Initially launched in 2011, Bovada Poker emerged as the US brand of Bodog. Over a short time, Bovada Poker became the top-performing U.S.-facing poker site operating on the Bodog Poker Network.

In August 2016, and Bovada announced it was closing its doors. The site transferred players to the sister site Ignition Poker, which also operated on the Bodog Poker Network. One year later, it relaunched its online poker gaming options and now operates on the Pai Wong Luo Network, which is the new version of the Bodog Poker Network.

Based in Costa Rica, the operator offers players a quality online poker gaming experience. The site is open to players in most U.S. states, Brazil, and Mexico. New members have access to quality software, great games, and secure payouts.

Poker newbies will find a guide on how to play, deposit and win prizes. The site makes it easy for beginners to get started and enjoy ring games or tournament action.

The platform can be played via mobile or desktop devices, with plenty of gaming options for all poker fans. Find classic games like Omaha and Texas Hold’em, along with unique variants for an all-around gaming experience.

Software and Games

Considered one of the best online poker platforms for many reasons, the brand offers quality software that runs smoothly with a large collection of gaming options. The user experience constantly improves, offering quick load times for all tables and straightforward controls. Players can easily access buttons and player indicators for seamless poker action.

Besides a desktop option, poker gaming is also available to mobile users. Players can utilize the free mobile site from a smartphone or tablet to play from anywhere. Mobile Poker makes it easy to play on the go or from the couch. Easily load ring games or tournaments from an iOS or Android device.

One unique feature of the software is the quick seat function. The platform offers quick seating to cash games in just two simple steps. This lets players skip any wait times and immediately get in on the action.

Players who enjoy social gaming will like the chat feature. Simple phrases and emojis within the platform can be used for quick chatting. You can also turn off the chat entirely or for a specific player who might be irritating or getting on your nerves.

Game Options

The gaming options are vast. One unique format at the site is known as Zone Poker. This type of poker gaming was created to reduce the time you wait regarding folded hands and newly dealt cards. As soon as you fold at a Zone Poker table, you will be redirected to a new table with new players.

The action continues until you fold again and are moved to a new table. This type of poker gaming cuts down on wait time and ensures you can get more hands in rather than waiting for other players to make decisions.

Players can access Hold’em, Omaha, and Omaha Hi/Lo variants with cash games. Easily select a game to play by choosing Cash or Zone poker plus the variant you wish to play. From there, you can select whether you want to play no limit, pot limit, or fixed limit with six or nine players.

Poker Action

When it comes to poker action, Bovada is pretty busy. You should be able to find cash games or tournament action at any time. Of course, peak times will be busier, so your best bet for full action would be in the evenings or on the weekends.

As far as the stake is concerned, limits vary for low to medium rollers. Players can start with a low stake of $0.02/$0.05 and go as high as $10/$20. The top end is not very high, which may be discouraging for high rollers.

Tournament Play

If you are into tournament action, there are several options. The site includes Jackpot Sit & Go and regular Sit & Go tournaments. Jackpot SNGs offers three-player gaming. You register to complete and wait for the table to fill up. You can select buy-ins of $0.50, $2, $7, $20, $60, or $10. Each buy-in offers up to a certain amount in prize money, with as much as $120,000 offered for the top buy-in.

You never know what jackpot will be up for grabs until you start playing. It’s a neat concept and a fun way to enjoy tournament options. Select the standard SNG option if you want to skip the jackpot element but still play in this type of tournament.

Players can narrow their options with several factors for traditional tournament gaming. You can select regular, knockout, guaranteed, specials, or other types of events along with game types like Hold’em and Omaha. You can also select the limit type and buy-in amount.

Examples of tournaments:

• Knockout
• Jackpot SNG
• $100,000 guaranteed
• $150,000 guaranteed
• Multi-table tournaments
• Hyper Turbo
• Super Turbo
• Super Knockout
• $75,000 guaranteed
• Black Diamond Poker Open
• Golden Spade Poker Open

Easily select a tournament to take part in after joining. There are plenty of options with various types and buy-ins for every player.

Bonuses and Promotions

Bovada Poker also offers bonuses and promotions regularly. The site features a welcome offer for new members that comes complete with a 100% match offer. You deposit, and the site will match your funds up to a certain amount. The deal allows players to add more funds to their bankroll upon joining.

How to claim a bonus

• Sign up for a new player account
• Visit the cashier and redeem the bonus code provided and make your first deposit.
• Unlock the bonus and play poker to begin earning Poker Rewards.
• Once you earn enough rewards, it unlocks your bonus cash.

Speaking of Rewards Points, this is the portion of the loyalty program. Every time you play poker, you earn points. You start with the first loyalty level and move up as you play. You can also earn points by visiting the sportsbook and casino of the brand.

A certain number of reward points are earned for gameplay at Bovada. Once you earn enough points, you can redeem them for cash bonuses. Exchange all or as much as you want to from your account. The site considers your lifetime points, so the status you earn continues to increase, even if you spend reward points.

Move up tiers within the rewards program and unlock exclusive payment options and other incentives.

Banking and Customer Service

You need access to banking methods to play online poker for real money. Players have several selections to easily deposit and remove funds. The available deposit methods vary, but you should find an option that works for you.

Deposit Methods Include:

• MatchPay
• Bitcoin
• Litecoin
• Voucher
• Bitcoin Cash
• Zelle
• Visa, MasterCard, American Express

Please note that some deposit methods, such as credit cards charge high fees. Speak to your card issuer to know if such fees exist before transferring funds.

Withdrawal Methods Include:

• Bitcoin
• Bitcoin Cash
• Bitcoin SV
• Litecoin
• Ethereum
• USD Tether
• Check by Courier
• Bank Wire
• Vouchers

The method of withdrawal you can use may depend on what you use for the deposit. Speak to support to see which methods must be used for both options. As you increase your loyalty level status, more options for withdrawal may be open to you.

Pitfalls

• No mobile app is available.
• Unique variants like Stud, Pineapple, and H.O.R.S.E. are missing.
• High rollers may find max betting amounts lacking.
• The site is limited to the U.S., Mexico, and Brazil.

The Final Word

With many years of poker operations, Bovada has long been a trusted brand in the iGaming community. Poker players rely on the secure gaming options offered with plenty of choices for cash and tournament gaming. New players can learn the ropes by utilizing the poker gaming guides offered by Bovada, easily learning how the site works and how to deposit and play online.

Overall, this operator offers a solid poker platform that has served players well for many years. Creating a new account is easy, and players will find a large collection of gaming options, from SNGs to Zone Poker and guaranteed tournaments.