BetRivers Review

BetRivers Summary

BetRivers is one of a handful of second-tier sportsbooks trying to make a name for itself in an ever-growing field of Ontario sports betting sites. And while offering plenty of ongoing promotions and a standard welcome bonus are benefits, there are still plenty of issues plaguing BetRivers to the extent that some bettors might want to shop around for a top sportsbook.

Read on to find out our thoughts on BetRivers and see if it's the right fit for you.

BetRivers Quick Facts

BetRivers Locations

BetRivers is available for online sports betting in the province, having been approved and licensed by the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario and iGaming Ontario.

Sports Leagues to Bet On

BetRivers features all the prominent sports bettors enjoy wagering on. The most popular sports are prominently featured on the top of the page alongside the streaming and live betting options.

NFL Betting

The NFL is king for Ontario sportsbooks, and BetRivers is no exception. All major moneyline, point spread, over/under and game prop markets are offered in addition to same-game parlays. BetRivers has an abundance of player props that are released closer to the start of the game. 

BetRivers also has a robust NFL futures offering. In addition to covering Super Bowl, conference, division, and individual awards, BetRivers even offers in-season bets on teams to make the playoffs and win totals. I found that every type of future you can think of is on BetRivers.

NBA Betting

Fans of the NBA will not be disappointed with BetRivers. Every game features a trove of betting opportunities, including moneylines, spread, totals, same-game parlays, player props, game props, first quarter, and first-half bets.

BetRivers' futures market is comparable to its NFL offering, with the option to wager on outright, conference division, and in-season markets for teams to reach the playoffs.

College Football

College Football is a popular market for Ontario bettors both experienced and casual, so it is no surprise that BetRivers offers plenty of opportunities to bet on it.

Every Division I FBS game is available to bettors, with BetRivers providing a good combination of standard betting offerings and game props such as first and last team to score, game combos, and same-game parlays.

College Basketball

For some, college basketball betting is a season-long pursuit – and those bettors will enjoy BetRivers. All regular season, conference tournaments, and of course March Madness games have markets available in addition to a futures selection that includes more than just the standard championship winner.

NHL Betting

Those into the NHL are as dedicated as they come, and BetRivers treats the sport with the respect it deserves. Major markets are all covered, with each individual game carrying well over 300+ betting opportunities – including first, second, and third period ML, goalscorers, multi-goalscorers, points, and shots on goal.

MLB Betting

Those long summer days necessitate MLB betting, which can be done easily at BetRivers. Like the other sports listed above, it gives you the ability to bet on the ML, run line, and O/U plus the ML, run line, and total runs for the first inning, first three innings, and first five innings.

Other Sports Leagues

As a US operator, BetRivers’ main focus is North American sports. While it does offer a wide variety of markets, that menu falls short when compared to other notable sportsbooks. In addtion to the main sports listed above, BetRivers offers, tennis, golf, NASCAR, Formula 1, AFL, cricket, cycling, darts, rugby, snooker, volleyball, and jai alai. 

All five major European soccer leagues have markets that you can wager on, and everything from the European Tour to the outright winner's markets for all four majors is available for golf. Tennis features both the WTA and the ATP tours.

Online Betting Experience

Website Experience

The desktop experience for BetRivers could be a whole lot better. To start with, the “Newsfeed” prominently featured on the right-hand side provides no relevant information to bettors and only serves to clutter the page. I just don't see why an average bettor would be interested in a big payout on a slot won by another user.

The product feels cluttered and outdated compared to some of the big players like DraftKings and FanDuel. But the layout is somewhat standard — sports on the left-hand side, available markets in the middle, and bet slip on the right that appears once you click your desired bet. Odds for BetRivers are supplied by Kambi, similar to rival sports betting sites – which means there is little to no value in their lines.

Mobile Betting and Betting App

The app does an adequate job of replicating the desktop experience. It also offers live streaming of sporting events you have wagered on, which is a big plus.

Casino, Poker, & Other Gaming Options

BetRivers' online Ontario casino features approximately 199 different slots to choose from, seven live dealer games, 24 live dealer games, three blackjack games, eight video poker options, plus the ability to sort by developers like Konami, Red Tiger, and DGC.

Not to be outdone, there’s also a generous welcome bonus plus ongoing promotions for its casino. Users will get a $200 free play with their first $50 deposit, plus Happy Hour Slots from 5 p.m. - 9 p.m. on select days and daily slot tournaments.

While there are a lot of various game options, it’s considerably less than competitors like DraftKings. That’s surprising given the attention the casino side receives.

BetRivers History

BetRivers launched in June 2020 and is owned by Rush Street Interactive (NYSE: $RSI), founded in 2012 and based in Chicago.

RSI owns sportsbooks and casinos all over the country. Rush Street also owns SugarHouse Sportsbook, which is a sister company to BetRivers. RSI was the fourth-largest U.S. operator across online casinos and sports betting as of July 2021. RSI is also active internationally, offering its online casino and sportsbook in the regulated gaming market of Colombia on RushBet.co.

RSI was named the 2020 Global Gaming Awards Digital Operator of the Year and the 2021 EGR North America Awards Casino Operator of the Year, Customer Services Operator of the Year, and Social Gaming Operator of the Year. They were also named Sportsbook of the Year at the SBC Awards Latinoamérica 2021.

In August 2021, Rush Street Interactive was selected as the official partner of the Connecticut Lottery. This means RSI will operate the third and final online sportsbook in the state and several retail locations.

Customer Ratings & Reputation

Reviews are mixed for BetRivers, illustrated by its less than four-star reviews on its mobile apps. Specific praise goes towards their customer service, their online casino, and the numerous ongoing promotions for their sportsbook.

Complaints include clunky UI on the mobile app, long withdrawal times of up to a week, and credit card/bank info authorization.

Customer Service

BetRivers is a fully regulated sportsbook, and bettors can be assured that they will be treated with integrity and respect. They have 24/7 live chat and a help center that is full of useful articles related to sports betting, bonuses, registration, your account, deposits, withdrawals, mobile, geolocations, responsible gambling, and technical concerns. They even have a search function should you need to narrow down an answer to a specific question.

It took a few minutes to get a hold of a live agent in their live chat, but once they arrived I found them quite helpful.

BetRivers Contact

• Live Chat
• Email Support
• Twitter: @PlayBetRivers

BetRivers Legal Betting

BetRivers is regulated in the province of Ontario by the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario and iGaming Ontario.

Responsible Gambling

BetRivers provides various avenues of assistance and guidance for players regarding responsible gambling. Here is a list of some recommended resources:

• ResponsibleGambling.org: The Responsible Gambling Council (RGC) is a respected, independent non-profit organization. They have been a leader in preventing problem gambling in Canada and globally for more than 35 years. Operators in Ontario are required to register with RGC to operate in the province.
• ConnexOntario: ConnexOntario provides service information for people experiencing problems with gambling, drugs, alcohol, or mental health. Helpful, supportive system navigation specialists answer all calls, emails, or web chat requests 24/7. Call 1-866-531-2600 for more info.
• BeGambleAware.org: offers free, confidential help and support to anyone worried about gambling for themselves or others.
• Gambling Therapy: a global service provided by Gordon Moody offering free emotional support and advice to anyone affected by gambling.

Why Choose BetRivers?

BetRivers has a long way to go to be ranked among the other top operators in Ontario.

The odds offered are a big problem – you’ll consistently win less on both favorites and underdogs on the moneyline playing on BetRivers. The same goes for player props in major sports plus the limited same-game parlays. And while it offers numerous promotions that seem great at first glance, pop open the hood and you’ll see that they're actually quite restrictive.

The sportsbook at BetRivers simply doesn’t seem like the top priority to the ownership, having innovatived with more of a focus on the iGaming side of the gambling world. This book is a pass until it pushes more of that focus onto improving their sportsbook, including the quality of its odds, promos, and overall user interface.