Background
Ultimate Bet has been hosting online poker since 1999. Ultimate Bet
is the sole legal property of Tokwiro Enterprises Enrg, with
headquarters located in Malta and gaming servers located in Kahnawake,
Canada. UltimateBet is the online poker room of choice for top poker
professionals Phil Hellmuth, Annie Duke, David "Devilfish" Ulliot,
Antonio Esfandiari and Tiffany Michelle. After weathering a scandal
involving various 'super user' accounts, Ultimate Bet has lost
significant credibility and is working hard to rebuild its reputation
and brand image. Ultimate Bet and Absolute Poker (both owned by
Tokwiro Enterprises) recently announced their intentions to merge
their network platforms, combining the player base from both sites to
create the third largest online poker network currently in the market.
The new network, 'CEREUS' has been in development for over 12 months
and launched in early August 2008. Ultimate Bet players will not
notice any remarkable changes, as both Absolute Poker and Ultimate Bet
are keeping their own brands and significant identities, only sharing
their customer base, in order to deliver greater promotions,
competitions and guaranteed tournaments.
The Ultimate Bet software is stable and runs at a swift pace. After
the online 'super user' scandal broke, UltimateBet made sure all
efforts were made to correct any errors in the software that allowed
such accounts to exist and operate undetected. It's understandable
that traffic has dropped in the months since the scandal and it seems
as though Ultimate Bet has its work cut out for it in enticing both
new and existing players back to the felt. Promotions at Ultimate Bet
are regular and present continued value to players. Satellites to the
Aruba Classic, a strong loyalty program and an exclusive first deposit
bonus for PokerNews players gives members many reasons to play at
Ultimate Bet.
As for the exclusive PokerNews bonus, at the low limits, it can be
very difficult to clear. However, with continued play, UltimateBet
makes it easier for players to achieve their bonus - through the RAI$E
system. A 'member' earns $1 in bonus for every 20 Ultimate Points
collected. However once a player reaches 'Icon' status, they are
required to earn 90 Ultimate Points for every $1 in bonus. This seems
counter intuitive, however the 'Icon' player is earning Ultimate
Points at five times the rate of the 'member.' Effectively, the
'Icon' player needs only earn 18 Ultimate Points to earn the bonus
dollar.
Member - $1 Bonus Dollar released for every 20
UltimatePoints (multiplier = 1x)
Player - $1 Bonus Dollar released for every 40
UltimatePoints (multiplier = 2x)
Contender - $1 Bonus Dollar released for every 60
UltimatePoints (multiplier = 3x)
Legend - $1 Bonus Dollar released for every 70
UltimatePoints (multiplier = 4x)
Icon - $1 Bonus Dollar released for every 90 UltimatePoints
(multiplier = 5x)
The multiplier addition to the bonus structure presents good value
to those players willing to grind out their bonus, however it would
take a lot of play to clear this. That said, the bonus, in addition to
Ultimate Bet's other promotions present an enticing choice for online
poker players.
Limits and Rake
Ultimate Bet is geared towards all limit players. Low stakes games
as low as $ .02/.04 and high stakes games like $300/600, which are
some of the biggest games on the net. In addition UltimateBet offer
unusual formats for their structured games.
The Ultimate Bet rake system is complicated, with the exact rake
determined by the limit level, number of players in the pot and amount
in the pot. Low limit players can expect no more than a $1 maximum to
be raked, whilst high limit players may hit the $4 maximum. Exact
details can be found on the Ultimate Bet site - from the homepage,
click on 'How to Play' and then the 'Rake Schedule' link. A 'no flop,
no drop' policy is implemented at all Ultimate Bet tables.
Player Traffic
Ultimate Bet brings around 2,000 players to the tables during peak
times. As the unification of the Ultimate Bet and Absolute Poker
players bases is completed, players can expect a potential player base
in the tens of thousands. That said, Ultimate Bet will need a
significant and continued marketing campaign to convince many players
to return to the tables, especially after their image and reputation
has been tarnished.
Playability
The Ultimate Bet software has always presented players with a
sturdy, stable and enjoyable online poker experience. The mini-view is
a welcome addition - allowing players to easily multi-table, without
squeezing regular sized gaming windows. Swift play is maintained
through the use of only basic animations and preset buttons assist
players making quick decisions and keeping the games moving. With a
reduction in player traffic, the fish value at Ultimate Bet is rather
low, however expect that to increase when the CEREUS network hits full
stride.
Software and Extra Features
Ultimate Bet already enjoys a few welcome features. The
incorporation of the CEREUS network will no doubt assist in the
implementation of even more features. Current features include:
- Mini-View – Shrink the table, but keep all the relevant
information clear and legible. Perfect for multi-table players.
- Hand History – Keep track of all your cards and the moves
you made.
- Central Seating – Prime position given once seated at
every table.
- Player Stats – Obtain stats on you play and easily
incorporate third party poker statistic trackers.
- Ultimate Buddy – The fastest way to find your friends at
Ultimate Bet. This is a separate program from the poker room but is
simple to use and great for finding your buddies easily.
Customer Service
Customer service is available through email, supplied on the
website. Live chat is also available through the poker client. The
response time could be better although it is easy to read.
