Why Play at BetOnline?
Our expert BetOnline poker review will show you what games and bonuses are available, and how BetOnline poker compares to the best poker rooms out there. And we can tell you now, this site is much more than just a sportsbook that deals a few cards.
BetOnline is one of the most popular gambling operators which caters to US players. Alongside its popular casino games and sports betting, sits a thriving poker platform. There are many reasons why players keep coming back to try their luck at their tables, and our BetOnline poker review will highlight the most important features, such as:
- Multiple games at all stakes, starting at $0.01/$0.02
- Instant withdrawals with cryptocurrency
- Special prizes, like the Bad Beat Jackpot
- Tourney series - Sunday Majors & Progressive Bounties
- Modern client with 3D visuals, straddle, odds & features
- New Bad Beat Jackpot 2.0 can exceed $30,000 online
BetOnline Information
- Official Site: https://www.betonline.ag/poker
- Established: 1991
- Owned by: Imion Limited Casinos, Termas del Arapay Management
- License: Panamá GCB
- Available on: Android, iOS, Windows, Telegram, Mac
- Payment methods: Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Discover, Bank Transfer, Moneygram, Money order, ewallets, PayPal, crypto
- Poker network: Chico Poker
BetOnline Score
- Cash Games – 7.5/10
- Tournaments – 7/10
- Bonuses – 8/10
- Game Types – 8.5/10
- Player Pool – 9.5/10
- Payment Methods – 7/10
- Lobby & Software – 8/10
- Mobile App – 7.5/10
- Security – 8.5/10
About BetOnline
If you’ve spent some time gambling online, chances are you’ll have come across BetOnline. Originating from way back in the early 1990s, BetOnline has established itself as a reliable and reputable brand. It offers a flourishing sportsbook, packed-out casino, and – since 2004 – an awesome poker room which is largely aimed at beginners.
With over 30 years in the business, and being based in the US, BetOnline can boast of a huge player base; it’s in the top three in terms of traffic. A flagship skin of the renowned Chico Poker Network, its smooth, polished and up-to-date software is easy to use.
Throw in a bunch of poker gaming options – from tournaments with sizable guarantees to weekly promos and prizes – and you can see why BetOnline has maintained its player base, and even increased in popularity in recent years.
Pros:
- Huge player base and game traffic
- Lucrative welcome bonus
- Accepts crypto payments
- Vast range of cash games and tournament action
Cons:
- Slightly high rake
- More focus on sports bettors
BetOnline Poker Bonuses
There are many reasons why BetOnline poker has remained hugely popular for such a sustained period of time. Bonuses play a huge role, attracting both new players and keep seasoned players coming back for more.
Here’s a bit more about the top poker bonuses at BetOnline.
Welcome Bonus
When you first join BetOnline poker, you’re entitled to a mouthwatering welcome bonus for registering a new account. This equates to 100% of the first deposit being matched, up to $1,000.
This does not come in one hit. Instead, it’s released in $5 increments, every time you earn $50 in rake. Using this BetOnline poker bonus code couldn’t be easier: type in POKER1000 at the cashier, and deposit at least $50. You’ll have 30 days to unlock the entire bonus.
You’ll also unlock eight days of complimentary tournament tickets to get you started. These tickets are released through playing regularly, with 21 tickets available in total. Each day, you’ll be challenge to rack up either $0.02 or $0.03 in rake to claim your tickets. Depending on your stakes, you could literally achieve this in one hand.
These tickets let you enter BetOnline poker satellite tournaments. Perform well and you could then win entry to bigger tournaments with huge prize pool guarantees.
| Bonus Name | Welcome Bonus |
| Bonus Amount | Up to $1,000 |
| Min. Deposit | $50 |
| Max. Withdrawal | $1,000 |
| BetOnline Bonus Code | POKER1000 |
BetOnline Rakeback
The BetOnline Poker rakeback varies by game, table size, and number of players. However, unlike its competitors, there are some games and formats where BetOnline deviates from the ‘weighted contributed’ system.
For example, BetOnline charges a rake of 5.56% across all stakes at tables where there are six players or less. When there is a nine-max seater table , with a minimum of seven active players, the rake stays at the same rate of 5.56% if the NL pot is between $50-$200.
Where the NL pot is $10-$25, with the same player conditions, then the rake goes up to 6.25%.
When differentiating by game, the rake can alter once more. For MTTs, the rake stands at 10%, and it can vary depending on which game format you choose: Mystery Bounty is between 5-6.85% rake, and Double or Nothing (DoN) offers between 9-13%.
BetOnline poker rakeback can also differ based on table size.
- Heads up: $0.01 per $0.18, with a maximum rake of $0.25
- 4-Max and larger: $0.01 per $0.18, with a maximum rake of $0.50
Although the rakeback rates are attractive and lucrative, it can be said that BetOnline’s rake average is slightly higher than most of its rivals. You can find the sites with some of the best rakeback deals here.
BetOnline Loyalty Scheme
As BetOnline is a platform which offers a sportsbook and casino games alongside its poker offering, there are many incentives for players to stay and gamble on the site. Although not as comprehensive as its VIP program, which is heavily weighted towards sports bettors, there are lucrative rewards for regular poker players, too.
BetOnline poker players can earn points through consistent tournament or cash game play. Contributions to the rake earns points and opportunities for generous rewards – such as tournament tickets, cash, or tournament money.
This goes up incrementally from level 1 ($25 must be raked) all the way to level 6 ($1,925 minimum rake). Weekly rewards and prizes mean that players often prefer BetOnline poker as opposed to its rivals, where bonuses and rewards are irregular.
Other Promotions
BetOnline poker offers various other promotions that keep us coming back for more. The Bad Beat Jackpot is one such unique offering. Whenever a four-of-a-kind is beaten at one of its tables, the prize pool for that hand is spread among the players. For Hold’em, aces full of kings qualifies, too.
The size of the pot dictates the amount of cash received, but it’s always broken down in the same way:
- 20% to the player with the bad beat
- 10% to the winner of the hand
- 10% to the players at the table
- 20% to the players at other Bad Beat Jackpot tables
- 35% reseed
- 5% fee
Bumper reload bonuses are also readily available at BetOnline poker. If you deposit using cryptocurrency, you can up to 30% extra with a cap of up to $350.
Another constant at BetOnline is its thriving Weekly Boost Leaderboard, which goes hand-in-hand with its fast-fold poker variant. Regardless of the outcome of hands, each player earns points each time, with the top 50 scorers winning a share of $5,000.
Download vs Instant Play at BetOnline
You’ve followed our BetOnline poker review, havce seen the types of games available, and have your BetOnline poker bonus code at hand – now it’s time to actually get on to the platform.
There are two ways to do this. You can play instantly in your web browser, or download the poker software.
One standout feature of BetOnline poker is the ability to play directly through the web browser, without having to download a client. The full repertoire of games and poker variants are included. It’s ideal for anyone who doesn’t want to download any software to their machine, whether that’s to save time or avoid extra storage.
Instant Play
Here’s how to play poker without downloading anything at BetOnline:
- Visit BetOnline
- Click ‘Join’ in the top right-hand corner
- Enter your personal details
- Click on the ‘Poker’ tab in the top menu
- Navigate to the lobby
- Enable pop-ups – each game, when selected, opens in a new window
- Select your game and start playing
Download
If you’re planning on playing poker regularly at BetOnline, it might make more sense to download the full poker client. Here’s how:
- Go to BetOnline
- Click ‘Join’ in the top right-hand corner
- Visit the ‘Poker’ section of the website to download the app.
- Enter in your account information.
- Navigate to the lobby.
- Make a deposit and grab a seat
BetOnline poker is available on all major devices such as Mac, iOS, and Android.
- Tourney series - Sunday Majors & Progressive Bounties
- Modern client with 3D visuals, straddle, odds & features
- New Bad Beat Jackpot 2.0 can exceed $30,000 online
BetOnline Poker Games
No BetOnline poker review would be complete without detailing the games that are on offer – and at BetOnline, there are a multitude of choices, especially at peak times. This covers both cash games and tournaments, available at levels to suit all players, and with some interesting twists on classics. To master the basics before hitting the tables, check out how to play poker.
Tournaments
Even when there’s no special online series running, the BetOnline tournament schedule guarantees millions each month. There are tournaments available to play in every Texas Hold’em and Omaha format imaginable, with traffic peaking in the afternoon and evenings.
Tournament stakes range from $1.50 to $215. The lowest buy-ins are for the popular Mystery Bounty and turbo games, and the highest for the Main Event, Sunday Showdown and daily events which all offer tantalizing guarantees – up to $150,000.
We found that tournaments at all levels and pay ranges were filled around the clock, and populated by a softer player base, possibly owing to the volume of sports bettors hopping across on the site.
Cash Games
We found multiple active cash game tables at low and medium stakes from $0.01/$0.02 up to $5/$10. Depending on the time of day, there can be an option to enroll in a $1,000/$2,000 NL Hold’em cash game.
Fast-fold poker, known as Boost, is available for NL Hold’em and PL Omaha. At these tables, as soon as your hand is folded, you’re transferred to another table. This break-neck speed style of cash game is very popular at BetOnline, although it can only be played at two stakes: $0.05/$0.10 and $0.10/$0.25.
At BetOnline poker, over 65% of the cash game traffic is at the Texas Hold’em tables. But there are options across a range of poker variants, such as PL Omaha and 5-Card Omaha. Up to eight tables can be played simultaneously.
Texas Hold’em
The BetOnline poker room has a range of Texas Hold’em games, which are always the most popular option among players. Much like the cash game traffic, around 65% of all poker play at BetOnline is centered around Hold’em.
With a packed BetOnline tournament schedule, and cash games such as the Windfall games, you’ve got loads of ways to play Texas Hold’em.
BetOnline poker also has a famous tournament series, the Championship Online Poker Series, which has previously boasted a $3 million guarantee. It usually takes place each year.
Omaha
BetOnline poker offers Pot Limit Omaha (PLO) games, with PLO being the most popular variation.
Omaha games at BetOnline poker include the massively popular SNGs. There are lots of different formats, including:
- Mystery Bounty
- Turbo HU
- Hyper HU
- Double or Nothing
- Satellites
- Omaha Hi/Lo
Much like its Hold’em offering, Omaha tables receive traffic at all levels consistently throughout the day.
Other Formats
BetOnline online poker also has some more niche games. These include Boost, Windfall, and Six-Plus Hold’em. You’ll be spoilt for choice.
BetOnline Series and Tournaments
I couldn’t complete my BetOnline poker review without mentioning the huge array of series that are at your disposal on the platform. The largest and most lucrative, the Championship Online Poker Series, is an event which boasts guarantees of up to $3 million.
A flagship of the Chico Poker Network, the event is held across three sites within the network, and comprises over 190 individual tournaments. Both Texas Hold’em and Omaha games are represented, with a mixture of freerolls and satellites also included.
The series culminates with the Sunday tournaments: two of these feature six-figure guarantees.
The BetOnline tournament schedule also features major Sunday tournaments throughout the calendar, known as the Sunday Showdown. This includes some of their best poker tournaments, including:
- $109 buy-in Main Event with $150k guarantee
- $55 buy-in NLHE with $20k guarantee
- $215 buy-in NLHE with $40k guarantee
- $22 buy-in Mini Main Event with $10k guarantee
Don’t fret if you’ve missed out on one of these money-making tournaments, as there are a raft of daily events where you can try your luck. Buy-ins swing from the low end to the high end of the scale, with guarantees of up to $25k.
Unique Events at BetOnline
When navigating the lobby of the BetOnline poker room, you’ll see loads of exciting satellites, where you can win your spot at some of the site’s most prestigious tournaments and events.
This includes the Simday Majors, such as the $150,000 GTD Main Event.
Turbo-charged ‘Windfall’ games are another cool feature at BetOnline poker. In these, there are three randomly generated games that can be selected: Flips, Windfall and Jackpot SnGs.
In Flips, the first hand of both players is automatically all-in to decide the winner – simple as that! Windfalls and Jackpot SnGs differ in the sense that you get to play a little before the winner is declared, but both are fast-paced, exhilarating action games.
Best Features at BetOnline Poker Room
Some features of BetOnline online poker really set it apart from its competitors. Below is our expert BetOnline poker review of these features:
Recent Updates at BetOnline
BetOnline poker has recently made moves to preserve its poker “ecology” – meaning to protect it from becoming stagnant, corrupted or out-of-touch. This is one of the reasons BetOnline poker continues to be popular, even after decades of operation.
Some of these updates include:
- Updating its prohibited software list
- Restricting multi-tabling to eight tables
- Restricting bumhunting and table selection
Poker Strategy for Playing at BetOnline
You’ve studied our BetOnline poker review, and are ready to hit the tables. All you need now is some strategy to make sure that your visits to the virtual felt are profitable. Study the best poker training info and follow our experts’ top tips to give yourself the best chance.
- Manage your bankroll: Don’t put too much of your bankroll into a single tournament or cash game. Play a tiny proportion so that, if you go on an unlucky run, you can bounce back.
- Adjust the settings to your preferences: Take time to familiarize yourself with the software and layout before diving into gameplay to feel as comfortable as possible. Customize in-game buttons for faster, more accurate bets.
- Know your hand ranges: Being confident on what hands you’ll play pre-flop will only help you feel more settled once in a game. Over time, this should almost become automatic.
- Learn how to size your bets: Bets which are either too high or too low will only arouse suspicions in your rivals that you’re inexperienced. Observe and memorize suitable bet sizes at all stages of the game so you’re not caught out.
Lobby and Software
A poker client’s lobby and software can make all the difference. Luckily, the BetOnline poker room comes up trumps.
The software is remarkably smooth and polished, making it easy to navigate through both the lobby and in-game tables. Modern and sleek, there are many options which can be customized to your preferences. This includes changing the table and background colours, and even choosing how the BetOnline live chat appears on the screen.
Furthermore, the betting buttons can be altered to your taste. This includes setting the buttons as a percentage of the pot, a certain number of blinds, or even pre- and post-flop options.
Regular, transparent updates are part of the BetOnline culture of constant improvement, and each time they improve the user experience. For example, a recent update saw Windfall SNG events become easier to find and view through the lobby.
BetOnline Poker App
Owing to its excellent software and the operator’s commitment to updates and improvements, there isn’t much difference when it comes to playing through either a web browser or when you download BetOnline.
The lobby in both the web version and the client is very similar. Finding your way to the games that you want to access is easy in both, with self-explanatory tabs.
One advantage of downloading the software is that BetOnline opens up separately to the other programs you have open at the same time. This makes it easier to avoid accidentally closing it down in the browser. This is especially true when multi-tabling.
Another advantage to using the client is that you’ll be less prone to the issues that can affect web browsers, such as the freezes or overloads, which could impact the speed of play. At the end of the day, it’s a superb experience playing at BetOnline in both formats – it’s just down to personal preference as to which you decide to use.
Safety and Customer Support at BetOnline
Having been in the gambling game for a sustained period of time, BetOnline can be considered a trustworthy operator. They’re licensed in Panama, an authority which is commonly used with US poker sites, and have stood the test of time in terms of reliability.
Finding the RNG certificate isn’t the easiest, but the Connective Games software that the site utilizes has been rigorously tested by both iTech Labs and GLI.
When seeking support, our experts found that finding customer care was both easy and comprehensive. They can be contacted in the following ways:
- 24/7 BetOnline live chat
- Email support
- Phone
- FAQs
BetOnline also has an active Telegram community.
BetOnline Payment Methods
BetOnline has multiple methods for both depositing and withdrawing money. These include traditional banking methods such as Visa and Mastercard, alongside newer ones like cryptocurrency.
We feel safe and secure when making transactions, thanks to the site being easy-to-use and having in-built encryption software to protect your personal data.
Withdrawals are fee-free and quick. This is especially true when using crypto, as there’s no manual processing that needs to take place.
Here’s a quick breakdown of how payments work at BetOnline poker.
BetOnline Poker Deposits
| Deposit Method | Minimum Deposit | Deposit Fee | Processing Time |
| Major bank cards | $25 | 7.50% | Up to 3 days |
| Skrill | $10 | None | Up to 3 days |
| Neteller | $10 | None | Up to 3 days |
| ecoPayz | $10 | None | Up to 3 days |
| Bank wire transfer | $1,000 | Reimbursed | Up to 3 days |
| Check | $1,500 | None | Up to 7 days |
| Bitcoin | $20 | None | Near-instant |
| Litecoin | $20 | None | Near-instant |
| Ethereum | $20 | None | Near-instant |
BetOnline Poker Withdrawals
| Withdrawal Method | Minimum Withdrawal | Withdrawal Fee | Processing Time |
| Major bank cards | $25 | None | Within 24 hours |
| Skrill | $25 | None | Within 24 hours |
| Neteller | $25 | None | Within 24 hours |
| Bank wire transfer | $500 | None | Within 24 hours |
| Check | $1,500 | None | Within 24 hours |
| Bitcoin | $20 | None | Within 24 hours |
| Litecoin | $20 | None | Within 24 hours |
| Ethereum | $20 | None | Within 24 hours |
Is BetOnline Legit?
BetOnline is licensed by a legitimate and government-sanctioned gaming operator and has a reputation for being one of the most trusted sites for gamers.
BetOnline has operated in the gambling market for over 30 years, with poker being active for over 20 of those. In this time, it has generated no major unsolved complaints and has proven itself as a trusted site.
BetOnline Personal Review
It’s hard to ignore an established poker operator such as BetOnline. They must be doing something right to stay popular for so long, right? I have to say, I can see how and why they are among the best options in such a congested marketplace.
I enjoyed the intuitive software, customizable options and, as someone who is generally reluctant to download more applications to my phone or laptop, I enjoyed the option to play via a web browser, without taking away from my overall experience.
Throw in a huge array of game options with sustained traffic – particularly with the exciting and unique Windfall games – and I couldn’t be more satisfied with my poker experience at BetOnline.
- Tourney series - Sunday Majors & Progressive Bounties
- Modern client with 3D visuals, straddle, odds & features
- New Bad Beat Jackpot 2.0 can exceed $30,000 online