BetOnline Prohibited Countries
You don't want to read my full BetOnline review if you're not allowed to play on BetOnline. So, let's start with the prohibited countries.
I don't want to give a list of all the prohibited countries in this BetOnline review because laws change all the time.
BetOnline itself doesn't want to be clear about it. They just say in their FAQ: "Please check with your local government to ensure it is acceptable for you to place an online wager."
And who can blame them? There are over 200 countries in the world, each with their own local laws.
Currently though, It's clear that there are at least 5 locations where playing on BetOnline is strictly forbidden.
These locations are:
Australia, France, Malta, New Jersey, North Korea. The list of forbidden locations also includes many countries from Africa and the Middle East.
If you're not from one of these, you're good to go.
BetOnline is especially great for US, UK and Canadian punters who are having hard times finding regulated sportsbooks to play on.
BetOnline Background Check
This review of BetOnline would miss an important point without a background check of BetOnline. After all, they require credentials from you, and you should know who you're giving your data to.
BetOnline is based in Panama City, Panama. Lovely place. I've never been there, but the pictures look fantastic!
On their website, BetOnline claims that "their team has been working together since 1991, offering full service to clients throughout the world."
That's quite a claim. That's before the internet was really mainstream, let alone incredible innovations like Bitcoin and blockchain technology.
Suffice it to say -- if they've really been around that long, then they've been through hacks, law changes, and almost the entire evolution of online gambling. Seems they should have a pretty good handle on things.
And what has that handle on things helped them with? Well:
"BetOnline is open for online and telephone wagering 24/7, 365 days a year. Account Management is also available 24/7 to ensure maximum support for our clients."
Is BetOnline Legal?
For the purpose of writing this BetOnline.ag review, I played some of these games for money. But was I legal all the time?
BetOnline is different from most websites. They don't focus on one or two offers -- No, they offer sports betting, poker, casino, esports, a lot of promotions throughout the years, and more.
To be (and remain) legal, the main challenge of BetOnline is to deal with different regulations for each of these offers.
Sports Betting vs Other Games
Laws surrounding sports betting vary greatly. In the United States, offering sportsbook services is illegal under the Wire Act. BUT… Casino games and poker games aren't covered by that law. Then again, in the U.S. -- individual state laws might apply.
However, keep in mind that if you place bets on BetOnline, it's a minimal amount of legal risk. The Federal Wire Act aims at companies taking bets, not the individuals placing wagers.
Source: imgflip.com
And since BetOnline operates under a license from Panama City, Panama -- where BetOnline is completely legal -- then the U.S. gov. can't pursue. Even now, the Internet creates confusion about WHERE a bet takes place. BetOnline says that the bet takes place in Panama City, where it's legal.
That's my understanding, and the understanding of many experts. Of course, you should contact a lawyer if you need legal advice. Don't solely rely on the advice on this page or any other Internet page to make a legal decision, and obey the laws in your jurisdiction.
How About Casino Games, Or Poker?
The Department of Justice says the Wire Act doesn't apply to casino games or poker. But the DoJ is at the Federal level. Various state laws may overrule it. For example, in the state of Washington, it's considered to be a felony to play poker on the Internet.
Still, BetOnline won't restrict you from playing even if you're from that state. Again, they consider that it's legal to offer their services in Washington since the service is provided in Panama, and they simply leave the decision up to you.
That's why in this BetOnline review (and in all my reviews), I use a VPN when using these services. There's a great number of VPN's out there for you to use. Pick one and have fun!
What about Games of Skill?
Some games of skill, like fantasy sports, are exempt from online gambling. Others, like dominoes, Yahtzee, or spades, aren't clearly defined.
My Conclusion About Legality
For United States players, the legality of BetOnline is grey. For everyone else, I suggest that you check your local gambling laws if you are unsure.
But remember the following:
According to BetOnline, you're not gambling on their site in your country. You're gambling in Panama, where gambling is legal.
Even though law enforcement rarely targets customers of illegal businesses -- it's still a good thing to make sure you know the laws of your state.
Lastly, here are my suggestions to limit your risk:
- Use a VPN when playing. That will solve lots of issues you may encounter.
- Gamble amounts you can afford to lose!
Is BetOnline Legit?
Starting off this BetOnline review I knew, absolutely knew, I'd need to really research if BetOnline is legit.
You know, is BetOnline safe? Is it fair? Is it really a place I want to play my money?
So, is BetOnline legit? The good, the bad, and the ugly.
The Good:
They've been around since 1991 -- and they're still around. So, like Amazon, it goes to show they've innovated with the changing times.
BetOnline seems to offer better pricing for the same match on eSports and other bets. Compared to websites like Bovada, anyway. That's a check in the BetOnline legit column.
BetOnline offers live betting too. When I last checked, I saw lines for soccer, baseball and tennis matches from all over. Another benefit you might like, which I had to include in this BetOnline review, is the fact that you can keep track of a couple of games simultaneously. BetOnline offers a multi-event tab and plans for future games using their live betting calendar built into the platform.
I also noticed -- and have heard too -- that they have higher-than-average betting limits. These vary from $1 to $25,000. Most platforms I found max out between $1,000 to $3,000. And if that isn't enough, you can increase wagering amounts by contacting their Player Services desk by phone or email.
And another thing, their sportsbook runs an incredible number of promotions. That helps keep things fun.
As to whether your funds on BetOnline are safe or not, they do state that "all customer deposits are held in an insured escrow account, either in cash or cash equivalents. Your deposit is fully secured and available for withdrawal on a daily basis, with prompt payouts within 24-48 hours. All online transactions are encrypted for your protection."
But I've found that to be in a grey area. Let's take a look.
The Bad:
Their live chat support -- a key feature of this BetOnline Review -- isn't the most gold star, red carpet experience.
I tried their live chat session, it started, and I was on hold for a few minutes until the customer service person replied. Then they asked for my username and password. Now, see, I'm a privacy advocate -- hence my fandom for Bitcoin. So I did not feel comfortable entering my username and password into a live chatbox.
I made this known. That I don't want to enter that information into a chat room. I also mentioned that it wasn't necessary to answer my general question. I had to wait four more minutes for help. I was tempted to say I was doing research for this review of BetOnline -- but I didn't want to bias the experience.
So, their support is not the quickest thing. But hey -- at least it's there and gets the job done, right?
The Ugly.
I've read many complaints from players who've had their money confiscated. Of course, that needed to make its way into a review of BetOnline.
Source: askgamblers.com
Like all games, people try to cheat. When BetOnline takes their money for cheating -- they'll huff and puff and write nasty things online about how "BetOnline stole all my money."
My point is, it's tricky to separate fact from fiction on this.
My Conclusion: Is BetOnline Legit?
Is BetOnline running anti-cheating operations? Are normal non-cheating people at risk of losing their winnings, or is BetOnline safe?
My money has never been confiscated. Of course, I've never tried to cheat either (I'm neither that smart nor that dumb. Just average, haha). So I read cases in online gambling forums. Some people had their money returned (usually after weeks/months of fighting). In other cases; BetOnline kept the money.
All this made me question just how legit is BetOnline. But on the other hand -- cheaters need to be kept out of our poker rooms and our betting pools.
Remember that BetOnline isn't a Las Vegas casino with 100+ cameras focused on each table. They straddle a fine line between kicking out real players versus keeping us safe by catching cheaters. It's a tough job I bet.
BetOnline Sportsbook Review
The first candidate up in this review of BetOnline -- in this crowded marketplace -- is their Sportsbook. And right off the bat, I must say they offer a great database of sporting statistics.
This book has more than 10 years in its current format. It's fast to pay out and safer than many other sportsbooks out there on the web. Rare qualities in today's world.
Source: BetOnline
Pros Of The BetOnline SportsBook
- They offer unlimited 25% bonuses up to $500 on every qualified reload deposit you make. You know what that shows? That they value loyalty. They don't just have great upfront offers -- they play for you to stay. This is proved by their promotions mixing reduced juice lines with opportunities to enjoy more bonus cash.
- Once you're a member, you can access BetOnline's stats database from within their Sportsbook. You'll see past results and analysis across the entire range of US sports (tennis, football, etc.). Even casual bettors might see that this gives them an extra edge when trying to pick the right teams or setups.
- For my BetOnline review, and since I lived in the US for so many years, I wanted to focus on the US big four, which consists of Football, Baseball, Basketball and Hockey. I found a satisfactory selection of bets and some reduced juice lines for these sports. I even found college ball and golf.
- If you'd like to broaden your horizons, you can check their range of international sports, including Soccer, Rugby and Snooker. Their large database on their website covers past results and analysis – all you need to make an informed bet.
Cons Of The BetOnline SportsBook
- Although BetOnline offers a wide variety of sports and betting options, their sportsbook is mostly focused on games in the U.S. For all the folks reading this BetOnline review from the U.S. or Canada, that shouldn't be too much of a con. But still -- if you live in the U.S. and you're a fan of Ukrainian dodgeball… You might have a tough time finding bets.
BetOnline Poker Review
This review of BetOnline Poker also includes my review of BetOnline mobile poker. The reason is simple: sometimes, I like to play Poker while sitting on the chair on my porch. I don't want just to be sitting on my computer all the time. With my phone or iPad (for you android users your tablet), I can play poker in much more comfortable situations.
After all, BetOnline's new browser-based mobile poker interface gives access to a wide array of software users: Android, IOS, Windows Phone, or BlackBerry players access to Texas Holdem, Omaha, and Omaha Hi/Lo events and more on the way.
Pros Of The BetOnline Poker Room
- After signing up, I arrived at the BetOnline Poker lobby, which looks better than what I expected, judging by the seemingly dated quality of their website. The colors are luxurious, and the functionalities are user-friendly. Thankfully I didn't see pop-ups.
- BetOnline Poker filters the games by showing user-friendly buttons. A huge room like PokerStars requires a more detailed filter function - so that takes getting used to.
- Large pool of players. This is important, and I can't stress this enough. When I trade cryptocurrencies, nothing is more frustrating than low liquidity. So, I was happy to mention this in my BetOnline review, mostly since I haven't found so many legitimate poker rooms with as many players, events, or big guaranteed tournaments with prize pools as I did here.
Cons Of The BetOnline Poker Room
- Once again, coming from the cryptocurrency space, I love my privacy and value anonymity. Unfortunately, BetOnline just doesn't offer any time of anonymity when cashing in, out, or playing games. Perhaps for people who just want to have fun, this isn't a big issue. It's not such a big deal for me either. It's just something to complain about!
BetOnline Casino Review
Their library is extensive, wow. I wish my review of BetOnline could cover all their games. But they have over 100! Plus, I'd want to play them all.
Their games tend to have higher replay value, and they just look and feel like modern titles.
Source: BetOnline
Pros Of The BetOnline Casino
- A total of twenty-two games in 3D slots. You know, those expensive games at Las Vegas casinos. And the BetOnline collection is the best the site has to offer. I played Heist, right. I was a burglar sneaking into a bank vault. It's a cool theme for a slot. There was a fun bonus game in which I broke into a vault. You can get the title's biggest payouts with that one. It's a five reel slot with good sound and video effects.
- For video poker fans like me, the variety is great. The number of variations hosted at BetOnline makes me happy and playing a bunch. At the time of this BetOnline review, seventeen different video poker titles were available. I wish I could play them all.
- Keep in mind that these are completely instant-play with 24/7 support via live chat, phone, or email. They've been proven fair by TST and secured with SSL encryption.
Cons Of The BetOnline Casino
BetOnline Deposit Options
This review of BetOnline wouldn't be complete without mentioning the BetOnline deposit methods.
- Cheque
- Money Order
- My Wallet
- Visa
- Prepaid Gift Card
- Book to book
- Skrill
- And of course, cryptocurrencies. That includes Bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash, 0x, XRP, Ethereum, Litecoin and Zcash.
The minimum varies between $10 and $50, depending on the payment method you select. I found that my deposits were credited to my account quite quickly. Bitcoin, after all, doesn't take long to do its thing. A few confirmations and I'm off to the races!
BetOnline Withdrawal Options
What good are your winnings if you can't withdraw them? This BetOnline review wouldn't be the "ultimate BetOnline review" without such vital information.
So, here are the withdrawal methods available on BetOnline.
- Person To Person
- Bank Wire
- Check Express
- ATM Only
- Bitcoin
- Skrill
- Neteller
- Book To Book
Playing On BetOnline With Bitcoin
BetOnline was one of the very first online gambling sites to offer deposits in Bitcoin. To be honest, that's what got me interested in the first place.
Trading bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies is a lot like poker, blackjack, and other games: it requires skill, timing, and just a bit of good luck.
Some advantages of playing with Bitcoin on BetOnline are:
- Fast deposits
- Fast payouts
- More bonuses
- Fewer fees
- Your bank won't know!
And of course, the general thinking that if your Bitcoin stash is growing -- then you can use it to have fun with online BetOnline's mobile poker, BetOnline casino, and BetOnline sportsbook.
I believe that all their services benefit from using bitcoin. Of course, you need to know the
best way to buy Bitcoin and how to use it. But once you quickly master bitcoin -- it's a breeze.
Read More: Find Out My Top 5
Crypto Sports Betting SitesBetOnline Customer Service
I've been on the customer service chat box and phone line. The chatbox is faster -- mostly because there are fewer communication misunderstandings (accents being tough to understand sometimes, and all).
Besides the wait time I mentioned earlier, it's all fairly standard stuff. No five-star service but also nothing terrible. It's hit or miss, but not with a big range of bad or good. Just like everything in life -- solving your problems might require patience.
Online BetOnline Reviews ... From Players
If you've looked online for BetOnline reviews, I'm sure you've noticed there are some negative ones. That's why I decided to address them in my own BetOnline review.
Listen, we all know what trolling is. We've all been involved, whether dishing it out or falling for it. It's like that famous quote, "give someone a mask and they'll show who they really are."
My point is that all reviews should be taken with a grain of salt -- including this one.
There are people who will cheat on BetOnline, and on every gambling site they get their keyboard fingers on. And when they're caught and their cheating money is taken -- they'll cry and threaten to post bad reviews, and then post those bad reviews. All to try to get their ill-gotten gains back -- money they stole from BetOnline, or from legit players like us.
Source: imgflip.com
Bottom line: BetOnline needs to keep a secure environment for us, players. And yes, there will always be a nagging worry in the back of my head. But I would rather read 5 bad reviews from cheaters than have those 5 cheaters at my poker table.
BetOnline Promotions
The promotions keep things interesting and exciting, I must say. Granted, they'll probably change from the date of publishing this ultimate BetOnline review to the time you may be reading it -- so it's always good to check for new and better promotions!
Overall, my review of BetOnline's promotions has always been the same: they offer some of the best bonuses around. Easy to access, fun to get them, and exciting to win. Plus, the release conditions are doable. Sure sometimes 30 days feels like a stretch but … When they payout, they pay out.
To find out all the promotions that BetOnline offers,
click this link and click on "Promotions" on the next page.
My Final Opinion
I've had fun writing this BetOnline review. It's been informative for me too -- since I needed to dig a little to find info on various things: which countries are accepted or not, reviews, and just poking around games that I hadn't tried before.
I wrap up with a renewed positive sense about where I take my business. And as Bitcoin and cryptocurrencies keep progressing into online gaming -- I'll keep updating this review of BetOnline (and other sites too). Stay tuned.
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