Bovada Casino Review

by James Carter on January 05th 2016. Updated on October 4th, 2019.

  • Bonus: 100% up to $3,000. US Accepted
  • Best Online Casino for USA.
  • Fastest payouts (7-10 days).
  • Top-class casino software.
  • Bonus: 100% up to $3,000.
  • Best Online Casino for USA.
  • Fastest payouts (7-10 days).
  • Top-class casino software.

Visit Bovada Casino

Bovada is the US successor to Bodog, the famous online casino, sportsbook, and poker site that made a certain Canadian billionaire a world-famous executive. Bovada Casino uses the proprietary Bodog software that drew so many online gamblers to the original site. The casino also uses software from RTG, Rival Gaming, and Spinomenal for its online slots, table games, video poker, keno, and scratch card games content.

$3000 Welcome Bonus

With a $3000 welcome bonus happens over your first 3 deposits. When you make an initial deposit, use the coupon code NEWWELCOME to receive a 100% match bonus up to $1,000.  On your second and third deposits, use the promo code BV2NDCWB for more 100% match bonuses up to $1,000 apiece. The BV2NDCWB code can be redeemed twice, so you receive a total of $3000 in casino bonuses.

The wagering requirement is 25x the bonus amount, but you’ll be able to withdraw your bonus and winnings. The same 25x rollover applies to the Bitcoin Bonus, too.

$3,750 Bitcoin Casino Bonus

Players receive a total $3,750 Bitcoin Casino Bonus on their first three deposits. Two different coupon codes are needed to max out the Bitcoin bonus. For your first deposit, use the bonus code BTCCW1250 for a 125% match rate up to $1,250. On your next two deposits, use the bonus code BTC2NDCWB for a 125% match up to $1,250. Add all three deposit bonuses together and you receive a maximum $3,750.

Wagering Contributions by Game

Certain games have different wagering contributions on the promotional bonsues. For instance, certain forms of blackjack have lower contribution rates than other. Here is a quick breakdown of those contribution rates.

  • Slots – 100%
  • Specialty Games – 100%
  • Most Table Games – 20%
  • Most Blackjack – 10%
  • Video Poker – 10%
  • Single-Deck Blackjack – 5%
  • Double-Deck Blackjack – 5%
  • Roulette, Baccarat – 5%
  • Craps – 0%
  • Live Dealer Games – 0%

Best Software for All Platforms

What makes Bovada Casino a success all these years later, even after Lynton Limited took over ownership? I’m convinced that you will like Bovada’s casino software regardless of what operating system or device you use. It’s that good, and since they were one of the first online casinos to come out with no-download software (which is required for mobile games), they have had loads of time to fix glitches and such.

Now what is so good about Bovada’s online casino software?
It fulfills all the criteria for good software: it’s easy to use, functions well, looks good and works fast. I’m not kidding when I say that it’s the best casino software I’ve ever used, and I’ve played at tens of online casinos. I would consider it a significant downgrade if I had to go back to playing at 90% of the casinos that I used to play at before Bovada.

Fair House Edges

Online casinos always have a long-term edge on the player – some of them have huge house edges. Bovada settles for games where the edge is minimal, which gives you a better chance of winning and ensures that your casino money lasts longer. Note that Bovada also has games that you should stay away from – as all casinos do – and here are some recommendations.

What’s the best game to play at Bovada?
The best games you can play at Bovada Casino – as far as house edge goes – are single-deck blackjack (0.19% house edge with optimal play) and Double Jackpot video poker (0.37% house edge with optimal play). Slot machine and roulette games have a distinctly higher house edge than blackjack and video poker (this goes for all casinos). Bovada’s European Roulette has a 2.70% house edge, while its slot machines average 4% house edge. Print a single-deck blackjack basic strategy chart and learn the optimal play in each situation, while learning the best draw poker decisions for Double Jackpot video poker.

What’s the worst game to play at Bovada?
In contrast, Bovada’s worst blackjack game is European Blackjack (0.66% with optimal play), worst roulette game is American Roulette (5.26% with optimal play), worst video poker game is Joker Poker (1.52% house edge with optimal play for the 3-, 5-, 10- or 52-line game). Avoid European Blackjack, American Roulette, and Joker Poker video poker at all costs. Also avoid Bovada’s Keno games. The absolute worst game you could play at Bovada Casino is Keno with one pick – that game takes 25% out of each of your bets on average (read which slots to avoid to choose the ones with the least house edge).

The difference between good and bad games is a lot of money in the long run.

Visit Bovada Casino

Who Can Sign Up?

Bovada is a powerful draw to players in the United States. Bovada accepts play from Mexico, Brazil, Colombia, Bolivia, Peru, and Venezuela, too, but the casino’s main focus is real money US players. Customer service for Americans is knowledgeable, friendly, fluent, and helpful.

Easy, Quick and Convenient Deposits

You can deposit money to Bovada with VISA-branded credit, debit, gift and pre-paid cards that are eligible for online and international purchases. It’s important for you to know that not all cards work even if they fulfill all of the criteria – this is completely normal for US online gambling deposits. Bovada takes a 4.9% fee for card deposits.

Vanilla VISA and Green Dot VISA cards have failed to work lately so I recommend staying away from them completely. Netspend VISA cards, on the other hand, have had great success.

You can also deposit to Bovada Casino by using Rapid Transfer (which is basically MoneyGram®, but operates under a different name). The full list of deposit methods includes Bitcoin, Visa, MasterCard, American Express, most major prepaid debit cards (besides Vanilla and Green Dot), and direct bank transfers.

Bitcoin, direct bank transfers, and courier checks are the withdrawal methods. The supported currencies are US dollars and bitcoins.

Fast Cashouts

US online casino and poker players have had problems with getting their money cashed out fast from several online gambling sites. Fortunately Bovada processes cashouts faster than most – or perhaps all – online gambling sites (at the moment they process withdrawals in 7 days).

While the majority of US internet casinos only process check cashouts, Bovada allows “Rapid Transfer” (Moneygram) withdrawals as well. You can use those services for cashouts if you used them to deposit money as well.

Fast and Comprehensive Customer Support

I’ve contacted Bovada’s customer support on numerous occasions and have received great service literally without exceptions. They’ve taken anywhere from five minutes to a couple of hours to reply – probably depending on what time it is – so you’ll get your answer fast and the reply has always been thorough. Click on the Bovada Contact Page to send the site your questions and concerns via email.

Bovada also has a phone support, unlike some US-facing online casinos. I’ve never tried it but if the quality of their e-mail support is anything to go by, you’ll be happy with Bovada’s phone support.

Bovada Toll-Free Number: 888-263-0000

Note: Bovada is restricted for players from New York, Washington and Maryland.