With the hype train not derailing anytime soon for bitcoin, you’re probably pretty interested in this king-crypto. Now, if you intend to use bitcoin for sports gambling, you need to have a bitcoin wallet.
Wallets are how you store your bitcoins. That’s how you keep them safe. This is an important point to understand.
A lot of folks who are new to using bitcoins at Bovada, BetOnline, and other bitcoin-friendly sportsbooks are under the assumption that they store the cryptocurrency at the gambling site. That assumption is wrong.
You store your bitcoin in your personal bitcoin wallet. When you’re ready to make a deposit, you transfer bitcoin the sportsbook of your choice, making your deposit. That deposit is converted into $USD valued chips and you make bets in $USD valued amounts… i.e $100 bucks.
When you decide tocash out your winnings from the sportsbook, the $USD amount is converted back into bitcoin at the market rate (which is constantly fluctuating) and then sent to your bitcoin wallet using a ‘receive address’.
Long story short, you need a legit bitcoin wallet.
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The good news is that there are some really good free ones and affordable hardware style ones you can buy if your heart desires.
But first, let’s take a birds eye look at how bitcoin and betting sports online work in 2020.
Using Bitcoin To Bet On Sports: How It Works
The first step is to choose a wallet.Keep on scrolling down to see “5 Types of wallets!
- Download and set up your personal bitcoin wallet
- Create an account somewhere where you can buy bitcoin and buy some bitcoin
- Send the bitcoin you purchased from the place you bought it to your personal wallet
- Create an account at a sportsbook of your choice and visit the cashier – Follow the steps to deposit bitcoin that are site dependent but as easy as copying a sent to address and sending the amount you desire to the sportsbook
- You have deposited with bitcoin and are now gambling with $USD valued chips at the sportsbook/casino
We are going to break down each of these steps and show you how and where to do them.
Free Wallets – Apps for Your Phone & Desktop
- Blockstream Green Wallet – My current (2020) top choice for mobile phone based wallet. Open source, you own your keys and extremely secure
- BRD – free online wallet with excellent security and reviews
- Electrum.org – download a desktop wallet that is easy to use.
There are also built in wallets at the exchanges and places you buy your bitcoin from (ex. cash.app or coinbase.com). Do not, and let me repeat do NOT use this wallet directly with any sportsbook or gambling site. Buying bitcoin here is great but always send it to your personal wallet (from above) in-between any transaction with any other gambling site at all. It is best practice to withdraw your bitcoin to your personal wallet asap after your initial purchase. Once it’s in your own wallet you can spend it as you please.
Paid for “Cold Storage” Wallets
I’m talking the pieces of hardware like the Trezor or the Ledger.
I’ve tried both and the Trezor.io is my personal favorite. The Trezor 1 is relatively inexpensive now and works great. If you have any decent coin in bitcoin then get yourself one. If you have one of these, then the mobile/free wallets are optional. You will still buy your crypto coins from a site like Cash.App or Coinbase and send them to your Trezor or Ledger in-between any interaction with the gambling site.
This guide will help you learn a bit more about your wallet options if you want to learn more, and there are plenty of great reviews of different wallets.
My biggest tip is that if you have any “decent” sized chunk of money in bitcoin or ethereum (or any crypto) then you owe it to yourself to get a hardware wallet like the Ledger or the Trezor.io.
Yes they cost a little bit of money but they are secure, easy to use and ‘hack proof’. Seriously you can’t go wrong investing in a hardware wallet. No one is going to hack into your hardware wallet and steal your crypto. If you order one, you’ll have to wait for it to arrive. In the mean time, if you don’t want to wait for your hardware wallet to arrive, there are some high quality desktop and phone alternatives.
Buying Bitcoin For The First Time – How and Where
This can actually be the most confusing part. Turning your USD $$ into bitcoin the first time can be challenging if you are not sure what to do.
For step by step instructions, I recommend this fantastic guide on how to buy bitcoin for poker that you can follow.
- Cash.App – US friendly and can buy up to $10k worth of bitcoin
- Coinbase – Newbie friendly and reliable. Set up your bank or debit card to purchase
- CoinMama – buy bitcoin with a credit card from this well regarded bitcoin broker
- Bitcoin ATM Locator – use cash, get bitcoin sent to your wallet
- LocalBitcoins – a p2p marketplace buying and selling crypto. Use common sense when dealing with people on here
Depending on where you live in the world will determine the easiest and fastest ways to get bitcoin in your hand. In the USA, the fastest and easiest way is to use the Cash.app that everyone uses to send money to one another already. You can buy up to $10,000 worth of bitcoin per day with the Cash App. It’s pretty good prices to buy bitcoin and it could not be an easier process.
There are more options like a bitcoin broker such as CoinMama or Bitstamp. You will pay a premium here but they take credit cards.
If you want the absolute best price for your bitcoin and are experienced enough in dealing with trading, buying and selling stocks then you should take the steps to get signed up on Gemini.com, Kraken.com or Coinbase Pro. You can use their order books to buy and sell bitcoin at the market rates.
There are several bitcoin person to person marketplaces, such as LocalBitcoins.com and Paxful.com. You can buy from sellers there using a myriad of payment options. Finally, Bitcoin ATM’s are popping up across most of the world. You can walk up to an ATM, enter some $$ and get bitcoin sent to your wallet. Check out these Bitcoin ATMs.
Once you purchase bitcoin, send it to your private bitcoin wallet created above BEFORE depositing it at a sportsbook.
Step 3 – Transfer Bitcoin To Your Private Wallet & Then Deposit at A Sportsbook
You should always send bitcoin to a ‘middleman’ wallet in-between the sports betting site and the service you used to purchase bitcoin in the first place.
Places where you purchase bitcoin from (Cash.App and Coinbase) will close your account if you send bitcoin to a gambling site (they can tell where the bitcoin goes). It is against their terms of service. It happened to my business partner at Coinbase in 2017 and today it is even worse / faster to close you out.
Sent it to yourself first by sending it to your personal wallet (blockstream green wallet, trezor, ledger etc) first and then you can spend/send it as you please.
You do not want to close down your fiat on/off ramp (cash.app or coinbase etc).
Once you send it to your BlockStream Green Wallet or your BRD wallet you can do whatever you please with your bitcoin.
Open Up Your Sportsbook Cashier > Bitcoin > Deposit Address
The sportsbook will give you a bitcoin deposit address. Simply copy it and open up your personal wallet.
Paste in the sportsbook deposit address to your account. Choose the amount (in USD or BTC) you wish the transfer and hit send to complete the transaction.
When you deposit bitcoins into your sportsbook account, they’re immediately converted into U.S. dollars. This is done at the prevailing market rate. You place bets using the fiat currency.
When you’re ready to withdraw your winnings, visit the sportsbook’s cashier window and choose the amount. Enter your wallet address and complete the transaction. The amount transferred will be converted from fiat back into BTC (again, using the prevailing market rate). You’ll see the bitcoins appear in your wallet soon thereafter.
Now, let’s talk about the different types of bitcoin wallets you can use for sports betting.
5 Types Of Bitcoin Wallets
Think of your bitcoin wallet like a traditional wallet or purse. The security of your funds and the extent of your privacy will depend on the type of wallet or purse you choose. Some are easier to break into than others.
Wallets come with private keys. These keys are what allow you, or anyone who possesses them, to access your bitcoins. So, when we talk about safeguarding your funds, we’re really talking about the security of your wallet’s private keys.
Keep that in mind as we discuss the five main bitcoin wallet types you can use at BTC-friendly sportsbooks.
Cloud-Based Wallets
These are websites (or applications) that manage your private keys for you. They control the keys, and therefore are responsible for protecting the bitcoins in your wallet.
Cloud-based (or online) wallets among the most convenient. You can access your funds through any device (e.g. phone, tablet, laptop, etc.) as long as you have an internet connection. What’s more, transferring your funds is quick and easy.
The downside is that you don’t control your wallet’s private keys. That makes this type of wallet less secure. The keys are encrypted, of course. But encryption doesn’t make your wallet invulnerable. A talented hacker can still get in.
Mobile Wallets
Desktop Wallets
Hardware Wallets
Paper Wallets
Next up are mobile wallets. These are apps that run on your phone. Some are available for Android. Others are available for iOS (i.e. iPhones) and still others work on both platforms.
These are the Blockstream Green wallets or the BRD wallet.
Your private keys are stored in the app. Because the app resides on your phone, your keys are kept offline. That means they’re kept out of third-party hands.
Mobile bitcoin wallets are more secure than online wallets. There’s less chance your phone will be hacked than a cloud-based app or website.
Having said that mobile wallets are designed for convenience. They come with simpler – i.e. less robust – security features than desktop and hardware wallets.
These wallets reside on your desktop (or laptop) computer. They’re software programs that are downloaded to, and installed on, your machine. The private keys are also stored natively, offering a greater level of security than cloud-based options.
There are two downsides to this type of wallet. First, it’s impractical for a lot of folks.
For example, suppose you’re at your workplace and would like to place a few bets on an upcoming football game through Bovada. Unless you’ve lugged your computer to the office, you won’t be able to access the bitcoins sitting in your wallet. That means you won’t be able to transfer them to your Bovada account to place your bets.
Second, all computer are vulnerable to malware. If you neglect to take protective measures (e.g. regularly running antivirus software), you may unintentionally download malicious software that locks you out of your wallet.
Trezor makes 2 different models. This is the “Model T”
These wallets are physical devices. They’re not cloud-based. They are not apps or software. They are electronic devices that you can hold in your hand.
In terms of security, there’s no better option than storing your bitcoins on a hardware wallet. The private keys reside on the device itself. They’re kept offline, which means they’re impervious to computer-based hacking. If you want to use your bitcoins – for example, you’d like to transfer them to BetOnline, Intertops, etc. – you must first connect the wallet to a device with an internet connection (phone, tablet, etc.).
Keep in mind that hardware wallets CAN be stolen, just like a traditional wallet. But the contents can be easily protected with a PIN. You can also set up a backup security phrase that’ll allow you to restore your wallet on a new device. So in the event the wallet is stolen, you can prevent the thief from accessing your bitcoins, and get back up and running with minimal downtime.
Before the advent of hardware wallets, paper wallets were the preferred form of cold storage (i.e. storing bitcoins offline). You can still use them today. They come with a bitcoin address, public and private keys, and a couple QR codes that can be easily scanned for transactions.
There are two upsides to using this type of wallet. First, because your keys are stored on paper, they can’t be hacked. Second, you can enjoy cold storage of your bitcoins for a nominal price.
The downsides are that paper can be easily destroyed, and you can’t restore your wallet as you can with a hardware option.
Paper wallets aren’t used much these days. Most folks who want to store their bitcoins offline buy a hardware wallet.
Now that you’re aware of the various types of bitcoin wallets available to you, I’ll recommend a few that are ideal for sports betting.
Top 7 Bitcoin Wallets For Sports Gambling
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There are dozens of wallets to choose from. Each of them claims to be the best, but of course that can’t be the case. Below you’ll find the ones I’ve found to be the most convenient, reliable, and secure, given their method of storage (online, mobile, etc.).
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BlockStream Green Wallet
BRD
Electrum.org
Trezor.io
Ledger Nano S
Mycelium
Blockchain.info
This is a cloud-based wallet. It’s very simple to use, allowing you to easily transfer bitcoins to your favorite sportsbooks.
Earlier, I mentioned that web-based wallets were less secure than other options. Blockstream Green distinguishes itself by being a multi-signature wallet. It controls one of the keys while giving you, the account holder, control of the others.
Blockstream Green is free to use, and comes with a “watch only” feature. This feature allows you to log into your account to check your balance and receive funds while disallowing other transactions. It’s an extra security measure designed to safeguard your money.
Also known as BreadWallet is a mobile app. It’s available free of charge for both Android and iOS. It’s also user-friendly, making it perfect for people who are new to using Bitcoin for sports betting.
Unlike cloud-based services, this wallet doesn’t run on a third-party server. It’s a standalone app that sits on your phone and connects to the BTC network at your request. That provides added security.
There aren’t a ton of bells and whistles with this wallet. You can send bitcoins and receive them. That’s about it. But there’s beauty in its simplicity.
Electrum is both a desktop and mobile app. You can download and install it on your desktop computer or laptop. Or download it to your phone (Android or iOS).
This wallet has long been a favorite among folks for whom privacy is a top priority. The private keys are encrypted, you can create multiple wallets, and you can split permission with its multi-sig feature. Plus, if you’re using other Bitcoin clients, you can use Electrum’s “No Lock-In” feature to export your private keys.
Also worth noting, you can “cold store” your bitcoins by installing it on a second computer that remains offline.
Despite being feature-rich and ultra-secure, Electrum is surprisingly easy to use. It may not be the first choice among folks who are new to sports betting with Bitcoin, but those who are familiar with BTC will find a lot to love.
The Trezor is a hardware wallet. This is the type you carry with you (or store in a safe deposit box). Unlike the previous options, you have to pay for it. The Trezor is $69.95 from Amazon right now.
The device is compatible with all major platforms. Not only does it interface with Android and iOS, but you can also use it on Windows and Linux. It comes with a small screen. That’s helpful because it allows you to easily verify certain details about your wallet.
The Trezor offers a unique password management feature that encrypts your passwords for added security. You can also easily restore your wallet in the event it’s lost, stolen, or damaged.
This is one of the smallest hardware wallets available. Like the Trezor, it’s ideal for storing your bitcoins offline, and transferring them at your leisure to your favorite sportsbooks. Also like the Trezor, it comes at a price (the Ledger Nano S costs approximately US$70).
It’s hard to beat this wallet – or the Trezor for that matter – when it comes to security. With your bitcoins in cold storage, hackers are unable to get to them. Your private keys are never exposed.
It comes with a built-in display so you can easily verify transactions. And if your Ledger Nano S is stolen or lost, you can quickly restore your wallet with a 24-word seed.
Mycelium has been around for a lot of years. It was one of the earliest mobile bitcoin wallets and continues to be a crowd favorite. It’s available for Android and iOS devices, and can be downloaded for free.
One of the downsides to Mycelium is that doesn’t boast the most intuitive interface. So, folks new to using Bitcoin for sports betting may be turned off by it.
On the other hand, Mycelium offers a lot of nice security features that’ll help to secure your money. For example, you can make use of a “Watch Only” account (similar to GreenAddress). You can also store large amounts of bitcoins with added security by deleting the private keys, and importing them when you need them.
The interface is a bit complicated. But once you grow accustomed to it, Mycelium makes a great Bitcoin wallet for use at sites like Bovada, MyBookie, and Intertops.
Blockchain is a “hot wallet.” It’s in the cloud, similar to GreenAddress. It’s also one of the most popular wallet services in use today thanks largely to its simple interface. It is also worth noting that its popularity is a doubled-edged sword making it a seductive target for hackers.
To its credit, Blockchain has implemented a number of security features to make their customers’ privacy and funds less vulnerable to attack. For example, they’ve put in place client-side AES (Advanced Encryption Standard). This is a special algorithm designed to protect sensitive information.
Blockchain also backs up your wallet on its servers and applies a second layer of encryption.
You’ll find that transferring bitcoins back and forth between Blockchain and your favorite sportsbooks is ultra-simple. You can quickly access your bitcoins, and complete transactions through a browser or your phone. You’re good to go as long as you have an internet connection.
Caution! Don’t Use Coinbase Directly With A Sportsbook Or Casino!
A quick word of caution: you may be tempted to use the wallet built into coinbase to send and receive bitcoins from gambling sites. But that’d be a huge mistake.
Coinbase disallows the use of their wallet service for gambling purposes.
Do not do send or receive bitcoin directly from your coinbase account to a gambling site.
Also do not send from a sportsbook to your coinbase account directly either.
They will shut you down. They shut me down for this exact thing last year. Learn from my mistake. Instead, make sure you send the bitcoin to your own wallet before and or in-between sending to any online gambling site and your coinbase wallet.
How do they know what you’re using their service for? Rumors abound that Coinbase monitors the bitcoin addresses of known gambling sites. If you’re caught sending money to, or receiving payouts from one of them, your account may be blocked.
AGAIN! Don’t Use Coinbase Directly With A Sportsbook Or Casino!
Using Coinbase to fund your sports betting is a huge risk. And there’s no reason to take such risks when there are better options available to you. Instead, send your bitcoin from Coinbase to your private wallet, then send it to the online casino.
And when you cash out, make sure you send to your private wallet FIRST before sending it to coinbase to turn back into USD. I hope you learned something in this article! You’re now a bitcoin gambling wallet pro!
If you’re ready to start using BTC to bet on your favorite sports, I strongly recommend sticking to these top sportsbooks that accept Bitcoin:
- Bovada Sportsbook – Deposits and withdrawals in BTC. They offer bigger bonuses for bitcoin at bovada.
- BetOnline – Deposit quickly and easily with Bitcoin. You can also withdraw with BTC. They also accept Ethereum for cheaper, faster transactions.
- Bookmaker – Deposit easily with BTC. Withdrawals are also available via BTC
- Cloudbet – Get a huge bonus of up to 5 BTC at this bitcoin only casino called Cloudbet. Known for a great UI and live betting combined with instant cash outs, provably fair games and odds, a huge 5 bitcoin bonus and a fantastic reputation make this the latest sportsbook to make it on my short list.
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