If you’re looking for a reputable, licensed and safe casino to play a few hands European blackjack at, you don’t have to look any further than Bovada. They have solid software, a European blackjack game that will appeal to the general player and bonuses that are actually for blackjack players, as opposed to shunning them altogether (like the other guys).
All-in-all, I think you’ll like Bovada. However, not everyone is the same, has the same needs or standards, so read my review below and decide for yourself. It’s based on my first-hand experience.
Playing European Blackjack at Bovada
For this review I opened up the browser version of European blackjack and played a couple of hands. I thought the software looked polished, although it’s not as realistic looking as other casinos. Bovada’s games definitely have more of a video game feel to them. Each hand I played moved quickly; I didn’t find the game to be slow, nor did I experience any lag. Each hand only took maybe 30 seconds to complete, so you can easily get 100+ hands per hour in.
At Bovada you’re able to wager from $1 to $500, both for the free and real money games. The chip increments are 1, 5, 25, 100 and 500.
The basic rules and payouts for European 21 at Bovada are:
- Blackjack pays 3:2
- Insurance pays 2:1
- Dealer stands on soft 17
- You can double down on 9, 10 and 11
- Only receive one card on split aces
- Can split up to 3 hands
I didn’t find anything different or out of the ordinary about the rules and payouts. They’re consistent with the majority of other online casinos.
Other Casino Games at Bovada
Considering Bovada is a casino, poker and sports betting site, you’ll have numerous options for games to play and bet on if you ever get tired of European 21. Here is a glimpse into the other games available to you:
- Table Games – Several variations of blackjack, roulette, caribbean stud poker and let ’em ride.
- Slots – Multi-line, multi-reel and progressive slot machines.
- Video Poker – Joker poker, loose deuces and aces and eights.
You should keep in mind that only a fraction of the games that are in the full download are available to play in the browser version. There are over 150 games, but most of them will be slots and progressives. Only 30-40 games are table, specialty and video poker related.
Of course, if you’re burnt out on casino games, you can venture into the poker room for some Texas hold’em or omaha, or bet on whatever sports are in season, such as the World Series, NBA Finals or the Super Bowl.
Bovada’s Promotions
Bovada has several promotions running at any given time. Below I cover the more consistent promos running.
$200 Welcome Bonus
When you first signup to Bovada you’ll be offered a 100% match bonus up to $200 which is good to play table games like European blackjack, as well as video poker.
To earn your bonus you’ll need to wager 80 times your deposit. So if you deposit the full $200, you’ll need to wager $16,000 before you can make a withdrawal. If you do it any sooner you’ll forfeit your bonus money. Keep in mind that you need to play blackjack from the casino client, and not the poker client, otherwise it won’t count towards your bonus.
Casino Points
When you wager real money at Bovada you’re given points. Points are given to you at the following rates for every $10 wagered:
- Slots – 3 points
- Table Games – 2 points
- Blackjack – 1 point
- Video Poker – 1 point
For every 100 points that you earn, Bovada will give you $1 to play with. Bovada will pay you in casino chips directly into your account every other Friday.
In addition, Bovada is offering a 100% match bonus up to $100 for table game players, once per week on any day (or time) of your choice. The same rollover requirements that I outlined above apply here too.
Blackjack Sundays
Bovada is running a promotion where, if you play blackjack on Sundays, they’ll pay you $21 for your first blackjack. For that blackjack, and every blackjack you hit that day, you’ll be given one entry for a chance to win $2,100.
Banking Options
Deposit methods at Bovada include credit card, Rapid Transfer and money transfer. Payout methods are via Rapid Transfer or check. Checks can take up to 10 days to process, and up to a week to reach your home.
Support
Support is available by contact form and phone number. You can use these numbers to reach the staff at Bovada:
- General Support – 1-888-263-0000
- Casino – 1-866-234-1324
The support staff is available 24/7/7.
I’m a little surprised to see that Bovada doesn’t offer a live chat option. That said, they got back to me in less than a couple of hours using their contact form. So it’s really not that big a deal.
Conclusion – Should You Signup to Play European Blackjack at Bovada?
There are several online casinos that offer European blackjack. So, it’s not as if you have to play at Bovada due to a lack of alternatives.
However, Bovada is one of the better options. The primary reason is that they provide bonuses and incentives for blackjack players, whereas other casinos don’t. You’re not punished for wanting to play blackjack, as opposed to being a nickel pushing slots player.
Between that, a solid (European blackjack) game, software and support, I don’t think you can go wrong making Bovada one of your go-to sites for some European blackjack action.