Bodog Poker Review - Poker Bonus 100% Up To $1000
Bodog were formed back in 1994 and were one of the early pioneers of online gambling, as they launched their first internet gambling venture in 2000. It’s fair to say that they have been a success story, as nearly two decades later and they are still going strong, despite a couple of bumps in the road. Bodog offers a one wallet system, meaning you can switch easily between the sportsbook, the casino and the poker site, which can be beneficial to poker players in more ways than one. Bodog use a ‘recreational player model’ which restricts the use of 3rd party tools and mass multi-tabling.
Advantages and Disadvantages of Playing at Bodog
Playing at Bodog has a number of advantages. Firstly, the player pool can be a weak one at times, as a number of players from the sportsbook or the casino will cross over and try their luck at the poker tables after a winning session – play a solid game and you’ll be able to take advantage of these guys easily. You’ll also find a very impressive welcome bonus at the site, while Bodog seem happy to push ‘Zone’ poker, their fast-paced cash game, meaning a whole load of recreational players at these tables. The main disadvantage of Bodog is that so few can play there – currently the games are only available in Canada, parts of Asia and much of Latin America.
Playing Legal Poker at Bodog
For a number of years Bodog Poker has only been available in Canada, but recent moves have seen Bodog expand into both Asia and Latin America. With countries such as Brazil and Argentina now added to the player base, this should see a steady increase in traffic over the coming months and years and it will be interesting to see if further expansion takes place – a move into Europe would be a further boost for traffic levels.
The traffic levels at the site are good, as the player base is linked with Ignition poker, currently ranked third the global poker site rankings. This means that you’ll rarely have trouble finding a holdem table to play at, even at higher stakes, while Omaha games are busier than at many rival sites.
As well as the download version for your desktop/laptop, you can also play Bodog on an Apple or Android device. Players will find a full range of cash games available, as well as the very popular ‘Zone Poker’. Deposits and withdrawals are also available on the go.
Bodog Poker History
Bodog was formed in 2000 by Calvin Ayre, the Canadian entrepreneur. Ayre decided to call the company ‘Bodog’ as he wanted a name that wasn’t restricted to just gambling, giving the potential to expand into other areas too. Bodog took off almost immediately and quickly rose to the top of the online gambling industry in the US.
However, the US lawmakers would ensure that it wasn’t all plain sailing for the company. In 2006, the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act was passed and this led the company to pull out of the US market. This would see Calvin Ayre sell the company to the Morris Mohawk gaming Group in Canada. For a number of years, they would trade in Canada only, before recent expansion into parts of Asia and Latin America. In early 2017, the company was acquired by PaiWangLuo, a Hong Kong based investment group.
Bodog Bonuses and Promotions
As a new customer at Bodog, there is a welcome 100% deposit bonus of up to $1,000 available. This bonus is released in increments, starting at $5 when you have earned your first 15 poker points at the site, with each further increment increasing until you have released the full amount of your bonus. There is a 30-day bonus clearance period.
Existing players will enjoy the comp points scheme which you’ll earn whenever you hit the tables. These points can be converted into tournament tickets, with each point being worth exactly 1c, so 550 points for example will see a $5.50 tournament token being yours. You’ll earn 3 poker points for every $1 paid in tournament fees, while rake in cash games is paid using a sliding scale.
As an added bonus, if you manage to land a Royal Flush you won’t just be winning the hand in question, as you can also claim a 50x the big blind bonus too (up to a maximum of $200).
Poker Games Available at Bodog
Interestingly, when you enter the poker lobby at Bodog, you are sent to the ‘Zone Poker’ section by default. This is the fast-paced cash game offered by the site, where you’ll be playing a new hand the moment your involvement in the previous hand has ended, whether the hand has finished or you have simply folded. With Bodog clearly pushing this format, many recreational players will hit these tables and with a solid game, you’ll be able to push your edge here.
The standard cash tables are interesting too, as these are ‘anonymous’. This is good for all, as it stops those multi-tabling grinders accumulating endless stats on other players, making for much fairer games, which will keep those recreational players coming back for longer.
Deposit and Withdrawal Options at Bodog
The most straightforward deposit option of all at Bodog is via Bitcoin, this virtual currency is ideal for both the players and for Bodog themselves (they’ll even throw in added bonus too when depositing using this method). Other options include Visa and MasterCard credit cards, a money transfer or even an old-fashioned check. Once again, Bitcoin is the most straightforward withdrawal option, while you can also withdraw via a check, delivered by a courier.
