BetOnline vs Bovada Comparison
Page Last Updated: May 29, 2020
BetOnline and Bovada are two of the giants when it comes to US sports betting. In this article I have compared and contrasted these sportsbooks on several key criteria.
You’ll find a head-to head analysis on the presentation, bonus offers, number of sports and bets covered (and the competitiveness of the lines), other gambling types offered and payment processing. By the end of this page you’ll be able to make a decision on which is the best sportsbook based on which factors are most important to your particular needs.
Look, Feel and Presentation
Entering both of the sites, you’ll find that they share a similar slick black theme. Even the homepages are similar, with a good mix of promotions and links to fresh markets. The BetOnline sports book takes you straight to the popular markets of the day, with an information filled page, detailing several of the latest lines.
The Bovada sports book also shows you the most popular markets, however there are less on show here, and the page is a little more spacious. Both sites are very user friendly and navigation from market to market is quick and easy.
Winner: Draw
Bonuses and Promotions
When you first sign up to Bovada you’ll be offered a 50% welcome bonus up to $250 in the form of a free bet. BetOnline have a slightly different approach in offering a 50% deposit bonus up to $1,000, however their is also a 25% (up to $1,000) reload bonus for every single deposit for as long as you stick with their sportsbook.
Both sites offer a rebate for horse racing betting. Bovada give 5% back to their customers every Tuesday and BetOnline give 7% back to online bettors on a daily basis (telephone bets receive a 4% rebate). BetOnline also offer a $25 risk free bet for the first horse racing wager.
Here’s a cheat sheet for their bonuses:
- 50% to $250 on FIRST deposit
- Cash Bonus
- 5x rollover
- No expiration to earn bonus
- immediately available for wagering (within 30 min)
- If you make a payout request before bonus is earned, you forfeit your bonus PLUS any money won by wagering the bonus.
- 50% to $1000 on FIRST deposit + 25% up to $1000 on additional deposits
- Free Play Bonus
- 10x rollover
- Free Plays expire in 30 days and will disappear from your account.
- No withdrawals for 30 days after claiming a bonus
Obviously Bovada is better for the average sports bettor. If you plan on placing a lot of bets and wagering a good amount, BetOnline will be better for you.
Winner: Bovada
The Sportsbook and Line Pricing
Both sites offer a very wide range of sports, with all the popular sports covered comprehensively. The NFL, Baseball, Basketball and Hockey are the four sports that have the most markets.
Both sites feature a good range of horse racing, however Bovada edge this area with more meetings on offer. Both sites also offer books for many other sports, and it is hard to split them here – although Bovada are the only site of the two to have an entertainment section.
The two sites are both renowned for competitive pricing, with BetOnline just about ahead when it comes to odds offered – but this has to be countered by the larger range of bets offered at Bovada.
Winner: BetOnline
Poker and Casino
Both sites have a poker section, and Bovada has recently become the #1 US poker site. They also offer a 100% deposit bonus of up to $500 for newcomers to poker. Although smaller, the BetOnline poker site is also rapidly on the rise and a 100% sign up bonus up to a massive $1,000 is available which is paid in $10 increments.
The Bovada casino is particularly eye catching, and a welcome bonus of 100% up to $3000 makes it even better. The extensive range of games, and their huge progressive bonuses, makes this a casino that is hard to ignore. The BetOnline casino is not quite so large and takes a different approach to bonuses, with a 25% reload bonus on every deposit, as well as a 100% slots bonus. One part of the BetOnline casino that earns particular praise is the live casino offering – where you’ll be able to play Blackjack, Baccarat and Roulette hosted by a real dealer.
Winner: Bovada
Deposits and Withdrawal Time and Fees
This is an area where both sites sit at the top of the industry, both in terms of range of payments (which include ALL credit cards) and for speed. Both sites offer free (no fees!) deposits and are really pushing the bitcoin option – which we also recommend for fast and easy ways to send & receive money. For Bovada payouts you can also get a check (slow). BetOnline and Bovada both offer 1 free payout monthly. Bovada give each player a $50 voucher which covers one payout monthly. With BetOnline you can receive two free check payouts per month.
If you still haven’t looked into bitcoin for moving money to and from sportsbooks, now is the time. Gambling and bitcoin go very well together.
Sept 2018 Update: BetOnline is now offering many more options over Bovada including MoneyGram and wire transfers. Payout speeds are still comparable with a slight edge going to BetOnline for check speed. I believe Bovada is trying to move everything to Bitcoin (where payouts are always completed within 24 hours) since they now only have 2 options. Bitcoin is a very fast, private and inexpensive way to move $$, so it makes since.. but there is a learning curve for people new to bitcoin.
But, Who is the Overall Winner?
It’s a tough choice, as both offer a great service and each has its own area where they are particularly strong.
For sheer range of bets, Bovada has the edge – however you can find slightly better prices at BetOnline. In terms of promotions, BetOnline probably edge it on the sports book, but Bovada have bigger casino and poker offerings. The only way to really find out the right site for you is to give them a go and find out. The only negative we see for Bovada is there limited deposit/payout options.
Our Choice: Bovada!
To read our comprehensive BetOnline review go here or take advantage of their Bonus For Life right here.
Read our more comprehensive Bovada review or sign up now to take advantage of a 50% deposit bonus with a free bet up to $500 here.
Agreed. Wow. And here I thought I was going insane. I noticed I was getting very bad cards with my blackjack hands, but come on. Literally 21 after 21 consecutively and by the time it even somewhat looked like a back and forth bj game and it was no besting it. . If you can get the dealer below a 20 I’d be amazed. Also. I spun four times on three different games. Zero payout. Come on. Zero? On every single spin? That’s impossible. At least maybe .01, on Thunderbird and Poseidon and some cash cow game. . But yes. Literally zero amount and I spun them to show the customer service representative how ludicrous it was to receive absolute zero on four spins on 3 different games. Honestly. I said that will be the last deposit at Bovada. The rep was friendly but he treated me as a gambling lunatic. Imagine my frustration. Being seen as a gambling lunatic and there after spoken to as a child. A gambling lunatc chils.. Not a great combo. Well thanks, but my overall mental and intellectual capacities for thinking critically as well as commonly are fully intact and functional. I teach pathophysiology and pharmacology. So I’m not an idiot. It was just plain obvious and ludicrous how the consecutive 21s hammered as I smugly shook my head.
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Bovada’s blackjack is totally rigged, with the dealer hitting blackjack about 90 percent of the time compared to the player. This difference is even more noticeable if your cash account drops below a certain amount. Please do not play blackjack on Bovada!!!
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bovada screws you a half a point on most favorites on any sports, always.. betonline stays true to the lines
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thanks for good comparison. very helpful
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