Review: UltimateBet
2008 was an important year for the poker room UltimateBet. Its merger with Absolute Poker to form the new Cereus online poker network meant it could offer more poker games for more players and central customer support, but did the site improve beyond these back-end changes? We’re going to focus on how the player experience has improved.
First of all, there’s a lot more people playing at UltimateBet’s tables right now. The merger with Cereus means there’s more sharks and more fish in the water and finding a loose player who can give you some cash is easier than ever. The poker room’s tournaments have always been good, but the recent reassessment of them by Annie Duke and subsequent relaunch has given players a lot more chances to win big at all buy-ins. Don’t be fooled, though: UltimateBet’s bigger-money tournaments are the most challenging in the business, but the rewards can be massive.
Secondly, the software has always been decent, but recent changes have made it a downright joy to use with better graphics, more options for the player (including using their own avatars,) and a Mac version that rivals Full Tilt’s. Every statistic a player could want is right at their fingertips and the UltimateBuddy function makes playing the game a much more social activity.
UltimateBet has more types of poker games than most other poker rooms. There’s the standard Texas Hold ‘em and Omaha, but you can play Seven Card Stud, HORSE, Triple Draw and be guaranteed a full table thanks to UltimateBet’s volume. While about 75% of the players on the site are engaged with a holdem game at any given time, sheer volume means there’s a challenge waiting for you.
When it comes to bonuses, UltimateBet has always been generous. New players can get 111% (up to $1100) on their first deposit and if you refer players to the site, you can earn $100 to use at the tables. Your friend will also get a $50 bonus, which means they’re basically handing out $150 for every new player they acquire through referrals.
UltimateBet has proven to be a good poker room that’s player-oriented and manages to consistently meet their customer service goals. The competition can be fierce, but the variety of games and stakes means that every player can find a fish at their tables.
