Bovada Sportsbook Soccer Review

Bovada SportsbookCreated exclusively for USA players, Bovada is widely regarded as one of the leading US friendly sportsbooks on the market and they have been going from strength to strength since the operator launched in 2011. Bovada is the natural successor for the world-famous Bodog brand, and as such it was always destined for success, but we are obviously glad to see that the initial expectations have been met. Licensed by the Kahnawake Gaming Commission, the sportsbook boasts a very good reputation in the online gaming industry, and you will be glad to hear that they also accept Bitcoin payments.

Markets and Odds

As expected, Bovada is oriented towards US customers, quoting competitive odds on popular competitions such as NBA, NFL, MLB, NHL and College football, but their customers can also place bets on top soccer leagues, including Champions League, Premier League and Major League Soccer.

While standard US betting options Spread, Moneyline and Total are on offer, Bovada creates around 80 additional markets for big matches, divided into Alternate Lines, Game Props and Player Props. Bear in mind that all prices are shown in American format, so you will probably have to use an odds converter if you are used to fractional or decimal odds and they do consistently offer high prices on the underdogs, which will appeal to many US soccer bettors.

Soccer betting at Bovada has increased dramatically over the last year and as well as being able to place pre match wagers you're also provided with Bovada live soccer betting, with all European Champions League games, English Premier League, Spanish La Liga games and so much more all available for in play betting.

Bonuses and Promotions

Bovada has a nice welcome bonus in place for all new customers, giving 50% extra on their first deposit up to a maximum of $250. The good news is that the bonus amount can be used to place bets in Sports, Horses and Casino sections, although bear in mind that the wagering requirement (deposit + bonus) is just 5x for Sports and Horses wagers, but 30x for Casino bets.

If you have friends who are also interested in betting online, you can refer them to Bovada and earn a 200% of the value for their first deposit up to $100. We should probably let you know that the US operator offers a $3,000 Casino Welcome Bonus, just in case you need a break from sportsbook action.

Banking Options

Some punters will be disappointed to hear that deposits at Bovada can only be made using Visa, MasterCard and Bitcoin, and while there are no fees on your first payment to the sportsbook, all subsequent deposits will incur 4.9% (Visa) or 6.9% (MasterCard) fees, which is way too much in our opinion. However, considering that there are no charges involved when making Bitcoin deposits, it is highly recommended that you use the famous digital currency whenever possible.

When it comes to cashouts, this is how things stand. Bitcoin withdrawals can only be processed once every five days, and the amount can range from $20 to $9,500. On the other hand, you can request one Check by Courier cashout in seven days, cashing out anywhere from $50 to $3,000. Bitcoin transactions are lightning fast and once they are approved, the money should be in your account within hours.

Customer Service

The website features a decent Frequently Asked Questions section that could help in times of trouble, but if you still need to contact the customer care agents personally, you can do so either by phone (1-888-263-0000) or via a contact form on the site. We would have liked to see additional methods offered such as live chat or Skype, so this is one section where Bovada fails to impress.

Conclusion

Operated by the highly successful Bodog brand, Bovada has quickly emerged as one of the leading gaming operators for US players, and their sportsbook is up there with the best of them. Featuring an excellent coverage of major North American sports, but also European football, basketball and tennis, Bovada can clearly cater for players with different interests. While the website boasts excellent reputation and decent customer service team, the poor choice of banking options is likely to prove an issue, although it has to be noted that Bitcoins deposits and cashours are supported and usually take just a couple of hours. All things considered, Bodog definitely gets our seal of approval.