| Updated: Although the gambling site launched in 2011, the team behind it had already been in the online betting industry for nearly two decades. Previously known as Bodog, the Bovada brand was owned and operated by the Morris Mohawk Gaming Corporation and licensed by the Kahnawake Gaming Commission. During this time, it was one of the most popular gambling sites in North America and was well known among poker players and sports betting fans as a safe, reliable, and trustworthy place to play for real money online. As part of the PaiWangLuo network since March 2017, Bovada remains one of the most reputable online gambling platforms for US players.
Attracting players with its fast, easy-to-use downloadable poker software and generous promotions for both new and existing players, the website enjoys heavy traffic at any given time. For poker fans, this provides an exciting and entertaining gaming experience, as there is always competition whenever they decide to log in. Committed to customer satisfaction, the Bovada brand is also synonymous with safety and fair play, qualities that, unfortunately, are not standard among betting and poker platforms available to US customers.
One of the most notable features of Bovada is its Bitcoin integration, which allows players to make instant and secure deposits into their gaming accounts. The cryptocurrency has grown dramatically in popularity in recent years, becoming a preferred banking method at online casinos and betting sites. Poker fans at Bovada can also take advantage of anonymous tables, where they can play comfortably without revealing their identities or previous activity to their opponents. This feature, along with the removal of waiting lists, is a clear sign that the brand targets recreational players, unlike some poker networks that focus on experienced or professional players.
Promotions and Bonus Terms
Bovada has prepared different promotional offers for each of its products: Sportsbook, Casino, Poker, and Racebook. This allows players to choose the most appropriate bonus for their needs and interests. Those who decide to join the busy Bovada Poker Room can enjoy a welcome bonus and take part in the Rewards Program designed for loyal players. There are also various limited-time promotions and a wide range of tournaments with appealing prize pools for top poker players.
100% Poker Welcome Bonus up to $500
Newly registered players who make a deposit at Bovada can receive a generous Poker Welcome Bonus of up to $500. To be eligible, they need to sign up for a real-money account, fund their balance with at least $20 (or 20 BTC), and download the Poker Client to their computers. The bonus will then be unlocked and issued in six increments, the first of which will be available after the player earns a minimum of 15 Poker Points.
Unlike welcome offers at other poker websites, which typically provide a match bonus on the first deposit, the Bovada Poker Welcome Bonus offers a 100% match on all deposits made within 24 hours of the initial deposit. With a maximum value of $500, the bonus is based on all funds deposited during this period, while the six increments depend on the Poker Points earned within 30 days of the first deposit. This means that you can continue receiving bonus funds after registering on the website.
The first portion of bonus funds credited is $5, and it is unlocked after you earn 15 Poker Points. The second bonus of $20 is credited after you collect 85 points, while the third bonus, worth $25, is awarded once you earn 185 points. The final, sixth bonus of $250 is credited to your account when you earn 5,000 Poker Points within the first 30 days after your initial deposit. One of the best aspects of this promotion is that it comes with no wagering requirements, referred to on the Bovada website as “rollover”. This means that you can withdraw the bonus funds without having to play through them a certain number of times first.
Up to $100 Refer-a-Friend Bonus
Apart from its poker, casino, and sportsbook promotions, Bovada also offers a robust Referral Program that rewards you for every new active player you invite. Once your friend joins the gambling site, you can receive a generous bonus of up to $100. There is no limit on the number of friends you can invite or the number of bonuses you can receive.
To refer a friend, you need to send them a link to the website. It is available on the Promotions page, and when new customers open it, they need to register for an account. Once they make a deposit at Bovada, you will automatically receive a 200% match on the deposited amount. The maximum bonus you can receive per friend is $100. This amount is considered bonus cash and is therefore subject to a wagering requirement. Before you can withdraw the bonus funds or any winnings generated from them, you need to place wagers on sports or horses equal to five times the bonus amount. You can choose to complete the wagering requirement in the Casino, but in this case, you will need to wager the bonus 30 times. More importantly, bets in the Bovada Poker Room do not contribute to the requirements at all.
General Bonus Terms
Before you can take part in any of Bovada’s promotions, whether in the Poker Room or any other section of the gambling platform, you need to meet certain conditions and requirements. The bonuses are designed specifically for US-based players, so they are generally unavailable to customers in other countries. Some exceptions include residents of Brazil, Mexico, and several other countries in Central and South America. Players should also know that they have the right to receive only one welcome bonus, as the site does not allow the same person to open multiple user accounts.
Another aspect of Bovada’s bonuses is the wagering requirement. It differs for each bonus and refers to the amount of funds you need to wager on various games before the bonus is “unlocked” and withdrawals can be made. Fortunately for poker fans, the Poker Welcome Bonus has no rollover requirement, so it is cashable as soon as it is credited to the player’s account. However, to receive the full amount, you will need to play and earn Poker Points. The more points you collect over 30 days, the more bonus funds you will receive.
Banking
Bovada expanded its banking options when it announced that it would accept Bitcoin payments. The news was initially met with mixed reactions, but many players soon realized the benefits of using digital currency for online gambling. This fast, secure method also provides anonymity when making deposits and withdrawing winnings from a poker balance. Other banking options available to Bovada members include credit cards and checks, which are traditionally used for online payments.
Poker enthusiasts who decide to join this popular poker room should know that it operates in only two currencies: US dollars (USD) and Bitcoin (BTC). More importantly, processing fees are associated with deposits and withdrawals made via credit cards and checks. In contrast, Bitcoin transfers are free of charge and much faster to process.
Credit and Debit Cards
The most popular methods for making payments, both online and in brick-and-mortar stores, are credit and debit cards. They are safe, convenient, and easy to use, especially when issued by universally accepted brands such as Visa or MasterCard. At the Bovada Poker Room, players can make deposits using both types of cards, and transactions are typically completed within minutes. In some instances, you may be required to verify your age or identity if you are depositing for the first time.
Players who choose to use their MasterCard, Visa, or American Express credit or debit cards to fund their Bovada accounts should know that each transaction is subject to a 5.9% fee. It is also important to consider an alternative method for cashing out, as the gambling operator does not offer payouts to credit or debit cards. You can see all available options by opening the Cashier section of the Bovada Poker Client.
Bitcoin
Those looking for a fast and secure way to fund their gaming balance at Bovada can select Bitcoin deposits. This payment method is also available for withdrawals, making it an ideal banking option when playing in this poker room. Although many players still consider Bitcoin too modern or complicated, it is a relatively straightforward digital currency. It can be purchased online similarly to any conventional currency, but it does not exist in the physical form of banknotes or coins. Although it is often referred to as “virtual money,” it has real-world uses. You can store it in a Bitcoin wallet and use it to make purchases or fund your gaming account.
This payment method offers several benefits to those who decide to use it. The first is the speed of Bitcoin transactions. Deposits are processed instantly, and cashing out is much faster than with traditional methods such as credit cards, bank transfers, or e-wallets. There are also low or no fees when making a Bitcoin deposit or withdrawing winnings from an online poker room or casino. Finally, these payments are secure and anonymous, which is a priority for many gambling fans.
Checks
Conventional checks can also be used at the Bovada Poker Room, but they are available only for withdrawals. To fund your balance, you will need to select either a credit/debit card or Bitcoin. The gambling operator allows one free withdrawal by check every 90 days, so each additional paper check sent to you will incur a $100 fee. In addition, the maximum withdrawal amount through this method is $3,000, making it inconvenient and costly for larger payouts.
Players should also consider the average processing time for this type of payment, which is between 10 and 15 business days. If the slow processing times and substantial fees are not an issue for you, you can request a withdrawal every seven days. To do so, simply select Check by Courier from the list of available methods in the Bovada Poker Room Cashier.
| Banking Methods | Minimum/Maximum Deposit | Minimum/Maximum Withdrawal | Deposit Timeframe | Withdrawal Timeframe | Countries Where Available | Currencies |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Visa | $20 – $1,000 | N/A | Instant | N/A | Most Accepted | USD |
| MasterCard | $20 – $1,000 | N/A | Instant | N/A | Most Accepted | USD |
| American Express | $20 – $1,000 | N/A | Instant | N/A | U.S. | USD |
| Bitcoin | $10 – $5,000 | $10 – $9,500 | Instant | From 2 to 48 hours | Most Accepted | BTC |
| Bitcoin Cash | $10 – $5,000 | $10 – $9,500 | Instant | From 2 to 48 hours | Most Accepted | BTC |
| Check by Courier | N/A | $100 – $3,000 | N/A | From 10 to 17 business days | Most Accepted | USD |
Loyalty Program
Unlike most gambling sites with diverse offerings, where comp points are awarded for betting in all sections, Bovada offers several loyalty and VIP schemes designed specifically for poker players, casino enthusiasts, and sports betting fans. While Bovada Rewards targets those betting in the Casino, Sportsbook, and Racebook, Bovada Poker Points are awarded only to poker players.
Those who use the downloadable Bovada Poker Client can earn three Poker Points for every $1 paid in tournament or Sit-and-Go fees. Cash game players earn a certain number of points based on the size of the pot to which they contribute. For instance, they are awarded one point when the rake is between $1 and $3; when it is $0.50-$0.99, they receive 0.50 points. Playing at micro-stakes tables ($0.01-$0.04) earns you only 0.05 points. Poker Points help release the Poker Welcome Bonus and also provide access to different rewards and additional bonuses.
Bovada also offers a VIP Program to all its members, whether they play casino games or poker or bet on sports and horses. The program is called the Red Room, and players should contact customer support to join. Members of the Red Room enjoy special treatment in the form of exclusive cash rewards and offers, weekly deposit bonuses, convenient banking options, free payouts, access to special events, personalized customer service, and more.
Software and Available Games
Until recently, Bovada offered its poker product on the popular Bodog platform, which was later acquired by the PaiWangLuo Poker Network (PWL Network). For nearly a year, the poker room was closed, and players were moved to Ignition. Currently, several gambling websites share the same Poker Client as Bovada. These include Bodog, which accepts players from Canada, and Ignition, which targets players based in the US and Australia.
With its reliability and strong performance across devices, the Bovada Poker software is one of the best choices for US and Latin American players. It features an improved design, new skins, and enhanced aesthetics, as well as a different welcome bonus from the one offered at Ignition. It offers easy navigation, a classic black-and-red color scheme, a simple layout, and convenient filters and menus that make finding information easy. You can contact the support team by phone, email, or through the Live Chat functionality.
The Poker Client can be downloaded on Windows-powered computers, with system requirements that are easy to meet for most PCs purchased within the past five years. Players should note that the client requires Windows 7 or later and Flash Player 16 or a newer version. Mac users have not been forgotten; the recommended minimum system requirements for downloading and installing the poker software are also easy to meet (Mac OS X 10.7 64-bit, 1 GB RAM, Flash Player 16, etc.).
The installation process is equally easy on both systems and should take only a few minutes to complete. Once you download the poker software, you need to run the installer and join Bovada if you do not already have an account. After registering, you can fund your balance to play for real money or simply try the games in Practice Mode. In the Balance section, you can view your cash balance, Poker Points, available tournament tickets, and play money, which allows you to improve your poker skills in Practice Mode. You will also have quick access to the Cashier, your Account section, and the Preferences page, where you can customize various in-game settings.
Poker Games and Tournaments
The Bovada Poker Room offers some of the most popular forms of the classic card game, including Texas Hold’em, Omaha, and 7 Card Stud. Players can easily find a suitable game because they can see all available tables, their limits and stakes, the number of players, and the average pot. There are several no-limit and fixed-limit games to choose from, as well as pot-limit poker variations. Other options include Omaha Hi-Lo, 7 Card Stud Hi-Lo, and more. Most options are low-limit tables, including micro-stakes tables of $0.02/$0.05, although you will also occasionally find $10/$20 tables. At peak times, the poker room also attracts high rollers with buy-ins reaching $2,000.
Along with conventional cash games, you can also take part in various scheduled tournaments and Sit & Gos. There are more than ten tournaments each day. Most are No-Limit Texas Hold’em, but there are also several Pot-Limit Omaha and Omaha Hi-Lo events. Many of the tournaments are accessible to low-stakes players, as buy-ins start at $1.10 and reach a little over $100. Every Sunday, there is a $100,000 Guaranteed Tournament with a $162 buy-in, but players can also win a seat through one of several satellites held throughout the week. There are plenty of other guaranteed tournaments with a total weekly prize pool of $1.5 million, with buy-ins starting at $11.
Another interesting option available at Bovada Poker is Zone Poker, a popular fast-fold variant in which players can play three or four times as many hands per hour. Once you decide to fold, the current table closes, and you are seated at a new one where new cards are dealt. This faster version of poker is full of adrenaline and is available in No-Limit Texas Hold’em at stakes ranging from $0.02/$0.05 to $1/$2.
Mobile Poker
Bovada offers a browser-based Mobile Poker Room that can be opened on any Android or iOS device. To access your favorite poker cash games or tournaments on the go, simply visit the Bovada Poker website on your smartphone or tablet. Some players may be disappointed that there is no native app available, but the mobile site is fully functional and offers all the popular variants, such as Texas Hold’em, Omaha, and Omaha Hi-Lo.
Mobile users can enter the Poker Lobby, but they cannot choose a table or seat. Instead, the software assigns them a random seat. They can also access all other sections of Bovada, including Account, Promotions, Banking, Help, and Bitcoin. With a poker account, they can also play real-money games in the Casino or place bets in the Sportsbook and Racebook. The Live Chat functionality is also available, along with a convenient email form that can be completed and sent within seconds.
Additional Poker Room Features
The Poker Lobby at Bovada features a user-friendly design and a convenient layout with classic filters such as Card Game, Buy-In, and Limit. These filters make it easy to find a suitable game and see where the action is by checking the number of players at each table. The lobby also provides options to hide empty tables and heads-up tables.
One of the most attractive features of Bovada Poker is its Anonymous Players policy. Usernames are not revealed; instead, players compete against anonymous numbers. You cannot recognize regular players or newcomers, and poker tracking software cannot track players’ actions over time. This feature makes playing at Bovada more similar to playing in land-based casinos and poker rooms, where you compete against opponents you may never have met before.
In Bovada’s Articles section, players can also find interesting blog posts about poker. The gambling operator offers guides to playing cash games and tournaments, as well as strategies for the different poker variants available. Less experienced players can learn how to choose the most suitable game based on factors such as expected value and whether the pot is fixed.
Licensing and Restricted Countries
Initially launched to meet the needs of poker players and betting fans in the United States, Bovada did not accept players from abroad. It has since expanded its operations outside the US and allows registrations from several Latin American countries, including Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Mexico, Peru, and Venezuela. However, due to legal restrictions, poker players from the following US states cannot sign up and play for real money: Delaware, Maryland, Nevada, New Jersey, and New York.
Players from Europe and Canada who wish to play poker on the PWL Network have an alternative. They can join the Bodog websites, which are fully licensed and regulated by the Directorate of Offshore Gaming of Antigua and Barbuda. Bovada is also a member of the large affiliate network Best Partners, which manages Bodog and Bodog Asia, Cafe Casino, Ignition Casino, Bumbet, Slots.lv, Joe Fortune, and Slots.com. Most of these brands share the same software platform and user interface, so poker and casino enthusiasts from around the world should be able to sign up, deposit, and play at the site most suitable for them.
Customer Support
Bovada now offers its services across North and South America and is available not only in English but also in Spanish and Portuguese. This is important when browsing the website and playing through the Poker Client, but it is especially useful when contacting customer support in your local language. Support agents can assist with any issues you may have. You can reach them instantly through the Live Chat functionality or call the direct phone line. There is also an email form you can complete.
In addition to contacting Customer Support, Bovada players can find solutions to common problems in the site’s Help section. It contains several FAQ pages, including a dedicated Poker FAQ where customers can find useful information about poker tournaments, game limits, and general poker etiquette. New players will appreciate the posted rules for Texas Hold’em, Omaha, and Omaha Hi-Lo, as well as the article about poker hands and their rankings. The gambling operator also provides important information about the Poker Client’s download requirements and compatibility. In addition, Bovada has an extensive blog-style section containing articles on a wide variety of topics, including poker strategy, bluffs, bankroll management, and many others.