Overview of Company

Bovada has long been a mainstay in the only gambling industry. Formerly part of Bodog, Bovada was established in late 2011 when the Bodog Brand left the US market. The Morris Mohawk Gaming Group then split off from Bodog and formed Bovada. Bovada, combined with its history with the Bodog Brand, has over 10 years of experience providing exceptional service to players.

Bovada is currently licensed and regulated by the Kahnawake Gaming Commission. Their corporate headquarters is located Quebec, Canada and their wagering offices are located in Antigua. In addition to their online poker room, Bovada offers an online casino, sportsbook, and racebook.

Safety and Security for US Players

Bovada and their former parent company Bodog have a long history of consistent payments to players. After the UIGEA and crackdown by the US Department of Justice on online gambling, many online gaming sites servicing US citizens folded, slow-paid, or downright stiffed their customers. Bovada has had its fair share of delays but has always paid their players in full. Bovada was created to give US players another place to play and the company is committed to the US market.

One significant note, due to actions by certain states, Bovada has ceased to accept players from the following US states, New York, Utah, Maryland, Washington, and New Mexico. Players from Washington State and Maryland have been banned unconditionally and have had their bankrolls cashed out. Utah, New York, and New Mexico players can still fund and play from their accounts, but Bovada will no longer allow new users from these states.

Software Pros and Cons

Pros

• Sleek, clean look with a Las Vegas Poker Room feel.

• Resize tables, just by clicking and dragging.

• Easy access to account management, poker point’s balance, and hand history.

• Offers 4-color deck and other customizable options.

• User friendly interface, effective lobby filters, table, and betting options.

Cons

• Fully anonymous poker room, with no screen names. Player screen names are randomized and seen as “Player 1”, “Player 2”, and so on.

• 4 table maximum when playing cash games and sit & go tournaments, 6 tables when playing when playing two multi-table tournaments.

• Software can lag, freeze up and is slightly sluggish.

• Hides full tables from lobby view.

Deposits and Withdrawals

Due to US government actions against online gambling, deposit options are limited for players. Currently, Bovada offers just two deposit options.

Credit Card: Credit cards are accepted with Bovada charging a 4.9 fee on all credit card deposits. The minimum and maximum limits per deposit are $20.00 and $1,425 respectively. The daily limit for CC deposits is $2,500, and the monthly limit is $10,000. Credit card deposits are instant and the money will available in your account immediately.

Rapid Transfer: Rapid transfers are person-to-person transfer services such as, MoneyGram and Western Union. These services allow players to send money anywhere in the world. Fees can be steep with these services, but Bovada will cover deposits over $300. The minimum amount for deposit is $100 and the maximum amount is $900. After the Rapid Transfer is sent, it may take up to 48 hours for the money to appear in your account, but usually it is only a few hours.

Bovada currently charges fees for all withdrawal methods but allows one free payout per month, via Bank Wire or Check withdrawal methods. It is also crucial to note that players must withdraw using the method corresponding to their chosen deposit option. Players who deposited via credit card must use check by courier or bank wire. Those who deposited using rapid transfer may use check or rapid transfer to withdrawal.

Check by Courier: Checks come with a $50 fee and maximum withdrawal of $3,000.00. Checks normally take about 3-4 weeks or 15-20 business days to process. They are normally sent via FedEx and someone must sign for them when they arrive. Bovada will normally send players a tracking number a few days before a check is received.

Bank Wire: Bank wires are wire transfers of Bovada funds into a personal bank account. They cost $50.00 per transaction and have a minimum withdrawal amount of $2,500, and a maximum amount of $5,000 per wire. A player’s personal bank may also charge them extra fees, in addition to the $50. Similar to checks, bank wires normally take 3-4 weeks or 15-20 business days to process.

Rapid Transfer: Rapid transfers are the fastest of any of the payout options, taking just 24-28 to process. These are picked up the same way they are sent, at a MoneyGram or Western Union location, or via an online account at one of the merchants. The minimum amount that can be requested per transaction is $100, and the maximum amount is $800. Depending on the amount, fees range from $20 to $60 per payout. However, it should be noted that rapid transfer payouts are not eligible as a free payout.

Traffic and Games Available

Bovada is the 2nd largest online poker room that accepts US players, at peak hours there are 3,000 or more players in real money games. Bovada uses in house proprietary software and shares its player base with the Bodog Poker Network.

No Limit Hold Em’ runs consistently from the micros to $10/$20. Limit Hold Em’ action is a bit more sporadic, but during peak hours games run from the micros up to $30/$60. Pot Limit Omaha is also popular, with games running constantly up to the $2/$4 level. 6 handed tables seem to be the most popular for mostly all limits. Also, offered are Omaha Hi/Lo, Stud, and Stud Hi/Lo, these games will usually have some micro action but are hit or miss for the low to high limits.

Bovada has a ton of tournament action. Their weekly 100k Guaranteed Tournament is one of the top weekly tournaments for US players. Sit & Go tournaments are exceedingly popular as well. Players can play heads up SNGs, 6-max, and 9 handed. Bovada SNGs also have varying speeds, normal, turbo, and super turbo are all options. Super turbos only have 300 chips and three minute blind levels, making for some crazy action! SNG action is pretty consistent during peak hours, and players will not have to wait terribly long for tournaments to start up at most limits.

Softness of the Games

Bovada is one of the softest online poker rooms in the world. Many grinders or professional players choose to avoid the room, because of their four table maximum and anonymous tables. Also, heads-up displays and stat tracking programs have been banned by the room, scaring off even more professional type players. Both cash and tournament action is excellent. The games are mostly filled with inexperienced casino players and sports bettors.

Support Review

Bovada has some of the best support in the industry. They have 24/7 email support that normally answers player emails within less than 4 hours. In addition to that, Bovada offers a 24/7 phone just dedicated to the poker room. Their support staff is top notch and extremely helpful.

Promotions

Bovada offers players an incredible first time deposit bonus of 100% up to $1000! In addition to the deposit bonus, players can also earn Poker Points by playing cash games or tournaments. These points can be converted into tournament tickets and used to buy into SNGs and multi-table tournaments. Bovada offers $15k in monthly freeroll tournaments, in which players can use their Poker Points to buy in.

Bovada also offers Bad Beat and Royal Flush Bonuses. Hit a Royal Flush or meet the Bad Beat requirements and simply email support to receive a reward of up to $1000

Overall

Bovada is a top choice for the US poker player. It likely has the fishiest player base on the internet, a fantastic welcome bonus, and tremendous support. Though the four table max will limit some grinders, it is a terrific room to build a bankroll or add to your repertoire of sites.