Our Bovada Poker review provides an honest overview of the successful poker site. Here, you will learn whether there is a Bovada Poker app and get a closer look at the poker games and tournaments available, and more.

Bovada Poker Overview
  • Owned: Morris Mohawk Gaming Group
  • Established: 2004
  • Poker Network: PaiWangLuo Network
  • Rakeback: Accumulates via Rewards System
  • Payment: Cryptocurrencies, Visa, MasterCard, Discover, Voucher
  • Platforms: Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS
  • Accepted: US (except NJ, NY, MD, DE, MI, CO, WV, CT, DC)
  • License Verified:
  • Website: www.bovada.lv

Despite its launch over two decades ago, Bovada Poker continues to be one of the most popular US poker sites. Admittedly, there are a couple of areas for improvement which we’ll go through before you download Bovada Poker.

With our Bovada Poker review, you’ll get a closer look into the brand’s promotions, games, and payment options so you can make an informed decision.

Competitive Bovada Poker Rake

How does Bovada rake compare to other top-rated offshore poker sites?

Based on our tests, rake at Bovada Poker is more than competitive. To understand why you’ll pay less rake when you play poker at Bovada, we need to look at specifics.

Like CoinPoker, you’ll pay 5% rake on cash game pots and 10% on tournament buy-ins.

Bovada Poker rake for cash games and tournaments aligns with industry standards. Indeed, you’ll also pay 5% at CoinPoker.

Where Bovada goes one better than its peers is rake caps. CoinPoker rakes up to $25 from cash game pots, while Bovada takes a maximum of $4.

Something that really stands out for us is the $2 rake cap on cash games up to $0.10/$0.25. This means you’ll pay lower fees as a low-stakes player, which is something we fully support.

Bovada Poker Sign Up Bonus

The Bovada Poker sign up bonus is a first deposit match worth up to $500. Make sure to use one of the secure registration links in this Bovada Poker review.

Next, you’ll need to create a Bovada Poker login. Complete the registration form then add the Bovada Poker promo code PWB500 to activate the offer.

In terms of top-end value, $500 is a fair amount of bonus cash, but other poker sites give you more. For example as noted on our BetOnline poker review, you’ll get as much as $1,000 with the competitor.

Despite room for improvement, $500 isn’t anything to scoff at. What’s great about the Bovada Poker sign up bonus is that it’s released in $5 increments each time you earn 150 Reward Points (more on this below).

Everyone has the chance to get at least some bonus cash with the Bovada Poker sign up bonus, even if they’re unable to clear the full amount within the 30-day time limit.

Bonus Name:100% Poker Welcome Bonus
Bonus Amount:$500
Min. Deposit:$20
Max Withdrawal:$500
Bovada Poker Bonus CodePWB500
Play Zone Poker
  • Good traffic on Jackpot Sit and Go tables
  • PWL network for opponents from around the world
  • Up to four tables at the same time on the mobile poker client
9.6
4.5 Stars

Bovada Poker Rakeback

As found in our Bovada Poker review, the rake is lower than most offshore sites. While that is a positive, it does mean you earn slightly less rakeback than you could at other poker sites.

The Bovada Poker bonus system is based on Reward Points. You can’t earn points at Bovada Poker play money tables, instead, you must deposit cash and ante-up for real. Here is how you earn points:

  • You earn 15 Reward Points for every $1 you pay in cash game rake.
  • You earn 15 Reward Points for every $1 you pay in tournament fees.
  • You earn 1.5 Reward Points for every $1 you pay in Jackpot SNG fees.

Reward Points are used for two things:

  • They determine your VIP status (from Starter to Hall of Famer)
  • They can be exchanged for cash

Unlike a lot of loyalty programs, the promo team doesn’t put you under pressure every month. This is because the targets for each VIP level are based on lifetime earnings. So, if you get to a specific level, you stay there.

Each new VIP level you hit unlocks a better points-to-cash exchange rate. The starting rate is 2,500 points for $1 and improves to 1,000 points for $1.

How to Claim Bovada Poker Rakeback

Here’s how to get your hands on Bovada Poker rakeback:

1. Access the Bovada Poker Site and Create an Account

Bovada Poker Review Rakeback Access Bovada Poker Site and Create Account

Tap on any of our registration links on this page to create a Bovada Poker login on the desktop site. Alternatively, you can utilize the Bovada Poker download mobile site.

*Don’t forget to apply the Bovada Poker promo code PWB500.

2. Claim the Bovada Sign Up Bonus

Bovada Poker Review Rakeback Claim the Bovada Sign Up Bonus

Make your first deposit of $20+ to redeem the Bovada Poker bonus for new players.

3. Go to the Bovada Lobby

Bovada Poker Review Rakeback Go to Bovada Lobby

Next, navigate to the Bovada Poker online lobby and choose your favorite cash game or MTT.

4. Play to Earn Points

Bovada Poker Review Rakeback Play to Earn Points

You can start claiming cash once you’ve reached 2,500 Reward Points.

Expert Tip

Zone Poker tables allow you to play more hands per hour, particularly if you enter multiple games at once. If you can play these games, you’ll earn more points and, in turn, rakeback.

Bovada Poker Promotions

At the time of writing this Bovada review, there are limited poker bonuses worth claiming. Keep in mind that some offers may require Bovada Poker promo codes to activate them.

Mystery Knockouts

Join the mafia-themed Mystery Knockout poker tournament. Listed on the Bovada Poker promotions page, you’ll need to navigate across three phases;

  1. Begin the Tournament – survive the early rounds of the Mystery Knockouts.
  2. In The Money – unlock mystery bounties and earn standard prizes when you eliminate other players.
  3. The Final Table – battle to collect your bounties and be the last gangster in the round.

Your buy-in is split with 50% feeding the standard prize pool, and the other half building the bounty prize pool. You must survive and advance to Phase 2 where both prize pools are up for grabs.

Refer a Friend Bonus

If our Bovada Poker review inspires you to visit the site and you like what you see, tell your friends.

Doing that gets you a 200% deposit bonus worth up to $200 when someone creates an account using your custom referral link.

Your friends need to deposit at least $20 to redeem the referral promotion.

If they choose to make a crypto deposit, you’ll receive an extra $75 in bonus cash too.

Bovada Poker Lobby

What games await you inside the Bovada Poker lobby? This part of our Bovada Poker review will shine a light on the poker cash games, followed by tournament formats:

Texas Hold’em

To answer the most asked question: ‘Does Bovada have Texas Hold’em?’ In short, yes.

Hold’em dominates both the cash game and tournament lobbies. All the usual formats are in place, which means you can play Limit, Pot Limit, and No Limit Hold’em.

It would be nice to have 6+ Hold’em (aka Short Deck) added to the mix, but there’s enough No Limit action to satisfy the majority of players.

Omaha

We enjoy the Omaha games because the standard of play is low. There are exceptions to this rule, of course.

However, if you’re looking for four-card fun without a ton of tough players, the Bovada Poker site has you well covered.

Omaha Hi/Lo

Omaha Hi/Lo games start at $0.02/$0.05 and scale up to $10/$20. That’s a nice spread of games, but the reality is that you won’t find many games above $1/$2.

We’d like a few more Hi/Lo games – namely Stud – so the operator matches what ACR offers.

That being said, it’s nice to see variants other than Hold’em and Omaha Hi.

Cash Games

You’ll find Hold’em, Omaha, and Omaha Hi/Lo cash games in the Bovada Poker lobby.

Heads-up tables aren’t available, which is disappointing. However, there are plenty of short-handed games for players who prefer more action than 9-max tables offer.

Limits start at $0.02/$0.05 and go up $10/$20, and the PaiWangLuo network is among the top 10 busiest in the world. That means you won’t be short of action, particularly if you’re a low and mid-stakes player. The average skill level in most games up to $2/$4 is fairly low.

One great feature we’ll talk about later in this Bovada Online Poker review is the quick seat tool. As well as making it easier to find an open seat, this tool helps you avoid sharks.

Another cool way to avoid tough tables is to play Zone Poker. These fast-fold games sit you at a new table each time you fold, so you get to play hundreds of hands per hour.

Bovada Poker Tournaments

There’s at least $2 million in prize money to play for every week, making the network one of the busiest in the world.

You have the opportunity to enter Bovada Poker freerolls organized by various poker communities. However, compared to other sites, the Bovada Poker tournament schedule lacks in the freeroll department.

The good news is that MTTs start from $1, and individual guarantees go up to $224,000 (the $162 SMPO Sunday Special).

The weekly majors are supported by satellites costing less than a dollar to enter, and fans of Mystery Bounty Knockout events will be pleased to know there are MTTs starting at $2.20 and guarantees topping $25,000.

The SNGs are a particular highlight. Heads-up games range from $1 to $210, and three-handed Jackpot SNGs give you the chance to win up to $250,000 within minutes.

Bovada Poker Review Lobby Tournaments

Bovada Poker Annual Tournament Festivals

The biggest annual festival at Bovada is the Super Millions Poker Open.

The festival has an $8 million total guarantee, which is enough to rival any of the online poker series you can play in the US.

What’s great about this summer series is that there are more than 150 events to choose from. Add a packed satellite schedule to the mix, and there’s literally something for everyone.

Play Zone Poker
  • Good traffic on Jackpot Sit and Go tables
  • PWL network for opponents from around the world
  • Up to four tables at the same time on the mobile poker client
9.6
4.5 Stars

Bovada Online Poker Deposits & Withdrawals

All account balances are held in USD, but the operator allows you to make crypto deposits and withdrawals via Bitcoin, Ethereum, and more.

Cryptocurrency allows you to make safe, instant payments from anywhere in the world which is why many users prefer to play on crypto poker sites.

Deposit MethodMin. DepositDeposit FeesMin. WithdrawalWithdrawal FeesWithdrawal Processing Time
Bitcoin (BTC)0.0002 BTCNo$10No24 hours
Ethereum (ETH)0.002 ETHNo$10No24 hours
Litecoin (LTC)0.07 LTCNo$10No24 hours
Bitcoin Cash (BCH)No MinimumNo$10No24 hours
Tether (USDT)5 USDTNo$10No24 hours
Cash VoucherNo MinimumNo$10No24 hours
Visa/MasterCard/Discover$20NoN/AN/AN/A
Bank WireN/AN/A$1,500One free withdrawal per 90 days – $100 for subsequent requests10-15 business days
CheckN/AN/A$250$10010-15 business days

How to Make a Bovada Withdrawal

There are a few things to note from this Bovada review payout segment before you decide to request a Bovada Poker withdrawal:

Firstly, you need to wager your deposit and have a sufficient number of funds in your account (minimum withdrawal amount for your chosen payment option).

Secondly, it’s nice that Bovada Poker offers a variety of payout options, ranging from fiat (check, bank wire, etc.) to cryptocurrencies. Utilizing a Bovada voucher is a popular payment option, as it allows deposits and withdrawals at low limits. Don’t forget to add the unique Bovada voucher code so the transactions are successful.

Lastly, transaction times for fiat methods are slightly longer, which is why we recommend cryptocurrency methods as they are processed instantly.

Interface & User Experience

The Bovada Poker site is compatible with various desktop and mobile devices. The instant-play version is great for when you’re on the move, but it’s pretty basic which impacts the overall experience.

Alternatively, you can use the Bovada Poker download link to install the desktop app on different operating systems like Windows and Mac.

Bovada Poker Review Interface and User Experience

When you access the latest Bovada Poker bonus code offers and games, the following features are available to use:

  • Play up to four tables simultaneously.
  • Anonymous tables.
  • Quick seat functionality.
  • Game Guides and a poker glossary.
  • Access your hand history and get instant replays of hands.
  • Tap to switch from Bovada Poker play money games to real-money games.
  • Customizable table settings, including card and table colors.
  • In-game features, including all-in percentages, a chat box, player notes, and a rabbit cam so you can see which cards would have hit on the river.
  • Embedded casino games so you can play blackjack and other games while you’re playing poker.
Can I use trackers and HUDs on Bovada Poker?

Yes, you can use DriveHUD to track and display player statistics in real-time.

Unfortunately, the two biggest trackers, Holdem Manager and PokerTracker, aren’t compatible with Bovada Poker unless you install a third-party hand converter.

If you want a simple way to see how often your opponents are betting, raising, and folding, we recommend trying DriveHUD.

Bovada Poker Mobile App

You don’t need a Bovada Poker mobile app to play games via iOS and Android devices. Instead, you can use the Bovada mobile poker site to access its full game selection, promotions, and payment options.

The streamlined design – particularly the tables – makes it incredibly easy to follow the action on a smartphone screen. Bovada Poker Online is one of the best platforms for multi-tabling.

Bovada Poker doesn’t have as many features as BetOnline or ACR. But the standout feature we found during our Bovada Online Poker review was the quick seat tool.

This tool makes it easy to find a seat in the type of cash games you want by allowing you to pick your variant, stakes, table size, and stakes.

From there, you choose the amount you want to buy in for and whether you want to wait for the Big Blind. Once you’ve made your choices, tap “Next” and you’ll automatically be sat at a table.

Not only is this an efficient way of managing cash games, but it avoids the issue of players sitting out and bum-hunting. This feature offers protection for newbies against strong players.

Why Bovada Poker is a Reliable and Safe App

Since its launch in 2004, Bovada has remained competitive and one of the best gambling sites worldwide.

If you opt to download Bovada Poker app (via mobile web shortcut), you are guaranteed a secure experience due to the following features:

  • Licensed and regulated by Curaçao eGaming.
  • Bovada’s RNG (Random Number Generator) is certified as fair by iTech Labs. This means the result of every hand is randomly generated and completely fair.
  • SSL encryption is used to protect your personal and financial data each time you use any poker app or site. This encryption is further enhanced by password-protected accounts and, if you wish, 2-factor Authentication (2FA).
  • Bovada pays people to find faults with the software. The Bug Bounty program rewards you for testing the software and providing proof that something isn’t working properly.
  • Crypto payments are completely decentralized and encrypted, which means you can make safe deposits and withdrawals wherever you are in the world.

Bovada Poker Customer Service

Scroll to the bottom of the Bovada Poker lobby and you’ll find a link for the FAQs.

In addition to guides and answers to common questions, from Bovada bonuses to payout options, and the Bovada Poker login process. There are videos explaining how to get the most from your online experience too.

The lack of live support does impact Bovada’s customer service, but email responses only take 48 hours compared to the 72-hour average you get at a lot of poker sites.

Bovada’s customer support system is a community forum where users help each other.

Where is Bovada Poker Legal?

Bovada Poker is legal in the US, excluding the following states: NV, NJ, NY, MD, DE, MI, CO, WV, CT, and DC.

However, what’s important to note is that Bovada is located outside of the US. Meaning it doesn’t fall under the control of US gambling regulators or agencies in other countries.

Put simply, Bovada is legal and regulated by Curaçao eGaming. Bovada allows VPNs from virtually anywhere worldwide like Malaysia and Australia.

Also, because cryptocurrencies are universal and not tied to specific countries, you can make safe payments whenever you’re located.

Is Bovada Poker legit?

Yes, Bovada Online Poker has been operating legally in one form or another since 2004 and offers legit games to players in the US.

Bovada Poker vs Competitors

Here’s a brief overview of how Bovada compares to a couple of other top poker sites within the US.

Bovada vs BetOnline

New players at BetOnline have a greater welcome with a four-digit match deposit bonus, which is a huge plus for the competitor.

However, after this offer has been played through, you will find a lack of ongoing poker promotions.

Both BetOnline and Bovada sites provide their users with exciting features to enhance their poker playing. The quick seat tool at Bovada makes it easier to find an open seat and avoid sharks.

Bovada vs Ignition

These operators share the same poker network, meaning that their offerings will be identical.

The Bovada rakeback system and loyalty program which is points-based, whereas playing at Ignition requires a third-party rakeback site. You earn a generous 1.5-15 points per $1 paid in cash game fees, tournament fees, and jackpot SNG fees.

However, you will find more Ignition poker bonuses for poker players, starting with the 150% deposit match sign up offer. Full details are included in our Ignition poker review.

Playing At Bovada Poker: Tips and Tricks

You’ll give yourself the best shot at building a big bankroll on the site if you follow these five Bovada Poker review tips:

1. Bovada Bonuses
Claim as many Bovada Poker promo code offers as possible, including loyalty rewards. You can only do this once you’ve made a Bovada Poker login.

2. Freerolls
Enter Bovada Poker freerolls because they’re a risk-free way to win cash prizes.

3. Observe
Take notes on everyone who you play against and use these reads to exploit their weaknesses.

4. MTTs
Target MTTs with big guarantees because they often attract a lot of players, many of whom are weak.

5. Bankroll
Never play for stakes you can’t afford to lose and practice bankroll meaning, which means having at least 150 buy-ins for the games you’re playing.

Bovada Poker Review – Overall Verdict

To summarize, this Bovada Online Poker review has found the site to offer generous promotions, refined and user-friendly software, and plenty of safe payment options.

You will find plenty of Bovada Poker withdrawal options ranging from fiat to cryptocurrencies with instant transactions. Enter the Bovada poker deposit bonus code and claim the welcome bonus today.

What We Like

  • Bovada rake is lower than other poker sites
  • Strong loyalty rewards
  • $2 million in weekly MTT guarantees
  • Minimal Bovada withdrawal fees

What We Don’t Like

  • Lack of poker promotions
  • Low Bovada poker sign up bonus
Play Zone Poker
  • Good traffic on Jackpot Sit and Go tables
  • PWL network for opponents from around the world
  • Up to four tables at the same time on the mobile poker client
9.6
4.5 Stars

FAQs – Bovada Poker Review

Is Bovada Poker legal in the US?

Do I need a Bovada bonus code?

Is Bovada Poker rigged?

Does Bovada Poker have bots?

Is Bovada Poker down?

Are the cash games soft at Bovada Poker?

How much can you win at Bovada Online Poker?