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Bovada is an online betting site available to customers in the United States. It was created on December 11th, 2014 as a division of Bodog to serve the US market.

Bovada
Bovada
Years Active 2011 - Present
Status
Headquarters Quebec, Canada
Countries
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Homepage Bovada

Contents

Signup Bonus

History

1997-2000: Cyberoad

Established in 1997, Cyberoad was a software company specializing in providing online betting systems. In 1998 their technology was used to launch numerous early internet sportsbooks including MayanSports.com, TheBigBook.com, GrandPrixSports.com, and TheSportsMachine.com. These betting sites offered credit card deposits and e-check withdrawals through the use of the eBanx payment processor. This allowed these sportsbooks to stand out as most of the industry were still relying on Western Union and cash payments. On November 29, 1999 Cyberoad completed the purchase of eBanx.[1] After raising money to go public Cyberoad shut down in 2000.

2000-2001: El Moro and eSportz

El Moro Finances acquired Cyberoad's assets on July 20, 2000.[2] These were allocated to eSportz, a subsidiary of El Moro Finances. TheBigBook.com purchased GrandPrixSports.com and continued operating using the software distributed by eSportz. Other betting sites previously working with Cyberoad were left out of service, including MayanSports.com.

eSportz created their own betting site Bodog which was set to operate out of the same offices as The Big Book. Customers of Mayan Sports received e-mails informing them that their account information had been transferred over to Bodog.

2001-2003: Kazootek

Both Bodog and The Big Book were using Kazootek Technologies as an accounting firm, who also managed the eBanx payment system. On June 15th, 2001 two employees of Kazootek Viktoria Zazuolina and Tatiana Kostiouk began embezzling money from company clients. They recruited Greg Tanner, a new employee, to assist them in starting a new company using technology and money stolen from Kazootek and their clients. The Big Book had agreed to use their services, and allegedly began planning to steal source code from eSPortz betting software. After an investigation began in 2003, Viktoria Zazuolina resigned from Kazootek. Bodog announced the termination of it's partnership with The Big Book, and decided to become the sole betting site using eSportz software.

2004-2007: Bodog

In October of 2006 Bodog purchased WorldWide TeleSports for $9 million dollars, which was at the time one of the most reputable betting sites serving US markets. Following the purchase Bodog moved their offices from Costa Rica to Antigua, and absorbed WorldWide TeleSports existing staff members.

Calvin Ayre continued building Bodog's brand name.

2007-2009: Domain Seizure

Bodog's primary domain (Bodog.com) stopped working on August 28, 2007. Founder Calvin Ayre e-mailed customers informing them that the site would go back online as soon as possible. Bodog.com was seized by 1st Technology LLC, whom held a patent regarding the transmission of information over a network with reduced bandwidth. 1st Technology LLC begun contacting Bodog in July 2005, and escalated to a lawsuit in September 2006 after not receiving a reply. Bodog representatives failed to appear in court, resulting in the judge issuing a default judgement in March 2007, citing patent infringement. Bodog was ordered to pay $48,937,456 in order to retain their domain.

Following the loss of their primary domain, Bodog released a statement saying that Mohawk Morris Gaming Group were now controlling all company business involving the US market. In an effort to regain control of Bodog.com, they appealed the initial court decision on the grounds that Bodog.com was no longer owned by Calvin Ayre or Bodog. The appeals escalated to Washington but were unsuccessful.

The loss of Bodog.com decreased site traffic obtained from years of prior advertising campaigns. Bodog switched to an alternative domain BodogLife.com until Mohawk Morris Gaming Group eventually paid 1st Technology LLC $48,937,456 in April 2019. Bodog regained control of Bodog.com, greatly increasing website traffic.

Bodog began expanding to international markets. Sportsbooks launched in Canada (Bodog.ca), United Kingdom (Bodog.co.uk), and Asia (Bodog88.com). The brand continued to grow, including sponsoring various English Premier League teams including Arsenal and West Bromwich Albion.

2011-present: Bovada

Following a successful international expansion, Bodog decided to distance their brand name from the potential liability of the US gambling market. On December 14th, 2011 Morris Mohawk Gaming Group renamed the US sportsbook to Bovada. Existing players were notified of the change and assured that their account information was transferred over.

On December 14th, 2011 Morris Mohawk Gaming Group announced that it had ceased operating all Bodog branded websites.

Available States

Bovada is available to US residents in all states except Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, and Nevada.

Services

Deposits

Bovada Deposit Methods (USD)
Method Min Max Fee
  VISA $20 $1,000 None
  MasterCard $20 $1,000 None
  AMEX $20 $1,000 None
  Bitcoin No limit No limit None
  Bitcoin Cash No limit No limit None
  Zelle No limit No limit None
  Voucher $10 $3,000 None

Withdrawals

Bovada Withdrawal Methods (USD)
Method Min Max Fee Process Time
  Bitcoin $10 $9,500 None 15 minutes
  Bitcoin Cash $10 $9,500 None 15 minutes
  Check $100 $3,000 $100 1-2 weeks
  Voucher $10 $3,000 None 15 minutes

Reviews

References

  1. "Cyberoad Completes Ebanx Acquisition", bnamericas, Costa Rica, November 29, 1999. Retrieved on 2019-09-17
  2. "TRANSFER OF OWNERSHIP", Law Insider, June 20th, 2000. Retrieved on 2019-09-17