Bovada has always been one of my favorite poker rooms to use. And when it comes to playing freerolls, who doesn’t want the chance to make some free money running deep in a tournament. That’s the stuff dreams are made of right there.
I mean, who wants to deposit money if you can just make a final table for a nice score and use that money as your bankroll. Sounds awesome right? Well, I’m going to give you guys an update on what to expect if you are considering joining up with Bovada and possibly playing some freerolls.
What Are Bovada Poker Freerolls?
Basically, it’s a tournament you can join in after creating an account that allows you to play for free with the chance to win real money. Most poker sites host these on a daily, weekly, or monthly basis. The idea is to play in one of them and run deep enough in the tournament to make the money.
Once you make the money you can then use that as a free bankroll without ever having to deposit on the site. Sound too good to be true. Well, it can be, because making a final table in one of these can be tough. More on that later. For now, let’s see what Bovada has to offer as far as freerolls go.
Current Freeroll Tournament
Now, I hate to disappoint you guys reading this, but Bovada does in fact offer a freeroll tournament. The issue is that it happens at random times throughout the month. Prize pools can be anywhere from $2500 to higher depending on what they offer. However, it isn’t scheduled as you must log in and check to see for any given week if it’s available or not. It’s kind of annoying but nothing anyone can do about it.
How to Find Bovada Freerolls
All you need to do is login to your account and open the tournament section. If you are using a desktop or laptop, I added a screenshot to show you what this will look like. If you are browsing on your phone, it will look slightly different, but still the same concept just click on the tournament option. You can then filter by dollar amount and switch it to the lowest amount to see if any freerolls pop up.
Freeroll Strategy to Run Deep
In the early stages of these tournaments, you almost always want to play tight. You will often see a lot of bad players shove all in on coin flip situations, when you should stay away from that unless you have the best of it. Typically, you want to wait for premium hands like AK or big pocket pairs and keep it basic. There is no reason to lose your whole stack early on with a hand like J10 suited.
Once you make the middle stages you want to open a big more and start stealing blinds from weak players when you are in late position. The blinds start to become more meaningful as the tournament progresses, so you want to be stealing often with Ace high type of hands and suited connectors with some small pairs. You can start bluffing in this stage but don’t get too wreck less.
Finally, the late stage is where the push fold strategy comes into play a lot more. This is where you need to abuse those short stacks and apply maximum pressure to take them down for stealing blinds or possibly taking them out of the tournament completely. When you are in late position with everyone folding around you any Ace high type of hand with a shove is the correct move. Doing things in this order will give you the best chance at making a final table.
Pros & Cons of Bovada Freerolls
I think these can be fun to play in if you are new to the site and want to get a feel for the software. But you must remember that in these tournaments there are going to be lots of players you need to defeat to run deep enough to make the money or a final table.
It’s not uncommon to see 1000 plus players join these because everyone is looking to get that free money. You are going to have to have a lot of patience sitting there and play good poker for an extended period. Sometimes these tournaments can take up to 8 hours if you are fortunate enough to make a final table. There is also the variance of knowing that even if you play perfectly a bad beat could take you out of the tournament early, which is a bit frustrating. But it happens all the time.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
One of the biggest mistakes players make in freerolls is playing too loose early on. Because there’s no buy-in, many players treat chips like they don’t matter. This is where you will see the nonsense of all in shoves early on with hands like J9 suited. It happens all of the time. If you get caught up in that style, you’ll often bust before the tournament even settles. Staying patient and picking strong spots is key. Refer to the strategy I laid out above.
Another common mistake is overvaluing marginal hands. Hands like weak aces or low suited cards can get you into trouble, especially early on. It’s better to stick with solid starting hands and avoid unnecessary risks until later to the midpoint of the tournament. That’s where you can start opening more with hands like A4 suited.
Another thing I see is that Many players ignore position and stack sizes. You need to adjust your play as blinds increase can cost you and eventually make you bleed your buy in if you are not paying attention to it. Finally, a lot of players chase big wins instead of focusing on survival. Making it deep into the tournament is far more valuable than taking unnecessary risks early.
Turning Freerolls into Real Profit
Turning Bovada freerolls into real profit starts with treating them like a bankroll-building tool, not just free entertainment. The goal isn’t to chase big wins right away, but to slowly stack small cashes and protect them. Once you cash a freeroll, resist the urge to jump into higher-stakes games. Instead, move into the lowest buy-in tournaments or cash tables and play tight, disciplined poker.
Focus on consistency over risk. Even a few dollars can grow if you avoid unnecessary swings and stick to solid fundamentals. As your bankroll builds, gradually move up in stakes while maintaining proper bankroll management—never risking more than a small percentage at a time.
The real edge comes from patience. Most players treat freeroll winnings like disposable money and lose it quickly. If you approach it with structure and discipline, you can turn free entries into a sustainable, growing bankroll over time.
Final Thoughts
Freerolls are awesome don’t get me wrong but if you want to take this more seriously you should eventually just make a deposit. Bovada offering a $2500 free roll is solid, but making a final table can take a lot of trial and error to playing more than a few times to make the money. Like I said it takes a lot of patience to play in freerolls.
Eventually you should just make an investment in your poker journey here so that you can see what you are made of playing cash games, and some of the bigger multi table guaranteed tournaments they offer like the $200k for example. Whatever you decide to do, just use the tournament strategy I laid out above and hopefully be on your way to making a final table.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are Bovada Poker freerolls really free?
Yes, Bovada freerolls are 100% free to enter. Most do not require a deposit, although some exclusive freerolls may be tied to promotions or bonuses. Either way, you can start playing without risking your own money.
Can you win real money in Bovada freerolls?
Absolutely. While the prize pools are smaller than regular tournaments, freerolls still pay real cash or tournament tickets. Many players use these winnings to build a bankroll from scratch.
How often does Bovada offer freerolls?
Bovada runs freerolls daily, along with weekly and promotional events. The schedule can vary, so it’s best to check the tournament lobby regularly to avoid missing out.
Do I need an account to play freerolls on Bovada?
Yes, you must create a Bovada account to register for any freeroll. The signup process is quick, and once you’re in, you can access all available tournaments.
Are Bovada freerolls worth playing? Edward Pao is an online poker and casino affiliate marketer with over 10 years of experience in the industry. He has referred over 30,000 players to major poker platforms and specializes in reviewing the best online poker sites and casino bonuses.
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