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Bovada Poker: Real Players’ Test & Honest Review (2024)

Maria Miteva Author Maria Miteva
Rumen Morfov
Approved by Rumen Morfov
Updated:
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5 related articles read

20 hours of testing

3 brand comparisons

2 edits by in-house experts

Bovada is a US poker site that, in conjunction with Bovada.lv casino, offers a variety of real money cash games, and poker tournaments. Operated by Harp Media B.V., this Bovada Poker review will explore the various poker games and betting apps that Bovada offers. Read on to see what 2 of our authors discovered when they tested it and collaborated to write the ultimate Bovada online poker guide.

Key Takeaways:

  • Bovada Poker has a reputation for being a soft traffic poker site with a large number of amateur players.
  • They offers a large selection of Texas Hold’em, Omaha, and Omaha Hi/Lo games.
  • Bovada has completely anonymous games and has the highest rated traffic per capita in the U.S.
  • Features multiple tournament types including single table, multi table, qualifiers, and knockouts.
Maria Miteva, Betting Expert & Writer for SilentBet
Picture of Maria Miteva
I have played thousands of hands of poker online over the last 6 years. The software at Bovada is easy to use, and the traffic numbers are comparable to other poker sites I have tried.
Katerina Gadzheva, Betting Expert & Writer for SilentBet
Picture of Katerina Gadzheva
I personally played a total of 20 hours on the poker platform here. My test shows Bovada poker is perfect for novice players and seasoned experts like me. I helped review all games, rakebacks and other poker goodies here.

What is Bovada Poker?

poker section bovada

Bovada Poker Room is a popular online poker room that is predominantly focused on the U.S. market. Established in 2011, Bovada Online Poker is known for its soft games, reliable software, and player-friendly policies that appeal to recreation and non-recreational players alike.


Bovada Poker at a Glance

Based on my experience, Bovada poker mobile has everything you could ask for and then some. With multiple variants of poker, Bovada features a wide variety of player-friendly options. As you can see below, they include:

SoftwareGamesTournamentsSoft GamesRabbit HuntingAnonymous Tables
PWL Texas Hold’em ScheduledYesYesYes
Omaha Hi/Lo Jackpot S&G’s
Omaha Sit & Go
Maria Miteva, Betting Expert & Writer for SilentBet
Picture of Maria Miteva
I have played thousands of hands of poker online. The software at Bovada is easy to use, the games are soft and the PWL software operates efficiently.

Pros & Cons

  • Accepts US players
  • iOS, Android, Mac, and Windows compatible
  • Loads of soft games
  • Traffic volumes are high
  • Multi-tabling capped at 4 tables

Does Bovada Offer an App for Online Poker?

bovada poker mobile app

No, Bovada does not have an app for online poker. However, they do offer a Bovada mobile web shortcut and blackjack app that can be downloaded to your iOS device. Likewise, Bovada Poker (check it on App Store -> here) offers a downloadable poker app that is compatible with Mac and Windows operating systems.

How to Download the Bovada Poker App?

Unlike some Bovada Poker reviews suggest, Bovada mobile poker does not offer a downloadable poker app for Android or iOS. However, desktop users are free to download the poker software client by following the instructions on how to download the poker app below:

  1. Navigate to Bovada and click “Join” to create an account.
  2. Click “Download Poker” in the navigational menu at the top of the site.
  3. Select “Download for Mac” or “Download for Windows”.
  4. After downloading, run the “Installer”.
  5. Open the poker client and start playing.

How to Use the App?

  1. Open the Bovada poker app.
  2. Log in to your online poker account.
  3. Navigate to the “Cashier” to fund your account.
  4. Select a poker variant to play (Cash game, tournament, sit’ n go, etc).
  5. Chose your preferred table limits.
  6. Start playing.
Maria Miteva, Betting Expert & Writer for SilentBet
Picture of Maria Miteva
I downloaded the poker mobile app to my desktop and found it remarkably easy to use. It took me no time to log in, preview the table limits, choose a cash game and take a seat.

Is Bovada Poker Legit?

Yes, Bovada is operated by Harp Media B.V., a company that is licensed by Curacao eGaming. Subsequently, it adheres to operational policies through its gaming license. This includes using state-of-the-art protection software to ensure Bovada and its customers are never compromised. It also includes other protective measures such as SSL encryption software.


How Many Poker Games Are There?

Similar to other poker sites, Bovada features a variety of poker games. Along with Texas Hold’em, Omaha, and Omaha Hi/Lo cash games, Bovada offers cash games, Bovada includes anonymous tables for each genre and Speed Poker, which is aptly named Zone Poker.

Cash Games

Cash games are available in each of the variants mentioned above. As expected, stakes range from As expected, stakes range from $0.02/$0.05 to $10/$20..02/As expected, stakes range from $0.02/$0.05 to $10/$20..05 to /. This applies to both no limit cash games, pot limit, and fixed limit cash games. In addition, players can choose to play on 6 and 9 seater tables.

Anonymous Tables

Bovada’s anonymous tables are a unique feature that assigns players a number versus a screen name. The concept allows you to start with a clean slate every time you take a seat at one of the tables by creating an equal playing field for everyone and as a way to prevent players from taking notes to give them an advantage.


What Are the Bovada Poker Tournaments?

There are daily, weekly and monthly tournaments for pro players you can take part in. The most popular are:

Sit & Go Tournaments

bovada poker tournament sit and go

With buy-ins ranging from $1 to $200, players can choose to play single table, multi table, knockout, and super turbo sit & go’s. Available for Texas Hold’em, Omaha Hi, and Omaha Hi/Lo, Bovada offers the option for players to choose between 2 player, 6 player and 9 player SNG’s

Jackpot Sit & Go Tournaments

Jackpot Sit & Go tournaments offer the unique opportunity to compete for the opportunity to win a jackpot. With prize amounts unknown until the game begins, buy-ins range from With prize amounts unknown until the game begins, buy-ins range from $0.50 up to $100, and each game is limited to 3 entrants.

Scheduled Tournaments

Based on my experience, poker players will not be disappointed by the diversity of tourneys offered at Bovada. They include regular tournaments, knockout tourneys, guaranteed prize pools tourneys, satellites, specials, and mad Monday tourneys. Buy ins range from Buy ins range from $0.40 to $1,000.

Maria Miteva, Betting Expert & Writer for SilentBet
Picture of Maria Miteva
I love the diverse range of tournaments that are offered by the operator. Personally, I find the scheduled tourneys offer the best action, although the sit & go tourneys can be quite lucrative.

What Poker Bonuses Are There?

Promotional, Bovada may not be overly generous, but during our investigation, we came across several Bovada bonus offers for US you can check here. What we discovered was that not all offers require Bovada Poker bonus codes. However, as you can see below, a coupon is required.

Welcome bonus

bovada poker welcome bonus

The deposit match for new players will generously award a 100% up to $500. To qualify for this offer, US players will need to deposit or more and use promo code PW500.

Mad Monday Tournaments – $125,000 GTD Main Event

Mad Monday tournaments are a time-sensitive promotional offer. With 16 events to choose from, qualifiers start on January 8th, and Mad Monday tourneys start on the 15th, players who buy in or secure their seats can compete for over $1,000,000 guaranteed Mad Monday Events.


Web Version or Poker Client: Which is Better?

One of the unique features that we noticed while comparing and contrasting Bovada’s web version versus their poker client is that neither is better than the other. Essentially, it comes down to personal preference as Boavada’s web version is only accessible via your mobile and the poker client is accessible from your desktop.

On the plus side, the web version is suitable for players who want immediate access without having to download and install the poker client to their computers. Whereas the poker client is suitable for those who prefer to play on their desktop.

Either or, both versions offer you unadulterated access to the same tournaments and cash games, sit & go’s, and tournaments. Both offer the same account and navigational features. Likewise, both offer the same account features, navigational features, table settings, and display options.


Can I Play Poker with Bitcoin Here?

No, you can only play poker at Bovada in USD. However, as the Bovada.lv poker platform operates as a crypto poker betting platform, you can fund your account with Bitcoin and other cryptos such as Ethereum, USDT, Litecoin, and Bitcoin Cash. All deposits are processed instantly, while withdrawal transactions are processed in 24 hours or less.

Payment Method Deposit Minimum Deposit Maximum Time for Deposit Minimum Withdrawal Withdrawal Maximum Time for Withdrawal 
Visa Logo Visa$20$1500Instant
MasterCard Logo MasterCard$20$1500Instant
Bitcoin Logo Bitcoin$10$5000Instant$10$950015 minutes
BitcoinCash Logo BitcoinCash$10$5000Instant$10$250015 minutes
Bitcoin SV Logo Bitcoin SV$10$5000Instant$10$950015 minutes
Voucher Logo Voucher$10$3000Instant$10$3000Instant
Check by Courier Logo Check by Courier$100$300010-15 days
Litecoin Logo Litecoin$10$5000Instant$10$250015 minutes
Ethereum Logo Ethereum$50$5000Instant$50$250015 minutes
Tether Logo Tether$5$5000Instant$50$250015 minutes
Direct Bank Transfer Logo Direct Bank Transfer$50$450Instant
Player Transfer Logo Player Transfer$10$15,000Instant
MatchPay Logo MatchPay$20$1000Instant$10$3000Instant
Bank Wire Transfer Logo Bank Wire Transfer$1500$950010-15 days

The Bottom Line: Silentbet’s Take

Given Bovada’s stability and overall operational experience, we believe it is one of the better options for players from the U.S. While some view the site negatively, the overall impression is positive.

Resultantly, whether you prefer cash games, tournaments or sit & go’s. Bovada is an excellent choice given the options American players have at their disposal.

Maria Miteva, Betting Expert & Writer for SilentBet
Picture of Maria Miteva
Based on our collective experiences, my co-author and I were impressed by the operational stability and games offered by Bovada. The network performed well and its game availability is suitable for novice and experienced players alike.
Katerina Gadzheva, Betting Expert & Writer for SilentBet
Picture of Katerina Gadzheva
I enjoy playing at Bovada Poker. They offer a user-friendly platform with a diverse player pool, providing an engaging online experience for both beginners and seasoned players.

FAQs

Is Bovada Poker rigged?

No, the poker client is not rigged, nor are outcomes generated by bots.

Why is the Bovada Poker download not working?

The most likely reason it is not working is due to system maintenance or software upgrades.

How much is the Bovada Poker rake?

The amount Bovada charges for rake is dependent on the stake amount. For low limit tables, the max rake per hand is $0.02/$0.04, while for high limits, the max rake is .$4.00.

What needs improvement on the poker client?

For the most part, Bovada’s poker client operates flawlessly. However, modernizing the poker client would go a long way to making it more appealing.

What makes Bovada online poker unique?

Mostly, what makes Bovada online poker unique is its tabling options, anonymous tables, and low rake fees.

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    Author: Maria Miteva
    Maria Miteva
    Maria is an advocate of responsible gambling. Her reviews and articles are well-researched pieces of quality content.
    Katerina Gadzheva
    Katerina has 10+ years of experience in iGaming. She has been a player long before that. Using her skills as a content writer and first-hand knowledge of the online gambling industry, she reviews and compares online casinos for Silentbet.