Top Poker Rooms Review » Bodog Poker

Bodog Poker Review

Hits:

• 100% Sign Up Bonus up to $500
• Custom Profile
• Custom Table Avatars
• Qualifiers for World Poker Tour and World Series of Poker
• Excellent Refer a Friend Bonus (Up to $200)
• Loose Play in Low-Limit and Micro Tables
• Loyalty Points available in Tournament Play

Misses:

• Low Selection of Cash Out Methods
• Still Developing Traffic
• Primarily Texas Hold'em Traffic Only
• Stud Card Tables Mostly Empty

Summary: Overall Score: 4.5/5

Bodog poker has been around for a good long time, having been founded in 1994. Despite it's numerous years in existence, it is still working to build up decent traffic growth. Some would say that this is because Bodog is still working to get a handle on its promotions. The old bonus was a mere 10% for sign ups, but now the upgraded sign up bonus is 110% for up to $500 in deposits. The traffic rate is growing steadily, but it will be some time before this underrated poker room sees the same traffic that pro rooms are attracting. There is quite a bit of competition in micro and low stakes games, decent soft competition and a lot of excellent tournaments to take part in, so there are plenty of attractive reasons to visit Bodog Poker for Texas Hold'em play.

Software: Overall Score: 4.5/5

The software offered by Bodog poker is definitely more than average, with a solid and simplistic yet definitely functional lobby interface. It is easy to sort between the different types of games, stakes and game modes to find exactly what you are looking for. The table uses the same concept, but not quite as effectively. The layout is definitely simple and superb, though the graphics could use a bit of a pick me up. The custom avatars are nice but statistics and settings are standard and basic. There is plenty of room for improvement, but what Bodog offers is definitely not bad at all.

Traffic: Overall Score: 4/5

As far as user traffic goes, Bodog poker is still struggling to keep up with the pro poker networks, with only around 2,000 logins at peak times and around 1,300 on slower days. Most of the user traffic in the Bodog online poker room is concentrated in Texas Hold'em games, with no limit Texas Hold'em netting the most players, especially in low limit and micro stakes games.

Tournaments: Overall Score: 4.5/5

The most developed aspect of the Bodog online poker room is its tournament section. 70% or more of the real money players on the site can be found here, participating in numerous tournaments including regular Sit & go tournaments that range from $5 to $200. The scheduled events include free buy ins and $100 buy ins with prizes that easily go as high as $100,000. There is a menu button with special tournaments, but it generally only offers the same regular selection of tournaments. There are also qualifiers for the World Series of Poker and World Poker Tour with buy-in sums ranging from $1.5 to $27.

Game Variety: Overall Score: 4/5

Bodog Poker offers limit, no limit and pot limit Texas Hold'em, Omaha in pot limit and limit, 7 Card Stud, 5 Card Stud and 7 Card Stud Hi/Lo. Finding opponents in some of these tables can be quite tricky, as most of the visitors to the Bodog online poker room are playing Texas Hold'em in low and micro limit games.

Soft Competition: Overall Score: 5/5

The poker players in the Bodog online poker room are generally quite new to the concept of online poker, and end up in numerous ring game tables and tournaments for Texas Hold'em above all else. Unfortunately, most of the action that you will find here, especially when it comes to soft competition, is found in low stakes and micro stakes no limit games. The competition is quite loose, however, with the average of seen flops resting at around 90% on most days. Even the higher stakes games at $5 to $10 buy ins are seeing 40% of seen flops or more.

Sign Up Bonus: Overall Score: 5/5

The original sign up bonus was only 10% of whatever you deposited. Luckily, this has been upgraded significantly to the current bonus of 110% up to the first $500 that you deposit. The bonus is easier to claim than in most online poker rooms as well, making it well worth trying to get.

Loyalty Rewards: Overall Score: 4/5

Bodog Poker does have a regular system for loyal players to take advantage of, known as Bodog Poker Points. You get 50 points just for becoming a new member, and after each raked hand you will accumulate more. One Bodog Poker Point is accumulated for a minimum $1 rake, but you can also accumulate 0.1 point shares. Every entry fee dollar that you pay will earn six points as well, and these points can be redeemed to special tournaments with guaranteed cash prize amounts.

Promotions: Overall Score: 4/5

Bodog poker offers numerous regular tournaments coupled with guaranteed prizes in cash, along with WSOP and WPT qualifiers, and a healthy refer a friend bonus. The Refer a Friend bonus is up to $200, as a 40% comp of whatever your friend deposits, but before bonuses can be accumulated your friend must acquire enough rake points through playing.

Support: Overall Score: 5/5

The support that Bodog offers is available by telephone and e-mail. E-mail responses come within around 12 hours or so. Support times over the telephone are especially long during the peak hours, so correspondence by e-mail is usually preferred despite the longer wait.

Deposit and Cashout: Overall Score: 5/5

Deposit methods include Virtual Pin, NETeller, Credit Card, Central Coin, Check, Bank Draft and Citadel. Cashout methods include only check and e-check.

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