Absolute Poker Referral Code

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The Quick Summary

Absolute Poker is part of the newly formed Cereus Network, merging traffic with the Ultimate Bet poker room to form the 7th largest poker network in the world. Absolute Poker's skin and software is pretty user friendly and their deposit promotion of 100% up to $500 ranks as one of the best in the industry. Now that their security problems are hopefully behind them, Absolute Poker ranks as a great poker room for players of all nations.

Popularity: 7 of 10 - Good

According to PokerScout.com the Cereus Network averages approximately 2,300 players at any given time, making it the 7th rated network in the world and the 3rd highest rated amongst those that accept players from the United States. Although Absolute Poker does not funnel money into television advertising like it used to pre-UIGEA, the site and the Cereus Network is doing what it can with aggressive online and print advertising, attracting new players each day.

Security: 4 of 10 - Fair

There's no escaping the black mark in the entire industry of online poker. It surrounds Absolute Poker like a black cloud and most likely will for many years to come. The Absolute Poker security scandal involving superuser accounts is famous now, and the company's admission of the security breach and subsequent refunding of funds to affected players was a step in the right direction. For now, users can either take the site's word that their security problems are behind them once and for all, and that their well documented security changes are in fact keeping players safe, or simply choose to play elsewhere.

Player Competition: 9 of 10 - Excelent

Having played at Absolute Poker for multi-table tournaments, the competition at this site is amongst the softest on the Internet today. The amount of top-level players on the site for all levels is at a bare minimum, making large field tournaments and even single table Sit & Gos beatable by average players. There's not much to be said at their cash game tables either, anything through the $100 NL level is littered with few good regulars who are absolute rocks and many players that simply can't find the fold button on their screen.

Site Software: 6 of 10 - OK

Absolute Poker has a great website to see updates about the company and current promotions, unfortunately, that hasn't transferred over to their software. The table setup and artwork is now almost identical to UltimateBet's software (only it is blue and not black) and there are very few customizable options available for players. The lobby has some very straightforward buttons to find your account information, the current bad beat jackpot, and tabs to search through the type of game you are looking to join.

Customer Support: 6 of 10 - OK

Absolute Poker employs an email-only form of customer support, which is fairly standard within the online poker industry. Emails sent to their customer service department were responded to in around 16 hours time, which is good from the standpoint that it took less than a day, but well below par with the customer service at other sites which takes less than one hour. Cash outs are processed very quickly and arrive in two weeks time typically.

Company Ethics: 5 of 10 - OK

Absolute Poker has chosen to deal with their controversy head on and made all admissions that they needed to in order to start the process of rebuilding customer trust in the wake of their scandal. Although their sponsored pro Mark Seif intimated comments that said the site overcompensated players affected by the scandal, it remains to be seen if the company has the controversy totally in its past.

Site Promotions: 9 of 10 - Excellent

Absolute Poker is fairly well known in the poker industry for constantly having excellent first deposit bonuses as well as reload bonuses. This attracts the grinders out who win marginally but take in lots in rakeback and reload deposits, so there's something to be said for being a marginal winner but walking away with a lot of cash. At the time of this review's publication Absolute Poker is running a 100% first time deposit bonus up to $500, and for current players a reload deposit bonus of 50% up to $400. On top of that the site has a bad beat jackpot (currently worth $220,000) as well as a Steps Package and Playboy Mansion prize package that is sure to get a rise out of any poker player.

Overall Review: 6.6 of 10 - OK

The benefits of joining Absolute Poker include the below average competition and aggressive deposit and reload bonuses that are always ongoing for their poker room. The software is nothing special, and the customer support is adequate for matters that aren't life threatening. It's up to players to make up their own minds if Absolute Poker is a place they can safely play at given the circumstances surrounding their admitted past. As it is, for players that want to win marginally at cash game tables, take in rakeback and advantage of the constant promotions, it's a viable option for players from all nations.