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Sites Like Bovada - Legal sports betting alternatives

We look at some of the best legal alternative sites to offshore sportsbooks such as Bovada.

As sports betting rapidly expands across the US, many customers are looking to wager on their favorite sports online.

There are many operators now available online, including the offshore sportsbook Bovada, which also owns Bovada Casino. If you have heard about them, but are not sure who they are, Bovada is a controversial online gambling site that offers sports betting and online casino games.

So, if you want to play a casino game online or play poker online, you should avoid this operator. Luckily, there are legal alternatives where you can play video slots, video poker and regular slot games all while your personal information is protected. Bovada also has an extensive sports betting section, which is the focus of this article.

They are not based in the US because they are, like Roobet, an offshore operator, which you should avoid at all costs. You should only wager with licensed online gambling sites. Luckily, there are now websites like Bovada that offer safe, legal sports betting to Americans. We will run you through the best sites like Bovada sportsbook.

Sites like Bovada

So, if you are unsure about using Bovada or want to get to know what the site is like, but find better, safer Bovada alternatives, then we are here to help. There are so many websites like Bovada, such as Cafe Casino, that offer the same, if not better advantages to online gambling. We will put questions like is Bovada safe and is Bovada trustworthy to the test as we take a deep dive into the Bovada alternative sites.

Our Top 4 Alternative Bovada Betting Sites

Here we have listed the five best betting sites like Bovada, without all of the negatives attached. All of these sites are regulated and are a significant upgrade to the Bovada sportsbook.

#1 BetMGM Sports

BetMGM Lobby

The first Bovada alternative worth mentioning has to be BetMGM. You will have probably heard of the MGM name before due to its vast ties in the entertainment and gambling world. BetMGM is an online brand gambling giant and has a quality mobile sportsbook, casino, and online poker platform.

Inside, you’ll find first-class odds and selections for pre-game, future, and live in-game betting. BetMGM sportsbook is the king of Parlays with the most Parlay options out of any sportsbook, so if you’re looking to stack up bets, then BetMGM is the place for you. Another cool feature is their cash-out feature allowing you to pull out a part of your winnings before the tie is complete.

If you’re looking for a trustworthy online sportsbook, then BetMGM is a great choice. Get the Vegas betting experience at your fingertips with exclusive betting offers and an array of features. The site is trustworthy, and reliable with fast and secure deposits and withdrawals, making it a much better option than Bovada.

Available in: Arizona (AZ), New Jersey (NJ), Pennsylvania (PA), Indiana (IN), Colorado (CO), Nevada (NV), West Virginia (WV), Iowa (IA), Tennessee (TN), Virginia (VA), Michigan (MI), & Washington DC (DC).

Why choose BetMGM: Licensed, legal, and trustworthy name that provides a reliable all-round gambling experience.

#2 Draftkings Sportsbook

DraftKings Sportsbook

DraftKings is one of the most popular gambling operators across the states, it’s hard for Bovada sportsbook to keep up with DraftKings and other front runners, and there is no surprise as to the efforts they go to increase a player’s experience.

DraftKings’ all-in-one sportsbook and online casino app make switching between your favorite slots and sports seamless. They offer literally thousands of ways to bet on football and have a great selection of different sports you can wager across. With the slick and silky app, you’ll be able to build parlays, and the same game parlays with ease.

The best bit for us has to be the odd boosts; out of nowhere, they will pump up your odds, making your payout look crazily good. Once you’ve won on the football, why not flick straight to the online casino and double up your fun on all your classic casino games like blackjack, roulette, and slots?

DraftKings offers fast and safe transactions, something you won’t get with offshore sports betting websites like Bovada. Join DraftKings for free and claim their welcome bonus of up to a $1,000 deposit bonus.

Available in: Arizona (AZ), Colorado (CO), Connecticut (CT), Illinois (IL), Indiana (IN), Iowa (IA), Michigan (MI), New Hampshire (NH), New Jersey (NJ), New York (NY), Pennsylvania (PA), Tennessee (TN), Virginia (VA), West Virginia (WV) & Wyoming (WY)

Why choose DraftKings: This DFS giant, turned sportsbook has one of the widest choices of betting options at any US betting operator.

#3 FanDuel Sportsbook

FanDuel Promo

The most popular legal sportsbook in the US, it is so obvious that FanDuel is better than Bovada.

Looking for an exciting and feature-packed sportsbook app? Look no further than the nation’s top-rated app, which offers over 20 sports to bet on, top-notch promotions, and incredible features to enhance your betting experience. With options like cash-out, in-game betting, futures, round robins, parlay insurance, and free bets, there’s something for everyone.

And the bonuses? They’re equally impressive. With big bonuses and a sign-up offer of up to a $1,000 free bet, you’ll be able to maximize your winnings and take your betting to the next level. So why wait? Download the app today and start experiencing the ultimate in sports betting excitement.

Available in: Arizona (AZ), Colorado (CO), Connecticut (CT), Illinois (IL), Indiana (IN), Iowa (IA), Michigan (MI), New Jersey (NJ), New York (NY), Pennsylvania (PA), Tennessee (TN), Virginia (VA) & West Virginia (WV)

Why choose FanDuel: FanDuel offers a huge choice of betting options along with some really cool features like cash out, insurance, and a built-in casino, making it a great Bovada alternative.

#4 Caesars Sportsbook

Surely everybody has heard of the world-famous casinos run by Caesars? They are a powerhouse in the gambling world and now have one of the best licensed US Sportsbooks available.

If you’re looking for something similar to Bovada, Caesars is not what you need. This is because Caesars blows Bovada out of the water and offers so much more quality in the sports betting arena.

Caesars has recently taken the wheel from William Hill and re-branded both their apps and online to the new Caesars sportsbook. They have invested massive amounts into promotion, so expect some of the best offers around.

There are hundreds of ways to wager and play with Caesars; check out their sportsbook welcome bonus of up to $5,000 dollars! That’s the biggest bonus bet you will find!

One of the most significant benefits of having a Caesars account is the Caesars rewards system, where you can earn fantastic rewards to use across Caesars casinos in the US. Earn mega stays at Caesars resorts alongside a whole host of other loyalty benefits like free bets, a real money cash drops, and shopping and dining benefits.

caesars rewards

Available in: Arizona (AZ), Colorado (CO), Indiana (IN), Iowa (IA), Illinois (IL), Michigan (MI), New Jersey (NJ), New York (NY), Tennessee (TN), Virginia (VA) & West Virginia (WV)

Why choose Caesars: A name you can trust. Unlike offshore sportsbooks like Bovada, Caesars offers a safe a legal way to place bets in the US.

Can you trust Bovada?

Bovada has been offering its online gambling services for many years; however, its popularity is suffering; on Trustpilot, Bovada scored an embarrassing 1.3 stars. Alongside this, Bovada is located offshore in Costa Rica; offshore gambling sites can often lead to a considerable amount of problems.

The most significant is that if the operator or website shuts down, then they can take your money. Don’t take this lightly; there are loads of examples of this happening in the past with other offshore operators.

Offshore gambling is illegal in the US, but many people have turned to this option in the past due to mobile gambling being banned in many states. However, a large number of states have now made mobile sports gambling legal, and it looks like most other states are getting ready to follow suit with legal proceedings taking place across the country.

Problems with Bovada

One of the top problems with Bovada instantly places a major red flag over the operators’ heads. Bovadas sister poker sites were investigated a few years back and were accused of stealing $20 million dollars from players. Not the most amicable accolade to have partnered with you, is it?

Bovada itself has a history of alleged scams and a massive network of angry players who feel that they have been dealt an injustice. You will find negative customer reviews everywhere you look!

Duplicated payments, accounts being pulled, and voided bonuses have been speculated amongst the online gambling community. Bovada, unfortunately, is known for a few more misdemeanors.

Although Bovada and the Bovada casino are known for taking Bitcoin payments, their actual range of payment and banking methods is limited, to say the least.

To top it off, if you’re having a problem with a casino payment method and you are trying to contact the Bovada customer services, you are probably going to rip your hair out.

Bovada being an offshore site means that the lack of in-house (country) customer service is minimal. Many have accompanied Bovada with its poor customer service, which is a shame to hear from any member of the gambling industry.

Finally, to finish this salty review, the Bovada website is known for being slow as hell- an instant no-no when you want a stress-free betting experience.

Are there safer alternative gambling operators out there?

It is much safer to use a legally regulated gambling operator, and there’s a load of them to choose from. Alongside increased security, there are a host of other benefits that you should take advantage of by signing up to these other regulated sites, including juicy betting odds and tasty sign-up bonuses.

Safe US sportsbooks

The 5 books we listed above are our go-to sports betting sites and ones we can highly recommend over Bovada and similar sites like Stake.com. Bet safe, best secure, and bet legally. You don’t need to worry and ask is Bovada legal or worry about any of the problems you may encounter when betting offshore when you use a US book.

How to Choose the Best Bovada Alternatives

When you want to pick an alternative to Bovada, you want an option that does much better. For this reason, you’ll want to evaluate some important factors. Here are some of the things we considered while compiling our list, which you can also use to choose your ideal option.

Licensing

This is very important. When choosing a Bovada alternative, you’ll want to go with one that is licensed to operate in the United States. All the sportsbooks on our list are properly licensed, and you can use them in most parts of the US without problems.

Sports Markets

When you sign up on a sportsbook, your goal will be to bet on your favorite sports. As such, you need an option that extensively covers all the popular sports like Football, Basketball, etc. There should also be an allocation for other less popular sports to ensure you have variety. Bovada uses its selection of betting markets to draw in customers but this does not mean there aren’t better options. As we’ve covered, options like FanDuel do way better in this aspect with tons of competitive odds and betting options to support.

Bonus Offers

The right bonus offer can be the boost you need to get the best returns from your deposits. With a bonus offer, you can play without spending money, increase your bets, and win even more cash. Check out the bonus offers on the sportsbook you are considering and ensure it is worth it. Ideally, you’ll want to find welcome bonuses, deposit bonuses, etc. Also, check out the bonus terms and make sure they are fair before you sign up on any site.

Bet Types

We expect every sports betting site to offer the usual bet types such as moneylines, over/under and totals. However, the best sites should also offer more exotic wagers like player props and unique parlays that let you combine wagers from various markets into one large bet. This keeps things exciting and also gives players more chance to get that big payout, which will keep them coming back.

Banking Methods

Playing on an online gambling site will require you to make deposits, and withdraw earnings at some point. For this reason, it is very crucial to go with platforms that provide you with plenty of easy-to-use banking options. You’ll want one that offers reputable options like Visa, Mastercard, PayPal, etc. Also, check out the payment speed of the platform. The best gambling platforms don’t delay your earnings and ensure you get payments fast.

Customer Service

Every betting site we review, whether it is an online casino ranking table games and slots or a sportsbook looking at the range of sport bets, the quality of the customer support is always vital. The least we expect from any sports betting site, from Barstool Sportsbook to DraftKings and FanDuel, is that they offer live chat and email support. We also keep an eye out for other communication options such as social media accounts and telephone numbers. We put these contact methods to the test to make sure the response times are fast and efficient.

We always think live chat is the best option if you are looking for a quick response. All customer service reps should be on hand 24/7 to answer queries. We expect the reps to be knowledgeable and to get back to us within 10 minutes. Email responses should also take no longer than 12 hours.

Reputation

As we have already determined in this guide, Bovada does not have the best reputation as they have run into some problems in the past. Therefore, you will want an alternative that has a better reputation than Bovada. Fortunately, all the websites on our list have been existing for a long time and have built a stellar reputation over time. Simply go through the list and pick one that best suits your needs.

Accessibility & Design

Another reason you may be on the lookout for another site is that you can’t get on board with the design and functionality of Bovada. You may have visited one of the sites we have listed on this page and prefer its interface. This is mostly a subjective choice but every betting and gaming site offers a unique user experience and naturally, some do this far better than others.

Why Choose an Alternative to Bovada?

Luckily there are plenty of sites like Bovada out there that will satisfy your betting needs all in a safe and legal environment. These online betting sites, whether it is a sportsbook or online casino offering a range of live dealer games and other online casino games, understand what the modern day bettor is looking for.

We have outlined above some factors which are crucial in online betting and believe alternative sites to Bovada provide you with a higher quality experience, but most importantly, a safe and secure platform.

Best Bovada Alternatives for NFL Betting

The most popular sport to be on in the United States is football. Before NFL Sunday rolls around, you need to know the best legal online sportsbooks out there to wager on the pigskin. As we have mentioned above, you should always sign up for legal and licensed sports betting sites no matter what sport you are interested in. Once you have claimed your welcome bonus, you can click on the upcoming matches on any of the below sportsbooks and choose which NFL match you want to bet on.

#1 Draftkings Sportsbook

DraftKings is the best NFL betting site for us as it offers everything you look for in an NFL wagering platform. It offers ongoing promotions targeted specifically for the NFL in addition to a betting menu that ranks above any other legal betting site. Look out for NFL promos for Thursday Night Football, regular season Sunday games and Monday Night Football clashes.

#2 Caesars Sportsbook

Caesars offers a fantastic overall betting experience. NFL bettors are primarily looking for a few essential things: a huge market variety and generous bonuses and promotions. Caesars has these things and more, with the sportsbook particuarly excelling on odds boosts for NFL games.

#3 BetRivers Sportsbook

BetRivers is a big player in all of the states it operates in, and for good reason. New users are rewarded for creating an account with a 100% deposit match bonus in addition to an extensive NFL betting menu that compares favorably to all of the other big name operators. Although BetRivers offers similar markets, they also have different lines and odds with some unique NFL promos.

Legal sports betting

The time is finally upon our nation that betting, depositing, and withdrawing at online sportsbooks is about to take over the traditional brick-and-mortar sportsbooks that many of us used to use.

Mobile gambling with the top online operators is becoming bigger and bigger. Advances in technology and years of research in other countries mean that the US is now coming to the forefront of online casinos, sportsbooks, and poker apps.

We Americans have always loved to gamble, Las Vegas is a special place for many, and now you can access it at your fingertips. Legal online gambling is now more readily available than ever, with 13 states allowing online casinos or online sportsbooks.

It is up to each state what they allow within their borders; this included which sportsbooks are licensed for each state.

Why have people been using Bovada?

After researching why people have turned to offshore gambling sites like Bovada, we found common themes surrounding sites similar to Bovada like Wild Casino, which is very sketchy. You can read more about the legitimacy of Wild Casino in our guide. Take a look at our suggestions for Bovada themes and Bovada alternatives.

Illegal to bet online in my state

As frustrating as it is, the most apparent reason for players using betting sites like Bovada is because the use of an online gambling site is illegal in their state. We do not recommend illegal gambling and are forewarning you that sites like Bovada are unsafe and may lead to future problems.

eSports content

Bovada and sites similar to Bovada are super popular with players due to their e-sports connections. Offshore gambling sites were some of the first to jump into e-sports gambling as many US sportsbooks were wary of it due to its infancy.

You can expect to see betting sites like Bovada take bets on eSports very soon, so watch this space.

Bitcoin / Crypto deposits

A common theme emerged regarding the use of Bitcoin and other similar Cryptocurrencies on sites like bovada.

Bitcoin could be one of the biggest movements in online currencies that the US has ever seen. Boasting benefits like; increased security, faster payments, easier international payments, greater anonymity, and no bank transaction fees, Bitcoin could take the world by storm.

However, its progression to the mainstream looks turbulent, with different states viewing it opposingly with its legality hanging in the balance. The uncertainty of bitcoin has been recognized by all major legal bookmakers in the US; therefore, none of them offer a Bitcoin payment method as of yet.

Due to no major sportsbooks accepting bitcoin, we do not recommend relying on bitcoin as your payment source for your gambling fun. There are much safer methods out there, convert your bitcoin back to real money and play on the elite online gambling operators.

FAQs

Is Bovada legit?

Is Bovada safe and legit is a valid question. Put simply, Bovada is an offshore online gambling operator, which means that it is not safe and can result in you losing your money or account and having your data misused as they are not a certified bookmaker. You can find legal, regulated sportsbooks in our suggestions above.

Is online gambling legal in the US?

Online gambling is now legal across several US states, including Arizona, Colorado, Illinois, Iowa, Indiana, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Tennesse, Virginia, West Virginia, Arizona, New Jersey, New York, and Delaware.

What states is Bovada legal in?

Bovada accounts can be made in 45 of the 50 states, not including Nevada, New York, New Jersey, Maryland, and Delaware.

Who regulates offshore gambling sites?

There is no standard company that regulates offshore gambling sites. There may be little or no regulation on these sites.

My state doesn't offer online gambling; should I use an offshore site?

We do not recommend using offshore sites as of their lack of regulation and catalog of horror stories for players. If you are close to another state, is it not illegal to cross the border and place your bet there.

Why use a regulated casino or sportsbook over an unregulated one?

Using regulated sportsbooks guarantees that they are subject to US law and licenses, which ensures players' safety. Your data and money will be dealt with appropriately by vetted organizations that have overseeing authorities ensuring they are secure and offer players a fair experience.

How do I know my online betting operator is safe?

If the operator you are using is registered with the state and has an online gaming license in the US (not offshore), the site will be safe. We only recommend operators with the highest amount of security to protect your details, data, and money.

Can I get my money back if Bovada closes down?

No. As Bovada is not a certified online sportsbook, you can not guarantee to get your money back if the site closes down. We would not recommend using offshore online gambling operators or Bovada sister sites as such.