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Online Poker is Rigged Because There are Too Many Quads / Straight Flushes / Full Houses. Websites like Bovada and BetOnline that currently offer legitimate online poker for US players did not start out that way. Both of those companies began by offering Internet sportsbook action, and after establishing a trusted reputation for providing safe and secure Internet sports gambling options, the management teams running those sites expanded into Internet poker as well.
If you are a veteran player, then you know how hard it is to find a reputable all-in-one gambling site that caters to US residents. This is one of the reasons BetOnline is highly ranked in the gambling industry.
The site has a world-class sportsbook, an excellent casino and a vibrant poker room. The icing on the cake is that it accepts US players from all 50 states. This is a huge deal as most gambling outfits are restricted to US residents. BetOnline is currently the only all-in-one gambling site that accepts US residents from all states. This is no mean feat.
This BetOnline review tells you all you need to know about the site and if it is legit.
Is BetOnline Legit?
Yes, BetOnline is legitimate. It is not a scam because they have stood the test of time, has been online since 2004. And the gambling site is under a strict legal authority.
BetOnline was established in 2001 with its headquarters in Panama. The website is available in English and Spanish. The online gambling platform has a decent reputation in the industry. They had a rocky relationship with their customers due to their lies and bad PR but they have managed to put this behind them and forged a way forward.
In the wake of bad management, they revaluated some parts of their administration and made changes that are beneficial to their customers. They have improved their withdrawal speeds and settled their debts. In recent years, their conduct has been impeccable and we can boldly say it is legit.
BetOnline Sportsbook
For almost two decades, BetOnline Sportsbook has maintained a high standard with an excellent interface and intuitive software. Its number of markets is impressive and it accommodates both recreational sports bettors as well as professionals. The sportsbook covers live betting, financials, and racebook.
Vast betting markets
BetOnline focuses solidly on American betting markets and sports more than most sportsbooks. This is because a large chunk of their customers is US residents. The sportsbook covers the most popular sports in the US as well as action on horses, politics, entertainment and finances. There is a list of available games and races on their main page.
One of the most popular sports in BetOnline is horse racing. For lovers of equestrian sports, the racebook section has an info tab which gives you all the information you need to know. Each listing lets you know how many open races there. When you click on it, it expands to show you the odds, jockeys, races, and horses. You also find out:
- Tips about horse betting, frequently asked questions, terms and lingo used so you understand certain discussions.
- The rules guiding the game and the types of bets you are allowed to make.
- The payoff odds and how much you stand to make if you win.
- Their track limits and the maximum amount you can bet per race.
Other sports they cover include:
- Baseball
- Cricket
- Football
- Darts
- Golf
- Lacrosse
- Softball
- Formula one
- College football
- Basketball
- Rugby
- Soccer
- WNBA
- eSports
Live betting
BetOnline also offers live betting. They have an extensive menu on a simple interface. Their live betting options include lines for soccer, tennis, basketball, baseball and other sports. Every day, they update a long list of games that are available for live betting. They change their offers to coincide with ongoing games and events.
Using their multi-event tab, you can track several ongoing games simultaneously. You can also track upcoming games using the live betting calendar. Their betting limits for live betting is much higher than the average. They vary from $1 to $25,000 depending on the sports. Most of the markets available in BetOnline live betting max out from $1000 to $3000. To increase your wagering amount, you have to contact their player services.
Bonuses and promotions
BetOnline Sportsbook has some generous tournaments and bonuses for their bettors.
- They offer new players a 50% Welcome Bonus where you get a 50% match on your first deposit. It is called the Lifetime Bonus Guarantee. This bonus comes with a 10x rollover and goes up to $2500. To be eligible for their bonus, you have to use the bonus code listed on the site (NFL16) and have a zero balance with no pending rollovers. The bonus applies to all sports.
- They also have 50% Kick-Off Reload Bonus where you get a 50% to reload bonus up to $1000.
- For live bet players, BetOnline offers a live bet free play. This bonus offers you $25 free play. It is more or less like insurance that in case you make a bet and lose, BetOnline will refund you up to $25.
- They also have a $50 bonus for mobile betting that works just like the live bet bonus where you are reimbursed your bet if you lose.
- BetOnline also offers their players a 100% bonus up to 1000 on their first deposit via cryptocurrency. This has a 14x rollover. They also offer a 35% Crypto Reload Bonus up to $1000 on any deposit using cryptocurrencies. This has an 8x rollover. To be eligible for this, you have to use the promo code CRYPTO100.
Secure banking
BetOnline’s website is created with SSL encryption which protects your personal information and financial data from cybercriminals. This SSL encryption is the same technology used by financial institutions the world over to ensure the safety of their customers so you can rest easy knowing your data is safe. BetOnline only accepts US dollars, however, to accommodate bettors playing from different parts of the world, they accept multiple cryptocurrencies. They include:
- Bitcoin
- Bitcoin Cash
- DASH
- Litecoin
- Ripple
- Ethereum
Transaction details
BetOnline has high deposit and withdrawal limits. They also offer versatile options for deposit and withdrawals. BetOnline adopted Bitcoin as a deposit and withdrawal method in 2015. Players can deposit as much as $5000 via Bitcoin with 6.5% on deposits and 2% on withdrawals.
After much complaints from their customers, they eliminated the charges. Now, transactions made using cryptocurrency are completely free and withdrawals using Bitcoin can be up to $10,000. Every other method including credit cards, debit cards and e-wallets attract a high fee of 7.5% of the amount. Wire transfer, when used to transfer a large amount of money, attracts at least 3%.
For withdrawals, you can use the same methods you used to make a deposit. If you use cryptocurrency, the process takes a day or two. Cheques typically take a week.
It should be noted that US players cannot use Neteller and Skrill and deposits made using both methods do not qualify for BetOnline bonuses.
Deposit methods
- Visa
- Bank Wire
- MasterCard
- Money Orders
- American Express
- Person2Person
- Discover
- Cashier’s Cheque
- Cryptocurrencies
Withdrawal methods
- Visa
- Bank Wire
- MasterCard
- Money Orders
- American Express
- Person2Person
- Discover
- Cashier’s Cheque
- Cryptocurrencies
Competitive odds
BetOnline offers American, decimal and fractional odds. Though BetOnline caters to amateurs as well as high-rollers, the bulk of customers are recreational or amateur players. Because of this, BetOnline ensures that they provide a comfortable environment for them. You are more likely to get extra points here than other sportsbooks.
Their odds are highly competitive with an average payout of 96.5%. The payout on football is 93.3%, basketball is 96.7% and tennis is 96.7%. This is one of the highest among American bookmakers.
BetOnline posts its lines much quicker than other sites. They post NFL lines for the next week by the start of the Sunday night game. This is same for other sports. They also offer overnight lines for football, basketball and baseball games (NFL, NBA and MLB).
Limits
BetOnline has one of the largest sportsbooks online with the largest wagering limits for American residents. Whether you are an amateur, middle or high stakes bettors, you are not left out. You can bet as low as $1 and as high as $25,000 on several sides and totals.
Naturally, the more popular a sport is, the higher the betting limit. Therefore, for NFL spreads Thursday to Sunday, BetOnline offers a $25,000 wager limit whereas, for college football in the same time frame, the wager limit is $15,000. Another instance is basketball. NBA caps sides at $10,000 and $5,000 on totals and money lines. On the other hand, college basketball is at $3,000 on point spreads, $1,500 money line and $1,000 totals. Smaller market sports have lower limits which can go as low as $250 with the maximum at $500.
Their night limits are $250 or less which is low. However, they allow players to get money down way before other sites post their odds.
BetOnline Casino
As a full-service online gambling platform, BetOnline has a sportsbook, a poker room and a full casino. BetOnline Casino accepts players from all parts of the world but the majority of their players come from the United States. The casino allows different forms of betting all from the same account. BetOnline Casino offers a live casino, online poker and a Vegas-style casino.
Diverse games
BetOnline Casino offers players a wide selection of over 300 games. They give players more than enough games to keep them entertained no matter how frequently they play. You will find a wide variety of games ranging from slots to jackpot and table games.
Slots are one of their best features and they deliver a variety of excellent slot games to players. There are regular slots and 3D slots with unique themes. The casino also features an impressive collection of video poker and table games.
It has 60 slot titles, 17 video poker games, 13 table games and 9 blackjack variations. Their Vegas-styled games include:
- Slots
- Baccarat
- Blackjack
- Jackpot
- Roulette
- Specialty games
- Keno
- Video poker
Customer support
The standard of customer service doled out by a casino is enough to let you know if they are authentic or not. Legit online casinos have professional customer support representatives to cater to their customers’ needs night or day whereas scam casinos do not make adequate provision for their customers to reach out to them. BetOnline offers 24/7 support services to players.
Players can reach the casino through the following methods:
- Emails
- Fax
- Toll-free phone numbers
- They can also speak to a representative directly through the live chat feature on the website. There are live help tabs on every page. However, the live chat is limited to real money accounts only.
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Welcome bonus
BetOnline Casino offers its new players several bonuses when they sign up.
- The first is the Slots Bonus where you get a 100% deposit bonus when you wager any amount from $100 to $5000. This bonus has a 50x rollover requirement.
- There is the Live Dealer Bonus. When you play your first bet in the live dealer casino, you get $25 of free play if you lose.
- There is also the 25% Reload Bonus where players get an extra 25% bonus any time they deposit $25 or more.
- BetOnline Casino has a Rebate Programme where players get a 10% rebate every week they lose $100 or more.
- Players are also eligible for a monthly high-roller bonus and other tournaments. An example is the monthly $15,000 BTC deposit leaderboard challenge.
The bonuses are quite impressive. However, when compared to what is obtainable in other casinos, the playthrough requirement for the slots bonus is a bit on the high side at 50x. All free plays expire after 30 days.
Software
BetOnline did a software upgrade a few years ago. Before then, customers complained about their poor software quality which was accompanied by fuzzy visuals, muffled audio, and mediocre animation.
They did a system upgrade and are currently powered by Betsoft and Rival Gaming. Betsoft is one of the world’s fastest developing software providers. Together with rival gaming, they provided 3D games and high-quality graphics for the site. This has led to improvements in game quality and general aesthetics. The software is available for download on PCs and Mac computers.
License and restrictions
BetOnline is licensed by the regulatory authority of the Panama Gaming Control Board. Though it is not one of the strictest in the industry, it does not mean that BetOnline is not safe. BetOnline’s software has been audited by TST and found to be fair. Their certificate and information about the audit are available on Betsoft’s official website.
Although BetOnline accepts players from almost every country in the world, it is restricted in the following countries:
- Greece
- Nigeria
- United Kingdom
- South Africa
- Australia
- Malta
- Ghana
- Egypt
- Morocco
- Indonesia
- Montenegro
- Pakistan
- Ukraine
- Serbia
- Panama
- Switzerland
- France
- Kenya
- Macedonia
BetOnline’s Shortcomings
This BetOnline review aims to give you an honest opinion about this website including the unsavoury details. BetOnline had some dealings and policies which adversely affected its players and earned it a blacklist on some gambling forums. They include:
Scandalous history
BetOnline can’t seem to live down their shady past. It is a permanent dent in their image no matter how hard they try. They started by lying to players that they were on their own network when they were actually on Action Poker network.
There were also other borderline fraudulent activities. An example is confiscating player winnings. They have been relatively above board for the past 4 years. Still, some indiscretions keep popping up which makes it hard for new players to trust them. Most gamblers would rather do business with a gambling establishment with a clean history.
Horrible player reviews
There are several allegations of unfair treatment and withholding of funds by their players. This is most common with poker players. The most common complaint is that when they run up large balances in the poker room, Betonline, freezes their account.
There have been reports of BetOnline confiscating as much as $65,000 of a player’s winnings. To justify this absurd behaviour, BetOnline accused them of fraud or even chip dumping. This is nothing short of theft and makes it hard for players to take them seriously.
Hidden charges
BetOnline has hidden fees for their payout methods and they are quite high. You pay fees for every transaction option you choose. They only recently removed the charges on Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies after customers revolted.
Slow to implement technological advancements
BetOnline does not have a mobile poker room or a mobile casino. In this day and age, it is a major shortcoming on their part. They, however, have a mobile sportsbook. Also, BetOnline is yet to implement the popular live streaming feature.
Poor customer support
There have been numerous complaints about how discourteous and unhelpful BetOnline customer representatives are. Their response times for both live chat and email is quite slow. Also, only real-money customers who have made a deposit have access to their live support. This is not right.
Security issues
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Apart from their unprofessional conduct, it was also revealed during a live chat session that BetOnline customer agents know every player’s passwords. This is a breach of confidentiality and points to poor security.
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Players’ passwords ought to be encrypted and not be at the disposal of BetOnline customer agents. Nothing stops the customer reps from logging into a player’s account with a VPN and taking their money.
Also, some players discovered that they can play using multiple accounts on the same internet connection. This is a security glitch as two accounts should not be able to play using the same internet connection.
Their sordid past aside, BetOnline is a legit gambling platform. They are continuously working to redeem their image and do better which is commendable. For that reason, we can say that they are worth a trial. Also, for all their transgressions, they are only the multi-gambling platform that accepts players from all 50 US states. This counts for a lot.