BODOG’s roots go back to 1994. They were one of the pioneers of online gambling and have made quite the name for themselves internationally. Today, BODOG does most of their business in Canadian online betting markets where it is extremely popular.
BODOG currently operates in many different countries worldwide but does not accept residents from the United Kingdom or the United States. They have a strong presence and are plenty active in Asian markets, where they operate under BODOG Asia.
BODOG is licensed and regulated by the government of Antigua under the Directorate of Offshore Gaming. They have offices there but also have a presence in the Philippines. In addition to sports betting, they have an online poker room and a casino.
Enter the world of BODOG Sportsbook
Live betting at BODOG is one of their finest areas. Their live betting menu and interface is easily the best part of their upgrade. Their markets have expanded, and go far beyond adjusted sides, totals, and money lines. Each sport has a large list of player and team props that refresh during stoppages.
Due to customers recent focus on Asian markets, BODOG offers a lot in that area, including Japanese baseball and soccer and other sports. They also have odds on nearly every soccer game when it comes to pre-match and live betting.
BODOG’s recreational focus provides players with excellent prices on underdogs across the board, particularly when it comes to large market sports, such as the NFL. No matter which line set you’re utilizing, there should be plenty of +EV spots available.
Though their betting limits are some of the lowest online, they are still one of the most attractive shops for beginner to intermediate sports bettors. As far as sides go, the maximum bet on NFL and NCAA football is capped at $2,000. The NBA comes in second at $1,000. NCAA Basketball has $500 across the board for all markets. Money-line odds on NHL and MLB are capped at $1,000.
Though BODOG does have lower limits than most on sides and totals, their props across the board have a $500 maximum bet. This is fairly significant, especially considering how soft their prop markets are compared to other sites.
BODOG is firmly in the recreational sportsbook category. Their betting limits are quite small compared to many other international sportsbooks and fractional compared to the bookmakers that service Irish and UK betting markets. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing though, because it allows for some soft pricing. However, if you’re looking for a bookmaker that allows you to wager five figures on sides and totals, BODOG is not for you.
Both BODOG and Bovada, do an excellent job of extracting the maximum from recreational bettors or squares, and limit sharp players quickly. This is good business for BODOG, but not ideal for professional gamblers.
Promotions and Bonuses
BODOG’s bonus is one of their best attributes. Freeplay bonuses are getting rarer and rarer these days, particularly ones that go above $100. BODOG provides all new players with a 100% first deposit bonus up to $200.
The bonus is only available on the first deposit, with no exceptions. The sports bonus can be used in the sportsbook, casino, or racebook. There is a separate bonus for BODOG’s online poker offering. There is no code or special instructions, simply deposit and the bonus will be credited within 30 minutes.
The bonus comes with a 5x rollover, which includes the amount deposited and the freeplay amount. A 5x rollover isn’t ideal but is certainly still competitive with other bonus offers. It helps when the maximum bonus is $200 as well. The offer only slightly differs from Bovada, where Americans will receive a 50% bonus up to $250 on their first deposit. Nonetheless the rollover is identical.
Support, Banking & Security
Their support staff is truly one of the best online. They’re available 24/7 hours a day, 365 days a year. Although they do not offer live chat, they do have phone and email support. Customer service and speed is an asset in all mediums.
As far as cashier options, they’re pretty limited, but it makes strategic sense due to the regions they currently service. BODOG no longer accepts any e-wallets, most likely because Neteller and Skrill both left Canadian online gambling markets.
BODOG takes deposits through Bitcoin, debit and credit card, and e-cheques. All methods are free to deposit. Credit or debit cards may charge players a fee for international transactions, but that’s the card company and not a surcharge by BODOG.
Currently, their only withdrawal options are Bitcoin and cheque. Both are free of charge to players. Bitcoin withdrawals are processed in about 48 hours. This is slower than some sites, specifically those that are Bitcoin-only betting sites, but is still decent for a site that deals in both fiat-currency and crypto-currency. BODOG is a new adapter as well, so it’s very likely their speeds improve with time.
Cheques have consistently without fail been processed within two weeks at BODOG. Occasionally, their speeds are under a week and sometimes just a few days. As far as operating in grey markets, BODOG and Bovada have been one of the fastest and most consistent sites for over a decade.
BODOG is truly an exciting sportsbook, and much loved. Without doubt, a company that has their offices raided, but has little or no slowdown when it comes to payment processing is an operator that deserves to be trusted. Bovada’s policies and ruling always seem to favour players. As far as actually caring about customers and their bankrolls, BODOG might be the best gambling site online.
Pros & Cons
Pros:
Experience and longevity in the industry.
Consistently one of the fastest sites with payment processing.
Competitive odds and low bonus rollover.
Cons:
Debit and credit card processing comes with a fee.
They don't accept Americans, but U.S. residents can play on Bovada.lv.
