CloudBet Review
As far as online sportsbooks go, it can be difficult to know exactly how trustworthy some sites are. Luckily, there are a few that have paved the way in terms of setting a standard, and Cloudbet for the most part seems to live up to them. These elements include such things as reliability when it comes to security, a fair and balanced system regarding payouts, and of course a variety of different options when it comes to gaming and gambling.
As one of the premiere sportsbook and bitcoinesport sites, Cloudbet first came online in 2013 and has since managed to accrue a very popular following of both new and returning customers. A good measure of how well a company is doing – and in turn, how responsible they are to be able to survive in the competitive world of online gambling – is how long they’ve managed to survive, and the fact that Cloudbet is flourishing bodes well for those looking to sign up. The sportsbook itself is operated out of Dutch-Caribbean island of Curacao where it is licensed with Curacao eGaming. They also have a Montenegro license.
Betting at Cloudbet – Is It Worthwhile?
All of these details are important in making Cloudbet a credible site, but the real question that gamers want to know is: is it worthwhile?
To answer this we have to look beyond the specs and consider what makes sportsbooks appealing. And this usually comes down to playability. Fortunately, Cloudbet seems to excel in this category. They have numerous sports available to bet on, including football, basketball, soccer, rugby, cricket, tennis, and even some lesser known ones like futsal and snooker.
It was quite surprising to see the sheer range of offered sports – and perhaps this is what has allowed Cloudbet to reach the pinnacles that is has. It reaches beyond the common demographics by allowing its users to engage in a whole range of different activities, which are not exclusive to one country. For example, opening up the ability to bet on hockey and handball means that they are reaching demographics in many different countries.
This is the hallmark of a top class sportsbook when it offers such diversity, but of course it should also be mentioned that some caution should be observed by newcomers to the site – the temptation to start betting on sports that perhaps one has no skill or knowledge of may be a bit of risk, so it’s a good idea to stick with what you know, and to limit yourself to smaller wagers until you’re comfortable with the betting system.
Although Cloudbet does have a sportsbook section, this is in fact only half of their website, with the other half devoted to both a Casino and Live Casino. These include what you would normally associate with online gambling casinos, such as slots, poker, blackjack, and even roulette. Their slots section is huge, why it gets exclusively discussed in this review of Cloudbet slots.
Although not strictly related to sports, the fact they also host casino-related activities is further testament to their credibility (the Live Casino allowing players to bet on games in 5 different countries).
Cold Storage And High Security At Cloudbet
As Cloudbet uses Bitcoin and Bcash exclusively as its method of currency and deposits, this also necessitates on their part an intensive array of security measures. This includes a unique ‘cold storage’ option for users Bitcoins and Bcash, which is basically an offline repository meaning that any currency you win and/or deposit is safely stored out of reach of intruders. Additionally, Cloudbet gets praise for also instituting a 2-Step Authentication process that involves a username and a passcode to access your account, and is regularly audited by the RNG.
Signup & Welcome Bonus
Signing up is also remarkably easy and only requires a username with a valid e-mail address (and of course a Bitcoin compatible e-Wallet with which to deposit currency). The minimum deposit is 0.001 BTC which again puts it on par with other sportsbooks, although there is an unlimited payout amount. In order to increase their appeal, Cloudbet also has a number of bonuses that users can take advantage of, and this includes a 100% first deposit bonus up to 5 BTC/BCH/ETH/PAXG or 1000 USDT/USDC – meaning that if you deposit up to 5 BTC they will match it, which is especially fortuitous for newcomers because it opens up some breathing room to begin wagering immediately and learning the system without having to worry about depleting their original funds.
Cloudbet Advantages
The pros of Cloudbet are numerous, and as mentioned include a very tight and representative security system with SSL encryption so you can be assured of your deposits and, likewise, your anonymity when making bets. They also have a very intensive and up-to-date Live Sports section allowing you to bet on games as they are broadcast, including Hockey, Basketball, and even Handball.
In general, the site itself is very user friendly and easy to navigate, and it was nice to see an innovative approach to their wagering system, which includes something called an Asian handicap (used for football, primarily). Also, although a small detail, it was convenient to have the Odds displayed in a number of options: Decimal, Fractional, or American.
It whas been nice to see an interactive support option that allows you to talk 24/7 live with support staff. Any issues either with the site, accounts, or other problems don`t have to be sent to a webmail address, you get an immediate response.
Cloudbet Downsides
That said, we did find a couple of deactivated pages which sometimes made it feel as if Cloudbet was perhaps lax in its website maintenance in certain areas.
Overall Rating
In general, Cloudbet gets a 4.7 out of 5, mostly because of its simplistic set-up which makes it easy for beginners to grasp, but also offers enough options and variety in terms of wagering (ie. Asian handicaps, etc.) to give an ample and entertaining challenge to high-rollers and hard-core betters who have been at the game for awhile. They also should be applauded for being very present on social media like Twitter and Facebook.