An honest legal BetOnline review can be hard to find, but that is exactly what we have put together. When looking to bet sports online, you will probably find that there are a myriad of options out there available to you. But make no mistake, there are certainly differences between the good sportsbooks, and the bad ones. Fortunately for you we have done our research, and know that BetOnline Sportsbook is among the best in the game. BetOnline operates out of Costa Rica and is one of the best legal sports betting sites for US players
There are lots of reasons, which I’ll cover in this BetOnline Review, all updated for 2020! Editor’s Personal Note – Legit But Understand The Bonus Offer First So You Don’t Feel Scammed. I play at several sportsbooks, including BetOnline as one of my personal primary favorites. I have my “trifecta”, my perosnal top 3 and BetOnline.
They offer a variety of betting odds for virtually every sport in the world. Whether you are looking to wager on the NFL, soccer, the NBA, Golf, or a number of other sports, BetOnline will have lines available. But there is more to a sportsbook like BetOnline than simply the betting odds that are offered. While lines do play a very important role, there are other things that make BetOnline one of our favorite legal betting sites to deal with.
The themes of variety and different choices are a big part of this, for which you will read all about this in our BetOnline review as you continue to scroll down the page. A full and complete understanding of how BetOnline operates is what jumps off the page here, so be sure to check it all out.
Does BetOnline Sportsbook Accept USA Players?
BetOnline is one of the online sportsbooks that does accept USA players. As they operate outside of the United States in Costa Rica, United States laws pertaining to online gambling businesses do not apply. BetOnline specifically markets to bettors from the United States. Betting sports online is legal for players in the US who use sportsbooks such as BetOnline, which operate outside of the country’s legal jurisdiction. Federal laws for betting online focus more on the businesses which operate online gambling versus bettors who wager on sports online, making overseas books 100% legal to use for eager US sports betting enthusiasts.
Legal Age To Bet At BetOnline
BetOnline is legal for players in the United States create accounts, but the minimum age required to bet still must be satisfied. This includes all participating countries, as we are not singling out the US to meet the age stipulation. BetOnline has a minimum age of 18 that it requires all members to meet, but the site also defers to the local betting age in your area should it be higher than their requirement. (In many states, the legal gambling age is 21, for example, and it is good practice to wait until you are at least that old before signing up at BetOnline or other Internet sportsbooks.)
Learn More:Is It Legal To Bet On Sports In The U.S.?
What Does BetOnline Offer For Sports To Bet On?
BetOnline Sportsbook offers a variety of betting odds for a ton of sports. You can get betting lines for all of the major sports from across the world at BetOnline, and the service also offers live betting for various sports, where players can get live lines for current action as it unfolds in real-time. Whether you are a bettor who places wagers routinely or just wish to make one or two bets every so often, BetOnline will have the odds that you are looking for.
Live Sports Gambling + Mobile Wagering at BetOnline
BetOnline features a great live betting section that covers many different sports. In fact, the live betting on site has its own place in the sportsbook where all of the information is available. The sports and matchups offered for live betting will depend on which seasons are in play. BetOnline has one of the largest live betting interfaces of any sportsbook which has made it one of the most successful as well. Placing live wagers on a matchup is very simple, as BetOnline has easy-to-follow instructions on what is involved. From filling out the bet slip, to the upcoming matchups on the live betting schedule, it's all available.
Mobile wagering lets you take all of your sports on bets on the go and is one of our favorite features to discuss in our BetOnline review. Using your iPhone, Android, or BlackBerry phone, you can access the entire sportsbook while out at the bar or waiting in line for food. The mobile betting platform is extremely user-friendly and is easy to navigate. Choose from the same sports, make straight or exotic wagers, and even request payouts from your mobile device. The best part is that no download is required – just visit BetOnline.ag from your handheld device. Tablets are also compatible with the BetOnline mobile interface.
BetOnline Sports Betting Bonuses
No legal BetOnline review would be complete without discussing bonuses. When you make your first deposit at BetOnline, you can take advantage of one of the biggest bonuses in the industry. The 50% Welcome Bonus will match your initial deposit by 50%, for up to $1000 in free plays! That’s $1000 that you can use to bet on any sport and any wager type in the sportsbook. This is only good for the first deposit that you make with the cashier, so make sure to redeem it before you are no longer eligible.
You may find legal betting sites that offer bigger match bonuses or bigger maximum bonuses, but what you are not going to find are sportsbooks like BetOnline which give a 25% bonus on every deposit you make, not just the first. This “Bonus For Life” program is great because you can collect up to $1,000 on your first deposit, your 15th deposit, or your 100th deposit, and all deposits in between. You simply don't find a bonus like this at other places. Sure, other online sportsbooks offer reload bonuses from time to time, but none of them are as good as their first deposit bonuses. At BetOnline, the reload bonuses come closest to matching the magic of your first-ever sportsbook bonus.
There are two other sportsbook promotions that we want to mention in our BetOnline review. One is a free $25 bet in the live wagering section. There is not a bonus code needed because BetOnline gives this option to every account holder. Simply place the wager, and if it hits, you keep the winnings. If the bet loses, BetOnline will refund the $25 play. And then finally there is a mobile bonus bet of up to $50. If the first bet you make through BetOnline’s mobile interface hits, just like with the live bet bonus above, you keep the winnings. If the bet loses, the wager can be eligible for reimbursement by contacting customer service.
BetOnline Bonus Codes
The 50% deposit match Welcome Bonus (worth up to $1000) can be redeemed by entering code “BOL1000” while at the sportsbook’s cashier page. The bonus will be instantly credited to your free-play account after you have completed your deposit.
To access the Lifetime Bonus at BetOnline, users are going to need to input the bonus code 'LIFEBONUS' at the cashier page before actually making a deposit. This code works for all deposit options. (Users previously needed different codes depending on the payment method used.)
Outside of the one bonus code for normal BetOnline sports promotions, this website also has bonus codes for casino games like slots as well as casino bonuses that can be used for whatever slots and table games you wish to play. Check the BetOnline website for the latest promotions and codes.
BetOnline Deposit Methods
One of the most important topics covered in our legal BetOnline review is telling bettors how to safely put money into their sportsbook accounts. BetOnline has a healthy choice of legal sportsbook deposit options for players in the US and around the world to take advantage of. They are all listed on the site under the cashier section of the sportsbook. Below, however, is a quick synopsis of what can be expected.
Credit Cards - Visa and Mastercard cards are accepted methods of deposit at BetOnline. They can also be in the forms of debit and prepaid cards, though in the case of prepaid cards (or gift cards), you’ll need to make sure the cards are good for international purchases before attempting to deposit with them.
Bitcoin - Bitcoin is the most popular deposit method at BetOnline, and the vendor also accepts a variety of altcoins, which are other cryptocurrencies that also use blockchain security technology. These include Bitcoin Cash, Ethereum, Litecoin, and DASH. Bitcoin transfers are nearly instantaneous, and the limits on deposits are adequate for the vast majority of bettors.
Money Order - A money order is available at BetOnline as well, and is able to be used by players from the U.S. The minimum deposit for a money order is $300.
Wire Transfer - A Western Union transfer or a MoneyGram are accepted methods to make BetOnline deposits. They go through fairly quickly and are accepted for all US residents.
Bank Wire - A bank wire has a high minimum deposit of $1,000, but there is no maximum on what the amount can be for this method. As such, bank wires at BetOnline are primarily well-suited to the high rollers out there.
BetOnline Withdrawals - Payout Methods At BetOnline
BetOnline offers some of the fastest sportsbook withdrawal methods available, and they each come with their own banking limits. There are legal withdrawal methods for casual bettors, high rollers, and those that would put themselves somewhere in between. The following section of our BetOnline review will detail the most common payout methods that are offered at the sportsbook.
Bitcoin – Bitcoin is the fastest withdrawal method available and it is extremely reliable. Just provide your bitcoin wallet address and you can receive your funds without issue.
Check Options – BetOnline delivers checks much faster than most online sportsbooks. Rather than taking a month to be delivered, checks from BetOnline will be delivered in 7 days or less.
Wire Transfers - Bettors have the choice to do either a MoneyGram or a Western Union transfer. The maximum to withdraw for either is $800, though the fees for each can be different.
Bank Wire - A bank wire takes about 10 days to be received by the player, which is longer than a money order-style wire transfer. But the bank wire withdrawal amount can be very high at BetOnline, which is why it’s a favorite method of high rollers.
BetOnline Sportsbook Support
Even after our legal BetOnline review, you may still need to contact customer service with additional questions. You can reach BetOnline customer service through a variety of outlets 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Email BetOnline at cs@betonline.com. They also offer a toll-free number, 1-888-977-4717. Live chat is the most popular contact method, where you are connected with a real agent via a chat room. You only have to select the department that you would like to chat with and you are connected within seconds.
Other Features Of BetOnline Sportsbook
BetOnline is not just a sportsbook. In fact, they off several other features at their site, including an online casino as well as a top-notch online poker website. BetOnline has a ton of legal online casino games that are available to USA players, too, and the site has a seemingly endless supply of online poker tournaments.
Also offered at BetOnline is a racebook for daily horse races in the US and around the world. But perhaps the coolest feature at BetOnline is their stats center, in which all of the information about any sport can be found. BetOnline is absolutely a complete online gambling experience, and you’ll be amazed at the sheer variety of pastimes you can enjoy simply by signing up and depositing a few dollars.
Our BetOnline Poker review gives readers an overview of what they can expect when they start playing at the site. The review is primarily focused on the new player experience, but may also appeal to players who have played at other online poker sites before, and who are looking at the opportunities available elsewhere.
BetOnline Poker is the primary “skin” on the Chico Poker Network – an interesting network which is principally comprised of US-friendly sports betting sites with a couple of smaller online poker sites coming along for the ride. Interestingly, although the smaller online poker sites affiliated with the network do not accept players from the US, BetOnline Poker does – making it the destination of choice for players who want to take advantage of the site´s massive first deposit bonus and soft competition.
BetOnline has been accepting sports bets and wagers on horseracing on the Internet since 2004. The site had a small online poker presence until 2013, when it introduced a substantial first deposit bonus. The introduction of the substantial bonus attracted a lot of interest. Player numbers escalated at the site – more than doubling over the next two years – and, due to the site´s other promotions, most players stayed. BetOnline Poker is now one of the leading US-facing online poker sites in the world.
More recently, the site has extended the range of games and promotions. New Windfall Sit & Go games and fast-fold Boost Poker were introduced. The site changed the structure of its weekly MTT and Sit & Go leaderboard competitions, and the distribution of the Bad Beat Jackpot to ensure more players are rewarded with cash prizes for playing at the Jackpot tables. There are also more opportunities for players to buy into tournaments using their Comp Points – more about which is explained below.
The BetOnline Poker download is available for Windows, Mac, and mobile devices (iPhone 5/Android OS 6 or higher). It is incredibly quick to get up and running due to the uncomplicated software, and can be accessed via this link to visit BetOnline.ag. Our link will take you to a new web page, where you should click on the “Play Now” button in order to create your account. The account creation process is also incredibly quick. The registration page asks you for:
Please complete the registration page with your details in the format they appear on any documents you will use to verify your account and remember to read the terms and conditions of playing at the site before clicking “Create Account”. Once you have created your account you will be sent an email containing your username (usually a letter followed by six numbers) and your password. You will also be redirected to the poker home page to download the poker software.
This is where you need to be a little careful. There is a link to a BetOnline client at the top of the page, but this is for sports betting, rather than online poker. Scroll down to below the list of promotions, where you will find a choice of “Download BetOnline Poker for Windows”, “Download BetOnline Poker for Mac” and “Download BetOnline Poker for Mobile”. The mobile download link will take you to a separate page where you can select the appropriate download for your mobile device.
The options for funding a BetOnline account mostly depend on where you live. Online poker players in the US and Canada have the options of Credit Card deposits, P2P transfers, cashier´s check, wire transfer or money orders; while outside of these countries players can use Skrill, Neteller or UKash (and POLi in Australia) to make their first deposit. Players from all jurisdictions can fund their accounts with Bitcoin, Litecoin or Ethereum.
Withdrawals are usually made by the payment method used to fund an account and are subject to minimum and maximum limits and fees. For example, checks by mail or courier can only be made for withdrawals of between $500.00 and $2,500 and are subject to fees of $25.00 (mail) and $35.00 (courier). Neteller and Skrill withdrawals (for players outside the US and Canada) are subject to a $9.900 maximum and a $20.00 processing fee. There is a 2% fee for withdrawals using cryptocurrencies – which are available for amounts as low as $20.00.
We mentioned in the “Getting Started” section of our BetOnline Poker review how the software is uncomplicated, and this reflects in the design and functionality of the interface. The poker client is basic and simple to navigate, with each section of the lobby having easy-to-use filtering mechanisms. The Sportsbook, Horses and Casino tabs take players to the web pages for those particular activities, and the Flash “Instant Play” poker platform is similar to the download software, but has a little less functionality.
Using the downloadable client, players can instantly review their hand history and stats, and make notes about the players they are competing against (right-click a player´s name to access this feature). There is a nice range of customizable options to play around with to change the table display, sounds and animations, and a guide on how to use Hotkeys to manage bets of certain sizes and other betting actions from your keyboard.
Although BetOnline Poker is a magnet for players of NL Texas Hold´em poker, it is also a primary destination for PL Omaha players. It is not unusual for waiting lists to form on the $2.00/$4.00 PL Omaha tables and BetOnline is one of the few places where there is still a vibrant 7 Card Stud community. The options also exist to play cash games of Americana and 32 Card Draw, and – of course – the latest additions to BetOnline´s portfolio of games – Windfall Sit & Go and Boost Poker.
BetOnline´s tournament schedule and Sit n Go lobby consists exclusively of NL Texas Hold´em games. The majority of tournaments are low buy-in re-buy and add-on events with minimal late registration periods. Nonetheless they tend to be well supported. The feature weekend events have guaranteed prize pools of $50,000 (increased to $100,000 on the last Sunday of each month), and special events with more valuable prizes are announced periodically.
Up until 2013 – with the introduction of the substantial BetOnline Poker bonus – we would have said the level of competition at the site was generally very low. However, as the number of players using the site has increased, so has the quality of the play. These days there is a lot of NL Hold´em action at stakes between $1.00/$2.00 and $5.00/$10.00, and these tables are filled with accomplished players. The same can also be said regarding the PL Omaha tables at higher stakes.
Further down the stake limits, it is more likely that you will find recreational players with modest bankrolls and sports bettors. The micro and low stakes cash tables are beatable, but you should not be misled by the level of competition at these lower stakes when you aim to take your bankroll to a higher level. The difference in skill level is not so evident in Sit & Go games and multitable tournaments, as more accomplished players tend to play at sites that host more valuable opportunities.
BetOnline Poker has several “cool features” in terms of the innovative promotions the site runs. There also BetOnline bonuses for other betting opportunities that you will qualify for once setting up your BetOnline account. These include (but are not limited to):
(*) Important Note: Every time you deposit money in a BetOnline account, you are prompted to use the BetOnline bonus code “YESBONUS”. Players who want to take advantage of the poker bonus (a 100% match on first deposits of up to $1,000) should enter the BetOnline Poker bonus code of “VIP1000” and email Customer Support (poker@betonline.ag) to have the bonus activated.
The BetOnline Poker bonus available through TexasHoldemPokerOnline.com is a 100% match on your initial poker deposit up to a maximum bonus of $1,000. This bonus is cleared as you earn “Comp Points”. Comp Points are awarded based on how much is deducted in rake from each cash game pot you contribute to or how much you pay as a fee to enter a multitable tournament or Sit & Go game.
100 Comp Points are awarded for each $1.00 raked or paid in fees, and the bonus is released in increments of $5.00 each time you have accumulated 1,500 Comp Points (equivalent to a rakeback rate of 33%). You are allowed a maximum of sixty days to clear the BetOnline Poker bonus and, once the sixty days have elapsed, the Comp Points can be used to enter an improving selection of poker tournaments. There is no cash exchange facility available.
We believe that there is something for everyone at BetOnline. Although the time allowed to clear the maximum BetOnline Poker bonus is a bit tight and there is not (yet) a points-to-cash exchange facility available in the VIP rewards program, the site compensates for these shortcomings with a good range of poker promotions that are divided into tiers so that players of all bankroll levels have a chance to cash in each. Don´t forget further promotions exist at BetOnline´s online casino.
There is certainly no lack of action at the tables. BetOnline is not an exclusively US-facing poker site, so it attracts players from all over the world and you will always be able to find a game at any time of the day. The site is making strides to improve its product, its promotions and the opportunities to players all the time. For these reasons we consider BetOnline Poker to be the best option for U.S. players looking for an enjoyable and potentially lucrative online poker experience.