Ultimate Bet Review

After UB's 2008 merger with Absolute Poker, creating the formidable and popular CEREUS network, the online poker room's traffic volume and game quality saw a sudden increase, launching UB to new heights. The US facing poker room has received a great deal of input and suggestions from the Team UB Pros, with Joe Sebok taking a particular interest in shaping the way UB caters to their patrons with exclusive promotions and gratifying rewards.

Welcome Bonus

UB offers one of the loftiest welcome bonuses in the industry – a 111% match of up to $1100 in bonus dollars. There is no longer a code required in order to receive the bonus, and the status points needed to release the bonus are earned automatically for every $0.30 paid in tournament and Sit and Go entry fees.

The number of status points required to release each dollar of the bonus is dependent on the player's RAI$E status at UB. MEMBERs, PLAYERs, and CONTENDERs clear one bonus dollar for every 20 status points earned, LEGENDs clear one bonus dollar for every 18 status points, and ICONs only need 17 status points to clear each bonus dollar. The bonus is released in $5 increments.

Software

Since the merger with AbsolutePoker, UB's privately developed software has seen a multitude of improvements and innovative features. The layout and navigation are intuitive and user-friendly, with pleasing graphics and smooth game play.

One of the best aspects of UB's software is that it is perfectly suited for multi-tabling. Tables can be tiled, stacked and re-sized with no limit to the number of tables that can be played at once. In conjuction with the speed of loading and the user-friendly interface, multi-table game play runs flawlessly.

Games

UB provides a vast array of buy-in levels, as well as free online poker games where new players can learn hands-on how to play the huge variety of forms available. Limit variations include No Limit, Fixed Limit, and Pot Limit.

• Texas Hold'em
• 7 Deuce Hold'em
• Omaha
• Omaha Hi/Lo
• 7 Card Stud
• 7 Card Stud 8/Better
• Razz
• H.O.R.S.E.
• H.O.S.E.

Tournaments

A top contender in the world of online tournament poker, UB provides an excellent selection of daily tournaments with buy-ins running the full gamut of buy-in levels, from $1 up into the thousands of dollars. Skilled competition is present in all levels, and prevalent at the higher buy-in levels where participants are likely to encounter the Team UB pros.

In UB's constant efforts to compete with the top ranked online poker sites, UB provides qualifiers for major live tournaments. An interesting feature in UB's tournament offerings is the $0.10 STEP tournament, in which players are given the opportunity to advance through 10 levels of individual Sit and Go tournaments by placing in the top two of each Sit and Go STEP. 3rd and 4the place finishers are allowed another shot at the STEP, and 5th place finishers drop down to the previous STEP where they may once again compete to move back up. Prizes vary, and players may skip STEPS by buying directly into a higher STEP. The first STEP buy-in is a mere $0.10.

Opposition

Competition at UB is tougher than average. Softer games can be found where novice players tend to start out - in the micro and low limit Omaha and No Limit Texas Hold'em cash games and Sit and Gos. As the stakes go higher, the competition becomes quite fierce, especially in the high stakes.

Deposit Options

VISA, MasterCards, uKash, Click2Pay, bank wire, ClickandBuy, check by mail, PaySafeCard, Neteller, Moneybookers, U. K. debit cards, e-checks

Customer Support

UB's customer support has a good track record for quick, friendly replies from knowledgeable staff, provided 24/7. While email in the only support option featured by the site, an extensive FAQ is provided with detailed answers and solutions.