Bovada sportsbook review

Editor’s View – Key Facts I Discovered About Bovada

• There’s an exclusive community section where users can meet and talk about everything, from sports betting to casino games and poker
• I landed some exciting bonuses by referring my friends to the platform
• Provides over 700 daily markets for 30+ sports
• Supports payments via traditional payment methods and cryptocurrencies
• Live eSports video feed from Twitch

General Information About Bovada

To start with, I had a smooth experience on the platform. Thanks to the minimalist and predominantly white design, I didn’t encounter any hassle while betting. They also doesn’t lack when it comes to regulatory compliance. Before creating my account, I confirmed that the operator was properly licensed. Impressively, the site holds not only one but two licenses: Curacao eGaming and Anjouan Gaming Board.

As I’ve already hinted, it is a crypto sports betting site. However, the platform also offers a commendable collection of casino games. Particularly, I was impressed with the site’s emphasis on poker and thrilling tournaments.

My User Experience on Mobile App and Website

In my opinion, the web interface manifests contemporary minimalism. If you want to grasp what I mean, simply visit the website. You’ll come across a highly friendly and lightweight design, such that pages load rapidly. Plus, the quick tabs at the top make switching from one section to another easy.

The operator has done a good job ensuring the sports betting interface isn’t cluttered. I must say that the arrangement of sports events in rows and columns with visible lines is one of the cleanest features I’ve found on crypto gambling sites. Plus, the fact that each sports category is collapsible with the +/- button is quite innovative.

I didn’t find a mobile application, but Bovada compensated for this with its web-based version. The website adapts easily to function seamlessly on smaller screens. For faster access, I added it to my homescreen, so it takes only a click to visit the sportsbook on my smartphone.

I must add that the mobile version is compatible with various mobile operating systems. As an iOS user, I first tried it on my iPhone and discovered that it shares a similar layout as the desktop counterpart. The same applies when I accessed it with an Android. I also found the same betting options, bonuses, payment methods, and customer service. Overall, I was happy that I didn’t need to be tethered to a computer to place bets.

My Registration Experience with Bovada – Step-by-Step Sign-Up Guide

How long will it take to create a Bovada account? If you have such a question, the answer is under five minutes, and that’s based on my first-hand experience. Registering an account was a literal walk in the park, and these are the five steps I took:

1. Visit the Official Website: To kick start the process, I launched the Bovada website on my smartphone, and clicked the bright red JOIN button.
2. Provide Personal Details: On the sign-up form, Bovada prompted me to enter my name, date of birth, phone number, email, and zip code.
3. Confirm Phone Number: After entering my phone number, I received a verification code from Bovada via SMS. All I had to do next was enter the code in the provided space to confirm my phone number.
4. Accept the Terms of Service: Before the submission button, I found a box to check and confirm the Terms of Service. So, this step only required a simple tap.
5. Submit the Sign-Up Form: Finally, I clicked the REGISTER button at the end of the form. After that, I was officially a Bovada user.

I must mention that I would have preferred it if they supported signing up via third-party sites such as Google, like some alternative crypto sportsbooks I’ve used. Nevertheless, the registration procedure is still straightforward and won’t take up too much of your time, provided you have an active US number.

Bovada is one of those gambling sites that offers a fusion of crypto and FIAT payments. This impressed me since I love switching between deposit and withdrawal methods. However, the range I found on the website was limited.

For cryptocurrency, I was only able to deposit and withdraw using six coins, including:

1. Bitcoin
2. Ethereum
3. Tether
4. Litecoin
5. Bitcoin SV
6. Bitcoin Cash

The upside is that the platform supports all major coins and has at least one stablecoin. For FIAT transactions, I found only MatchPay and bank cards at Bovada—MasterCard, VISA, and American Express—for deposits. Meanwhile, Check, Vouchers, bank wire, and MatchPay were supported for withdrawals.

An interesting aspect is that the operator supports player transfers. I was able to send money from my account to other players and also receive funds. It’s a modern feature you don’t get with many sportsbooks.

If you’re curious about whether Bovada charges fees, it all depends on your payment method. From my findings, first deposits using bank cards have no charges. However, subsequent ones are subject to a 15.9% fee or higher. That’s a lot, I agree. But the deal is that deposits via crypto attract zero charges. That’s always the go-to for me.

When it comes to withdrawals, the situation is similar. I noted that the first bank withdrawal after 90 days is free, but subsequent transactions require a $100 processing fee. Again, cryptocurrency comes to the rescue. Each time I cash out using BTC or ETH, I don’t pay any charges.

Regarding limits, I was able to deposit and withdraw as little as $10 with BTC and other crypto coins. Only ETH and USDT with $50 were the exceptions. With FIAT, I confirmed that the limits vary significantly from one option to another. For instance, once I carried out a cashout via MatchPay, the minimum was only $10. However, I met the $1,500 minimum payout when I attempted to withdraw via bank transfer.

How Was My Deposit Process?

On the website, I was able to carry out our super seamless deposits via cryptocurrency. If you’re wondering how long the transactions took, they were instant. I always found the deposited funds in my account seconds after completing the payment. Here’s the process involved:

1. Navigate to the Deposit Page: Of course, the first thing I always do is visit the website and log in. After that, I clicked on the deposit button via my dashboard.
2. Choose a Cryptocurrency: I usually pick BTC or ETH for my deposits, as they’re my preferred coins for gambling. But you can go with any other—or FIAT if you want.
3. Copy the Wallet Address or Scan the QR Code: Bovada offers both options for making payments, and I find them quite innovative. For my first deposit, I used the wallet address option. However, I subsequently found the QR code much more effortless.
4. Specify Deposit Amount: After pasting the Bovada wallet address on my crypto wallet app or scanning the QR code, I always enter an amount to deposit. To avoid transaction issues, the amount entered must be up to the Bovada minimum deposit for your selected payment method.
5. Authorize the Transaction: The last step is always to enter my wallet PIN to approve the deposit. Once done, the coins go from my crypto wallet to that of Bovada within seconds.

My Experience with Withdrawing Winnings at Bovada

It took a while, but I eventually scored some wins, and it was time to withdraw. If you’re wondering how my experience went, it was still hassle-free, but that’s because I used cryptocurrency. With BTC and ETH, I received my funds within around 4 minutes. However, the one time I tried FIAT withdrawal using a check, the experience wasn’t great, as the transaction took up to 13 days.

Nevertheless, not all FIAT methods take that long. For instance, when I cashed out via MatchPay, I got the money in under three minutes. All the same, cryptocurrencies remain my recommended options for payouts since they’re fee-free. Here are the steps I took during my withdrawal:

1. Navigate to the Withdrawal Page: From my Bovada dashboard, I click on the Cashier option via the menu to load the withdrawal page.
2. Select a Cryptocurrency: I always have to choose a particular coin for the payout request. As mentioned already, BTC and ETH are my preferences.
3. Paste Crypto Wallet Address: Next, I paste my crypto wallet address in the provided space on the Bovada payout page. This is labeled as “Your Wallet Address.”
4. Enter Withdrawal Amount: Proceeding, I specify the sum I want to withdraw. Notably, I always had to input the amount in USD ($), regardless of the cryptocurrency I was using.
5. Submit the Request: The ultimate step is to submit the withdrawal request to Bovada for processing. However, before I tap the submit button, I cross-check and review the provided details, especially the wallet address.

To give you complete details regarding the payout process, I’ve created a table with all payment methods along with their withdrawal limits and processing time below:

Betting Market – Over 30 Sports

The Bovada sportsbook is quite extensive in terms of supported categories. If you join the sportsbook, you’ll find 30 sports to bet on. However, the platform highlights five top options on the homepage: soccer, basketball, hockey, baseball, and tennis.

While exploring the various competitions and tournaments, I noticed that the sportsbook focuses on the top events. I was able to place bets on the NBA, NHL, MLB, CBA, and French Open. If you’re looking for more niche options, there are not many available.

However, I found it quite interesting that Bovada supports betting on politics. So, while I didn’t get many traditional sports to wager on, it was refreshing to predict US elections and other related events.

Odds

They don’t disappoint in delivering fair odds to complement its extensive sports options. Based on my first-hand calculations, the sportsbook’s payout rate is impressive across all supported categories. Specifically, these are the average margins I got for the top 5 featured sports:

1. Basketball: 4.88%
2. Baseball: 4.30%
3. Soccer: 4.59%
4. Hockey: 4.17%
5. Tennis: 4.76%

Evidently, you can expect less than 5% margins across all featured sports. This translates to a 95%+ payout rate, which is impressive. I believe the odds are competitive enough to rival any top sportsbook.

Furthermore, during my Bovada review, I had a bit of a difficult time finding the option to adjust the odds format. The odds are displayed in American format by default, which is expected since the site targets US users. It took scrolling to the footer to locate the tab for changing from American to decimal or fractional. I believe Bovada can place the feature in a more easy-to-discover position.

Range of Bets

To be straightforward, Bovada covers a broad range of bets. If you’re a regular crypto bettor, you’ll know that top sports like soccer and basketball get the most betting markets. The same holds for Bovada; I found it rather intriguing that the basketball sports options were more than twice those of soccer.

For emphasis, I got a flat 101 bet option for top soccer games. Meanwhile, when betting on basketball events, the available markets for popular NBA fixtures were as high as 300+. Furthermore, I noted that hockey and baseball—with 160+ and 140+, respectively—have more betting options than soccer. I see it perfectly presenting what US bettors want since basketball, baseball, and hockey are relatively more popular than soccer in the country.

Live Betting and Streaming

There is a dedicated live betting page, which I found pretty easy to access. If you visit the site on mobile or desktop, you’ll get ongoing games before upcoming matches. Plus, there’s a specific live button to take you to the in-play section.

I first noted the few betting markets in the live betting section. Generally, the options reduce as the live games progress. But that’s the same I found on most alternative sportsbooks, so I won’t criticize the platform. However, I was disappointed to find no live streaming. In other words, while I was able to bet on ongoing games, there was no option to watch.

Limits

Bovada allows commendable betting limits for wagering on sports. If you’re wondering why, I found that the platform supports a low $0.50 minimum bet. For emphasis, most alternative sites I’ve tested require no less than $1. The maximum varies depending on the sport and competition you’re betting on. Additionally, I noted that the max win is $1 million across all sports, which is huge.

However, one aspect I wasn’t impressed with was the absence of responsible gambling tools to manage limits. For instance, I wanted to limit the maximum I can bet per slip and found no feature that supported this.

Esports

Games – 6 Esports

When I accessed the eSports section, I wasn’t a big fan of the range of games available. To be precise, the site supports only six categories, including Counter-Strike, Dota 2, King of Glory, League of Legends, Starcraft, and Valorant. But we can still see the bright side. In my opinion, it’s somewhat satisfactory that the sportsbook supports the top games.

I believe things only get complicated if you want to wager on e-simulators of traditional sports. For instance, you may be a fan of eBasketball, eFIFA, eCricket, and the like. If so, you won’t find the Bovada eSports section appealing.

Tournaments

Across the six supported eSports games, I found 75+ tournaments. The highest count goes to Counter Strike with 43, while Valorant comes in second with 13. With League of Legends, I was able to bet on eight tournaments, but Dota 2 had only six.

Regardless of the count, I confirmed that features the top tournaments for each game. To illustrate, I found eSports events from the CCT Europe Series, CCT Global Finals, VCT Masters, Valorant Challengers, DreamLeague Season, and SC2 GSL, among others. If you’re a big fan of eSports like me, you’ll recognize these as some of the most popular sports in the niche.

Odds

Similar to the traditional sports section, Bovada offers competitive and fair odds for eSports. If you anticipate under 5% margins, you won’t get them. However, Bovada’s eSports odds have an average 6.20% margin, resulting in a 93.8% payout rate.

As an expert bettor, I know that eSports games generally offer lower payouts than traditional sports. But the 6.20% average is top-notch. I won’t directly mention names, but the last sportsbook I reviewed had 8%+ margins on eSports odds. When I scrolled to the bottom of the eSports betting page, I also located the option to switch from American to decimal and fractional odds formats.

Live Betting and Streaming

Bovada ensures the eSports package includes live betting and streaming. While testing the site, I was able to wager on ongoing virtual games. At the same time, a direct live video feed from Twitch allowed me to watch the event. For some fixtures, the stream was from YouTube.

Notably, the eSports live betting section is a replica of the traditional sports section. So, as I found the latter easy to navigate, there was no issue with the former.

Limits

When I placed my first eSports bet, the minimum bet was $0.50. In other words, it’s the same as in the regular sports section. I also didn’t get responsible gambling tools to manage my limits in this section. So, there’s no new story to recount here.

Bonus Offers and Promotions

The Bovada promotions page is the section to visit for bonuses. If you check the page, you’ll find multiple welcome offers for sports, casino games, and poker. However, since my primary interest was betting, I went for the sports welcome bonus: a 75% match bonus of up to $750.

How It Works:

1. Register an account on Bovada
2. Deposit funds using cryptocurrency
3. Use the promo code BTCSWB750 during the deposit process
4. Receive a 75% match bonus, up to a maximum of $750

Experience: The sign-up process was straightforward, and after depositing, I received an additional $100 in bonus funds. This boost doubled my initial balance, allowing me to explore various games without risking all my own money.

If you make your first deposit using any FIAT payment method, you’ll only receive 50% up to $250. It’s another reason I recommend using digital coins on the sportsbook instead of FIAT.

Regardless of which welcome package you claim, you must meet the 5x wagering requirement before cashing out your winnings.

Referral Bonus

Description: Bovada offers a 200% referral bonus up to $200. If your referral deposits using crypto, you receive an extra $75, taking the possible total to $275.

How It Works:

1. Share your referral link with friends.
2. When they sign up and deposit, you receive a 200% bonus (up to $200).
3. If their deposit is in cryptocurrency, you get an additional $75.

Experience: I’ve claimed this bonus twice by referring friends. Bovada credited my account with the bonus money as soon as each referral made their first deposit.

Parlay Booster

Description: Explore boosted odds in the sports betting lobby. Bet on eligible events to earn points for a random draw.

How It Works:

1. Visit the sports betting lobby.
2. Bet on events with boosted odds.
3. Accumulate points based on your bets.
4. Deposit at least $10 during the week to participate.
5. Lucky winners receive double points, which can be exchanged for cash.

Experience: While I didn’t win, the offer doesn’t have any wagering requirements, making it an exciting way to potentially boost winnings.

Rewards and Loyalty Program (Bovada Rewards)

Description: Enrollment in Bovada Rewards is automatic upon completing account registration. Earn reward points for every $1 wagered.

How It Works:

1. Wager on sports, casino games, or poker.
2. Earn reward points (varies by bet type).
3. Redeem points for cash prizes.
4. Higher ranks offer better points exchange rates across six tiers.

Experience: I found the program easy to participate in, and the more points I accumulated, the better the rewards.

There are six tiers in total, and I’ve presented all the key details in the table below:

Rewards and Loyalty Program – Bovada VIP Club

You can get massive rewards and benefits from the Bovada loyalty program. If you visit the site and search for a “VIP Club,” you’ll find nothing. That’s because the exclusive program is known as Bovada Rewards.

What intrigued me is that enrollment is automatic. I joined the scheme the minute I completed my account registration. I got reward points for every $1 I wagered, and the number varied for different bet types. For instance, Parlays gave me 15 reward points for $1, while I got only 2 points for single bets.

Subsequently, I redeemed the points for cash prizes. The more points I got, the higher my rank in the Rewards program, and the better the redemption exchange rate. There are six tiers in total, and to give you concise insights into what to expect, I’ve presented all the key details in the table below:

Limits

I didn’t find any details on the limits. As explained, it’s not precisely a VIP Club where you can get perks like higher withdrawal limits and a personal account manager. It’s simply a program where you get points and redeem them for cash prizes.

I connected with the customer service agents via multiple channels. If you want to know the available options, they range from live chat to email and the community. Based on my experience, the community is the best channel.

Naturally, I’ll pick the live chat, but each time I access the option, it takes some minutes to connect with a representative. With email, it took more time. However, when I placed a query in the community, I got relatively fast replies with resolutions from other users who had faced something similar.

In a way, I’ll say the operator is conscious of its slightly slow response time regarding live chat and email. For this reason, the platform ensures players can get all the assistance they need without needing to talk to an agent. This is evident from the availability of the community. However, a more particular section I found was the Help Center.

On a scale of 1 to 10, I’ll rate the Bovada Help Center 15—it’s that resourceful. The section is extensive and covers everything about betting on the website. I don’t mean to exaggerate, but there’s no information I needed that I didn’t find in the Help Center.

The simple answer is yes; Bovada is safe and legit. If you visit the sportsbook and scroll to the footer, you’ll find the badges of two regulatory bodies: Curacao eGaming under number 1668/JAZ and Anjouan Gaming Board under number 11549. The way I see it, holding two valid regulatory licenses is a massive boost in legitimacy.

It’s worth mentioning that Bovada has two operators, hence its double licenses. The Curacao eGaming license is issued to Harp Media N.V., while the Anjouan Gaming Board license is issued to Hove Media Ltd.

Regarding security, I anticipated SSL security on the website, and I wasn’t disappointed. The platform employs top-notch encryption measures to protect data from third parties. However, I didn’t locate an option for Two-Factor Authentication (2FA). Such a feature will be an added advantage if it is available, so I recommend the operator consider integrating it.

Restricted Countries

The information here is straightforward. If you’re in the United States, you can bet with Bovada; otherwise, you can’t use the sportsbook. In other words, it is only available in the US, and every other country in the world is on the prohibited list.

I did, however, note that Bovada isn’t available in all 50 states in the US. The sportsbook doesn’t operate in 5 locations, including:

• Nevada
• New Jersey
• New York
• Maryland
• Delaware

Reputation – What do Bovada.lv Player Reviews Say?

Based on my experience, I believe Bovada being legal in the United States speaks heavily to the platform’s reputation. If you’re familiar with US gambling regulations, you’ll know that they’re overly strict, such that real-money gambling is restricted in many states. However, Bovada gets the green light to operate, which is impressive. I didn’t come across any partnerships or awards for the sportsbook, which is mentionable since the platform has been around since 2011.

Furthermore, checking out Bovada’s reputation on Trustpilot, I uncovered a poor 1.4 rating out of 5. When I checked the reviews one after the other, I found that most of them were based on casino and poker games. The few on the sportsbook highlighted the FIAT withdrawal fee as the main issue, which I 100% agree with. Charging $100 for FIAT withdrawals is a tad over the roof. Besides the charges, many reviews gave the Bovada sportsbook a massive thumbs up.

Bovada.lv Commitment to Responsible Gambling

Like any legal sportsbook, Bovada wants its players to gamble responsibly. However, I don’t rate the sportsbook highly in this regard, as it lacks many vital, responsible gambling tools. To avoid mixing words, I was only able to access self-exclusion when I signed up.

I initially took some time to search for a deposit or wager limit tool. But I found nothing. When I checked the responsible gambling page, it was only filled with advice on how to stay safe. There are resources, too, as they recommend players visit Gamblers Anonymous, NCP Gambling, and Gambling Therapy for professional help.

If you want to know how self-exclusion works, it’s a manual process. The one time I tested the option, I had to email Bovada to restrict my account for 24 hours. Of course, you can request account restrictions for a more extended period—or permanently if you want.

Did I Have any Problems Playing on Bovada?

Yes, I had a few problems using Bovada, particularly with the grading after wins and customer support. If you win bets on the website, the software can sometimes count it as a loss. I must state that this doesn’t happen frequently, and I only experienced it once. To resolve the issue, I had to quickly message the customer support team to fix the error. That’s where the second issue comes in.

As mentioned earlier, live chat and email are usually delayed, and the community and Help Center are the best resources for customer support. But in such a case where it’s a technical issue, I had no option but to detail the problem in an email. It took up to four days to resolve the mistake, which I believe is a lot for an issue that shouldn’t have happened in the first place.

My Final Verdict – Do I Recommend Betting at Bocada.lv Sportsbook?

For sports bettors in the United States, I recommend Bovada exclusively for crypto gambling. If you use FIAT on the sportsbook, you won’t enjoy the experience due to the heavy transaction fees. Plus, with crypto, I got more valuable bonuses, which helped boost my bankroll.

Other reasons I recommend them are the fair odds, with an average margin of less than 5% across all top sports. Based on my experience, not many popular sportsbooks can boast such profitable rates. If you win bets while wagering on the site, rest assured that you’ll get relatively higher payouts than many alternative betting sites.

They didn’t impress me in terms of responsible gambling during my review, as the operator only supports self-exclusion. But the way I see it, the platform can integrate more tools at any time. Plus, as a bettor, you can always set your own limits independent of the sportsbook tools, which I believe you must.

So, overall, Bovada’s upsides are highly commendable, while its downsides are manageable. If you use crypto on the platform like me, you’ll have a smooth gambling experience with competitive odds and increased payouts.

References:

• https://www.bovada.lv/sports
• https://www.bovada.lv/help
• https://www.trustpilot.com/review/www.bovada.lv?search=Sportsbook&stars=1
• https://www.bovada.lv/responsible-gaming