Betonline.ag Review

Neat and elegant: these are the two adjective that we think best describe BetOnline.ag. We dare say it’s one of the best designed online gambling sites we have encountered. It’s not because there’s something eye-catching or conspicuously impressive in it. It’s because we can sense the professionalism behind the creation of this betting site.  It exudes an elegant look and feel that it’s comparable to the websites of top brands or media outfits.

Okay, enough praises for the superficial. BetOnline is, as the name itself implies, a gambling site that includes a sportsbook, racebook, online casino, and a live betting section. Yes, it’s a lot of gambling stuff in one. If you want to bet on sports or some important event, you can find something here. If you want to wager on races, this is also a place you should consider. If you want to play poker and other casino games, there’s a lot to find on BetOnline.  It’s also worth pointing out that BetOnline is one of those gambling sites that put emphasis in mobile gaming. We know this is supposed to be an impartial review and that we are being too generous with the compliments here, but perhaps there shouldn’t be anything wrong in pointing out the obvious.

We’re not saying that this is the best online gambling site. This is more of a commendation for the amount of effort put into the creation of this good online gambling destination. At the very least, BetOnline can be considered a solid option for typical sports betters and online casino enthusiasts. Having been started in 2004, the longevity of BetOnline casino says a lot about its ability to satisfy its frequenters. It has since transformed into the good-looking gambling site it is now. Also, we have to note that just like most other all-in-one gambling sites, BetOnline has its shortcomings.

Differentiating BetOnline.ag and BetOnline.com

Before we proceed with our standard BetOnline.ag review format, we feel it’s important to address this possible confusion first. Is Betonline.ag the same as BetOnline.ag? Well, they carry the same logo and their websites look alike but we have to say that the intention is to make them separate, particularly in the eyes of the law. Essentially, all of the betting or gambling operations have been moved to BetOnline.ag to avoid legal issues. BetOnline.com, on the other hand, is only retained as a portal for creating user accounts and for showing useful information about this gambling site. You can create an account through BetOnline.com and it will be valid at BetOnline.ag. However, we suggest that we avoid the confusion by simply doing everything with BetOnline.ag.

For this BetOnline review, we created our account through BetOnline.com and used the same login details to sign in at BetOnline.ag. It worked and we have not encountered problems so far.

The Slightly Pesky Registration Process

We were prepared to give BetOnline another praise for a sign up process that we thought was going to be short and sweet. We really expected it to be quick because of the online form we saw (image below). We thought that’s all they wanted – first name, last name, email address, and birthdate. Little did we know that this was just some bait?

This tiny “registration form” wasted our time as it did not even initiate our account registration. After clicking that big Join Now button below, we were taken to a new page with a longer online form (image below). This is where the actual registration process starts. The effort spent in entering your name, email address, and birthdate earlier was apparently just a waste of time.

Initially, we thought this rather long online registration form is similar to those that make you say byebye to anonymous gambling. Upon closer inspection, though, it appears that BetOnline still wants to guarantee player privacy as it provides the assurance that personal information will be protected and made confidential. The phone number being asked is only going to be used in cases when BetOnline needs to verify identities to protect the real owner of the account.

Busy Account Dashboard and Betting Interface

It shouldn’t come as a surprise that the account dashboard and betting interface of BetOnline is not going to be as simple as the one used by sites that are only doing online casinos. BetOnline is a significantly big operation that it’s user interface is only going to be expectedly more complicated or sophisticated.

Fans of sports betting should not find the account dashboard too complicated, though. Despite having many options and functions on the screen, everything is still intuitive.  There’s quick access to event schedules and quick links for monitoring wagers and transactions.

The same intuitiveness can be observed with the sports and race betting interface. You will have to choose the sport you want on the left side of the page while you will be placing bets through the bet slip on the right. You just have to click to confirm and have your bets placed. It is not the most eye-pleasing betting platform but

The poker room on BetOnline has this impression of being just added to attract poker players to the other games (sportsbook in particular) offered at the site. There’s a need to install a software to be able to play. However, once you get the game running, you would probably agree that its interface is among the more aesthetically and functionally pleasing ones. The graphics are good although the high 5% rake and low stakes are not easy to ignore.

Good Variety of Games on BetOnline

The games on BetOnline are separated into the following categories: Sportsbook, Racebook, Casino, Poker, and Live Betting. There’s also a Skill Games category but it’s somehow hidden at the footer part of the BetOnline website.

The Sportsbook covers most sports including baseball, basketball, hockey, soccer, tennis, boxing, cricket, martial arts, and rugby. Some would think that the presentation here is a little boring but we’ve seen other more unexciting ones. We’re quite satisfied enough although we would have to acknowledge in this BetOnline review that it could be improved further.

The Racebook section similarly sports a plain look but we still like how everything is presented. There’s adequate information to help new players in quickly learning the ropes and for experienced players to conveniently find the information they need. The races covered include the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes, Belmont Stakes, and Breeders Cup.

When it comes to the Casino section, a good number of games are available. These include roulette,  blackjack, poker,   craps, jackpot slots, and instant keno games. There are 5-reel and 3-reel slots available as well as 3D slots and video poker games. The Skill Games mentioned earlier are dominoes, yahtzee, gin rummy, spades, and tonk.

There’s supposedly a live dealer casino game on the site but for whatever reason, the link is inactive so we couldn’t try it. The rest of the games successfully load but the live casino game isn’t even clickable. Anyway, we found a total of 80 casino games on BetOnline.

Most of the casino games have average to above average graphics. They are not as visually engaging as what other leading online casinos are able to offer. However, the quick loading time makes up for this lack. Also, we noticed that there are some games that can’t be loaded or can’t even be clicked.

Almost all of the games have “Play for Fun” versions. You can try them out without having to use real USD or BTC yet. The free games, however, are hosted in another website.

BetOnline Gaming Software

BetOnline uses proprietary software for its sportsbook, racing, poker, and live betting games. However, for its Casino section, the games are from BetSoft and Digital Gaming Solutions (DGS).

BetOnline has a client software (covering all of the games) available although it’s not necessary to download it to be able to play. The poker section, however, provides a separate software download and it’s required to be able to play. These are proprietary software with versions for Mac and Windows and we have to say in this BetOnline review that we are not a fan of these software. We still prefer playing games that are web-based. BetOnline says that their “tiny” software client is the best way to connect to the games being offered but we have yet to meet someone who willingly expresses fondness for it.

Unfortunately, the games on BetOnline are not provably fair.

Is BetOnline a Mobile-Friendly Website?

Loading BetOnline.ag on mobile browser should automatically load the mobile-friendly version of the site just like the one shown below. However, in case it does not, the BetOnline mobile page provides instructions on how you can force your browser to go to the mobile version. Basically, you just have to use the word “mobile” in lieu of the “www” in www.betonline.ag.  You can also scan the QR code on BetOnline’s Mobile page to force your browser to load the mobile version.

BetOnline Currency, Payment Methods, and Deposit and Withdrawal Policies

BetOnline uses dollars ($) and bitcoins (BTC). However, everything on the site is expressed in USD or $. Bitcoin deposits are automatically converted to dollar values based on the prevailing exchange rate at the time the deposit was processed.

BetOnline has one of the most extensive payment methods available. The table below from BetOnline is arguably the best summary of these payment methods and deposit and withdrawal system.

I  will just say that bitcoin is one of the best options for making withdrawals and deposits. Transactions are usually fast except when the amounts are involved are notable high that it may take 24-48 hours to complete. However, there is a 2% fee of the total amount being withdrawn.

Betting Policies

BetOnline sets a minimum amount of $25 for call center (telephone-based) wagers and $1 for online wagers. All wagers placed are deemed final and can no longer changed or cancelled. If there are issues or problems regarding the wagers, they have to be resolved using the rules of the Nevada Gaming Commission.

Bonuses and Rewards

This BetOnline review isn’t complete without the section discussing the bonuses and reward schemes. They can be summed as follows:

• 25% welcome bonus (25% of first deposit) of up to $1,000 (code: FIRST)
• 25% Lifetime Bonus Guarantee (25% reload bonus) of up to $1,000 (code: LIFEBONUS)
• $25 live betting free play
• $50 mobile betting free play (a no deposit bonus given for the first mobile sports bet made)
• $50 referral bonus for every new player invited into BetOnline
• 7% (for online wagers) or 4% (for telephone wagers) track rebates without minimum or maximum
• $25 risk-free horse racing bet in the Racebook (up to $25 worth of free play given in case your first horse race bet does not win)
• 100% slots match bonus for every $100 or more wagered for slots
• $25 free play for the first live dealer casino bet
• Monthly high roller bonus for players who have already spent $75,000 or more. The bonus is from $50 (for $75,000 wagered) to $1,000 (P1 million or more)
• 25% reload bonus for any deposit in the Casino section (code: CASINO25)
• 10% weekly rebate for losses in the casino games (To avail of this, you have to send an email to [email protected] with the subject “10% casino rebate” and indicate your account ID in the body of the email)
• $10 risk-free playing at the Skill Games section (Place a bet of up to $10 at any of the games under Skill Games. If the bet does not win, you can claim up to $10 worth of free play for the next game in Skills Game you play)
• 200% signup bonus for poker players for a minimum $50 deposit

Just ignore the image we added for this section on bonuses and rewards. No, BetOnline’s bonuses are not really “unbeatable” or the best around. Others offer more and with better terms. However, we can’t deny that BetOnline offers a good enough range of bonuses.

Just like in other casinos, there is a wagering requirement or a scheme for releasing your bonuses. You have to earn your bonuses before you can use or withdraw them. Refer to the Promotions page to learn more about the wagering requirements or how you can earn your bonuses.

US Players Accepted on BetOnline

Although there may have been some issue regarding the need to change to the “.ag” domain, BetOnline continues to accept players from the United States and conducts legitimate online gambling operation. Players from other parts of the world are also accepted provided that they are of legal age and that there are no laws in the area that prevent them from engaging in online gambling.

We did some research and found list of countries where players are not accepted. These are Malta, Egypt, Morocco, Macedonia, Serbia, Pakistan, Ukraine, Malta, Panama, and Montenegro.

BetOnline Customer Support

BetOnline had not been able to establish a good reputation in terms of customer support. Fortunately, things have improved over the years. Now, this gambling site provides different ways for reaching customer support 24/7. It could be through telephone (1-888-426-3661 for North American players or +507-206-3369 for international players) or via email. For general concerns, emails can be sent to [email protected].  For questions and concerns regarding the Poker games, emails should be sent to [email protected], For casino betting, emails should be sent to [email protected]. Lastly, for the skills games, the customer support email address is skill, sgames, @BetOnline.ag.

24/7 Live chat is also available. In our case, we got a quick response (time: 2:23 PM New York). The person on the other end of the chat was accommodating and knowledgeable enough.

BetOnline Gambling Operations Licensing, Regulation, and Assurance

Despite the praises we shower BetOnline, we are fully aware of the issues it has been through. In fact, we can’t still get over the fact that even until now it is not clear who its real owner is. However, we don’t have enough reason to be too skeptical with BetOnline’s claim of being legally licensed and fully regulated.  BetOnline is affiliated with the Offshore Gaming Association (OSGA). It also claims to follow a code of conduct which compels it to operate within a set of rules to ensure that payments are made in time, player accounts are protected, and that the games are fair or not being manipulated.

Pages Players Must Visit on BetOnline

If you are new to BetOnline, it’s very important to spend time reading the Terms and Conditions, game rules, and answers to frequently asked questions. The site also features player testimonials and press clippings that present flattering information about BetOnline. Moreover, BetOnline has official social media accounts through which you can get updated information or send questions or concerns.

• Facebook
• Twitter
• Google+

Pros and Cons

Pros

• Supports anonymous gambling
• Several opportunities to earn bonuses or rewards although they are not as generous as what other gambling sites are able to offer
• Mobile playing supported
• US players accepted
• Wide range of payment and payout methods or options for making deposits and withdrawals

Cons

• Low first deposit or welcome bonus
• A live casino game is claimed to be available but it was not clickable at the time we did this BetOnline review
• Simplistic betting interface may not suit some players’ tastes
• Poker section requires a software download