will not be able to withdraw by Bitcoin unless you have made at least one deposit via Bitcoin before.
Deposit Methods
- Credit Cards
- Debit Cards
- Bitcoin
Withdrawal Methods
- Check
- Bitcoin
- Bitcoin Cash
VIP Program
You’ll begin earning Bovada loyalty points from the first real money bet or wager you make. You’ll also get cashback on losses and will be able to climb through the ranks, unlocking greater rewards as you go.
Levels include Starter, Rookie, Pro, All-Star, Legend, and the Hall of Fame, giving this rewards program a baseball theme.
As you climb through the levels, you’ll get greater cashback rates, and your reward points accumulation rate will increase. Check out the screenshot below for a full overview.
So, this is a simple and to-the-point rewards program. That’s a good thing, in my view. It makes it easy to understand and to know where you stand.
Customer Service
If you need to reach Bovada customer support, you have the following options.
Email – You can use the contact form on the Bovada.lv site or can send an email to [email protected] You’ll get a response within 24 hours, which is average for a busy online casino.
Live Chat – You can click the “chat” icon at any time of the day or night to chat with a customer support agent instantly. Replies are quick, professional, and to the point. This is how it should be.
Telephone – If you’re in the US, you can call Bovada toll-free at 1-888-263-0000. Like the live chat feature, this option is available 24/7.
FAQ/Help – I don’t list most casino FAQ sections, as they aren’t usually worth talking about. However, Bovada has gone to a lot of effort to put together an extensive FAQ section. There are sections for casino games, sports, horses, financials, bonuses, Bitcoin, poker, and general questions. This is worth a look, as it’s highly likely you’ll find an answer here.
Bovada customer support is great. I would like to see a toll-free number for each of the countries/regions which Bovada players come from. However, one is better than none. In general, the customer support here is as it should be.
Would I Play at Bovada Casino?
Bovada offers something for everyone, and on the whole, it’s an excellent online gambling site.
Bovada Online Poker
I like that Bovada offers casino games, sports betting, and poker, and I like that it accepts both US players and Bitcoin.
Do be aware of the large number of restricted territories, but as long as you’re eligible to play here, Bovada.lv is well worth a closer look. I advise you to check it out for yourself. That’s the best way to decide!
Is Bovada Poker Down
This review was made by: LegitGamblingSites.com Rating: 4.5 out of 5