Online Casinos

I’m taking the time to look at Bovada casino because it is one the top ranked online casinos for US players.

There are only 12 US states that permit online gambling and therefore most US gamblers are forced to play at offshore sites.  This means there’s little recourse if you feel you got ripped off, so you want to be sure you’re playing at a legitimate and honest site.

Bovada is an online casino, sportsbook and poker room that belongs in the PaiWangLuo Network of US casino sites.  That network is the biggest US friendly poker network.

Bovada offers plenty of action packed casino games, widely considered the easiest to beat on the internet.  They have single deck blackjack that will have only a .19% house edge if you can employ perfect blackjack strategy.  They also offer plenty of tournaments to try your luck at if that’s what you prefer.

Basic Info

It was launched in 2011 and is well established as a legitimate and trustworthy site that provides prompt payouts, despite being unregulated and unlicensed in the US.

It is US player friendly, except for players in Delaware, Maryland, Nevada, New Jersey and New York.

They have over 150 casino games, including numerous slots, video poker and a variety of table games.

Their support is friendly, helpful and quick, even without live chat.

Their sportsbook offers action on over a dozen sports and entertainment activities, plus live betting of parlays, straight bets, props and more.

It is also mobile-friendly if that’s your preference.  There is no download required, just bring up the website on your mobile device and start playing.

Bonuses

While their poker bonuses are considered a little skimpy, the deposit bonuses for new customers are considered great.  They have a huge 100% match up to $1000 casino bonus, with a 25X rollover requirement.  That can be done 3 times. Different games contribute at different rates to this rollover bonus, so you must be aware.  Slots count at 100% so they would make it easier to clear the way for redeeming the bonus.

There is a potential of $3000 in welcome deposit bonuses!  Because of the 25x rollover requirement (actually industry standard competitive) it will take some time before you’re able to withdraw any of that bonus money.

The poker bonus is 100% welcome bonus good for up to $500 on a player’s initial deposit.  There are other online casinos that will offer better overall poker bonuses than that, but Bovada does admit they want to primarily appeal to recreational players.

Banking

They do seem to prefer cryptocurrency, but do take credit cards, bank transfers and deposits using payment processors. Bitcoin is their favorite form of money transfer because they don’t have to deal with middleman fees and the transfers can be anonymous.

If you are familiar with Bitcoin and use Coinbase as your Bitcoin exchange vehicle, don’t use it with Bovada because Coinbase does ban users who try to use their service for gambling.  Try to find another intermediary wallet for Bitcoin exchange, which can be expensive.

Support

Bovada does have a FAQ section that has a lot of simple and common questions already answered, so it is a great resource for help.  If you can’t find an answer there, emailed questions are generally answered within 24 hours.  They have also be known to phone customers if there is suspicious activity on an account.

Sportsbook Betting Options

They have one of the largest selections of betting markets, beginning with the usual sports, to the unusual of Cricket, eSports, Handball, Olympic Games, Politics, Snooker, and Handball.

There are a variety of bets you can make, like parlays, props and spreads, to interactive live bets like who will catch the next pass.

Sportsbook Betting Limits

Because they are focusing on recreational players, their minimum bet is $1, with the maximum bet ranges from $100 to about $2000, depending on the game or bet you’re making.  For professional gamblers, this may seem low.

They do get complaints regarding dual prices, in that there is a “better” rate for the recreational player who makes smaller bets, and a less favorable rate for the “competent” bettor who makes larger bets.  However, it’s been said that if you can get a great rate on your first big bet, take it and run because you’ll probably be tagged as a “competent” bettor for your next bet!

Blackjack Games

They do not have a big variety of blackjack games.  Their games include: Blackjack, Double Deck, Single Deck, European, Perfect Pair and Zappit.  Because the casino is said to be soft on games anyway, the single deck blackjack, with a house edge of only .19% is a big time player favorite.

Card Table Games

They do offer a good standard collection of games like Roulette, Baccarat, Craps and several poker variants, but have yet to offer live dealer games.

Slots

They have a great variety of slots.  They have video slots, classic slots, 3-reel machines, 5-reel machines, progressives, 3D slots and many more.

One complaint is that there aren’t any “licensed” slots, like movie, tv show or celebrity based slots.  This is because it is an offshore casino, not licensed or regulated by the US and therefore can’t work with the companies that offer those types of slot machines.  However, if you like slots, you won’t be disappointed with all they do have to offer.

Mobile Aspect

Fortunately, there is nothing to download and the entire site is mobile responsive, so it’s like having the casino wherever you are.  For the most part, you can play all the games, anywhere.

FINAL THOUGHTS

Bovada is a fantastic place to dabble in online gambling.  I do recommend this casino. For US players, Bovada is  one of the most reliable and trustworthy places to play online.  Their goal is to give the recreational player a casino that is friendly and easy to play at, so they offer great incentives.  They are not looking to rip you off. They want to give you some place to enjoy the opportunity to make money, even though we all know it’s gambling and you’ll probably lose money!  They do it with great customer service and a solid reputation.

Despite the re-opening of casinos amid the pandemic, many people are still hesitate on returning to casinos for their gambling fix.

Fortunately, online casinos will still have their draw and you can get your gamble on right in the comfort of your home.  Hopefully the right cards will be the only thing you’ll catch at the online casino.

Newbie Online Blackjack

First, play your normal game.  Don’t rush into playing high stakes games, especially if you wouldn’t play high stakes at a land-based casino.  Unless it’s some unusual variation of blackjack, the rules are going to be the same as in a real casino. 

Play online blackjack to practice your basic strategy if you’re not well versed in basic strategy. If you don’t learn and play basic strategy well, you will quickly lose money online, just like in a land-based casino.  It will probably happen quicker online, so be careful. 

Many of the online casinos will allow you a couple free practice hands to play before betting real money, take advantage of those offers.

Strategy for Online Blackjack

Just like at real casinos, the first strategy or tip to employ is, never take insurance.  This is the biggest sucker bet in blackjack.  The only time you should consider taking it is if you are on a large bet and have 21 yourself.

Along with not taking insurance, make sure you’re following basic blackjack strategy.  Playing online, at home, is a good time to practice using a strategy card and learn basic strategy.

A land-based casino usually doesn’t mind you using a strategy card at the table, but some people feel a bit embarrassed by doing so and won’t use one.  If you don’t know basic strategy by heart, you’re costing yourself money if you’re not making the correct plays.

Novice players at a land-based casino are seemingly shy about doubling down or splitting cards when they should for some reason.  If you practice at home, online, you can become aware of how doubling down and/or splitting can greatly improve your profits when done at the proper times.

Final Thoughts 

I think playing online is a great way to perfect your game play. If you’re worried about going to a real casino at this time, online play can give you a similar casino feel, except for the noise!

Online blackjack can also offer you many variations of blackjack that will challenge even the best of players.  If you find real casino blackjack boring, play a blackjack variant online for the challenge.

Best sites for online Blackjack:

I’ll first start with a warning that many online casinos do not accept players from the United States because of the many regulations, so look out for that when deciding on an online casino to play at.

Considering that you will be playing with your own money, verifying any site’s safety should be your first concern.  The top online casinos are independently audited and regulated and will support the top notch SSL security encryption, so you know your bank information will be totally safe and secure.  Of course you want to be comfortable and assured that your winnings will not be hacked away by some idiot.  

You want to know that you would be able to collect any winnings.  The site may let you make a deposit using one method, like paypal, but in order to withdraw any winnings, another method woud have to be used.  That kind of information is usually found within the FAQ section of a website.  Make sure you know all the money details before you place your first bet.

Check for published lists of bad, as well as, top-rated casinos.  A top-rated casino will be certified by a reputable third-party governing body, like the eCOGRA (eCommerce Online Gaming Regulation and Assurnce) or Technical Systems Testing (TST).

Once you figure out the site is secure, you want to look at the bonuses the casino offers.  Online bonuses usually come with terms and conditions, including bet requirements to eventually withdraw any winnings, the specific games you must play to use the bonus money and whether a specific amount must be deposited to receive the bonus money.  You do want to pick the largest online bonus, keeping in mind the specific terms and conditions.  You can find sites online that will rank the top online blackjack sites, offering the biggest bonuses. As with promotions anywhere, “free money” may not really be free, read all the fine print.

Another key factor to look for in online casinos is that they use Random Number Generators.  This is what determines the shuffling and dealing of cards for fair play.  The top sites will show that their RNGs are regularly audited and tested as well. 

Last but not least, is to determine that the site has a good variety of blackjack games to play. The different varieties let a player make money from a variety of a side bets, keeping the player challenged and interested.

Blackjack online provides greater flexibility and unique features not offered at actual casinos.  Playing online can be less stressful, with all kinds of practice games and tutorials available for learning.  With continuously improved technology, the once perceptable difference between online and actual casino blackjack has decreased significantly to the point where blackjack online is beginning to over take land-based playing.   You can’t beat the convenience of being able to play at home.

If you don’t live near a casino, your best option for honing your skills is of course online blackjack, played at online casinos.  This allows you to play at your own pace and make money whenever you have time.  There are many different online casinos and you definitely want to be careful about choosing a trustworthy and reputable casino.  I have reviewed and listed some of the better ones to consider that accept US players below:

Ignition Casino – One of the top favorite online casinos because of it’s Real Time Gaming (RTG).  It has very generous bonuses and a superb incentive program that rewards regular depositors.  If you’re into Bitcoin, it’s considered one of the best Bitcoin casinos.  You can download it for tablets, IPhones,and Androids, as well as desktops for Mac and Windows.  Blackjack games available:  Classic , Classic Double Deck, Classic Single Deck, European Blackjack, Perfect Pairs and Zappit.

 

Vegas Casino Online –  Up to 400% Welcome bonus. Great mobile casino Sister casino of Las Vegas USA casino.  Blackjack games available:  Classic, Perfect Pairs, European, Face Up, Match Play, Pontoon, Super 21.

 

 

Bovada – One of the best online casino destinations for US players.  They offer at least 6 different real-time blackjack variations for any level player. They provide a high level of service with a complete casino entertainment atmosphere with all kinds of gaming available, including live dealer games.