Thunderpick Sportsbook Review: Our $500 Real-Money Test
Thunderpick is an interesting crypto sportsbook that elicits a variety of opinions. The site offers some standout features, including its sports promotions, tournaments, VIP, payments, and eSports betting. However, it also has areas that could be enhanced, which is necessary for Thunderpick to stand out from the leading crypto sportsbooks in the industry.
Those components are majorly connected to the betting process and include the lack of in-play statistics and game results, the limited selection of betting markets across the board, and the lack of major selections like player props and outright bets. All in all, Thunderpick is a decent sportsbook for occasional bettors and thrill chasers, especially with its generous welcome bonus offer. However, if you are a seasoned sports wagering lover and appreciate the small details and perks, you will find using the platform challenging.
Policies and Legitimacy: Questionable Bonus T&Cs
After carefully reviewing Thunderpick’s T&Cs, we can say that, for the most part, they are standard for the industry, and there is nothing to worry about. There are no clear instances where the platform can unfairly take advantage of specific situations to harm players. However, on that note, we should point out that the bonus conditions are rigorous and detailed, which may be used against players, even if they haven’t done something wrong. Those particular conditions state that:
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If the Company has reason to believe that any activity is suspicious and in breach of the terms, it can disqualify you from any bonus promotion or winnings and/or terminate your account.
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Prohibited play is considered bonus abuse and is not permitted on the site. Prohibited play can include (but is not limited to) low-margin betting, equal betting, zero-risk bets, or hedge betting. Some examples of banned play include:
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Increasing the balance and then changing your gaming pattern significantly to complete any wagering requirements of any Bonus;
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Moving from a low weighted game based (table games) to high weighted game (slots or specialty game); Increasing your balance after placing high value bets and thereafter proceeding to place bets of less than half of the prior bet value, in order to meet bonus wagering requirements;
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Wagering on games with bonus money to build up value, lose the bonus and then cash out on the built up value with a secondary deposit.
Some of those conditions are pretty specific, and the platform can easily identify some of those “hedge betting” strategies, even on an utterly recreational player enjoying wagering for fun. That’s why you must be very careful when claiming a bonus at Thunderpick.
KYC Policy
One significant advantage of Thunderpick is the lack of a KYC procedure. You can join the platform and immediately enjoy its perks without submitting personal information or documents. Still, the site has the right to later ask for documents like a government-issued ID or proof of residency. In extreme cases, a player might need to go through additional verification by submitting a selfie or hopping on a verification call with the platform’s management.
VPN Policy
Thunderpick prohibits using any VPN or similar service that masks your actual location, especially when you access the platform from jurisdictions where online gambling is banned by law. If you use a VPN, your account is likely to be blocked, and any deposits or winnings may be seized.
Responsible Gaming Practices and Tools Available
When it comes to responsible gambling, Thunderpick is quite disappointing. There is only one responsible gambling page that briefly mentions how to identify if you have a problem and what organizations you should contact. Moreover, the site doesn’t offer its players a single responsible gambling tool to help them manage their problems effectively.
Customer Support Behind the Help Button: A Decent Service
After contacting Thunderpick's support on several occasions, we were left with mixed feelings. Connecting with an agent through the live chat usually takes 2-3 minutes, which is quite good, but the agents' quality wasn't on par with leading crypto sportsbooks.
There were a few instances where an agent couldn't properly answer a question related to the betting process due to a lack of knowledge, which is quite a shame, considering Thunderpick is essentially a sportsbook. Aside from that, the support will be able to solve most of your problems, although it may sometimes take more time and back-and-forth communication.
Thunderpick Platform Design, Usability & Navigation
At first glance, the Thunderpick sportsbook looks pretty straightforward and simple to use. However, things take a turn once you try to bet with it. When you choose the sport you want to bet on, you are immediately redirected to a page showing all the upcoming events in a time-corresponding order. Every bettor knows that’s inefficient and annoying since it’s much easier to filter the upcoming events by their specific competitions.
With in-play betting, it’s even trickier. You can quickly get to the window with in-play events, but instead of showing results, odds, and the game progress, it shows only the odds. You must enter the game and click the “Live Score” button to see the result. That’s too much effort for something you must be able to see immediately. Not to mention, the exact progress of the game still isn’t clear, even after checking it out in detail.
