Absolute Poker, UltimateBet Form Cereus Network

We’re not sure where the name came from, but some time in August, the Cereus online poker network will make its debut.  Created by sister sites Absolute Poker and UltimateBet, the Cereus network will combine the player bases of the eleventh and eight most popular sites for cash games, respectively (source: PokerScout.com).  The new network will pull into a virtual tie with Everest Poker for the sixth spot in cash game rankings, although AP/UB management says it will be the third largest poker network. 

Both Absolute and UltimateBet have lost a lot of credibility in recent months, as major cheating rings have been discovered at the two sites, both owned by Tokwiro Enterprises.  The cheating was perpetrated by insiders with access to the poker rooms’ systems, and while investigations by third parties and the Kahnawake Gaming Commission have not found any wrongdoing by those in charge of the sites or those who otherwise have significant financial interest in the companies, many in the online poker community do not trust AP or UB any more.  Even those who do believe that the sites themselves were not cheating their players have been turned off by the sites’ failure to catch the crooks and admit to the problem until players actually figured out what was going on and made the issue public.

It does not appear that either poker room will attempt to hide behind a new name, however, as each will “retain their unique assets,” according to a press release.  Their players will share the same tables, however, and major promotions and more tournaments are in the works. 

Said Paul Leggett, Chief Operations Officer of both Absolute Poker and UltimateBet, “CEREUS not only delivers the best online poker experience; it enables our company to improve our operations and deliver significantly better value and service to our customers.”