Bovada Sportsbook Features
If you live in or around Sin City, you have plenty of sports betting opportunities. Nevada is one of only two states that the federal government allows to have regulated bookmaking. There are even online sportsbooks in ‘Vegas. This is fortunate for Nevada folks, but those of us that reside in other parts of the country have way fewer viable options. Bovada is one of these options, and thank god for them. Otherwise, most of us would be relegated to driving or flying to the Silver State every time we wanted to lay down a bill on a game.
Bovada is one of the most esteemed online bookmakers in the world. If you conduct an web-search for sportsbooks, this site will be on the top three hits. The reasons for this are many, but the fact that the site has been going strong for about two decades is one of them. Many online betting sites pop up and just as many shut down with the quickness. Some sites even manage to shine for a year or two before members realize that they aren’t all they are cracked up to be. Bovada hasn’t suffered this fate because the site is run by professionals that are just as passionate about sports betting as you are.
Whether you are just getting into the world of sports wagering, or you are an old hand looking for a reputable and safe bookmaker, Bovada will have you covered. The site hosts over 40 sports, including all professional and most college leagues from all over the US and abroad. It’s basically a pick your poison scenario once you’ve signed up, and the best thing is that it is free to join. This site allows you to experience everything great about wagering on games without the hassle of traveling, buying expensive drinks, or dealing with pit bosses.
Yes, Bovada functions as a legitimate, safe, and respected sportsbook. The site operates out of Canada, and has a certificate of good standing from the Canadian government, as well as a gaming license from the Kahnawake Gaming Commission. What this means is that this is a fully accredited institution that can function legally in its home country, and serve U.S. residents as well. The reason so many thousands of Americans are able to wager on their favorite teams is because of sites like Bovada.
Many American readers are probably aware that there is nary a sportsbook to be found in most states. This is because of a law called the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA), which outlaws bookmaking in all but to states in our nation. The places where you will find them are Nevada and, to a lesser extent, Delaware. PASPA only allowed for the states that had regulated sports betting at least ten years prior to it going through Senate. Since you basically must live in or near Nevada in order to put money on a game at a land-based venue, it’s such a great thing to have sites like Bovada around.
Learn More - Is Sports Betting Legal?
Bovada allows anyone over 18 in most states to join. The exceptions are New York, New Jersey, Nevada, Delaware, and Maryland. If you live anywhere else, there are other online books out there, just search around our site for reviews. Those that aren’t in those states can sign up at Bovada today. Keep in mind your state’s legal betting age however. Some states set it higher than 18, usually 21. If this is the case where you live, we recommend waiting until you are that old to join.
To take a ride on the sports betting train you have to first give yourself something to work with. Adding funds to your Bovada account allows you to have a stash of cash to wager with. The site gives you a few great ways to get this done, and each one is simple and fast. To start with, you can simply use your Visa, MasterCard, or American Express to make a credit/debit deposit. This is by far the quickest and most pain-free method. The site will charge a small processing fee between 3-5% depending on the card you use, which is a very small amount compared to other sites.
Another way to get your account going is by using a cash wire transfer via MoneyGram or Western Union. These take 2-3 days and the form can be completed online. There is a 4.9% fee for cash wires unless you request over $300. In this case they will waive the fee, which makes this a great option for large deposits. Contact Bovada customer support for more information on how to complete this transaction.
If you head to the cashier page at Bovada and look at the options that are available for withdrawing money, you will probably notice that credit/debit cards are not there. Don’t let this worry you, it’s only the symptom of a federal US law that if almost harmless. The Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA) of 2006 is a controversial law that was passed under the nose of congress when it was included in a completely unrelated bill that had to do with homeland security. No one in the senate had a chance to read it and it passed in the last minutes of session. Luckily, the only way this hotly debated law affects Bovada is by disallowing financial institutions on our shores from knowingly accepting funds from the site. This only means that Bovada will not offer credit/debit card withdrawals, but there are some excellent alternatives that will get you your money fast.
As far as payout methods go, you have some great options. You can go with a rapid transfer (western Union or MoneyGram), which takes less than two days. After you request the payout, you can pick your cash up at any store that offers cash wire services (most grocery stores and gas stations do this). You can request a minimum of $300 and a maximum of $5,000. The fees vary, and this method is best for larger payouts.
A great alternative to cash wires is a check in the mail. While this option does take a little longer, there are many perks to using it. The fact that you can request up to $3,000 per payout is nice, and the best part about checks is that Bovada offers one free payout per month. Paying no fees is almost unheard of in the online betting world, so this is a great reward for joining the best site out there.
You can also request a bank wire transfer at Bovada. This is only recommended for large payouts, as the fees are high. You can request up to $9,500 per week and they take about 5-10 business days to go through. Contact Bovada and have your bank wire information ready so they can give you the full instructions on how to complete this transaction.
One of the many perks of joining Bovada is that you get to indulge in some super sweet online sportsbook bonuses that will make you extra money. New players are in for a treat with the $250 sports welcome bonus, which will reward you for making your first deposit. Add over $50 to your account and Bovada will match it to 50%. There is a 5X rollover with this bonus, meaning you will need to bet the deposit amount plus the bonus amount five times before the extra cash becomes available. This is to protect the site from losers who sign up just to take the bonus and scram. If you’re planning to actually wager and use the sportsbook, you shouldn’t have a problem fulfilling the rollovers.
There are plenty of other bonuses to take advantage of at Bovada, such as the refer-a-friend reward that will match your referral’s deposit amount and add it to your account. There are also great bonuses for mobile and live betting, the casino, the poker room, and the racebook. This is a full-fledged wagering paradise, and they don’t cut any corners. Sign up today and you will never find a reason to regret it, I am sure of it.
Bovada has some of the best customer service in the business. You can call toll-free 24/7 to speak with a native English-speaking professional. The number is 1-888-263-0000. You can also email the site at service@Bovada.lv and they will usually respond within the hour. If you are a skype use, you can add them to your contacts to get in immediate touch and chat in real-time. You will never have a problem contacting the Bovada staff with any questions or concerns.
Everyone knows that phones are much more than just phones these days. Most of us have computers in our pockets that are more powerful than what most people had in their houses less than a decade ago and you can harness that power to play on the go. The Bovada sports betting site takes full advantage of all new technology, and the developers have worked their magic to give anyone with a device that connects to the internet the ability to access the entire site. You can head to the sportsbook, choose your game or games, and place all the wagers you want all from the palm of your hand.
If you aren’t sold yet, you might be expecting way too much out of an online Vegas-style sportsbook. It is obvious that Bovada beats out most of the competition, but we have barely scratched the surface of what is available for members. For one thing, this sportsbooks offers much more than just the big four leagues and college teams, you will also find exotic sports like darts, snooker, and cricket. You can even place bets on entertainment events and political contests. This also brings us to the wager types. You can simply play straight wagers, totals, and parlays, but feel free to delve deeper into special teasers, if-wins, reverses, and point buying.