Bodog.eu Poker Review – Sign up Bonus & Promo code – Ultimate Guide

Bodog Poker Review

As Bodog has become a strong force in legal markets in recent years, the Mohawk Morris Gaming Group (MMGG) decided that they don’t want their marquee project to be associated with US gambling. That is why they launched Bovada.lv — a poker room created specifically for their American clientele.

On the other hand, Bodog remained a poker room catering exclusively to Canadians. That changed in February 2017, when Bodog expanded their footprint to Latin America and began offering its products to the residents of Bolivia, Brazil, Argentina, Chile, and several other Spanish and Portuguese-speaking countries.

Bodog’s Canadian poker room uses Bodog.eu domain and is licensed by the Antigua Gambling Commission. Its Latin American counterpart is called Bodog.com and holds the Curacao eGaming license.

Bodog belongs to the PaiWangLuo poker network, formerly known as Bodog Poker Network. PaiWangLuo is currently the biggest poker network in the US, comprising Bodog Poker, Ignition Poker, and Bovada.

It’s crystal clear that Bodog means business. If you want to see whether it meets your preferences and needs, check out our detailed review below.

Is Bodog poker Legit?

Bodog is the real deal. The fact that the brand has been in the business for over 25 years and is one of the most recognizable names in the industry certainly instills trust. After all, they must be doing something right.

The platform has a stellar track record of efficient payouts and customer service in the Canadian poker community. After looking into major review portals and poker forums, we didn’t find any pending or unresolved complaints regarding frozen or stalled payments, which is great news, considering that this is usually the number one issue most poker players have when using online platforms.

Although it’s true that Bodog has had a turbulent past, as its domain was even seized by the US government, most of that had to do with the site’s previous owner’s way of doing business. Ever since MMGG took charge of operations and purchased the site, Bodog started doing things the legit way.

Will I Be Able To Play Bodog Poker In The US?

Unfortunately, you won’t. Bodog.eu accepts only Canadian residents. However, you can play in Bovada.lv, which is basically Bodog’s adaptation for the US market.

If you’re confused by the .lv domain, there’s nothing to worry about. Namely, Calvin Ayre (the former owner of the site) wanted to escape any threat of seizure by the US government, which is why he used the Latvian country domain when he launched Bovada.

Bodog Poker Software & Games

Even though Bodog utilizes its proprietary software, it has made several changes to the look and feel of its website in recent years. These changes have been met with mixed opinions, but they have ultimately propelled Bodog to becoming one of the leading poker brands on the market.

Bodog covers all the fan-favorite poker variations, including Omaha, Texas Hold’em, and Omaha Hi/Lo. The majority of Hold’em tables are at no limit, while Omaha and Omaha Hi/Lo games are mostly pot limit. 7-Card Stud and 7-Card Stud Hi/Lo used to be available, but the operator has recently removed them from the roster.

This is the only North American-facing poker site (along with its sister sites) to feature a fast-fold poker variation, Zone Poker. In the Zone mode, the waiting time is reduced to a bare minimum, as players are instantly shipped off to a new table after folding their hands. This speeds up the game significantly — the games are approximately four times as fast as regular cash games. The stakes for Zone Poker run from $0.2/0.5 to $0.50/1.

This is not to say the regular cash games aren’t vastly popular. 6-max NL Hold’em games steal the spotlight with blinds going from 2c up to $10 and $1,000 buy-ins (it’s usually higher on weekends). Poker aficionados can give 9-handed games and PL Omaha a go too. Most NL Hold’em and PLO tables are denominated from $0.02/0.05 – $10/20.

On average, cash game stakes are in the $0.02/0.05–$300/600 spectrum, depending on the game, variation, and stake. You can only join up to four ring game tables at once.

In the Zone

Zone Poker is Bodog’s version of fast-fold poker, a variation that was coined by Full Tilt’s Rush Poker a few years ago. This feature cuts the time you spend waiting for your folded hands and new cards to be dealt. So, after you have folded your hand, you’ll be instantly redirected to a new table. This fast-paced adaptation gives you the chance to play more hands and ensures that you see many more hands per hour than in a standard ring table.

Was I Able to Play Anonymously at Bodog Poker?

Bodog.eu and its skins, Bodog88 and Bovada, all offer anonymous table games and have prohibited the use of HUD software. This prevents pros from “bum hunting” and targeting weaker players by tracking their pre-flop and post-flop decisions, and it keeps the games at an even playing field.

Windows and MAC Downloads

Bodog offers a downloadable client compatible with both Windows and Mac. You’ll easily find installers on the website. If you can’t find your way around, feel free to contact customer support, and they’ll point you in the right direction.

Instant Play Mode is Also Available

Downloading the client is not mandatory for Bodog desktop users. You can also get in on the action through your browser (Chrome, Mozilla, Safari, Opera) and by accessing the operator’s instant-play version of the site. Playing on the browser-based version provides a bit less personalized gaming experience, but it’s a great alternative for those players who want to keep it simple.

Bodog Poker Bonuses

Bodog offers a 100% match bonus of up to $1,000 for first-time depositors. The bonus is applied automatically once the deposit has settled. No bonus code is required, although you may need to opt in to activate the offer when making the initial deposit.

The amount of bonus you’re entitled to is directly connected to the number of poker points you earn during the 30-day period, which starts after the deposit has settled. Basically, the more you play, the faster you’ll unlock the $1,000 of bonus cash.

For every $1 paid for SNG fees and tournament entries, you’ll earn 15 reward points. Unlocking rates are identical in SNGs, cash games, and MTTs.

Royal Flush Bonus

For the luckiest of them all, Bodog has prepared a special promotion. Namely, if you get a royal flush, the best hand in poker, you can snatch a hefty prize of 50x the big blind. The bonus can go as high as $200. This offer is only valid for NL Hold’em games, and you must use both pocket cards to form the royal. At least three players must participate in the round in order to become eligible for the bonus cash. Again, you’ll need to notify Bodog’s support team via email and provide them with the hand number.

No More Rakeback

Before the site went anonymous, Bodog used to offer rakeback. Unfortunately, the operator offers neither flat rakeback nor a VIP program of any kind to its customers anymore. Still, this shouldn’t make or break your decision to play here, as the site compensates for the lack of rakeback by offering butter-soft games where everyone can enjoy an increased win rate. Looking at it long term, this arrangement may even be more profitable. There is also a huge sign-up bonus on offer.

Bodog Poker Rewards System

You can redeem the reward points collected at the tables for tournament entry tickets (Jackpot and SNGs included) and/or for bonuses that can be used in the sportsbook and casino. For instance, you can exchange 450 points for a $5 sportsbook bonus with 3x wagering requirements. You’re allowed to collect up to five million points every month.

Here’s what the point distribution looks like:

• $0.01–$0.04: 0.05 points
• $0.05–$0.24: 0.1 points
• $0.25–$0.49: 0.25 points
• $0.50–$0.99: 0.5 points
• $1 or more: one point

You can keep tabs on your point accumulation in the My Poker tab of your account menu.

Bodog also runs an exclusive VIP program called the 94 Club. This status is reserved for high rollers and can be accessed by invitation only. If you manage to join the club, you’ll receive various treats, including lower withdrawal fees, personalized promotions, VIP customer staff, a faster point accrual, and tickets to prime-time sporting events like the Super Bowl.

Bodog Poker Tournaments

As far as MTTs are concerned, there is no shortage of options at Bodog. The site hosts events with $2 million guaranteed with a full tournament schedule, as well as tons of daily guaranteed tournaments, nightly majors, and the Sunday lineup. NL Hold’em is played at almost all of the tournaments, at the regular game speed and with table size variations. You are allowed to play at up to four tables simultaneously.

Overall, players can grab up to $1.5 million in guarantees every week, with Sunday’s $150+12, $150,000 guaranteed tournament being the most lucrative event. Throughout the remainder of the week, you can find both micro and high-roller stakes, with entry prices ranging from $1+ $0.10 to $300 +25.

Bodog Poker Player Traffic

Bodog has seen a traffic surge ever since top-tier brands, like Full Tilt, Absolute Poker, and Ultimate Bet, left the market. It’s currently estimated to be the platform with the third biggest traffic in the world, while its sister site, Bovada, has the biggest traffic in the US.

The game diversity is quite splendid and the tables are easy to get into at any time of the day or night. Both cash games and tournaments have wide rosters, with game tables running at all stakes.

It’s estimated that there are 1,000–3,000 players in Bodog at any given moment. At peak hours, there are probably more than 5,000 active users. These are fantastic numbers, especially considering the fact that recreational players are the operator’s primary target audience. The traffic will probably grow even further now that Bodog has expanded its portfolio to Latin-American countries.

Bodog shares liquidity with its network partners, Bovada and Ignition. This has boosted traffic big time and amplified the prize pools available on cash games. The PaiWangLuo (PWL) network has become one of the top ten networks worlidwide in terms of traffic size.

Bodog Poker Mobile

The great aspect of becoming a Bodog member is the ability to play poker on the go without having to download any additional software onto your mobile device. All you need to go to get started is access the mobile version of the site via your browser, and you can jump right into one of the many cash games you’ll have at your disposal.

Almost all popular mobile devices running on iOS and Android operating systems are compatible with Bodog’s mobile software. The browser-based mobile poker version fully mirrors its desktop counterpart in terms of performance and UI.

Since the site is HTML5-based, you’ll probably enjoy smooth gaming experience even from a device that is a bit dated. I have tried a few hands on iPhone 5s myself, and my session was a breeze. As soon as I logged in, the website automatically adjusted to my mobile’s screen size. I navigated between different sections to check out the response time, and Bodog came on top every time. What’s more, I even checked Bodog’s other products, specifically the casino department, and everything worked just as great.

I was particularly fond of mobile Zone Poker, as I was able to score some easy bucks on dozens of rounds. The best part is that it took me only several minutes to accomplish this, and I didn’t even have to play multiple tables — that’s how exciting this fast-paced variant is.

Bodog Poker Deposits & Withdrawals

Compared to its main rivals on the market, Bodog’s funding and cashout options are a bit scarce. Still, all the popular payment solutions in Canada are on board, including Visa, MasterCard, Interac e-Transfer, and Bitcoin. It’s stated on the site that there are some additional offers as well, but these are geo-specific, and their availability depends on your whereabouts.

It’s a bummer that they don’t support any of the popular e-wallets, like PayPal, Skrill, or Netteler. Still, most Canadians use Interac for their online gambling expenditures anyway, so I guess this isn’t that big of a deal.

Here are the deposit limits:

Deposit Method	Minimum Deposit	Maximum Deposit	Fees	Approx. Success Rate
Visa	$25	$1000	Free	100%
Mastercard	$25	$1000	Free	100%
Interac	$25	$1000	Free	100%
Bitcoin	$20	$5000	Free	100%

The great news is that Bodog doesn’t charge any fees. However, your financial institution may incur some, but these are usually minimal.

Bodog Poker Withdrawals

Bodog’s clients can cash out their winnings using Visa, Cheque, Direct Bank Transfer, or Bitcoin. The operator has set withdrawal limits at $6,000 per transaction, which should suffice for medium rollers and casual players.

Unfortunately, withdrawals are not fee-free. Bodog doesn’t charge a commission for check cashouts only for the first month, but after that, each withdrawal will cost $50. That’s why Bitcoin is the best withdrawal option, in my regard. Not only does it come with no fees attached, but is also the fastest option available. If you opt for BTC, you should get your funds within a few hours, at most. Withdrawing funds via fiat currencies takes much longer — up to a couple of weeks even.

Bodog Poker Player Support

Bodog takes customer care to another level, which is evident from their 24/7 support accessible via multiple contact channels. The fastest way of getting your issues resolved is through the live chat service, which is open around the clock. You can also send them an email if you want the answer to your problem to be delivered in a written form. The response time is pretty quick — around 2 hours on average.

Canadians can request assistance via a toll-free telephone line at 1-877-263-6422. But before you start dialing the numbers, make sure to check out the site’s FAQ section. It’s extensive and covers most of the commonly asked queries.

Bodog Poker Rating

There’s a lot to like about Bodog. After all, the platform has become a force to be reckoned with on the Canadian poker market. Their expansion south and connections with Bovada and Ignition, along with the addition of anonymous tables, have propelled them into the big league. By adding restrictions to multi-tablers, they’ve softened up the tables and significantly boosted their recreational players’ traffic. All of this, coupled with a few unique features, the addition of Zone Poker, rewarding promotional offers, and a great event density, has made Bodog a prime-time destination for players of all skill levels and preferences.

On the negative side of things, their banking sections isn’t as loaded as I’d want it to be. Also, the operator could work on reducing the withdrawal fees or eliminating them altogether, as these can truly take all the fun out of your winning session. Still, one thing’s for sure — if you live in Canada or Latin America, there aren’t many options for online poker other than Bodog.

Final Thoughts

Bodog has been around forever and has acquired a huge fanbase since its inception in the nineties. Over the last two decades, the site has undergone major management and operational changes but has always managed to deliver high-quality services across all of its platforms.

Sure, you’ll come across some complaints every once in a while, but not even the heavy hitters are immune to such occurrences. There will always be some sore losers or some players who don’t read the fine print of the bonus T&C and want to take it out on the operator by posting negative comments on review portals and forums.

The fact of the matter is that Bodog is one of the better places to play poker online, and, as years go by, they only keep getting better at what they do. Bodog’s biggest drawing card is certainly its focus on recreational players. Still, its outstanding lineup of tournaments and generous bonuses should not be disregarded either.

FAQs