Bodog Poker Review

The Bodog brand is a strong name in the industry, their roster of professional players is impressive and from the outset you get an overall sense of quality at Bodog. Once you download the software and log in you’re greeted by an extensive, yet neatly arranged lobby.

The left hand side of the lobby client is reserved for news and promotions so ensure you’ll never miss out on all their juicy offers. The right hand side of the lobby contains a window that gives players an overview of the game they are about to enter.

For example, if you click on the Omaha tab, along the top of the lobby, you are given a brief description of how the game works. The side bar also contains a link to a more detailed set of rules.

This feature is great for new players to the game or those looking to transition into a new variant of poker and while it probably isn’t absolutely necessary it is subtle touches like this that make a site more appealing to fresh players.

New players can also benefit from two $500 guaranteed freerolls each day. These are obviously great value in themselves but Bodog have added a twist to their freerolls: rebuys.

Every player who enters the freeroll has the option of being able to rebuy 1500 chips for $1 if their stack falls below the starting 1000 chips. Players can also choose to purchase an add-on during the first break for a further $1.

The benefits of this are two fold. Firstly, if you already have a bankroll and are looking for a cheap way to boost your profits then these are great. Freerolls can be frustrating because players often push all-in regardless which means your good hands are going to get sucked out on.

The rebuy element negates this, so if you’re a decent player you can overcome variance and give yourself a great opportunity to win some extra cash.

The second great aspect of this system is that any extra prize money generated is distributed back into the prize pool. Thus, if everyone at your table is going rebuy crazy you can sit tight, watch the prize pool increase and freeroll your way to even more money.

For players just starting out these freerolls offer a huge amount of value and are definitely a reason to choose Bodog.

On the graphic side of things the table set-up is simple with only the outlines of a table and chairs being shown. No extraneous effort or space has been wasted on fancy backgrounds and the result is a smooth, uncluttered table that produces lightening quick action.

A spotlight indicates when it is your turn to act and bet buttons are easy to read which means you won’t be accidentally folding instead of raising. The colours are bold and the table holds its clarity even at the smallest dimensions.

For some reason the developers have chosen not to include any auto-tile buttons which means you have to manually resize each table in order to fit them neatly onto your screen. They have come up with a mini-view function though which allows you to run three tables simultaneously in one window.

Although in theory the idea is good the execution isn’t and the format of one large table being flanked by two miniature tables is hard work to follow. The inability to run more than four tables simultaneously will be frustrating to many super grinders.

For the general poker population this should be too much of a problem though.

Overall, the quality of the site is apparent from the start and a lot of money has been spent creating a smooth, enjoyable experience for players.

Bodog’s sports book and casino help attract a lot of gamblers to the site, most of whom find their way to the poker tables at some point. This makes the bulk of the competition very soft and even moderate players will be able to turn a profit there; not least because of the excellent points for cash system that Bodog operates.

New players have a lot of options to make some free cash and with US players being welcomed with open arms the potential for growth in the future is excellent.