1. Bodogeu
2. Bodog.com
3. Bodog Betting
4. Bodog Fight
5. Bodog Betting

Bodog even got itself into mixed martial arts (MMA), TV shows and record labels. Right until today, the legacy of Calvin Ayre remains a unique example of online entrepreneurship. Bodog remains as one of the biggest names within the entertainment and online gaming industry. At Bodog, experience the thrill of world-class gaming at its pulse-pumping finest. Turn up the adrenaline. Bodog offers help which is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week via telephone and e-mail. They also offer a toll-free phone which is available in the USA and UK. Bodog Online Casino Promotions. Bodog Entertainment. Founded in 1994 by Calvin Ayre, Bodog Entertainment group is the casino iGaming brand that manages its flagship site, Bodog, and is also strongly affiliated with the US-based property, Bovada. The group’s online portal originally begun as a poker room but has over the years incorporated a variety of 3rd party.

What do you get when you cross one of the online gambling industry’s biggest egos with a shady beginning and a name that doesn’t mean anything?

You get the makings of a story that is fit for a Netflix series.

For now, you get the history of the Bodog group of companies.

We are going to try to dissect how this site came from nothing to be one of the most recognized names in the world, with loads of controversy along the way.

The Early Days

The early days of Bodog can be a bit confusing, so we’ll try to take it slow for you. In 1997, a company called Cyberroad went public to raise money for an online gambling company. This company would use its software to power many sportsbooks, including TheBigBook.com, mayansports.com and grandprixsports.com.

The company’s unique take on sports betting was that all their licensees used a company called ebanx in order to process payments; this was a huge step up from the cash accounting that was taking place in the United States.

Around 2000, Cyberroad was in financial trouble and was ultimately sold to a company called El Moro Finance out of the British Virgin Islands. At that point, a subsidiary of that company was created called ESportz. They were based in Costa Rica (an up and coming hotbed of online sportsbook activity) and were set up to try to bring on new licensees.

When the sale was complete, The Big Book took over Grand Prix and continued to use the Esportz software. Mayan Sports, however, decided this was the time to move on, and they switched providers.

Strangely, the Mayan Sports database received an email introducing them to a new site, Bodog, and offered them a chance to have an account there. In fact, rumor had it that the Bodog introduction included information that the players already had accounts opened and waiting for them.

The Mayan ownership was rightfully pissed, but as they themselves did not have the most reputable history in the business, it was going to be hard to win this battle against a company they had never heard of before.

Ok, are you with us so far?

So, you can imagine that players were initially confused by the invitation to Bodog, but the blog posts and information coming from their representative, Cole Turner, was appealing.

The company was setting a new bar for the sports betting public. It was clear that this company was trying to make a lifestyle out of online gambling. However, after a while it seemed that ego took over, and it was revealed that Cole Turner was actually Bodog founder Calvin Ayre.

While this alone may not have caused many waves, people started to put two and two together, and it was looking increasingly bad for Ayre. Ayre had been involved at Cyberroad as a client and denied having anything to do with ebanx.

However, given that he had been involved with Cyberroad, then took it over and started Esportz and Bodog once it failed, you can imagine how upset the original investors were. Add in the Mayan Sports claims of having their database stolen by Bodog, and it all seemed to be a bit fishy.

We have a full bio of Calvin Ayre which you can read here:

However, for the purposes of the history of Bodog, it is essential that you know a little bit about the man. Born the son of pig farmers in western Canada, Ayre had already seen his fair share of trouble with the law before getting into the online gambling business.

He had been seen as a conspirator in a huge marijuana smuggling operation his father was found guilty of running in 1987 (Ayre himself was never charged). Then, in 1991, he again found himself in trouble with the law; this time it was the securities commission in Canada which charged him with insider trading in regards to stocks on the Vancouver stock exchange.

He agreed to a settlement in the case, but was still banned from trading. All this led to his getting into the online gambling business. More on Ayre to come.

When Bodog launched, they shared an office with The Big Book. This only made sense as the two companies were using the same software platform, and that allowed the companies to make use of the economies of scale.

However, this ended up being more controversial than anyone could have imagined, as one of the employees was found to be embezzling significant amounts of funds in an attempt to start a competing company and steal their clients.

Luckily for Bodog, this attempt was sniffed out and, with the help of an anonymous forum post outlining all of the details (supposedly written by Ayre himself), the employee was arrested and charged.

The Bodog/Big Book Partnership dissolved in 2003, leaving Bodog as the only operator using the ESportz platform.

With all of this controversy seemingly behind them, it was time to focus on growing the company and the Bodog brand. The company had seen a lot of press from within the industry as a result of all of these salacious stories, and they looked to capitalize on this by really focusing on the brand as opposed to the product.

The name Bodog is intriguing in itself. Over the years, Ayre has explained in detail how he came up with the name—scientifically determining the factors necessary to create a household brand name. This included a study on the number of syllables, the type of sounds and what kind of word would be the most resonant.

The next step for the company was to expand their product line. In 2004, they made a splash by launching a poker site. They did this at their Sports betting conference, which they organized for Las Vegas.

This was where most of the gambling industry first saw the Bodog party machine in full effect; renting out a nightclub in Las Vegas and filling it with sports celebrities and scantily-clad women would be a signature move of Bodog’s in the coming years.

The poker site was quick to sign some well-known names to be their poker ambassadors, and they were soon found on many televised poker programs broadcasted around the world.

The next two years were arguably the best for Bodog when it came to growth and exposure, but ultimately may have caused a lot more pain for them in the long term. In 2005, the company once again ran its Poker and Sports Marketing Conference, this time attracting well over 1,000 attendees.

The Bodog compound was being built in Costa Rica, and it was there that many of the lavish parties that made Bodog famous were held. In fact, the party scenes in the movie Runner Runner were modeled after the famous Bodog parties.

Not satisfied with plastering the Bodog name all over the gambling world, Ayre turned his attention to building the Bodog brand (along with his own personal exposure). Bodog used their huge gaming success to foray into several businesses, including a music label (Bodog Music), an MMA fighting company (Bodog Fight) and their own take on football (Bodog Lingerie Bowl).

All of these new ventures included a couple of consistent characteristics: the Bodog brand, which was all over each of the companies, and the face of their legendary Founder, Calvin Ayre.

Ayre’s ego was now at an all-time high; there wasn’t a picture of him without at least a couple of Bodog beauties draped all over him, and the man wanted to be at the center of all the publicity around his companies. This resulted in a reality-style show being developed, which was poker based in essence, but showed off Ayre buying luxurious items in cash around the world.

The online gambling industry had a playboy, and while he wasn’t shy about it, it did make him (and Bodog) a moving target.

Yes, Bodog is legitimate. It is not a scam because winners receive their payments without a problem, and also it is managed by a reputable company and licensed by a legal authority.

But does Bodog cheat its players? It is worth playing at the casino site? Continue reading…

Bodog says it isthe “number one source of online gamblingentertainment”. With that, there’s no doubt that Bodog talks the talk. Thebig question is whether it walks the walk. That is, is Bodog actually thenumber one source of online gambling entertainment?

Bodog offers differentgambling products. In its website, its gambling services are provided under thefollowing sections: casino, sports, live dealer, poker, and horses. Thus, Bodogis more than an online casino. However, this Bodog review will look at only thecasino section. Given that Pokers and Live Casino are usually incorporated intothe casino suite of other online casinos, this Bodog Casino review will alsotouch on the Poker and Live Casino offering of Bodog.

Thus, the initial question becomes whether Bodog Casino is the number one source of online casino entertainment. That is, does Bodog Casino offers a variety of high-quality casino games? Does it have other top offerings and services that we’ll expect of the “number one online casino” (such as attractive bonuses, fair conditions, fast and easy deposits and withdrawals, effective customer service, etc)?

In the first place is Bodog Casino legit? That is, can players actually have winnings; and will winners who make withdrawals receive payment?

This Bodog Casino review will thoroughly examine the casino in order to provide the information that will help you answer these questions and more.

The review is structured into the following parts:

1. Bodog: at a glance
2. About Bodog – Bodog Background,Certification, Licensing, Is Bodog Casino legit, Is Bodog Casino safe, who canplay in Bodog
3. Games Offering – SoftwareProviders, Gaming Flexibility, Game Selection, Are there live dealer games,What about Jackpots
4. Promotions – Welcome bonus,Exclusive Poker bonuses, Bodog Rewards, Refer-A-Friend, Games contribution towagering
5. Banking – Deposits, Withdrawals
6. Customer Support Service

Bodog – at a glance

Bodog – About

This part of thereview covers the background of Bodog, its licensing and certification detail,its data protection measures, and more. The aim is to determine whether BodogCasino is a legit online casino and whether it is a safe online casino.

Bodog – Background

Bodog is arguably the biggest name in the online casino industry. It was the success of Bodog that made Calvin Ayre (its founder a billionaire). The storied history of Bodog started in 1994, when the company was launched as a software design firm. Before long, the company fully converted to online gambling; and in 2000, Bodog.com was launched. As a result of the many issues that rocked the casino industry in 2006, the website was reborn as bodog.eu. Thus, the Bodog website is: www.bodog.eu.

This means that Bodog is a long-time player in the industry. Longevity and experience are valuable assets for an online casino. That Bodog has been around (as a gambling outfit) for 20 years can only mean that it is a solid gambling outfit. As mentioned earlier, Bodog is more than an online casino. The websites include a sportsbook and a racbook, so while Bodog gives you online casino gaming, it also allows you to bet on your favourite sporting events, and on horse racing events.

Certification

Bodog Casino is certified by Technical Systems Testing. This is one of the most reputable casino testing facility is the industry. Primarily, TST conducts “fairness” audits on casinos. That is, their audit seal certifies that a casino is fair. The test follows the industry standard of running and analyzing the statistically significant amount of game rounds to test the randomness of gaming result.

Thus, that Bodogcasino has the TST audit seal means that it is a fair online casino. That is,the gaming results of the casino are random; as such any player in the housecan have winnings. Given that scam casinos are usually rigged to not allowwinners; that Bodog Casino offers fair gaming is a sign that it is a legit onlinecasino.

Licensing

Bodog Casino is licensed by the Antigua and Barbuda financial Services Regulatory Commission. A casino license means that the casino meets operator standards set by a licensing jurisdiction; and that thereafter the operation of the casino is regulated by the jurisdiction.

The Antigua and Barbuda commission licensing requirement includes evidence of financial robustness and ability to pay; and in its oversight, it ensures that the casino consistently pays.

Thus, in the very least, the official license of Bodog tells you that Bodog has satisfied a respectable gambling commission that it is not a scam site that will run away with players’ deposits, and that it has the capacity to pay winners.

The regulatory check of the commission on Bodog’s operation also ensures that the casino will always have its hands on deck (specifically in offering fair gaming and consistently paying winners). It also means that you’ll have a safety net to fall on if the casino turns rogue and refuse to pay you.

Scam sites runaway from such oversight. Thus, the official gaming license which means Bodogis a regulated also means it is a legit online casino.

Operating Record

To many playersthe clearest sign of a casino’s legitimacy is its operating record. The reasonsare not far-fetched; a gaming site where there are never winners and a gamingsite where winners are not paid cannot be said to be legit.

Thankfully, Bodog Casino has a clean operating record. As you would have guessed from its longevity, there have been and continue to be many winners of Bodog Casino.

Whether you are checking the casino website or unaffiliated customers’ review platforms, you’ll find such winners of Bodog Casino. Sometimes (especially in the independent platforms) the winners testimonials include payment proofs for all the doubting “Thomases” (Mind you, we are proud Thomases ourselves).

That BodogCasino pays is not the impressive thing; the impressive thing is that it hasnever missed a payment. That Bodog pays is a sign that it is legit.

Bodogeu

Is Bodog legit?

This question isalready answered. Bodog is a legit online gambling site. In fact, it is thevery biggest brand in online gambling. It would not have that reputation if itwasn’t legit. Then there is the fact that it has official certification offairness from the reputable TST, and the fact that it has an official gaminglicense from a respectable casino regulator. Lastly, it has a record of neverhaving missed a payment. After all of this discussion, if Bodog Casino isn’tlegit, then no online casino is.

Is Bodog safe?

Since in usingthe online casino you’ll submit sensitive information that includes yourpersonal data and credit card information, safety of user’s data should be aconcern when considering online casinos.

Bodog ticks this box, as it makes use of the highest data protection protocols used in the industry, which is the 28 bit SSL data encryption. In simple speak, SSL technology creates a private channel between your device and the Bodog servers ensuring that there are no eavesdroppers to data being transmitted. Also, the high level encryption ensures that even if it is captured, it cannot be read. With the bank-grade SSL technology employed, there is no doubt that Bodog Casino is safe.

Who can play in Bodog Casino?

Online casinos do not accept players from everywhere.In fact, some focuses on only a particular market; and Bodog.eu is one example.It accepts players from only Canada. This means that the huge player pool inthe US cannot join Bodog.eu. If you try accessing Bodog.eu from the US, you’llbe directed to Bovada.lv which is a sister site of Bodog that is exclusivelyfor the US market.

Rating and Summary of “About Bodog”

Rating

Summary

If you want anonline casino whose name speaks for it, Bodog is your casino. It is the biggestname not just in the online casino industry, but in the whole gamblingindustry. Also, being officially certified, fully licensed, and having notmissed a payment, Bodog is very legit. It Bodog is a gambler’s delight. In additionto the online casino, there are other gambling products – sportsbook andracebook. Bodog also uses the highest security standards (SSL technology) so itis also safe.

Bodog loses some points in this rating becauseAntigua and Barbuda which regulates the casino is not one of the most reputablecasino regulators; and also because being a Canada-only online casino, it doesnot accept US players.

Game Offering

This part of thereview examines the game offering of Bodog, with the aim of determining whetherthe casino actually provides top notch gaming entertainment.

Software Provider

Bodog.com

First, Bodog Casino is powered by multiple gaming providers; these include RealTime Gaming, Rival Gaming, Genesis Gaming, and Bodog Custom (their proprietary software). This already tells you that Bodog Casino features some of the finest games around.

The software providers that power the casino are known for developing games with state of the art graphics, sound, and other high-quality effects. Bodog used to feature Betsoft which is the industry leader in 3D cinematic slots; but it pulled Betsoft games because of certain issues that started popping up on Betsoft’s end.

It is verypleasing that Bodog draws games from a variety of software providers. The saying “variety is the spice of life” istrue in casino gaming. With different platforms in the house, you canexperience the exciting tweaks of different gaming softwares and spice up yourgaming.

Gaming Flexibility

Another thing wechecked is the gaming freedom you can have with Bodog Casino. We found that itsupports both the Download and the Instant-Play modes of play. That is, to playcasino games in Bodog, there is the option of downloading the casino softwareto your device, and there is the option of playing games directly online usinga web browser (with no download required).

We like that thecasino has both casino versions available to give its players choice. Some willbend towards the traditional download version. However, many will bend towardsin-browser play because, with no downloads required, it allows playing from anydevice – you can grab any device, open a web browser, go to the casino website, and load its games.

Also, Bodog Casino is compatible with mobile devices. Mobile-friendly casinos have changed the face of online casino gaming. With the portability of mobile devices, mobile-friendly casinos become pocket casinos. That is, online casinos can now go anywhere players go.

The times of going to sit before a computer to play online casino games are over. Currently, no matter the place or time, players need to only reach into their pockets, bring out their smartphones, and they can step into a world of exciting online casino gaming.

Bodog Casino iscompatible with iOS, Android, Windows phone, and Blackberry. So no matter yourmobile device, you can play its casino games on the go. With in-browser playand mobile gaming, what more gaming freedom can you ask for?

Games Selection

Game quality is top-notch, and gaming flexibility is afforded, but what game options are there? Bodog Casino boasts of over 420 casino games. It is not anywhere new the industry numbers leaders, but it is relatively well-stocked.

The game varietyis also impressive, as its lobby features titles from every category of onlinecasino games. Whether you fan the spinning reels, the classic table games, thehybrid video pokers, or the specialty games, you’ll find a home in BodogCasino.

Slots

Bodog is rich inslot games. The spinning reels are becoming the most demanded casino games.However, limited in space, brick and mortar casinos can only offer limited slotmachines. As such without space limitations, online casinos should have amesmerizing slot offering. Thankfully, Bodog Casino does not disappoint in thisregard.

It has over 370slot machines. This is clearly a huge number; in many online casinos, the totalnumber of games is not even this much. Slot junkies will really get their fill,as the casino provides every slot type. In the slot category alone, thedifferent slot sections are: Rival, Progressives, Real Series, Three Reels,Five Reels, Video Slots, 3D Slots, and i-Slots. Thus, whether you are ahardcore traditional spinner or a new generation spinner, you’ll find yourfavourite games.

Some of the bestslot titles in the casino lobby are: 12 Zodiacs, A Night With Cleo, ArabianTales, Chicken Little, Cleopatra’s Gold, Costume Party, Diamond Dragon, GoldRush, Haunted House, Japan O Rama, Mystic Wolf, Rise of Poseidon, Spy Game,Zeus, and Zombie FC.

The diversity ofslot themes is also impressive. Themes include: animals, marine world,Oriental, Egyptian, Western, magic, horror, adventure, adult, and more. Infact, whatever your interests, you’ll find a slot with a matching theme.

Table Games

Fans of thetable games will also find joy in Bodog Casino. It has 25+ table games, whichbranch out into five subsections that include Blackjack, Roulette, card games,poker games and dice games, with each subsection containing several variants.

If you are a fanof the famous game of 21, you’ll find 9 tables. You can stick with thetraditional games by playing Single Deck, Double Deck or Six Deck Blackjack, oryou can play variants with a twist like Perfect Pairs, or Zappit Blackjack. Also,within the Poker Games section, you’ll find Tri Card Poker, Pai Gow Poker,Caribbean Hold ‘Em, and Caribbean Stud. Each of these games has roots in poker,but offers unique game structures. The card section holds all the blackjack andPoker titles, but includes games like Baccarat, Andar Bahar, Let ‘Em Ride, andVegas Three Card Rummy.

If you are notinto the cards, you can go to: the dice games section where you’ll find ClassicCraps and Roll The Dice; or the Roulette section where you’ll find Spin TheWheel, American & European Roulette, as well as Classic American &European Roulette.

Video Pokers

Players thatwant the marriage of slots and poker will have a lot to feast on in the videopoker section of Bodog Casino. It also branches out into sections – 1 Hand, 3Hand, 10 Hands, and 52 Hands.

The video pokertitles you’ll find in the casino lobby include some of the best titles around.These are: Bonus Deuces Wild, Loose Deuces, Bonus Poker, Bonus Poker Deluxe,Deuces Wild, Double Bonus Poker, Double Double Bonus Poker, Double JackpotPoker, Double Double Jackpot Poker, Joker Poker, and Jacks or Better. Thetitles available in multi-hand denomination are Jacks or Better, and JokerPoker.

Specialty Games

Bodog Casino has tucked away in the Specialty Games section lottery-style, scratch cards and more. These tried and true casino games are in a format that most of us are already familiar with, but they give players a taste of something unique with fast-paced gaming and instant gratification.

The main subsections of the Bodog Specialty games section are Bingo and Scratch cards. The Bingo games are Pesca Bingo, Tribo Bingo, Bingo Ribeirinhos, Bingo Goal, Amazonia Bingo, 30-ball Bingo, 80-ball Bingo, American Bingo, European Bingo, Go-Go Bingo, and Bingo Cataratas. The Scratch Cards games are Penguin Payday, Beach Bums, Cast for Cash, Cavalier Cash, Tiki Treasure, Gunslinger’s Gold, Itchin’ 2 Win, and Pirates Pillage.

Are there Live Casino Games?

Yes, there are.Bodog Casino offers live dealer games. These games stream the live action fromthe floor of a real brick and mortar casino to your device. A real person in areal casino deals the cards and spins the wheels; and real persons like youtake seats at the table. So you Live Dealer games give the social element ofplaying with or against real persons.

Thus, unlike with regular online casino games where you are playing games from virtual space; with live dealer games, you are playing games from a real casino. If you want to play online casino games from your comfort zone, this is the best you’ll get to step into a real brick and mortar casino. Bodog Casino gives that.

The live tablesyou’ll get include Live Blackjack, Live Roulette, Live Baccarat, and Live Super6. At any point in time, you’ll find seats at live tables.

What about Jackpot Games?

Casinos owetheir popularity to jackpot games. These games hold the large sums of moneythat casino players chase after. The best of the jackpot games are progressivejackpots which are built to grow every time the game is played and the jackpotis not won. Thus in progressives, the amount to be won continually grows. BodogCasino provides about 50 of such continuously-growing progressive jackpots.

If you want to chase sizeable wins, you’ll not be short of jackpot options. The pots range from a few thousand to hundreds of thousands, and even millions. Some of the progressive jackpot games in the casino lobby are: 5 Times Wins, Ares, Aztec’s Treasure, A Night With Cleo, Let ‘Em Ride, Gold Rush Gus, Caribbean Hold ‘Em, Cash Money Mermaids, El Luchador, Food Fight, Jack the Ripper, Major Moolah, Money Magic, Shopping Spree, Strike Gold, Witches and Wizards, and Treasure Island.

We like that jackpot games number about 50; but what we liked most is the game types that had jackpots. From the titles mentioned above, you’ll notice 3 reel slots, 5 reel slots, card games, and poker. Thus, when you want to chase the sizeable wins; you’ll still be able to play your favourite games.

Rating and Summary of Game Offering

Rating

Summary

Bodog Casinoprovides excellent casino games, as it is powered by top creators of onlinecasino games. Featuring a variety of gaming software also allow it to givevaried gaming experience.

The number and variety of the casino games are also good; as over 420 online games are available which includes slots, classic and live tables, video pokers, and specialty games. The slot offering is particularly impressive; as its 370+ slot machines include every slot type for your spinning delight.

Also, Bodog’s non-slot options are relatively good; as it offers more options than you’ll find in many other online casinos. If you want the huge payday, you’ll not be short of options, as there are about 50 jackpot games. Lastly, with games available in Instant Play and with mobile gaming supported, Bodog Casino gives the ultimate gaming freedom.

Promotions

This part of thereview examines the promotions of Bodog Casino, with the aim of determiningwhether the casino rewards its players with attractive bonuses.

Welcome Bonus

Every casino hassomething for its new members; and Bodog Casino is not different.

Bonus Size:

As a new playerin Bodog Casino, you can get up to $600. That’s $600 in bonus funds to hit up thecasino and enjoy its huge selection of exciting slots and casino games. Thewelcome bonus is a 100% matching of your first deposits. So to get the full$600 of the bonus, you’ll need a deposit of $600.

However, if you’ll be depositing with Bitcoin, Bodog gives animproved welcome offer, which is 150% matching up to $900. To claim the fullbonus amount, because of its 150% matching, you need a deposit of only $600.

If you’ll be playing pokers, because Bodog has a well developedPoker section, it has an exclusive poker welcome bonus. This is a 100% matchbonus of the first deposit up to $1,000. So you’ll need a deposit of $1000 toclaim all $1,000 of the bonus.

While having up to $600 free is good anytime, we couldn’t help butnotice that the $600 offer of Bodog is relatively smaller than the offer of itssister sites, which are in four figures.

WageringRequirement:

Bodog welcomebonus is subject to a 25x play-through requirement. That is, the combinedamount of the deposit and bonus must be rolled over 25 times before the deposit,bonus amount, or any winnings can be withdrawn.

Thus, if the full $600 of the welcome bonus is redeemed before a withdrawal can be made, you’ll have to wager a minimum of $30,000. This is calculated: 25 x ($600 + $600). Also, if the full $600 of the bitcoin welcome bonus is claimed, before a withdrawal can be made, you’ll have to wager a minimum of $37,500. This is calculated: 25 x ($600 + $900).

You’ll always want wagering requirement to be as low as possible so that when you claim a bonus, you’ll not have to wager too much before you can make withdrawals. Thankfully, this wagering requirement that applies to this welcome offer of Bodog Casino is lower than the wagering requirement of offers of its sister sites. However, it still comes a bit higher than the industry average, which is 20x deposit + bonus.

Interestingly,the Poker welcome bonus is not subject to any rollover requirement. However, afterclaiming the bonus, you’ll have to unlock it in $5 increments with every 150Rewards Points earned in Poker.

Exclusive Poker Bonuses

With Bodog having a strong poker room, you’ll find that it offers some exclusive poker bonuses. These include the Royal Flush Bonus and the Bad Bet Bonus.

• Royal Flush Bonus – The royal flush is the best hand you can hold in poker. Bodog makes it better by rewarding you with a bonus if you hold this hand. The Royal Flush bonus is 50 times the big blind of the table on which the hand is dealt, up to a maximum of $200. Interestingly, there is no wagering requirement attached to this bonus.
• Bad Beat Bonus – It definitely will sting if you have a Full House with aces full of kings (or better) and you lose to Four of a Kind or better. Nothing takes the sting out of a bad beat like winning cash for it. Interestingly, that is the relief Bodog gives poker players with its “bad beat bonus”. If you have aces full of kings (A, A, A, K, K) or better, and get beaten by Four of a Kind or better, Bodog will reward you with 100 times the big blind to a maximum of $1,000. There is also no rollover for this bonus.

Bodog Rewards

Bodog also has aloyalty program, where players are rewarded for sticking around and playinggames in the casino.

How you earnRewards Points

For every $1 wagered in the casino, you’ll earn: 1 reward point if you played Video Poker or the table games; 5 reward points if you play Slots, and 15 reward points if you played the specialty games.

If you’re aPoker person, for every $1 rake in the Poker Cash games, or $1 fee paid inPoker tournaments, you’ll get 15 reward points; and for every $1 buy-in inJackpot Sit & Go, you’ll get 1.5 reward points.

You earn rewardpoints just for playing games in the Bodog casino and poker room. Interestingly,you’re collecting reward points not just for the sake of it. Points areredeemable for bonuses. So after accumulating a chunk, you can drop them in andget sweet cash bonuses.

Reward Levelsand Benefits

The rewardprogram has 6 levels, where each higher level has sweeter benefits. Each wageron real money games not only earn you reward points; you also earn tier pointsthat help you climb the levels so that you can access more rewards.

The number of tier points you’ll need to step into a particular level, as well as the benefits that each level brings, are summed up in the table below:

This means thatall new members are Bronze members. They’ll stay at this level until they earn2,500 tier points to climb to the 1st stage of the Silver level. When redeemingreward points, as a player at the Bronze level, you’ll need 2,500 points to geta $1 bonus; but as a player at the ultimate level (Black), you’ll need just1,000 points to get $1.

Another benefitof the program is a cash-back bonus. Bodog gives cash-back on losses on a dailybasis. Thus, you don’t need to sweat too much when you have losses, because youcan get something back. What you get back depends on your membership level. Asa starter (Bronze level) you’re eligible to get back 6.5% of your daily losses;and at the premium level (Black level), you’re eligible to get back a massive 20%of losses.

WageringRequirement

The cash bonus obtained from points redemption and the cash-back bonus are both subject to the wagering requirement. The upside is that the wagering requirement is relatively low. Rollover for bonus cash purchased with rewards points is 10x Casino; while rollover on cashback bonus is 1x Casino.

Refer-A-Friend Bonus

Bodog also offers a referral program, which pays you for simply telling others about the casino. However, the friend has joined and make a qualifying deposit.

Bonus Size:

The referralbonus is 200% up to a maximum of $100 on your referral first deposit. Thismeans that to get the full bonus amount, your referral bonus amount must be atleast $50. However, to qualify for the bonus, that first deposit of yourreferral has to be at least $20. This means the minimum referral bonus you canget is $40.

Bodog Casinospices up the referral program by throwing in an extra $25 if your referralmade the qualifying deposit with crypto currency. That is, if the person youinvite makes a bitcoin deposit of over $20, in addition to your 200% up to $100referral commission, an extra $25 will be credited to you. What is more, there isno limit to how many referrals you can have. So you can actually use thereferral program to score yourself a large bonus amount.

WageringRequirement:

Like all casinobonuses, the referral bonus is also subject to wagering requirement. However,it is relatively high. All referral bonus funds are subject to a 30X Casinorollover. That is, you’ll have to rollover the deposit amount plus bonus amount30 times. Thus, if you get a $50 referral bonus, because the bonus has a 200%matching, it means the deposit amount is $25. Thus, to be cleared forwithdrawal, you’ll need to wager $2,250. This is calculated: 30 x ($50 + $25).

Contribution of Games to wagering

The games ofBodog Casino contribute to wagering as follows:

This means that if you wager $100 on slots or the specialty games, it counts as $100 towards meeting the wagering requirement. However, a $100 wager on video poker and blackjack counts as $10 towards meeting play-through requirement; a $100 wager on Roulettes and Baccarats count as $5, while a $100 wager on Craps or the live dealer games will not count.

This means that to meet wagering requirement as fast as possible and be cleared for withdrawal, your games should be slots or the specialty games. But if your favourite games (which you’ll be playing when using bonuses) is any of the other casino’s game, you won’t get much bang for your buck.

In fact, these other games contribute lower to wagering in Bodog Casino than they do in many other online casinos. Thus, if you’ll be playing with bonuses, and your favourite games are not slots or specialty games, Bodog may not be the best place because it’ll take relatively longer to meet wagering requirement.

Rating and Summary of Promotions

Rating

Summary

Bodog Casino welcomes its new players well with a signup deposit bonus up to $600 ($900 if depositing with bitcoin). However, the casino is lacking in reload bonuses. There is a loyalty program that rewards your continued stay in the casino, but the program is weak as the only benefits are cash bonuses from reward points and cash-back bonuses.

The good news is that the casino promises to improve on this. Its words are: “we will be offering exclusive promotions and offers and expanding the program further in the future”.

It also does nothelp that the wagering requirement of the available deposit bonus (the welcomebonus) is a tad low; and that games (with the exception of slots and specialtygames) have relatively low contributing percentages to wagering.

Banking

Since you’ll needto put money into your casino account and withdraw winnings from the account, areview of an online casino cannot be complete without the “banking” section.

Deposits

DepositOptions:

You don’t wantto be short of options when you want to fund your account. In this regards, thedeposit methods you’ll find in the Bodog Casino banking page are: Visa,Mastercard, American Express, Interac r-Transfer, Bitcoin, and Bitcoin Cash.

Definitely,Bodog does not blow us away with this list, as it is relatively short. Wedidn’t like that it did not have e-Wallet options. However, it is very finethat there are crypto currency options given that these make for fast and easytransactions.

Bodog Betting

Deposit Limits:

Using thetraditional option (credit cards) as a reference, Bodog Casino does not dogreat with its deposit limits. We always want minimum deposit option floored,so that players with low budgets can still meet the threshold. However, the $20minimum deposit of Bodog Casino is not floored. In fact, it is double theminimum deposit of many other online casinos. Also, we always want the maximum depositlimit to be sky-high, so that players that like placing large wagers can makelarge single deposits. However, the $1,000 maximum deposit of Bodog Casino isnot sky-high. In fact it is half the maximum deposits allowed by many othercasinos.

DepositProcessing Time:

Bodog Casino processesall deposit transactions instantly. Thus, after making a deposit, the fundswill appear in your account immediately, and you can start playing immediately.

Fees:

Bodog does notcharge any fees when you make a deposit into your account. However, sometimes youmay be faced with a small fee. Such fees are charged by your financialintermediary (your card issuer, bank, Bitcoin Wallet Provider, etc) and are notassociated with Bodog Casino.

Withdrawals

WithdrawalOptions:

When you have apositive balance and want to withdraw, you should find convenient withdrawalmethods. In this regards, Bodog Casino offers the following for withdrawingyour winnings: Cheque, Direct Bank Transfer, Bitcoin, and Bitcoin Cash.

With BodogCasino having a relatively short list of deposit options, the withdrawaloptions just can’t be any better. So withdrawal options are equally limited.However, the great cryptos are equally available for withdrawals.

WithdrawalLimits:

Using theregular options as a reference, Bodog does very well in its minimum withdrawallimit but not so well in its maximum withdrawal limit. We like minimum amountsfloored, so that players won’t have to meet a high threshold before they canrequest payment. Thankfully, to request payment in Bodog Casino, you only needa minimum of $20. This is relatively fine because it is as low as you’ll get.

Also, we likemaximum withdrawal amount to be sky-high so that players with a large balancecan withdraw it all without much of a fuss. However, you withdrawals from Bodogare limited to $3,000 per transaction until your balance is paid out. This is arelatively low amount; especially because you’ll find casinos with maximumwithdrawals of $4,000 and $5,000. The implication of the low max withdrawalamount of Bodog Casino is that it’ll take a long time to withdraw a largebalance. Imagine hitting a $100,000 win; withdrawing $3,000 at a time, it’lltake 9 months or more to get it all.

Payout Speed:

Everyone talks oflegit online casinos featuring payouts; but we say fast payouts are even moreimportant. The payout speed of casinos is determined by withdrawal processingspeed, and payment time-frame. The former is how long it takes from when yousubmit a payment request to when the payment is issued; while the latter is howlong it takes from when the payment is issued to when you receive it. For fastpayout, both times should be fast.

Bodog Casinodoes very well in terms of withdrawal processing time. The casino says that ittakes approximately 24 – 48 hours for withdrawals to be approved. This iseasily one of the fastest processing of withdrawals that you’ll find in theindustry. In many houses, it takes 72 hours. Once approved, the delivery offunds varies depending on the payment method chosen.

Fee:

Bodog Casinodoes not charge any fees when players withdraw with the crypto options. If youfind any small charge, it will be from your Wallet Provider. There are also nocharges whatsoever when withdrawing with DBT (Direct Bank Transfer). This isvery fine, as most of the other online casinos charge for DBT payments.

When withdrawing via Cheques, there is a $50 charge. However,Bodog Casino gives a complimentary withdrawal every month. That is, one Chequesent by Courier every 30 days is free, while additional Cheque by Courier (CbC)withdrawals within this time frame will incur a processing fee of $50. Withthis, if you can limit your withdrawals to once a month, you’ll get free withdrawalsfrom Bodog Casino even if you prefer getting paid via Cheques.

Ratings and Summary of Banking

Rating

Summary

Bodog Casino provides limited banking options.However, these include crypto currency options. Importantly, deposit andwithdrawal processes are easy. Deposit limits could be better, as the $20minimum is relatively high, and the $1,000 maximum is relatively low. Whenwithdrawing, the $20 minimum is fine, but the $3,000 maximum is low, meaning ifyou have a big win, it’ll take some while to get everything. To crown it, BodogCasino offers fast payouts.

Customer Support Service

When using anonline casino, you may come stuck with questions or issues. Thus, the idealonline casino should have an effective customer support service.

Bodog Casinocomes out smoking hot in this regards. First, its customer service features thefull line of contact channels. That is; Bodog Casino can be reached via email,telephone, and live chat.

To use the emailservice, simply send your submissions to the email address: service@bodog.eu. Bodog Casino has a fastresponse time to all email support inquiries. The casino promises answering allemails within 24 hours. However, many times, responses to email submissions arereceived in a few minutes.

You’ll find alink to the Live Chat in the contact pages of the casino; while for thetelephone service, the number to call is: 1 877 263 6422. Interestingly, theseservices are available 24/ 7. That is, whenever you need help, you’ll find alive agent.

There is a “help center” in the Bodog website, whereyou’ll find self-help articles. If you’re one that likes finding help yourself,the help center is a good place to start. You’ll find answers to many questionsthat you may have. The subjects covered include: financial, bonuses, accountand security, bitcoin, and more. There is also a Video Library which holds manysupport videos. There is a reason illustrations are invaluable in supportguides – a picture is worth a thousand words. If that’s the case, a video isworth a thousand pictures. So the video library of Bodog holds the perfectguides.

Ratings and Summary of Banking

Rating

Summary

Bodog Casino provides effective customer service.This is powered by a self help service and a contact-help service. Theself-help service is very detailed including articles that answer manyquestions, as well as lots of support video. For contact help, you can reachBodog via email, live chat and telephone. Importantly, the service is available24/ 7, and the response time is relatively fast.

Conclusion

Bodog says it isthe “number one source of online gamblingentertainment”. It sure lives up to this as it offers an online casino andother gambling services like sports betting and horse racing.

The onlinecasino (which is the focus of this review) comes out ticking all the rightboxes. On the legality front: it is certified by Technical Systems Testing, andit is licensed and regulated by Antigua and Barbuda. So it is a fair and legitonline casino – you can have winnings, and if you do, you’ll get paid.

On the gamingfront: it is powered by top software providers that include RealTime Gaming andRival Gaming, so it offers high quality games. With over 85% of its 420+ gamesbeing slots, Bodog Casino has a robust slot offering. It also has a relativelystrong collection of non-slot games, which even includes live dealer games.Also, you’ll find too many progressives to chase the big wins. And you have thefreedom of in-browser and mobile gaming.

On the bonusfront: there’s a relatively fine welcome bonus (that is up to $600), andthere’s a VIP program that rewards your loyalty to Bodog Casino. On the bankingfront, payouts are relatively fast.

However, Bodog Casino is not without its faults (For example: on the bonus front, reload bonuses are missing, the VIP program could be beefed up with more benefits, while wagering requirements are a tad high. On the banking front, banking options are limited, and maximum withdrawal bonus is quite low). However, on the whole, Bodog Casino is definitely one of the best and most reputable online casinos you’ll find around. We recommend it; and there’s really no reason why you shouldn’t join (except you are not resident in Canada).

Also Read THIS REVIEW

Pros

• Fully certified (by Technical Systems Testing) ensuring that it is a fair online casino
• Licensed and regulated (by the government of Antigua and Barbuda), ensuring that it is a legit online casino
• Employs the highest security protocols (128 bit SSL technology) ensuring that it is a safe online casino
• Provide excellent online casino games drawn from RealTime Gaming, Rival Gaming, Genesis Gaming, and Bodog Custom
• Gaming flexibility is afforded, as Instant Play and mobile gaming are supported
• Provides 420+ games and a variety that includes slots, table games, video pokers, and specialty games
• Live dealer games are provided
• About 50 progressive jackpot games are provided
• Offers a relatively attractive welcome bonus (100% bonus up to $600)
• Gives a referral bonus (200% match of your referral’s first deposit up to $100)
• Deposit and withdrawal processes are super easy
• Has a clean operating record of having not missed a payment
• Bitcoin is supported for both deposit and withdrawals
• Payment processing is relatively fast (24 – 48 hours), the meaning payout is relatively fast
• Minimum withdrawal amount ($20) is relatively low, so you can request payment in no time
• Provides 24/ 7 customer support via email, live chat, and telephone

Bodog Fight

Cons

Bodog Betting

• Does not accept US players
• Lacking in reload bonuses
• The loyalty program is weak (benefits are not much)
• Bonus wagering requirement of the welcome bonus (25x sum of deposit and bonus amount) is a tad high
• Casino games (with the exception of slots and specialty games) have relatively low contribution towards meeting wagering requirement
• Limited banking option
• Unfriendly deposit limits – $20 minimum is a tad high; and the $1,000 maximum is a tad low
• Unfriendly maximum withdrawal amount ($3,000 per week), so withdrawing a large balance will take long