Bovada stiffing a player for winning - A new low for a sportsbook

**pologq** · 06-02-20, 07:50 AM

i would file a complaint and let SBR look into it with the book.

**JAKEPEAVY21** · 06-02-20, 08:05 AM

I love how these books can claim "bonus abuse" yet keep giving bonuses to the "abuser".

**scottgodson1985** · 06-02-20, 03:17 PM

what a joke for bovada

**PaperTrail07** · 06-02-20, 03:23 PM

yeah I don't take bonuses anymore---leaves a window of opportunity for them to penetrate you imo...the rollovers are also a big joke and they have a betting scale to the point that unless you take dogs....10X seems like 20 LOL...

**Sleepless** · 06-02-20, 03:46 PM

How could a book that is willing to do something like this be deserving of the highest possible SBR rating? Since posting, I have learned that I am not the only one who has fallen victim of this scheme of theirs to avoid paying out players that won. What's the point of an A+ rating when a book that doesn't stiff winners can only get the same rating as a book that does? Is there anyone who believes that this book is not deserving of a lower rating?

**jedihyoju** · 06-02-20, 04:38 PM

seems like so many complaints from players associated with Bovada.

A+ rated book really?

hmmmm

**DISTROYA** · 06-02-20, 05:03 PM

books usually limit you and make rollover painful to complete, but taking money out thats already won for being a bonus abuser? They would get a bad rap real fast. Not making any conclusions but youre sure not leaving anything out sleepless? Thats a helluva lotta $$$

**Sleepless** · 06-02-20, 05:54 PM

Originally posted by DISTROYA

books usually limit you and make rollover painful to complete, but taking money out thats already won for being a bonus abuser? They would get a bad rap real fast. Not making any conclusions but youre sure not leaving anything out sleepless? Thats a helluva lotta $$$

It has happened to at least one other person on here who I have encouraged to post in this thread. Their position is that their terms state that bonuses are for recreational players only and if someone receives a bonus who they deem is a "skillful player" (which is obviously enormously subjective) then they have a right to not pay that person their winnings. My position is a bet is a bet and the entity who lost has an obligation to honor it if they want to be considered reputable. They are freerolling anyone who accepts a bonus that they offer by being able to call them a skillful player if they win and refusing to pay. How many losing players get deemed skillful players and have their losses refunded? Zero I would presume. I wasn't a skillful player when I lost my first 3 deposits and they allowed me to continue to redeposit and continue to play. Heck, they encouraged me to do so by continuing to offer me a redeposit bonus after lost my deposit. It was only when I won, and requested a cash out, was this arbitrarily decided. If I had not requested a cash out, they would have been more than happy to continue to freeroll me since if I won more they still were not going to pay and if I lost it all they would have continued to offer me bonuses to redeposit and play.

**Optional** · 06-02-20, 07:04 PM

Send in a Sportsbook Complaint form and we can ask a manger to review this for you.

**DontTailMe** · 06-02-20, 07:39 PM

This is the second similar complaint in recent weeks. Bovada cancelling out legitimate wins because a "non-recreational" player received a bonus. This new trend from them is very troubling. VERY unethical.

Even worse, in both cases, Bovada had ample opportunity to observe the player and determine if they were skillful or not prior to giving the final bonus which led to the issue. But even if this weren't true, I have major issues with a book finding any loophole to essentially FREE ROLL a player. I don't care if it's in their rules.

**pologq** · 06-03-20, 08:02 AM

if this is how Bovada is going to function that rating better come down real fast

**Ksherm** · 06-03-20, 08:51 AM

Another good book down the tubes...

**DISTROYA** · 06-03-20, 11:26 AM

yep...dime a dozen

**Sleepless** · 06-03-20, 02:12 PM

Originally posted by Optional

Send in a Sportsbook Complaint form and we can ask a manger to review this for you.

I've tried to submit a complaint using 3 different browsers. I fill the form out, complete the captcha, and click submit but nothing happens. Is there a problem with the complaint page?

**HedgeHog** · 06-03-20, 02:35 PM

Originally posted by Sleepless

I've tried to submit a complaint using 3 different browsers. I fill the form out, complete the captcha, and click submit but nothing happens. Is there a problem with the complaint page?

I have experienced that too. It got me thinking that they should have a complaint form for the SBR complaint form, and of course that wouldn't work either. Another option is to email help@sportsbookreview.com

**crinkledaces** · 06-03-20, 04:42 PM

Bovada is nothing but a scam!!! I had something very similar happen to me. Beware dont play there its a joke ran by a bunch of morons!!!!!

Stay away from bovada!!!

5dimes is way more legit and has better odds anyways!

**DoctorStrong** · 06-03-20, 04:46 PM

Bovada take usa players?

**crinkledaces** · 06-03-20, 04:47 PM

Everyone should spam this on their facebook!

**crinkledaces** · 06-03-20, 04:47 PM

(12) Bovada - Home

**SBR Forum** · 06-03-20, 04:56 PM

Originally posted by Sleepless

I've tried to submit a complaint using 3 different browsers. I fill the form out, complete the captcha, and click submit but nothing happens. Is there a problem with the complaint page?

Still nothing here, we sent an email to your registered forum email address.

**crinkledaces** · 06-03-20, 05:07 PM

Im in about 20 poker groups on facebook I shared it in every one of them! lets see how many people we can prevent this from happening to

**Sleepless** · 06-03-20, 05:33 PM

Originally posted by SBR Forum

Still nothing here, we sent an email to your registered forum email address.

I appreciate that. I have emailed you the details.

**Sleepless** · 06-03-20, 05:36 PM

Originally posted by crinkledaces

Im in about 20 poker groups on facebook I shared it in every one of them! lets see how many people we can prevent this from happening to

I appreciate you spreading the word. I would hate to see this happen to more people and it's our best defense against sportsbooks who think they can take advantage of customers with impunity.

**statengo** · 06-03-20, 05:40 PM

It's hard enough as it is to play these games and for the most part (for most of us), to lose money. Then, when one of us happens to get lucky and get some of our money back, they pull crap like this. So unfair. Does Bovada or any of the books not know that this affects their reputation with ALL players?? I'm less likely to keep a large amount of money there and I'm also less likely to play more when they do stuff like this.

I don't do bonuses...never have and never will. The first time I read the mumbo jumbo on the sites, I knew right then and there those things were trap doors. I hate stuff like that with all types of crazy strings attached. Like I said, it already takes a lot of trust to put your money into one of these books and then more trust to play their games -- which for the most part -- they WIN! So what if one of us on this forum get lucky every now and then. Why not just let some folks win and talk about it and that will lure more of us into the book to bet more. Seriously. I would rather have heard you won that amount and withdrew it without incident --- I guarantee you Bovada would have made all that and then some off of us on this forum. Guaranteed. In a short amount of time too. It's like buying lottery tickets. You hear someone won some money and you go out and buy some, too. Most people don't win. But when we hear that someone won some money, it encourages us to take some risks and it makes us happy that we get a chance at the insane odds of winning some too.

I just wish that someone would explain this to these sportsbooks. Make us want to give you our money. Get some good stories of people winning money out there. That will only encourage more players. Casinos know this.

**statengo** · 06-03-20, 05:44 PM

Does 5 Dimes do stuff like this too? Just curious? I have played with them a few times but never won anything. Before I go about reloading my account there, I just wanted to get some opinions about their reputation. I can't play with books that have bad reps for not paying winners. That really sucks.

I've heard good things about 5D though so hopefully that is a good site. Please share your opinions. Thanks

**Sleepless** · 06-03-20, 06:26 PM

Originally posted by statengo

It's hard enough as it is to play these games and for the most part (for most of us), to lose money. Then, when one of us happens to get lucky and get some of our money back, they pull crap like this. So unfair. Does Bovada or any of the books not know that this affects their reputation with ALL players?? I'm less likely to keep a large amount of money there and I'm also less likely to play more when they do stuff like this.

I don't do bonuses...never have and never will. The first time I read the mumbo jumbo on the sites, I knew right then and there those things were trap doors. I hate stuff like that with all types of crazy strings attached. Like I said, it already takes a lot of trust to put your money into one of these books and then more trust to play their games -- which for the most part -- they WIN! So what if one of us on this forum get lucky every now and then. Why not just let some folks win and talk about it and that will lure more of us into the book to bet more. Seriously. I would rather have heard you won that amount and withdrew it without incident --- I guarantee you Bovada would have made all that and then some off of us on this forum. Guaranteed. In a short amount of time too. It's like buying lottery tickets. You hear someone won some money and you go out and buy some, too. Most people don't win. But when we hear that someone won some money, it encourages us to take some risks and it makes us happy that we get a chance at the insane odds of winning some too.

I just wish that someone would explain this to these sportsbooks. Make us want to give you our money. Get some good stories of people winning money out there. That will only encourage more players. Casinos know this.

Couldn't agree with this more. The smartest books that last forever know that the most valuable asset that they have is their reputation. Without it, all they have is a domain name.

**Sleepless** · 06-03-20, 06:33 PM

Originally posted by statengo

Does 5 Dimes do stuff like this too? Just curious? I have played with them a few times but never won anything. Before I go about reloading my account there, I just wanted to get some opinions about their reputation. I can't play with books that have bad reps for not paying winners. That really sucks.

I've heard good things about 5D though so hopefully that is a good site. Please share your opinions. Thanks

In my experience, 5D used to be very shady at times but the way they have handled themselves since sports shut down has been as good as anyone. No excuses about paying, didn't cut payout limits, and essentially conducted business usual at a time when many in the market acted in a way that they absolutely shouldn't have and used the pandemic as an excuse. Their payout process, particularly for the first time, is rather obnoxious but the way that they handled themselves at a very difficult time made me view them as one of the most reputable books operating now.

**DontTailMe** · 06-03-20, 06:48 PM

Originally posted by statengo

It's hard enough as it is to play these games and for the most part (for most of us), to lose money. Then, when one of us happens to get lucky and get some of our money back, they pull crap like this. So unfair. Does Bovada or any of the books not know that this affects their reputation with ALL players?? I'm less likely to keep a large amount of money there and I'm also less likely to play more when they do stuff like this.

I don't do bonuses...never have and never will. The first time I read the mumbo jumbo on the sites, I knew right then and there those things were trap doors. I hate stuff like that with all types of crazy strings attached. Like I said, it already takes a lot of trust to put your money into one of these books and then more trust to play their games -- which for the most part -- they WIN! So what if one of us on this forum get lucky every now and then. Why not just let some folks win and talk about it and that will lure more of us into the book to bet more. Seriously. I would rather have heard you won that amount and withdrew it without incident --- I guarantee you Bovada would have made all that and then some off of us on this forum. Guaranteed. In a short amount of time too. It's like buying lottery tickets. You hear someone won some money and you go out and buy some, too. Most people don't win. But when we hear that someone won some money, it encourages us to take some risks and it makes us happy that we get a chance at the insane odds of winning some too.

I just wish that someone would explain this to these sportsbooks. Make us want to give you our money. Get some good stories of people winning money out there. That will only encourage more players. Casinos know this.

I have made a lot of money accepting bonuses over the years. They aren't a problem if you know what you're doing. Sketchy books might pull shenanigans like this with bonuses, but highly rated books typically do not. That's why this case is very concerning. If a book makes this their policy, then they no longer belong in the upper (or even middle) tier of sportsbooks IMO.

**jedihyoju** · 06-03-20, 07:40 PM

If this is true (which I think it is cause numerous similar complaints about BOVADA last few days)

Bovada's rating should be downgraded for sure.

**JoeCool20** · 06-03-20, 07:56 PM

Originally posted by Sleepless

Couldn't agree with this more. The smartest books that last forever know that the most valuable asset that they have is their reputation. Without it, all they have is a domain name.

What bets were you making to win all that $$$$ without any sports going on? Juswondrin

**Colonist** · 06-03-20, 08:50 PM

I've been a regular with Bovada for a couple of months now. I'm a consistent loser in their casino, poker and I've been suckered out of thousands in their NFL simulated games. The only thing that I have been mildly successful with on the site is their fixed wagering horse racing product. Overall, I've been a big loser with them. Their response to my mild level of success in that one area (fixed odds horse racing)? They have reduced my maximum wager to a level of $50 (sometimes less depending on the track). Meanwhile, they will let me bet as much as I want on their shady simulated fake NFL games. I've complained about them reducing me in the one area that I do want to play and they give me a bs line about their racebook manager setting the limits. Frustrating and bush league.

**Optional** · 06-03-20, 11:38 PM

Originally posted by Sleepless

In my experience, 5D used to be very shady at times

5Dimes has treated you "shady" as well?

Was was that about? Bonus related too?

**Pinocchio** · 06-03-20, 11:57 PM

Very unethical?

It's straight up theft!

**Miz** · 06-04-20, 05:28 AM

Thank you for sharing this. best of luck in recovering your funds. Did you have multiple accounts ? That is usually the only way books totally stiff people. Or did you have a friend over on your wifi that also logged in? I've been paid many times by them, and this is disturbing news that I am wondering if it is related to financial trouble from the pandemic.