Skip to Content

Bovada Poker Review

Bovada LogoWhen it comes to big names that US poker players can trust, Bovada is right at the top of the list Bovada, alongside the Bodog brand, is definitely a name that has been providing long-term online gaming opportunities for US gamers for a number of years. In addition to the poker opportunities, Bovada and Bodog can also provide players with sports betting and casino opportunities. The company is also leading the foray into mobile gaming, so even if you are on the go, this is a company that you can rely on. There are an increasing number of options available to US poker players but many will choose to stick with Bovada. Given that the site has the largest US friendly poker network, it is easy to see why.

Welcome offer

New players on the Bovada poker site can earn a 100% matched deposit bonus for all deposits made on the same day that they make their initial deposit. This means that a player making more than one deposit on the same calendar day they make their first deposit will receive a 100% matched deposit bonus for the sum of money deposited that day. This bonus is available up to a limit of $1,000.

As an example, if a player makes an initial deposit of $100 and the later that same day deposits a further $200 into their account, they will have made a deposit of $300 on their first day. This means that the welcome offer they are entitled to is up to a limit of $300.

Players have 60 days to earn the poker points required to earn their entire bonus. After earning 50 points, players will earn $10 of their bonus. After earning 250 points, players will receive a further $40, taking them up to $50 of their bonus. After earning 750 points, players will receive a further $100, taking them up to $150 of their bonus. After a player earns 1,500 points, they will receive a further $150, taking them to $300 of their bonus. Once a player hits 3,000 points, they will receive a further $300, taking them to a total of $600. The final $400 of a bonus, taking a player to the maximum amount of $1,000 is delivered when a player reaches 5,000 bonus points.

If a player is playing for a bonus less than $1,000, the bonus issue levels remain the same.

New players that make a deposit and then play at least one real money poker game and earns at least 1 poker point within two weeks of their initial deposit, will be given access to the next available $100K New Player Qualifier. Players who qualify for this promotion will receive 6 entries to the New Player Qualifiers.

Games

It comes as absolutely no surprise to learn that Texas Hold ‘Em is the main game on offer at Bovada. However, if you enjoy Omaha or Omaha Hi/Lo games, you will also be able to enjoy what is on offer. The site also provides 7 card stud games. In addition to the standard poker games that you find on online poker rooms, Bovada can also offer 5 card draw.

Network

Bovada is found on the Bodog poker network. This network is listed as being the biggest US friendly poker network by Poker Scout, making it a natural choice for poker players looking to take on as many opponents as possible. The network still pales in comparison with the major networks but for US poker players, the site offers everything you could hope for.

Bovada Poker promotions

Bovada provide a Bad Beat bonus and a Royal Flush bonus to players. While these are not something that a poker player should bank on, it can be a good way to add some excitement or something which helps to minimise the pain of missing out when you should have won.

Bovada is extremely good at providing satellite events for players. These events and tournaments are ideal for poker players that dream of taking on the best poker players from around the world in the finest poker venues. These satellite events obviously change from time to time, depending on which events are upcoming. At the end of August, Bovada was providing satellite tournaments which would provide entry to the Punta Cana Classic taking place in the Dominican Republic in November 2025.

Bovada is also running a satellite tournament that will grant players access to the Anonymous Poker event being held in Southeast Asia. There is also a chance for players to play their way to the Grand Final taking place in Manila in January 2025.

Every week, Bovada provides a $5,000 Guaranteed Freeroll game where players gain entry by using the poker points that they have earned through playing on site. Players can gain entry to a qualifier for 25 poker points or direct entry to the event can be gained for the cost of 1,000 poker points. The freeroll alternates each week between two styles of tournament. On one week, there is a Turbo event played at 9.20pm ET and then the following week, a more traditional tournament plays out on Saturdays at 2.20pm ET.

Players that play blackjack on Bovada will be entered into a prize draw that takes place every Monday. There is a total of $1,000 on offer and players will receive an entry for every $5 they place on blackjack from Monday to Sunday.

Tournaments

When it comes to US friendly poker sites, Bovada is a big deal and this can be seen in The Big Deal. This is the big Sunday tournament that is played out every week and there is $100,000 on offer. The winning player will take away a guaranteed $20,000 which is definitely something worth playing for.

With qualifiers taking place throughout the week and starting at just $1, there is an opportunity for every player on site to gain entry to the big tournament. Bovada puts a great deal of importance on their Sunday though, declaring it as their Super Sunday. In total, there is more than $275,000 on offer in guaranteed prize pools on this day. They say that Sunday is a day of rest but if you are free and love poker, Sunday is a big day of poker on Bovada.

Deposit methods

Bovada works hard to provide their players with as many deposit methods possible. The site allows any VISA branded credit card, check card, gift card or even debit card. If you aim to use a gift card to add funds to your Bovada account, you need to ensure that the card is eligible for international use. A card that is only suitable for US or domestic use will not be accepted by Bovada.

In addition to Visa cards, Bovada provides a Rapid Transfer deposit. The minimum amount for this style of deposit is $100 and the maximum amount for any single transaction is $900. There is a fee for using this service, ranging between $12 and $20 but for all deposits over $300, Bovada will refund this fee.

Bovada also provides a Money Transfer deposit. The minimum amount for this style of deposit is $10 while the maximum deposit is $5,000. There is a fee for using this service but for deposits greater than $300, Bovada will reimburse the player for this charge.

Players can withdraw via a check or through a Rapid Transfer.

Pros and cons of Bovada Poker

There is a range of benefits to be found on Bovada, including:

  • A sizable initial deposit bonus
  • Satellite events
  • A range of poker games on offer
  • A lot of money available in guaranteed tournaments
  • A variety of deposit methods
  • The strongest US friendly network

It is also important to point out that there are a number of negative issues to consider with the Bovada site, including:

  • Some deposit methods take time to be placed into your account
  • The standard focus on Texas Hold ‘Em is present

As you can see, the positive elements of using Bovada vastly outstrip the negative aspects. This makes it a site that is well worth checking out.