Online Poker » Site Comparisons » PokerStars vs Bodog

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Deposit Bonus

PokerStars: 100% deposit return, up to $600 on first three deposits made within 90 days. Must earn 17 times the bonus amount to clear; dispensed in $10 increments. Bonus expires in 6 months.

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Bodog: 110% Match Sign Up Bonus $500 with 10% that bonus going straight into your account as soon as you deposit. Then of the remaining 100% every time you earn 3 poker points by playing poker at Bodog, you’ll earn $1 USD, €1 requires 5 poker points, £1 requires 6 poker points, and 1 Rand will require 0.5 poker points.

Verdict: While Bodog Poker offers more currency play options and a bonus on your first deposit, PokerStars offers a slightly higher deposit bonus across your first three deposits. However, Bodog also offers 10% of your bonus up front with no clearing requirements, which pretty much trumps PokerStars all together.

Promotions

PokerStars: PokerStars has tons of promotions going on all the time including satellites to big-money live events, guaranteed tourneys, reload bonuses, poker battles, player challenges, and plenty of other freebies. Also, the PokerStars World Cup of Poker series attracts a lot of attention when it comes up on the PokerStars promo calendar.

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Bodog: The Bodog promotional menu features a Bad Beat Bonus, a Royal Flush Bonus, freerolls, and more. They also have guaranteed tournaments and a weekly tournament leaderboard contest. Additionally, the Bodog Poker Open is a big series event that takes place periodically at Bodog, among other revolving promotional events.

Verdict: PokerStars has more players to cater to, so they tend to offer more in terms of variety and quantity of promotions. However, Bodog does have some enticing promotions as well, and there are less players vying for the prizes.

Software

PokerStars: This complete online poker software application is user-friendly and very reliable with 27 different languages available. The poker game and tournament lobby is very easy to navigate and provides enhanced user functions for those who prefer to use them. Play on up to 24 tables at once. Software is available for Mac users.

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Bodog: Customizable gaming interface allows for a variety of preferences including full-screen display, on-demand player tools, clean tables, and Spotlight on the Action option. Play on up to four tables at once. Software is available for Mac users.

Verdict: If you are a multi-tabler, you’ll want to go with PokerStars, as there’s just no comparison here. However, if you like simpler online poker software, Bodog is easy to use and up-to-par with industry standards.

Tournaments

PokerStars: Sundays at PokerStars are their biggest tournament day with the Sunday $1.5 Million, the $750K Sunday Warm-up, and the $250K Sunday Second Chance, all of which have a $215 buy-in. They also feature Sit & Gos (Double or Nothing and Steps), Multi-Table tourneys (including shootouts), Satellites, Re-buys, Deep Stacks, 6-Max and 4-Max, Turbo, and 2 X Turbo.

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Bodog: Bodog’s biggest weekly guaranteed tournament is the $100K Guaranteed that takes place on Sunday with a $162 buy-in. Also available at Bodog are Multi-table tourneys, Sit & Go tourneys (Turbo, Super Turbo, Short Handed), Multi-table Sit & Gos, Freerolls, Qualifiers, Re-buys

Verdict: PokerStars has more big-money tournaments with a larger player base. Bodog’s guaranteed tourneys are on a smaller scale, but are ultimately easier to win due to less players. Both have a very active tournament schedule, but you will find a better variety of tournaments at PokerStars.

Games

PokerStars: Texas Hold ‘em, Omaha, Omaha Hi/Lo, Stud, Stud Hi-Lo, Razz, 5-Card Draw, 2-7 Single Draw, 2-7 Triple Draw, Badugi, HORSE, HOSE, and 8-game mixed.

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Bodog: Texas Hold 'em, Omaha, Omaha Hi/Lo, Stud, Stud Hi/Lo, 5-Card Stud

Verdict: PokerStars has a lot more to offer players, including mixed games, than Bodog.

Loyalty Points

PokerStars: PokerStars gives up to 3 points for raked cash games and 5 points per $1 in tournament fees. A six-tiered VIP Club status ladder gives more frequent players additional benefits that include point multipliers, entry into exclusive tournaments, and other perks.

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Bodog: The Bodog Poker Points (PTS) system is one of the most lucrative loyalty reward systems for online poker players. Just for creating a screen name, you automatically get 50 points to start you out. You can earn up to 1 point in raked cash hands in which you contribute to the rake and 3 points for every $1 in tourney fees you pay. You’ll also get 1 point for every 60 minutes you are actively involved in poker play, up to 500 per month. Bodog also offers a Double Poker Points bonus when you reach 2000 points in one month. Spend your Bodog points on tournament buy-ins or redeem them for cash at the rate of 100 for $1 in cash.

Verdict: While PokerStars has a more developed points system, Bodog allows you to exchange your points for cash, and PokerStars doesn’t. Bodog also offers more ways to earn points, but you’ll probably rack up points more quickly at PokerStars. Either way, you’ll come out ahead at both poker rooms.

Traffic

PokerStars: 145,000+ players

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Bodog: 1,000+ players

Verdict: The numbers say it all, and it really depends on your preference. If you like big poker rooms, you’ll want to go with PokerStars; if you prefer a smaller poker room, Bodog is a great low-trafficked online poker site.

Rakeback

PokerStars: None.

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Bodog: Bodog offers a points to cash program similiar to a rakeback program.

Verdict: Neither site offers rakeback, but Bodog's is close.

Deposit Options

PokerStars: All major credit cards, moneybookers, NETeller, ClickandBuy, PaySafeCard, WebMoney, EC ELV, Instant e-checks, Online Bank Transfer, and Local Bank Transfer

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Bodog: Credit cards, moneybookers, NETeller, eWalletXpress, PaySafeCard, Click2Pay, Speedcard

Verdict: Both PokerStars and Bodog offer a wide variety of deposit options, but PokerStars does do e-checks, which a lot of players, especially in the US, prefer.

Customer Service

PokerStars: Email only.

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Bodog: Bodog offers online email form, live chat, and toll free telephone support.

Verdict: Bodog’s support options are much more developed than PokerStars. Because there are fewer players at Bodog, customer service is more player-oriented.