Bovada Sportsbook Review


Bovada is a major name in online gambling, and it is one of the primary betting websites available to the U.S. market. The brand has become quite popular over the last few years, mainly because of the high quality of service users receive here. Established in 2011, Bovada seeks to spearhead the online gambling industry and, in the few short years it has been on the market, it has made significant progress. The Bovada brand offers multiple services to users, specifically an online casino, a poker room, horse racing betting, and a sportsbook. For the purposes of this review, we will focus on the bookmaker aspect of Bovada and everything that comes with it. Below, you will find information on the available betting markets, supported payment methods, and the promotions you can claim.
Summary of Bovada Betting Site
| Bovada Sportsbook in Brief | |
|---|---|
| Launch Date | 2011 |
| Trustpilot Reviews | 1,326 |
| Trustpilot Rating | 1.6 ⭐ |
| Sports on Offer | American Football, Baseball, Soccer, Basketball, and 20+ other sports |
| Minimum Deposit | •$10 - MatchPay; •$20 - card payments; •$50 - Direct Bank Transfer; •0.0001 BTC - Bitcoin; •0.001 BCH - Bitcoin Cash; •0.2827 BSV - Bitcoin SV; •0.01 LTC - Litecoin; •0.002 ETH - Ethereum; •5 USDT - USD Tether; •0.0002 BCL - Bitcoin Lightning |
| Minimum Withdrawal | •$75 - Bitcoin; •$10 - MatchPay, Voucher, Litecoin, Bitcoin Cash, Bitcoin SV, Bitcoin Lightning; •$50 - Ethereum, USD Tether; •$250 - Check by Courier; •$1,500 - Bank Wire |
| Withdrawal Time | • Bitcoin - Up to 24 hours • Bitcoin Cash, Ethereum, Tether, and Litecoin - Up to 1 hour • Check by Courier - Approximately 10-15 Business Days • Bank Wire - Approximately 10-15 business days |
| Payment Methods | |
| Licenses | The Union of the Comoros |
| Sponsorships | N/A |
Betting Markets
Football is one of the main sports in the United States, and millions of viewers tune in every week to watch the games. At Bovada, you will be offered some of the most popular matchups in the country. The NFL is the default league of choice for sports punters, but there are also occasional minor leagues on which you can place your bets. Bovada provides a live feed for the current state of a given match and changes the odds in real time.
Baseball is the American national sport in the eyes of many U.S. citizens, and it is one of the top sports in the online betting world. Bovada covers the most popular leagues around the globe and provides betting options to those willing to stake their cash. At the time of writing, this gambling website offers wagering on Major League Baseball, NPB, and Mexican League matches.
Basketball is a viewer favorite around the world, and it is no different where sports betting is concerned. There are matches taking place 24/7, and bettors will have the opportunity to place wagers on their teams of choice at Bovada. Here, you will find multiple basketball leagues, with the NBA being the most popular among them. However, you can also wager on the Australian NBL, Mexico’s LNBP, Chile’s LNB, Israel’s Super League, Russia’s VTB United League, and many other competitions. The options are many, and gamblers will certainly appreciate this.
Soccer is arguably the most popular sport in the world, and its betting scene is unrivaled. With many different betting options on any particular game, Bovada gives you the opportunity to enjoy a great gambling experience. The list of supported leagues is long, and it includes the English Premier League, French Ligue 1, German Bundesliga, Italian Serie A, Spanish La Liga, the Polish Cup, and dozens more.
Tennis also has an enviable viewership when compared to many other sports, and with multiple matches running at any given time, you will not find a shortage of betting options. Bovada is capable of satisfying the needs of all punters, offering bets on the Las Vegas Tennis Open, ITF Women, ATP Tour, WTA Tour, Challenger events, and many other tournaments around the world.
Granted, the list of sports supported by Bovada is too long to include in this review alone. However, we can mention some of the more prominent ones, such as boxing and MMA for fighting fans. If you like video games, then you can consider eSports betting on the best competitive games on the market. Rugby fans will have access to Rugby League and Rugby Union bets, while those who enjoy sports played with sticks can bet on golf, hockey, Gaelic games, and cricket.
| Bovada Features | |
|---|---|
| Sports Coverage | Aussie Rules, baseball, basketball, beach volleyball, boxing, cricket, cycling, darts, entertainment, eSports, football, futsal, golf, handball, horse futures and props, motorsports, Olympic Games, politics, Rugby League, Rugby Union, Snooker, soccer, specials, tennis, table tennis, MMA, volleyball, and virtual sports |
| Minimum Bet | $0.50 |
| Supported Bet Types | Outrights, specials, straight bets, draw no bet, team totals, proposition bets |
| Early Cashout Option | Yes |
| Live Streaming | Yes |
| Live Statistics and Scores | Yes |
| In-play Betting | Yes |
| Available Odds Styles | American, decimal, fractional |
| Bet Slip Features | Prop builder |
Promotions and Bonuses
The Welcome Bonus becomes available to you as soon as you open an account with Bovada. It involves a 50% match on your first deposit up to $250. This bonus will be added to your balance within 30 minutes of making your deposit. There are certain rules you have to follow before you can cash it out, however. To begin with, there is a turnover requirement of 5 times the value of the bonus. Therefore, if you claim the full $250 in bonus funds, you will have to place $1,250 worth of bets before you can withdraw the bonus money into your personal bankroll. Additionally, you may not request a cashout while a bonus is active on your account. If you do so, the bonus sum and any winnings associated with it will be removed from your balance.
The Bitcoin Welcome Bonus is the equivalent of the Welcome Bonus but has specific terms for those who deposit in Bitcoin. This bonus provides you with a 75% match on your first deposit up to $750. To claim this bonus you need to enter the BTCSWB750 code when making the deposit through Bitcoin or Bitcoin Cash. Much like the other promotion, the turnover requirement is five times and must be met through sports bets. This promotion is mutually exclusive with the Welcome Bonus, and if you claim one, you cannot claim the other. Therefore, you need to make your choice carefully.
If you enjoy the Bovada service, then you can spread the joy to your friends and earn a reward for doing so. The Refer a Friend promotion lets you invite new users to Bovada and benefit from their participation. Whenever a friend registers with your referral link, you will earn up to $3,750 and gain exclusive access to promotions and events.
To take part in the promotional offer, newcomers are required to register for an account using the link they have received from their friend, who is an existing customer of the bookmaker. Once recruits of the sportsbook pick the sign-up deal and add funds to their account, you will get your bonus funds. The bonus amount will be determined by the first-time deposit. If your friend opts for Bitcoin or Bitcoin Cash as a payment solution, this will earn you another $25 in bonus funds.
As is the case with the other promotional incentives, the Refer-a-Friend bonus offer also comes with a 5x turnover requirement for betting on horse racing or sports.
Bovada likes to reward its long-term users and so it has created its own Loyalty Program. It is quite simple to understand. The more bets you place, the more points you accumulate. As you acquire more points, your standing with Bovada will rise and your rewards will improve.
There are multiple account rankings, ranging from Starters to Hall of Fame, each with its own reward ratios. For example, Hall of Fame punters can trade in 1,000 Reward Points for $1. However, when you open an account, you will have the Starter standing and will be eligible to receive 2,500 Reward Points for $1. Basically, the more bets you place at Bovada, the more you will receive. For each $1 they spend while betting on sports, punters will be offered a different number of reward points.
As they progress through the different standings, punters will also be able to unlock new exclusive payment options. The best thing about the loyalty program at the bookmaker is that gambling enthusiasts will not lose the status they have managed to acquire.
| Promotional Incentives at Bovada | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Promotional Incentives at Bovada | Minimum Deposit Required | Rollover | Minimum Odds Required | Eligible Markets and Bets | Country Restrictions | Expires After |
| 50% Welcome Bonus of up to $250 | $20 | 5x on sports and horse racing and 30x on casino games (combined sums of the deposit and bonus) | N/A | Up to 50% of the bonus amount | States of Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, and Nevada | N/A |
| $750 Bitcoin Deposit Bonus | $20 | N/A | N/A | Up to 50% of the bonus amount | States of Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, and Nevada | N/A |
| Refer a Friend and get up to $3,750 | $20 | 5x on sports or horse racing | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
Banking
One payment method available to you is the use of credit and debit cards, namely Visa, Mastercard, and American Express. Either type of card can be used to make an instant deposit to your sportsbook bankroll, with the transactions clearing as soon as you confirm them. Credit cards are arguably your best choice when it comes to funding your bankroll, as they are the most widely available at Bovada.
With a credit card, your minimum deposit is $20, and it can go up to $1,500. Moreover, your first deposit is free; however, any subsequent Mastercard and Visa transfer will come with a 5.9% commission fee. Users depositing via American Express will have to pay a 9.9% fee on all transactions after their first one. This does not account for any fees imposed by your card issuer or any foreign exchange fees that may be incurred.
The alternative to using credit cards is to make a deposit via Bitcoin. Bitcoin is a revolutionary online payment system that is not connected to any traditional banking platform. The value of a Bitcoin is solely determined by the community, and it is designed so that no central authority can control it. As a result, it is fully decentralized and allows for unrivaled anonymity on the Internet.
Transactions made via Bitcoin are processed within a few seconds, and you will not need to reveal any personal information about yourself. The minimum deposit is the $10 equivalent in Bitcoin at the time of the transfer, and the maximum goes as high as $5,000. Bitcoin transactions are free on the part of Bovada, but the transfer may come with a nominal fee, though not nearly as much as credit card transfers.
Other payment processors punters can settle on when depositing include Bitcoin Cash, Union Pay, MatchPlay, Player Transfer, and direct bank transfer. As for cashouts, eChecks are an additional banking solution that will appear on the withdrawal page.
| Banking at Bovada | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Payment Method | Deposit Limit and Timeframes | Withdrawal Limit and Timeframes | Deposit and Withdrawal Fees | Bonus Restrictions |
| Bitcoin | $10-$5,000; Instant | $10; A few minutes | N/A | Not specified |
| Bitcoin Cash | $10-$5,000; Instant | $10; A few minutes | N/A | Not specified |
| Mastercard | $20-$1,500; Instant | N/A | 5.90% | Not specified |
| Amex | $20-$1,500; Instant | N/A | 5.90% | Not specified |
| Union Pay | $20-$1,500; Instant | N/A | 5.90% | Not specified |
| Visa | $20-$1,500; Instant | N/A | 5.90% | Not specified |
| MatchPlay | $20-$1,000; Instant | N/A | N/A | Not specified |
| Direct Bank Transfer | $50-$450; Instant | N/A | N/A | Not specified |
| Player Transfer | $10-$15,000; Instant | N/A | N/A | Not specified |
Mobile Support
In the case of Bovada, you will be happy to know that you will have full access to all features of the sportsbook from both a desktop computer and a mobile device. The mobile version is adapted to be more functional on smaller displays, shrinking the size of certain elements and moving others around so that the website is as accessible as possible. The user interface retains full functionality and allows for easy transitions between the different menus. Moreover, you will be able to make use of any aspect of Bovada without issue. Whether you are coming from a desktop computer or a mobile device, you will still have access to all promotions, betting markets, customer support, and banking methods.
To load the mobile version, all you have to do is enter the Bovada link into your browser. There is no software that you need to install, and you can simply hop in and place your bets with ease.
| Mobile Support of Bovada | |
|---|---|
| Dedicated iOS App | N/A |
| Dedicated Android App | N/A |
| Browser Compatibility | Google Chrome, Opera, Safari, and Opera Mini, among others |
| Supported Languages | English, Chinese, and Spanish |
| Supported Devices | Apple iPhone 12, Apple iPhone 11, Apple iPhone XS, Apple iPhone XR, Apple iPhone X, Apple iPhone 8, Apple iPhone 7, Apple iPad, Huawei Y5, Huawei Y6, Huawei Y7, Huawei nova, Huawei P10, Huawei P20, Huawei P30, Infinix S4, Infinix Smart 5, Infinix Smart 6, Infinix Hot 7, Infinix Hot 8, itel A16, itel A33, itel A56, Nokia 2.1, Nokia 2.2, Nokia C1, OPPO A3s, OPPO A5s, OPPO A1K, Safaricom NEON RAY, Samsung Galaxy A01, Samsung Galaxy A10, Samsung Galaxy A10s, Samsung Galaxy A11, Samsung Galaxy A20, Samsung Galaxy A21s, Samsung Galaxy A30, Samsung Galaxy A40, Samsung Galaxy A50, Samsung Galaxy A51, Samsung Galaxy A70, Samsung Galaxy A71, Samsung Galaxy Grand, Samsung Galaxy J5, Samsung Galaxy J7, Samsung Galaxy S7, Samsung Galaxy S8, Samsung Galaxy S9, Samsung Galaxy S10, Samsung Galaxy S20, Samsung Galaxy J2, Samsung Galaxy J4, Samsung Galaxy Note8, Samsung Galaxy Note9, Samsung Galaxy Note10+, Tecno Pop 2, Tecno Pop 3, Tecno Camon 11, Tecno Camon 12, Tecno Camon 13, Tecno Camon 14, Tecno Camon 15, Tecno F1, Tecno K7, Tecno Spark 2, Tecno Spark 3, Tecno Spark 4, Tecno Spark 5, Tecno Pouvoir 2, Tecno Pouvoir 3, Vodafone 100, Vodafone Smart Kicka 4, Xiaomi Redmi Note 7, Xiaomi Redmi Note 8, Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 |
Licensing and Country Restrictions
As far as Bovada is concerned, this website operates under a license granted by the Government of Curacao. Gambling enthusiasts can easily ascertain that the stamp of approval of the bookie is still valid by heading over to the Help section. Previously, the operator held certification from the Kahnawake Gaming Commission, which it relinquished voluntarily in late 2016. The reasons have not been disclosed to the public.
Bovada has proven over the years that it operates in a moral and trustworthy manner, never failing to deliver a fair gambling experience. Over the last few years, the website has had no shortage of users, which means that it is indeed capable of providing a good betting service.
Currently, Bovada does not accept customers from states like New Jersey, Nevada, Delaware, and Maryland. It does, however, place more responsibility on the user’s end of things, requiring them to know the laws regarding online gambling in their country of residence. The operator behind the sportsbook also maintains multiple other gambling websites, which do accept punters from other jurisdictions and are worth checking out as well.
| Player Protection Security at Bovada | |
|---|---|
| Encryption | 128-bit encryption technology |
| Custom Deposit Limits | N/A |
| Cooling-Off Period | N/A |
| Self-Exclusion | N/A |
| Minimum Age Requirement | 18 |
Customer Support
Customer support at Bovada is available at any hour of the day, and the agents work around the clock to ensure that you have a smooth and enjoyable experience with the sportsbook. Most of the time, you will not need them, but in the rare cases that you do, you will have multiple ways of contacting them.
The support staff are available on three different platforms of communication. The first and most convenient of them is the live chat system, which allows for direct one-on-one conversations with an agent. To initiate it, you will have to enter your name, your email address, and the topic of your question. You will be placed in a queue, and as soon as an agent becomes available, you will be connected.
Alternatively, you can use the form provided on the “Contact Us” page, where you can enter your email and the question that you want to ask. Response times are usually quick, with the agents taking no more than 24 hours to reply to your email. If instead you wish to talk to someone, you can pick up the phone and dial the number provided on the same page. There is always someone ready to answer on the other side.
| Bovada Sportsbook Contacts | |
|---|---|
| Contact Details | •Live Chat: Yes |
| Social Media | |
Conclusion
At Bovada, you can always rely on dedicated customer support at any hour of the day. Whether you contact them from a desktop computer or a mobile device is irrelevant. Speaking of which, mobile support is a major perk of Bovada, as it allows you to take the sportsbook with you just about anywhere you go.
When all is said and done, Bovada has all the hallmarks of a proper and reliable gambling website. The promotions available here are certainly worth your while, and you really should dedicate some time to checking out this sportsbook.
| Bovada Strong Points | Bovada Pitfalls |
|---|---|
| Extensive sports coverage | Fees are charged on deposits and withdrawals |
| Accepts payments via cryptocurrencies | Bonus terms are not laid out in a clear-cut manner |
| Supports in-play betting | Limited range of accepted payment processors |
| Available for betting on the move | Not available in that many jurisdictions |
| Bonus offers that are tailor-made for Bitcoin depositors | No dedicated apps for play on the move |