Absolute Poker is part of the CEREUS Network, which currently ranks in the top ten worldwide by traffic. Among poker rooms that accept U.S. players, the CEREUS Network is the third largest. The software is identical to that at Ultimate Bet since the CEREUS merger and offers a traditional top-down view at the tables that most poker regulars will enjoy. With its constant reload bonuses and attractive rakeback programs coupled with its player pool that ranks as one of the least skilled online, Absolute Poker is viable poker option for players who need an alternative.

Absolute Poker has traditionally employed the use of sexy models to help sell the site to the general public.  Marketing gimmicks aside, the CEREUS Network, which includes the merged player bases of Absolute Poker and Ultimate Bet, has gained some momentum and ranks as the third largest network among those that accept players from the United States.

Given that most rakeback providers offer around 30% at Absolute Poker, it has become a viable alternative to the bigger sites.  The poker room is also renowned in the industry for its almost weekly reload bonuses that range from $400 to $650, adding a solid 5% to 10% effective rakeback.  First-timers will enjoy a deposit bonus that has fluctuated between 100% and 150%.  On top of that, Absolute Poker has a VIP rewards program called "FAME," which works similarly to other rooms in that you accumulate points for rake paid at a table.  These points can be turned into cash bonuses through the Absolute Poker cashier and rewards store.

The website also supports instant "Web Play," so if you are on a computer where you cannot download the client, you can play from the convenience of any computer with an internet connection and web browser. This is perfect for Mac poker players.

Lobby Software

It seems that everything in the Absolute Poker lobby client filters you directly to a table or to an Absolute Poker web page.  The cashier, promotional information, and other features take you to a web browser and route you to an appropriate web page.  Double clicking on a table takes you to it.  However, it's a little inconvenient to be running back and forth between client software and web browser.

In order to find the specific poker game you are looking for, the Absolute Poker lobby is among the best for implementing filters that allow a player to immediately get to the games he or she is trying to find.  The main tabs on the software include Hold'em, Omaha, Stud, Other, Tourneys, Sit and Gos, and Tournament Blackjack.  Within most of those tabs are sub-tabs that filter by game type like No Limit and Fixed Limit.  In addition, there's a sub-tab called "Filter," which allows you to filter out games by the maximum number of players (heads-up, four-max, six-max, and nine-max) as well as table speeds and stake levels.  This quickly refines the lobby table list to the games you are most specifically looking to join.

Regulars who play on the iPoker Network at sites like Titan Poker or Full Tilt Poker have to contend with short-stackers.  These are players who use a small mathematically edge and buy in for the 20 big blind minimum.  They are generally regarded as a huge nuisance that full-stacked players look to avoid playing with.  At Absolute Poker, all of the tables are "deep" in the sense that the minimum buy-in is 40 big blinds and the maximum is 200.  This has totally eliminated short-stacking, which is a major plus for regular ring game grinders.

Table Software

The table software is identical to the one at Ultimate Bet, with the ability to have a traditional three-quarters view or a new "top down" view that most regular online poker players will choose.  The tables resize, with the fonts and the card images staying very clear whether the playing surface is large or small.  The table also comes complete with a hand replayer and the ability to sit out the next blind, which can be helpful when needing to review a hand or while multi-tabling.

Other small features like a rabbit cam, mouse wheel betting (going up on the mouse wheel increases the bet by one big blind), and turning some features on or off (like avatars) are pretty standard and straightforward.  Surprisingly, there is no way to save a custom layout, meaning if you use a setup that isn't auto-tiled or auto-cascaded, you'll have to set it up manually every time you play.

Overall

The player pool from $0.01-$0.02 games all the way through $0.50-$1 No Limit Hold'em rank as some of the worst players online at their comparative levels at other poker rooms.  Since Absolute Poker is always running a reload deposit as well as promotions like the popular "Absolute 500" rake race, the rewards of playing on the site outweigh some of the largest poker rooms online.  Given that the lobby software is top-notch and the table software in that same range, players who might have been scared off from Absolute Poker might want to take a look at this revamped poker room and reap the rewards.