BetOnline Poker Review
Overview BetOnline has been a key player in the online gambling world for over a decade and launched its online poker room in 2010. The site became immediately popular among online poker enthusiasts but fell foul of collusion and cheating regulations as a result of its unethical connections to the Action Poker Network. BetOnline claimed to be part of Hero Poker Network but was actually part of Action Poker, later renamed Chico Poker. (They did not prevent players therefore from being logged into BetOnline and Action Poker at the same time). Despite the scandal, BetOnline is currently the third largest online poker site that accepts US players, and the most sizeable one that has no state restrictions. It accepts bitcoin and runs an impressive schedule of tournaments.
Traffic BetOnline consistently has a healthy level of new players so competition is quite soft. Almost all traffic is concentrated at the lower stakes, with an almost nonexistent high stakes scene.
Games BetOnline offers the standard Texas Hold’em, Omaha and Omaha Hi/Lo. Constant action is usually to be found in the No Limit Texas Hold’em games, with some Pot Limit Omaha action going during peak hours. Sit and Go’s start at a few cents and run up to $11 nearly 24 hours a day.
Tournaments BetOnline runs a regular range of Multi-Table and Sit and Go-style poker tournaments, most have quite low buy-ins. They have a $3,500 tournament leaderboard and players are able to earn Player Option Points at a rate of 1 for every 10 cents in contributed rake paid. Over $250,000 worth of prize money is offered in guaranteed weekly tournaments, with the biggest spreads at the weekends, with an attractive $10k guaranteed prize pool every Saturday and Sunday.
Promotions New players can take advantage of a 200% bonus up to $1,000 with their first deposit. It is released in five advances and expires after 120 days. There is also a Bad Beat Jackpot every Monday at select tables. Players that make a 4 of a kind on select days will receive a $40 bonus.
Software is Windows and Mac compatible and thoroughly user-friendly, despite some significant glitches when the site was first launched, but these were efficiently ironed out. BetOnline isn’t overly showy but tends to be speedier and more reliable than many of its competitors. Players are able to re-size and play several tables at once, check hand history and flick between two room styles.
Banking with regard to bitcoin is functional – bitcoin will arrive in about one day with a charge of 2% of the withdrawal request. Players outside the U.S. are charged a $20 fee to withdraw to e-wallets, however this fee is waived one time each month if the cashout is requested on a Friday. Bitcoin withdrawals are processed in amounts up to $3,500. Players outside the U.S. are able to receive Bitcoin withdrawals on the same terms as U.S. players, as well as cashouts by Neteller and Skrill.
Customer Service is available via telephone, email and live web chat. Contacting live support is instantaneous and the operators are friendly, helpful and informative. In contrast to this, email response is somewhat sluggish.
*For upto date information on all aspects to BetOnline make sure to check out BetOnlineReviews.com.