Pros:
- Wide variety of games types
- The third largest poker network among sites that accept USA players
- Well trafficked micro-stakes levels
- Regular tournament schedule for all buy-in levels
- Excellent customer service
- Regular reload bonus offers multiple times per month
Cons:
- Non-peak hours can involve some wait times when signing up for Sit & Gos
- USA players have limited deposit methods
About Absolute Poker
Absolute Poker is part of the CEREUS network and shares traffic with UB.com, making it the third largest poker network among those that accept players from the United States. The site has a bad beat jackpot that regularly pays out six-figure sums to those who lose with quad-8s or better. There’s also a loyalty program in place called “FAME” which awards points based on the rake you generate playing in ring or tournament games. Another great thing about Absolute Poker is that they regularly have reload bonuses throughout the month to help pad your bankroll.
Tournaments
For tournament players, there’s a lot to do at Absolute Poker. There are freeroll events added to the lobby all the time, so players with a very small bankroll always have a chance of winning some free money. There are plenty of tournaments running, as well as satellites that can put you in the action for a fraction of the cost. There are also regular Sit & Gos running at all stakes in the form of single and multiple table events for Hold’em, Omaha and 7-card stud games. Weekends feature three major tournaments: the first is the $100,000 Guaranteed Deep Stack event, which kicks off on Saturdays at 17:30 ET and has a $300+$20 buy-in; the second is the $100,000 Guaranteed Tournament which starts on Sundays at 14:00 ET and has a $500+$30 buy-in; finally, the $200,000 Guaranteed tournament starts every Sunday at 17:30 ET and requires a $200+$15 buy-in.
Cash Games
There are a ton of cash games available on Absolute Poker for players of all bankrolls. You can start at the penny stakes playing $0.01-$0.02 blinds and move up all the way to some serious stakes. The tables at the micro and small stakes games are well populated at both the full ring (9 players) and 6-max tables. Both Hold’em and Omaha tables have plenty of action, so if you are looking to dive into the cash games here, you’ll have plenty to do.
Traffic
The site is the third largest in the world among those that accept players from the USA, and seventh overall in the world. During peak times the site gets in excess of 18,000 players and has around 4,000 players at the cash game tables. Peak hours are great at Absolute Poker, with well populated tournaments and cash games. Non-peak hours can require a bit more time to find a Sit & Go that is about to start, and there aren’t as many cash game tables to choose from.
Promotions
There are a lot of good promotions at Absolute Poker that you can immediately take advantage of.
- There’s a 150% deposit bonus up to $500 available for first time depositors. Once you make your deposit you will have the bonus available to unlock from your account. The more you play at the real money games, the more of your bonus you will unlock.
- There are regular reload bonus offers available at multiple times throughout the month. If you don’t mind the hassle of reloading your account, this can be a great way to earn some extra free money for your bankroll.
- FAME VIP system and “Power Hours” give you points to spend in the Absolute Poker store. If you want to buy some merchandise you can earn these points (which are metered at double the normal rate during Power Hours) and spend them in the store. If you don’t want items you can always trade your points for cold hard cash.
Overall
Absolute Poker has undergone a serious renovation since being acquired by Tokwiro Enterprises. The site offers state of the art security and is audited by one of the best gaming commissions in the business. The customer support here is fantastic and the games here are juicy thanks to a less than stellar player pool.
Visit: www.absolutepoker.com