BetOnline Poker Review - Poker Bonus 100% Up To $2500
BetOnline poker was launched in 2011 on the back of the very successful sportsbook which was established online in 2004. This poker room is one of a small number of sites on the Chico Network who will happily accept players from the US and has seen a great amount of growth in their relatively short history. BetOnline poker now ranked third in the US in terms of player traffic behind Ignition Poker and America’s Cardroom (Winning Poker Network). BetOnline offer a very sizable initial deposit bonus and a range of games that are suitable for players of all bankroll levels.
Advantages and Disadvantages of Playing at BetOnline Poker
One of the biggest advantages of playing at BetOnline poker is the relatively ‘soft’ player pool. Yes, like all sites, you’ll find your fair share of sharks hitting the tables. However, with this site being linked to both a sportsbook and a casino, you’ll also find yourself sat alongside many recreational players who might have had that win on the NFL or a good run on the slots. The welcome bonus is highly impressive too, while the site is big on leaderboards too, so regular play at any of the games can be fruitful.
BetOnline Poker does a great job of offering the traditional favorites such as cash games, sit and goes and tournaments, but a lack of fresh, fast paced games such as jackpot sit and goes and fast fold games in noticeable. The player pool is growing, though not yet big enough to allow for bigger guaranteed tournaments or online poker events.
Playing Legal Online Poker at BetOnline.ag
BetOnline are one of the few online poker sites who will welcome players from the US. While players from the US can now play poker from within the US if located in New Jersey, Nevada or Delaware, players from outside of these states have to go offshore to find a game, and BetOnline (based in Panama) are happy to accept deposits.
In terms of player traffic, the site is now ranked third when compared to other US serving sites. Finding a full Holdem table is rarely a problem, especially at mid/low stakes, although it can be a struggle if playing other poker varieties such as 32 card draw and Americana which are on offer here.
To play poker at the site on your laptop, desktop or Mac you’ll simply download the software (after registering) and be playing in no time. You can also enjoy BetOnline poker on the go, with the recent introduction of mobile poker, which is available for both Apple and Android devices.
BetOnline History
The origins of BetOnline began in 1991 with a small, gambling operation run by Joe Junior, who, tired of the US gambling laws making his venture a difficult one, relocated to Costa Rica in 2001. The company was known as BestLineSports and in 2004 hooked up with a group of investors and relocated again to Panama. When big name rival BetonSports folded in 2006, many of the employees moved across to the site, which was renamed BetOnline in 2007. This company continued to thrive despite the passage of the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act in 2006, and when ‘Black Friday’ hit the US poker market in 2011, BetOnline took advantage by opening their own poker room. Having been part of the Chico Poker Network since the launch of the poker site, BetOnline moved to their own proprietary software in 2016.
BetOnline Bonuses and Promotions
New players at BetOnline poker can take advantage of a 100% deposit offer up to a massive $2,500. You’ll need to deposit at least $50 to take advantage of this offer and you’ll have 60 days to clear the bonus. It will be released in $5 increments every time you reach 1,500 comp points. To claim this bonus, you’ll need to send an e-mail to the site – this isn’t automatically added, so check the terms and conditions to see how. New players will also gain entry into a $5,000 freeroll tournament.
Regular players at the site will enjoy the weekly races set up across cash games, sit and goes and tournaments, with a total of $20,000 up for grabs for the most successful players each and every week.
A very impressive bad beat jackpot can also be won if you manage to lose a hand with four Jacks or better. This guaranteed six figure jackpot, will see 30% go to the player suffering the bad beat, 17.5% go to the winning player, 17.5% divided around the rest of the table and the remaining 30% go towards the next jackpot payout. At time of writing, the jackpot amount was fast approaching $500,000.
Poker Games Available at BetOnline
When you enter the lobby of the poker room, you’ll find tabs at the top pointing you to games, tournaments and sit and goes (as well as sportsbook, horses and casino). The (cash) games section is your default option and here you’ll find a good mix of games, including Omaha, Americana, 32 Card Draw and 7 Stud alongside Holdem. The stakes range from just $0.01/$0.02 games through to $5/$10 games.
The tournament schedule is certainly geared to recreational players, as many of the buy-ins are on the lower side, while the tournament fields are relatively low. This can make for some nice opportunities however, as occasionally you’ll find a nice overlay at the guaranteed tournaments, making for some good value events. The largest event of the month is the $20,000 guarantee – this is not an eye-catching major, but the buy-in of just $60 does allow many players to compete.
The sit and go section completes the poker portfolio and here you’ll find tables of 2, 6, 8 or 10. Buy-ins start at just $0.05, ranging all the way up to a $525 heads up sit and go. In this section, you have no fee tables, a variety of speeds and double or nothing games too.
Deposits and Withdrawals at BetOnline
When playing at a US friendly site, available deposit methods can be limited, but BetOnline buck this trend with a wide variety of options. Perhaps the best option is to deposit using Bitcoin, this quick and easy method will see you at the tables in no time. Other options include credit cards such as MasterCard and Visa, while cash transfers are also a popular deposit method. You can also deposit using a wire transfer or even a check, while LiteCoin (a virtual currency just like Bitcoin) is also available. For players outside of the US, Skrill or Neteller are also deposit options.
Withdrawal methods include both Bitcoin and Litecoin, a cash transfer, an express check (for withdrawals of $500 or more), a standard check, a wire transfer and even an ATM card. Skrill and Neteller can be used as a withdrawal method too.
