Sports Interaction vs. Bodog

Cameron Kozinets
By:
Cameron Kozinets
16 Jun 21
Blog

What is the Best Betting Site in Canada?

Canada now has more operators in it than ever before, as new laws have turned gambling into a mainstream industry. Bettors have much to pick from, and we’re here to help by comparing some of the biggest name operators in the business. We’ll start by looking at Bodog and Sports Interaction, two of the best Canadian-started brands in the business. We'll explore who they are, what separates them, and more. It should be a tight showdown between two of the best and the business, but only one operator can be crowned the victor.

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$400 Welcome Bonus + 50 Free Spins
100% Sports Bonus

We Compared:

  • Signup
  • Welcome Bonus
  • Promotions
  • Features
  • Sports Coverage
  • Live betting
  • Live Streaming
  • Mobile compatibility
  • Banking
  • Customer Support
    Customer Support
  • User Experience

Bodog vs Sports Interaction Summary

This comparison was a tight battle between two operators, each of which has many great features that set them apart and some weaknesses that hold them back. In the end, one prevailed. Here's how it all shook out.

Final Score: Bodog 4, Sports Interaction 5, Draw 2.

  • Sign-Up Process: Draw
  • Welcome Bonus: Sports Interaction
  • Promotions: Sports Interaction
  • Features: Sports Interaction
  • Sports Coverage: Bodog
  • Live Betting: Sports Draw
  • Live Streaming: Bodog
  • Mobile Compatibility: Sports Interaction
  • Banking: Bodog
  • Customer Support
    Customer Support: Bodog
  • User Experience: Sports Interaction
  • Winner: Sports Interaction

1. Sign-Up Process

Getting started with a website should be hassle-free and easy. It should be fast and simple, so even someone brand new can do it. This is an inescapable part of starting a sports betting journey, so it is important that it is seamless and unobtrusive. Let's compare these two operators' sign-up processes.

Bodog: The Bodog Sign Up process is as fast and easy as it gets. The signup page is one small page, and you put in your name, age, email, phone number, postal code, and currency. There is also the option to input a referral email address for their Refer a Friend promotion. You check a box to certify that you are of age in your jurisdiction and press Register. A message is sent to your phone to verify, and you are good to go.

Sports Interaction: The Sports Interaction process is rather straightforward but with some additional wrinkles. Bettors must input their name, user name, address, date of birth, occupation, country of citizenship, and add a security question. They then must check boxes, including that they are not politically exposed, that they aren’t representing someone else, and that they are fit to play. Their account will then be ready.

Verdict

While the Bodog sign-up process is likely a bit faster, with Sports Interaction requiring more information, that info likely makes Sports Interaction slightly safer. With that in mind, it comes down to a Draw.

Round 1 winner: Draw Sports Interaction / Bodog

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2. Welcome Bonus

Now that we’re signed up, we may want to claim a Welcome Bonus. The Welcome Bonus is how operators incentivize new users to join up with their sites. It is a bonus only for first-time users of a site that can provide free money for gamblers to make bets with. Here is a breakdown of how Bodog and Sports Interaction compare in this department.

Bodog: The Bodog’s Welcome Bonus is a 100% Matched Deposit of up to $400 with 50 Free Spins of the casino as well. Bettors will have their first deposit matched 100% up to $400 and get 50 free spins of the Gods of Luxor slot game, where they can keep the winnings. Bettors must deposit at least $10 to claim this bonus, and it is only redeemable on a first deposit. The deposit plus bonus amount is subject to a 5x playthrough before the bonus amount and associated winnings can be withdrawn.

Sports Interaction: Sports Interaction provides a Welcome Bonus of a 100% Matched Deposit of up to $200. The bonus must be opted-into before a bettor deposits, and it is only available on the first deposit. The minimum deposit amount for the bonus is $10. Bettors must place qualifying bets (on odds less than -200) up to the amount of their first deposit or $200, whichever is lower, to receive the $200 bet credits. Once they have the credits, any winnings from them are paid in cash.

Verdict

The Bodog winner has a much higher value, as it pays out double. However, the Sports Interaction bonus is much better for the casual bettor, as they only need to play through 1x the bonus amount to receive it. This makes it a superior bonus. The edge goes to the Sports Interaction offer, one of the best sports betting bonuses out there, edging Bodog for this round.

Round 2 winner: Sports Interaction

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3. Promotions

The Welcome Bonus isn’t the only bonus most sports betting operators offer. Some other promotions and betting offers are available for those who know where to find them. Let’s find out about what these two betting sites provide and see how they compare.

Bodog: Bodog’s promotion offerings aren’t as substantial as some industry competitors, but they still do provide some solid options for users. Aside from their Welcome Bonus, they have a Refer a Friend Bonus for referring someone to their website. The bonus is a 200% Bonus up to $100 of the first deposit the person you referred makes, plus an additional $75 if the deposit is made with Bitcoin. They also have a bonus for depositing with Bitcoin of 100% of your deposit up to $600. Bodog also has a rewards program for betting with them, where each bet is worth points that can be put toward rewards.

Sports Interaction: Sports Interaction’s bonus department has expanded in recent years, as they’ve clearly eyed bonuses as an important growth strategy. Their welcome offer is solid and fun, but they also have a few other additional offerings. There is a Refer a Friend offer, where bettors receive $100 in bet credits for referring a friend. There is also a CFL bonus, where CFL Moneyline bets can’t lose by three points, or else they’ll be refunded. There is also a Blue Jays bonus where Moneyline bets on the Jays receive 25% boosts if the Jays hit three home runs, 50% boosts if they hit four, and 100% if they hit five or more.

Verdict

For this one, there is a winner. Sports Interaction’s Bonus offerings are more sports-centric. While Bodog is focused on refer a friend and crypto transactions, Sports Interaction actually has bonuses for Canadian sports. This gives them an edge.

Round 3 winner: Sports Interaction

4. Features

Every betting operator has something that sets them apart, that makes them different from the rest. These features are important aspects of what makes them unique, so let’s take a deep dive into the unique features Sports Interaction and Bodog offer their users.

Bodog: Bodog has some features that set them apart from the rest. They also have all the standard features you’d expect from an operator, like a variety of betting markets and live betting. Bodog has a prop bet builder that allows you to build parlays based on player performances. They also have requested bets, which allow users to submit bet requests on props for games and players, and Bodog will generate odds for them. They also have daily specials for many of the main sports, which are fun, unique bets they've created that are entertaining and different.

Sports Interaction: If you enjoy betting, chances are you’ll find some features at Sports Interaction that you’d enjoy. They have virtual sports betting, which allows you to bet on simulated games. They also have a Racebook feature that allows you to bet on animal races from across the globe. Sports Interaction has a piñata bet which is a fun form of betting. They give bettors random odds, typically around +1200 for a long-term bet. The bettor will then be randomly assigned a team who could have worse or better odds. The bettor then has that team with the Pinata odds provided. Sports Interaction also has fun features like minute madness, where bettors can choose random minutes in a game they expect teams to score, with big cash payouts if they're right. They also offer odds boosts and free-to-play tournaments.

Verdict

Sports Interaction has managed to surpass Bodog here by adding a bunch of new features to its website. Bodog has great features and some truly unique ones, like their prop builder. But Sports Interaction has more to offer.

Round 4 winner: Sports Interaction

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5. Sports Coverage

Every operator provides different types of sports coverage, with varying types of markets and betting options. Depending on your favorite sport, these are crucial parts of picking an operator. Let’s look at how these two brands stack up to each other.

Bodog: Bodog provides a large selection that encompasses just about all the sports that Canadian bettors would want to interact with. With basketball, football, hockey, baseball, boxing/MMA, soccer, and much more, Bodog has odds on a huge amount of markets. This includes a truly extensive amount of game and player props that users can engage with. They cover just about every major league in the most popular sports and even have more niche offerings like Futsal and Australian Football. Overall, Bodog covers 31 different sports and types of sports.

Sports Interaction: If you are a typical Canadian sports fan, chances are Sports Interaction will have a lot of the markets you'd want to bet on if not all of them. They offer tennis, soccer, boxing/MMA, baseball, basketball, football, hockey, and much more. Within each sport, they have different kinds of bets that are available, like spreads and player props. They cover all the leagues Canadian fans love and many that the average Canadian has no awareness of, like darts and snooker. Overall, Sports Interaction covers 17 different sports and types of sports.

Verdict

While both offer excellent coverage, it can’t be overlooked that Bodog covers a substantial amount more sports. They have the edge here.

Round 5 Winner: Bodog

6. Live Betting

If you are looking to lay down some big bets but completely forgot to make them before the game started, fear not. Live betting allows you to bet even after a game is underway, with constantly updating odds. Live betting is a feature many love to use, so here's a breakdown of how you can do it with Bodog and Sports Interaction.

Bodog: Bodog has live betting, which you will see on the Home Page or by clicking on the Live icon. The layout of the page stood out to me as a little bit basic, with not as much visual flair. However, there are a ton of different games you can bet on, with odds that are constantly changing. There are also game props you can bet on live.

Sports Interaction: Sports Interaction specializes here, with great live betting coverage. They have a live betting feature on their home page that shows every current game that they are providing live odds for, and for each game, they have a ton of props and spreads that are constantly adjusting to the circumstances of the game. Clicking on the game you want to bet on reveals all the additional live offerings.

Verdict

While Sports Interaction's live betting page has visual appeal, Bodog has more sports with live betting available. So this one is too close to call, as it comes down to whether you prefer an organized layout or deeper sports coverage.

Round 6 winner: Draw Sports Interaction / Bodog

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7. Live Streaming

If you’ve placed a live bet, chances are you might want to follow what’s happening in the event you bet on. Some websites allow you to do this with live streaming, where you can watch the sporting event through streaming on their website. Do Bodog and Sports Interaction offer this great feature? Let’s find out.

Bodog: Live streaming is not a feature that is found on every sports betting site, as it can get complicated with media rights and other issues. However, Bodog is one of the few sports sites that does have live streaming. Their streaming options are primarily limited to eSports and casino events. For example, you can watch live League of Legends events and wager on the outcomes directly from the Bodog sportsbook.

Sports Interaction: While Sports Interaction has plenty of great features, live streaming is certainly not one of them. There are no sporting events on Sports Interaction that are live-streamed.

Verdict

This is pretty open and shut. Sports Interaction does not have live-streaming events for any of the sports, and Bodog does. While not every bettor will care for live-streaming eSports, there are some that will, so the edge goes to Bodog here.

Round 7 Winner: Bodog

8. Mobile Compatibility

If you like the immediacy of live betting, the opportunity to wager wherever you are is an exciting one. With a mobile app or a mobile-compatible website, this is made possible. Betting from your phone allows you to take your gambling experience on the go, so let’s take a look at how Bodog and Sports Interaction cater to their mobile users.

Bodog: Bodog does not provide an app for Canadian bettors on the App Store or Google Play Store. While that holds them back a bit in terms of experience, they still have a mobile-compatible website that looks good on smartphones and tablets and brings the Bodog experience to you wherever you are. It is simple to use and provides a very similar type of experience that using Bodog on your computer does.

Sports Interaction: Sports Interaction has recently added a betting app that is available to iOS and Android users. It can be found on the Apple App Store and Google Play Store and is downloadable for easy access. The app is highly effective, fun, and looks great on smartphone devices. If you don't want to download an app, there is also a mobile-optimized website available to Sports Interaction users.

Here you can find more helpful information about sports betting apps in Canada

Verdict

While both have solid mobile features and a strong mobile betting website, Sports Interaction is the only one of the two with a dedicated mobile app. This should give them the edge, as an app is a big differentiator.

Round 8 winner: Sports Interaction

9. Banking

Once you’ve found the website you like, you’re going to need to deposit. Every operator accepts different payment methods, ranging from the conventional to the unconventional. Here are the payment methods available at Bodog and Sports Interaction.

Bodog: Bodog has tons of options for payment methods, including some that many operators don’t. Bodog first and foremost has the necessities, including cards (Visa, Mastercard, American Express), Interac, and Bank transfers. But they also are one of only a few major operators who allow for cryptocurrency banking. Bodog accepts Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Litecoin, and they provide a substantial bonus to those who deposit with Bitcoin. Each option has a minimum and maximum deposit amount. For card, the minimum is $20 and the maximum is $1,000.

Sports Interaction: If you’re trying to deposit with Sports Interaction, Canadian bettors can choose from 9 different payment methods. There are more standard options like Credit/Debit with Mastercard and Visa and Interac. There are also some more niche options, like MuchBetter, Paysafecard, and ecoPayz. Sports Interaction also offers a bonus of 10% up to $50 for using Interac or eCheck as your deposit method. Each method has a different minimum or maximum deposit amount, for example with debit it is $20 minimum and $1,000 maximum. Withdrawals offer a variety of methods as well and typically take 72 hours to arrive.

Verdict

Both operators have different banking capabilities that set them apart. However, Bodog accepts American Express and cryptocurrency, with a big bonus for Bitcoin use. These are unique selling points that I believe many users would seek out.

Round 9 Winner: Bodog

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10. Customer Support

When you’re using a sports betting operator, there can be confusion and difficulty. In these situations, it helps to be using an operator that has high-quality customer support to help you through the difficulty of the situation. Here is a look at how Bodog and Sports Interaction compare in the customer support department.

Bodog: Bodog has several different pathways if you run into some trouble on their site or just need to get information. They have a Help Center that has answers to questions on a wide range of topics, an FAQ page, and even a video library that addresses questions and provides a how-to guide, which is a neat feature I haven't seen on many other operators' Help pages. Bodog also has a Contact Us feature where you can input your email and ask a question. They also have a phone line and a Live Chat feature, so there are many options.

Sports Interaction: Sports Interaction has a few different options if you require support. They have a Help Center that has a breakdown of many different questions you might have, including things like banking and technical questions. They also allow you to submit a request by putting in your email and typing out the question/difficulty you are dealing with. The website says they respond to most inquiries within 4 hours. They also have a toll-free, 24/7 contact support line, where you can speak to staff and get the customer support you need.

Verdict

This is an extremely close one, as once again, both operators have everything I’d look for in terms of customer support. In the end, there is only one slight differentiator, and it is that the Bodog help page has a bit more features available.

Round 10 Winner: Bodog

11. User Experience

The whole point of sports betting sites is to have some fun and make money while you're at it. Sports betting is all about the overall user experience. This includes ease of use, the look of the website, and the nature of the offerings. Let's contrast the Bodog and Sports Interaction overall user experience to see how they stack up.

Bodog: Bodog's website is a little bit unappealing to look at, in my opinion. It looks quite old and simplistic, and I do think that hinders the user experience a bit. Betting with a website that looks great and feels intuitive is important to me, and this isn't the case with Bodog. However, Bodog does provide a ton of fun ways to gamble with their bet-building feature, extensive props, and I think the feature where gamblers can request odds on certain things to bet on is awesome and sets them apart.

Sports Interaction: Sports Interaction's website has an easy layout to use, with a very simple theme that is both eye-catching and simple to navigate. The sports offerings are all on a left-hand toolbar, which also includes a live betting tab. The colours blend really well with a navy blue, orange, and white theme that looks very good. There are also small graphics of different sports and casino options, and the website is divided into different categories. Sports Interaction also stands out by offering numerous exciting features to its users.

Verdict

This one comes down to the simple fact that one website is very visually appealing and easy to navigate, and the other isn’t. Sports Interaction has the edge here with its website, which is very easy on the eyes.

Round 11 Winner: Sports Interaction

Bodog Strengths
  • Great Banking Options
  • Many Customer Support Choices
  • Fun Ways to Gamble
Bodog Weaknesses:
  • Visually Unappealing Website
  • Live Betting Page is Basic
Sports Interaction Strengths:
  • Website Looks Great
  • Endless Fun Features and Quirks
  • Covers Many Markets
Sports Interaction Weaknesses:
  • Lack of Payment Options
  • Could Add More Sports

The Final Verdict

Let me preface the final verdict by saying this competition was as close as it gets, and both operators have something very valuable to offer. They are both different in unique ways, and each has features that some bettors would enjoy more than others. But at the end of the day, there can only be one winner, and according to the scoring system we had in place, Sports Interaction was the one who came out on top.

Bodog was slightly hindered by its website's unappealing look and lack of a mobile app. But they still managed to make this a tight battle thanks to some real standout aspects. Their customer support options are great, they have a lot of unique and fun ways to gamble, and their payment options are extensive. Their intensive sports coverage is a huge selling point as well.

Sports Interaction is a great website that should be recommended to anyone looking to get into sports betting. They have a website that is very good-looking and easy to use, a lot of great markets, a simple sign-up process, and an exciting mobile app. They've also been adding features and promotions recently to differentiate themselves. There were some areas of weakness that could've set Sports Interaction back. They don't cover the same amount of sports as Bodog and don't have extensive payment options either.

Both websites are awesome, and any Canadian sports bettor could likely find something to enjoy on either one. However, under this scoring system, Sports Interaction slightly edged Bodog in this head-to-head battle of elite Canadian sports betting operators.

These two sportsbooks are far from the only ones available in Canada. If you’re looking to see what else is out there, here is a breakdown of Bet365 and 888Sport, two more of Canada’s biggest betting sites.

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Cameron is a 2020 graduate from the University of Southern California’s Journalism program. He is an avid sports fan and bettor, whose favourite teams include the Toronto Raptors, and the Chicago Bears. Cameron has been writing about and following sports since the age of 10, when he first fell in love with the NFL and NBA.