Bodog Review

Bodog Review

Bodog Poker Review

Bodog is one of the oldest, most respected online poker rooms in the industry, established back in 1995. In 2006/2007, when most online gambling operators were pulling out of the US market, Bodog Poker remained a staple in the industry by continuing to accept US players to this day. In fact, though quite popular on the other side of the world too, Bodog Poker is primarily marketed towards North America.

There are plenty of advantages to playing online poker at Bodog. Topping the list, however, is the site's reputation for extremely loose and juicy competition, not just in low stakes cash games, but in all stake, limits and even tournaments. The software is top notch, but does require a download that is only compatible with Windows operating systems.

Bodog Poker Software Bodog Poker is a part of a proprietary network and software brand, exclusive to the online poker room. Consistent updates have created for a highly stable, fully functional platform with loads of features. The graphics are awesome, offering small player images that don't clutter up the tables. Players are automatically given front-center seating upon entering a table.

Features include in-play note taking, a great hand history function that is compatible with most poker odds calculators, plus easy filtering of games, limits, stakes, and other useful info in the lobby to help find the most suitable tables with ease. If that's not quick enough for you, try the "Quick Seat" option, and with a few clicks of the mouse, you'll be automatically seated at a preferable table. The Bodog Poker Lobby supplies all of the vital stats, such as viewed-flop percentages, avg pot sizes and hands per hour.

Bodog Poker is fairly well suited for Multi-Tabling, presenting a great mini-view or cascading windows option. On the downside, players can only play at up to 3 simultaneous cash games at one time. The tables can be highly customized, including felt colors, to help distinguish between each game.

Bodog Poker Welcome Bonus New members of Bodog Poker will find a 110% sign-up bonus worth up to $500 on their first deposit. The bonus is split into two sections, starting with an instant 10% bonus, then a 100% bonus that requires point accumulation to release. For the first 30 days after the initial deposit, every 10 points collected is worth $1. When the 30 days is up, the bonus money earned, up to $500, is deposited into the players account. Points are quickly earned by playing any real money game, (raked ring game or tournaments that require fees.)

Bodog Poker Game Variety Bodog Poker's game variety is slightly above the industry standard, offering Texas Hold'em, Omaha, Omaha Hi/Lo, 7 Card Stud, 7 Card Stud Hi/Lo and 5 Card Stud. Hold'em and Omaha games are played in all limits, while Stud games are Fixed Limit only. Another benefit of Bodog Poker is that the full selection of games are available in Sit'n'Go tournaments, though Multi-Table tournaments only offer Texas Hold'em at this time.

Bodog Poker Tournaments Bodog Poker hosts a plethora of tournaments, ranging from guaranteeds, Freerolls and bounties, to satellites and qualifiers awarding seats in the most lucrative live poker tournaments on the planet – WSOP, WSOPE, WPT, EPT, APPT, LAPT, Aussie Millions, the list goes on. If it's coming up in the next few months, you can bet Bodog Poker is awarding prize packages to the Main Event.

Freerolls are played on a daily basis, mostly with smaller prize pools of $50 - $250. These are a great way for beginners to get used to the fast-paced action, gaining skills at the tables, without the risk. The next step for novices is "Beginner Tournaments" in the Sit'n'Go department 24/7, offering very low buy-ins and a payout structure that pays 50% of the participants. This helps new poker players learn the game and tweak their skills, while avoiding the typical bankroll-bleed associated with inexperienced players. It can be very difficult to oust 70%-92% of the competition just to hit the money bubble when you first begin playing online poker.

Now onto the more lucrative events, Bodog Poker offers valuable guaranteeds every week, ranging from $500 to $100,000 prize pools. The Sunday $100k Guaranteed offers a low buy-in of $100+$9, or win a seat for as little as $1 or 250 poker points. or you enter a semi-final for $10+$1, where 1 in 12 players move on to the $100k GP – or - pay $22+$2 to play a 5-seat SNG, with each winner moving on. Not cheap enough? How about $1 to enter a qualifier where 1 in 24 wins a seat in semi-final? Better yet, 250 poker points gets you into a qualifier where 1 in 27 earns a seat directly in the $100k GP.

Bodog Poker Promotions Members of Bodog Poker can also take advantage of a 100% reload bonus also worth up to $500. The clearing requirements are the same as the 100%/$500 welcome bonus. For every 10 points collected in the first 30 days after the deposit, the player earns $1 of the bonus.

Referring your friends to Bodog Poker is worth a 20% bonus up to $100, in relation to the friend's first deposit (i.e. friend deposits $100, you get $20.)

Loyal players at the online poker room can take advantage of a Double Poker Points promotion. Earn 2,000+ poker points in a calendar month, and at the end of the month, Bodog Poker will deposit a lump sum of double the poker points you earned that month.

Bodog Poker Player Traffic Operating on its own private network (no shared player base), Bodog has not achieved the enormous player base of today's largest online poker rooms, but continued US player acceptance has certainly helped to boost the numbers into a respectable ranking. Bodog Poker average real-money peak hour traffic of 2,400 ring game players and 9,000 tournament players as of June 2008.

Texas Hold'em dominates the ring game traffic, both in NL and FL betting structures, followed by Omaha and Omaha Hi/Lo with 100-200 each. Stud games are beginning to pick up, offering at least a few open tables at peak hours. Bodog Poker is notorious for its outstandingly soft competition. Simply glance over the viewed-flop percentages and stakes to find the fish in every corner of the lobby.

The cheapest tournaments, low cost guaranteeds and Freerolls of course, see a lot of player participation, as does the largest guaranteed prize pool of $100k every Sunday. Again, loose competition runs rampant at Bodog, making it the perfect online poker room for skilled players to rack up the chips.

Bodog Poker Customer Support Bodog Poker employs a stellar staff of customer support representatives, highly attentive to the needs of their members. Assistance can be obtained 24/7 via email or toll-free telephone (US and Canada only). The Help page is very well detailed and categorized to quickly answer all common questions.

Bodog Poker Payment Methods Players will find a full range of payment methods to accommodate players in all accepted regions of the world (US players accepted).

Deposits: Visa*, MasterCard*, Click2Pay, NETeller, Moneybookers, eWalletXpress*, PaySafeCard, Speedcard

Withdrawals: Visa, Click2Pay, NETeller, Moneybookers, Speedcard, Check*

*US player preferred payment options