How to deposit on Bovada: methods, fees and crypto steps
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To deposit on Bovada, log in, click the profile icon at the top of any page and choose Deposit. That opens the cashier, where you pick a method and enter the amount.
Crypto, MatchPay, vouchers and player transfers carry no Bovada fee, and your first card deposit is free. Later card deposits cost 15.9% or more. Crypto takes the most care, since Bovada won’t credit coins sent on the wrong network or below the minimum.
Deposit methods, limits and fees
| Method | Minimum | Maximum per deposit | Bovada fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Visa, Mastercard, China UnionPay | $20 | $1,500 | First card deposit free, then 15.9% or more |
| Crypto (7 options) | Varies by coin (see below) | $5,000, or $10,000 with Lightning | None |
| MatchPay | $10 | $2,000 | None |
| Player transfer | $10 | $15,000 | None |
| Voucher | $10 | $3,000 | None |
| Direct bank transfer | $50 | $450 | Not published |
Paying by card
After your first free card deposit, Bovada charges 15.9% or more depending on the card, so a $100 deposit costs at least $15.90 in fees. Bovada also takes Visa and Mastercard gift cards.
Your card issuer can add its own charges, which Bovada doesn’t collect: cash-advance fees, currency conversion (5% to 10%), international fees (up to 3%) and gift card activation (3% to 5%).
Why card deposits get declined
Bovada says card deposits aren’t guaranteed, since the card itself may carry restrictions Bovada doesn’t set. Its other rules:
- After three failed attempts with the same card, Bovada blocks further attempts for 24 hours.
- You can have up to five active cards on your account.
- The card must be in your name and match your Bovada account details.
- Gift cards must be enabled for international and online purchases, so “Domestic use only” cards won’t work. New ones can take an hour to activate.
Under a federal rule, Regulation GG, US banks and card networks must also have policies for identifying and blocking payments for unlawful internet gambling.
How to deposit with crypto
Bovada takes Bitcoin, Bitcoin Lightning, Bitcoin Cash, Bitcoin SV, Litecoin, Ethereum and USD Tether (USDT). You’ll need the coins in a wallet first.
- Open the cashier and choose or redeem any bonus you want first.
- Select the exact coin you’re sending (Bovada notes that Bitcoin and Bitcoin Cash aren’t interchangeable).
- The cashier shows a deposit address and QR code. Bovada asks you to generate a new address for every deposit.
- In your wallet, press Send and paste the address or scan the code. Pick the right network (see below) and enter an amount above the coin’s minimum.
- On your wallet’s confirmation screen, check the address matches Bovada’s cashier, then send.
Bovada tells you to “always transfer cryptocurrency to Bovada from your wallet and NOT your exchange,” for privacy and security, and warns that sending straight from an exchange “may affect your ability to use that exchange moving forward.”
Networks and coin minimums
| Coin | Network | Minimum deposit |
|---|---|---|
| Ethereum (ETH) | Main Ethereum network only (ERC-20) | 0.002 ETH |
| USD Tether (USDT) | Main Ethereum network only (ERC-20) | 5 USDT |
| Bitcoin (BTC) | Not stated | 0.0001 BTC |
| Bitcoin Lightning | Lightning | 0.0001 BTC |
| Litecoin (LTC) | Not stated | 0.01 LTC |
| Bitcoin Cash (BCH) | Not stated | 0.001 BCH |
| Bitcoin SV (BSV) | Not stated | 0.2827 BSV |
Bovada takes ETH and USDT only on the main Ethereum network, which it calls ERC-20, and says a USDT address always starts with 0x. It warns that coins sent on Base, Polygon, Arbitrum, Binance Smart Chain or Optimism can’t be recovered. That rules out USDT on Tron (TRC-20) too.
For the other coins, Bovada doesn’t name a network or explain how Lightning deposits work. Use exactly the network the cashier shows, and ask Bovada’s support first if you’re unsure.
Minimums are set in coins, so their dollar value moves with the price, and Bovada says smaller deposits “will NOT be honored.” If your wallet takes its fee out of what you send, make sure the rest still clears the minimum.
How long a crypto deposit takes
Bovada says about 15 minutes on average, longer if the network is congested or you chose a low fee in your wallet. A deposit that hasn’t posted after one blockchain confirmation needs at least six. If several confirmations pass and the money still isn’t there, contact Bovada’s support.
Network fees and price changes
Bovada charges nothing for crypto deposits, but each transfer carries a network fee. Bovada says it’s usually under $1 and higher when the network is busy, and lower for Bitcoin Cash, Bitcoin SV and Litecoin than for Bitcoin and USDT. Exchanges also take a commission, sometimes built into the rate.
Your coins become US dollars once they reach Bovada, so your balance stops moving with crypto prices. Until then, and for coins you withdraw until you sell them, the price can go either way. Bovada suggests USDT for holding value because it’s tied to the dollar.
Buying crypto for the first time
Bovada’s own guide has you buy a coin on an exchange, move it to a wallet you control and send it to Bovada from there.
Check your exchange’s terms before you buy crypto to deposit. Some exchanges don’t allow their services to be used for gambling and can close accounts over it. Coinbase lists “unlawful gambling,” including internet gaming and sports odds making, as a prohibited use, and Cash App bans gambling except with merchants it and its banking partners have approved.
A personal wallet in between doesn’t change what those terms allow, so if your exchange rules out gambling, don’t use it to fund Bovada.
MatchPay, player transfers and vouchers
MatchPay lets you buy Bovada credit from another player and pay them through PayPal, Venmo, Zelle, Apple Pay, Chime or Cash App. Some of those apps restrict gambling payments. Our MatchPay guide covers trades and scams.
Player transfers and vouchers move balance from one Bovada player to another, and neither qualifies for a bonus. Our voucher guide explains both, including the risks of trading with other players.
Bonuses and your deposit
Redeem any welcome bonus before you deposit, since Bovada applies it to the deposit that follows. The crypto bonuses need a crypto deposit, and most bonuses need at least $20. Our Bovada bonus codes page has the current codes and rollover terms.
Your deposit method and withdrawals
Bovada says your withdrawal method “may be dependent on your method of deposit,” and it doesn’t list cards as a withdrawal option. Other rules to know:
- Card depositors need a Credit Card Verification Form for each card before any withdrawal, Bitcoin included.
- Each deposit must be wagered once before you withdraw winnings.
- Crypto withdrawals wait until your crypto deposits are confirmed.
- Bitcoin withdrawals start at $75, and Ethereum, USDT and Bitcoin Cash are capped at $2,500 a week.
See how Bovada pays out and how long a Bovada withdrawal takes for the details.
Where Bovada doesn’t take players
Bovada doesn’t accept players in 19 states and Washington, DC, listed on our page about where Bovada is available. Its terms treat hiding your location with a VPN or proxy as fraud, which can mean a closed account and a forfeited balance.
Bovada is an offshore site that claims licensing from the Union of the Comoros and holds no US state license. Our Bovada review covers what that means if a payment goes wrong.
If you’re funding a new account with crypto, Bovada’s crypto bonus page shows the current offer. Redeem it before you send any coins.
Affiliate link. 18+ (or older where your state requires). Not available in 19 states and Washington, DC.
Only bet what you’ve set aside to lose. If gambling has stopped being fun, call or text 1-800-MY-RESET (1-800-697-3738) for free, confidential help, 24/7, or chat online with the National Problem Gambling Helpline.
Sources
- Bovada help center: How do I make a deposit?, What deposit methods are available?, What are the deposit limits?, What are the deposit fees?, Why did my deposit fail?, Can I use another person’s credit card?
- Bovada help center: How do I deposit with a cryptocurrency?, Transfer Bitcoin to Bovada, How to safely deposit Ethereum (ETH) using the ERC-20 network, What are the advantages to using Tether (USDT)?, When will my funds be available?, What are the transaction fees?, Cryptocurrency deposit and withdrawal limits, Why do I need a digital wallet?, What’s the benefit of using cryptocurrencies with Bovada?
- Bovada help center: What is MatchPay?, What are the benefits of MatchPay?, How do I deposit with player transfer?, How do I deposit with a voucher?
- Bovada help center: What withdrawal methods are available?, Do I need to validate my information before I make a withdrawal?, How do I withdraw with a cryptocurrency?, What are the withdrawal limits?, How do I request a withdrawal?
- Bovada: Sports welcome bonus, Bitcoin sports welcome bonus, Claiming a bonus, Bonus terms and conditions, Which countries are restricted?, Terms of service (updated January 3, 2024)
- Coinbase: Prohibited and conditional use policy, User agreement (updated July 22, 2026)
- Cash App: Acceptable use policy. PayPal: What gambling activities does PayPal prohibit?
- Code of Federal Regulations: 12 CFR 233.6, Regulation GG (Prohibition on Funding of Unlawful Internet Gambling)