Bovada is the best trusted offshore gambling operator accepting US customers. Originally operating under the Bodog name from the 1990s to 2011, Bovada rebranded to provide a specialist service for North America. Bovada retains the same color scheme and attitude which made Bodog famous under the leadership Calvin Ayre. The current owners, the Morris Mohawk Group, have continued the reputation for excellent customer service, value and trust.
This book really comes into its own when the major sporting events hit (think March Madness or the Superbowl). They offer a big range of prop bets and alternative lines – and often have some generous promotions on offer too.
This detailed review of the Bovada sportsbook takes you through all the key factors to get you started. First below is a section looking at website interface and the key markets and lines on offer. Then the bonuses and promotions are looked at, along with the different payment options Bovada accept. After that you’ll find a quick summary of the positives and negatives – before some final thoughts on the site.
[showSites]
Markets and Lines on Bovada
Bovada’s website provides a slick, smart looking interface for you to get your bets on. In addition to this the sportsbook is also available on a mobile-friendly site, which works in the browser of both smartphones and tablets. The major sports are listed towards the left of the page, along with upcoming markets displayed in the main area. As well as offering prices and betting, you can discover previews of many events.
You can find all top American sports action on Bovada, with comprehensive lines running for all football matches, along with coverage of the NBA, MLB and NHL. You can also check out all the college games and Canadian leagues. In addition to offering money lines, spreads and totals, most games allow you to bet on each period.
Other major sports covered are UFC and boxing matches, PGA gold, major tennis tournaments and soccer from the many leagues around the world – plus local action from the US’s Major League Soccer. There are plenty of lines for lesser known markets too, like Gaelic games, volleyball and none sporting ‘competitions’ like Politics and Reality TV shows. Bovada really come into their own when the major sporting events occur, offering a wide range of props and alternate lines to go with their regular markets.
If you want to bet on horse racing, then Bovada operates a separate page, featuring many meetings in the US, UK & Ireland, South Africa and Australia. In addition to a quick link for the next five races, you can open up each individual race card and see full details on each horse, along with the price. Bovada allows you to bet a horse to win or place, or there is the option to make Exacta or Trifecta wagers too.
Bovada Sportsbook Promotions
New accounts on Bovada sportsbook can claim a welcome bonus worth up to $250. This is awarded as a 50% match of your first deposit, so if you deposit $100, you will be credited with a $50 bonus and have $150 to wager with. While you can use these funds to place bets and play in Bovada’s Casino, you will not be able to cash it out until you have met the wagering requirements. This means betting 5x your deposit and bonus amounts in the sportsbook or racebook, or playing it through 30x in the casino.
While Bovada do provide other offers for sports bettors, generally they are introduced as seasons and competitions start. A great example is the current $50,000 Parlay Jackpot on NFL and College football bets. To be in with a shot of this jackpot you need to place a 7+ leg parlay bet. If all 7 or more legs come in, not only do you earn yourself a nice win, you get to share the $50,000 jackpot with the other weekly winners. You will be able to claim bonuses and promotions from the separate casino and real money poker sites.
Depositing and Withdrawing from Bovada
US sports bettors can get money onto Bovada using Rapid Transfer, or by using a Visa credit card which has been authorized for international purchases. If your bank is unable to provide this service, then you should be able to purchase a prepaid Visa Card from a local store. Bovada’s customer support team will be able to assist you with this.
One of the reasons why Bovada have remained so popular among US customers is because of their simple cash-out policies. All players in the US and Canada can receive a free withdrawal each month via couriered check. After this further deposits are charged. Canadians also have the option of withdrawing with a transfer to their bank account or a refund back to their Visa.
Bovada – Positives
Solid reputation as US-facing operator going back to the 1990’s, along with a great reputation for hassle-free cash outs (which are free once per month). The black and red styling of the website and easy navigation is also a plus – along with a wide range of markets, particularly for major sporting events.
Bovada – Negatives
Only open to US and Canadian customers. The payment options are somewhat limited.
Bovada – Conclusion
Bovada sportsbook is a top choice for North Americans, brought to you by a trusted and long-running operator. The site provides great coverage of US sports, including NFL and MLB action, in addition to many lines on international competitions and events.
Banking methods are kept simple and cheap, although choices are limited. Being able to receive your winnings via a free couriered check every month is a unique benefit compared to other US friendly sportsbooks. Bovada provides its new customers with a solid sign-up bonus and while sportsbook promotions may be lacking between the big events, there are plenty of bonuses to be claimed in the linked casino and poker rooms.