UB Poker

Overlooking the complicated legal scandal UB Poker faced regarding online cheating (under the alias Ultimate Bet), UB Poker has consistently managed to rank amongst the elite when it's come to providing first-class poker software. The online poker entity has recently employed new management to govern its updated platform, and along with those new faces has come the implementation of gorgeous visual upgrades and even more poker options than ever before.

The company once known as Ultimate Bet has always been known to host some of the most skillful and noticeable players in the game of poker, and since its revamp it's only added to that consistent reputation. Tiffany Michelle, Joe Sebok and UB's newest pro Prahlad Friedman all headline the company's incredible lineup.

Joining the Cereus network in 2008 with its current colleague Absolute Poker, UB Poker has frequently managed to gather a healthy portion of the poker population with its network's strength. Currently being one of the few online poker hosts that allow the participation of U.S. players, UB Poker has large player volumes even during its off-peak hours. Combine its traffic with industry-leading gaming options, most poker variations, and a frequent player points program that's as competitive as it gets, and it's easy to recognize why UB Poker is a regular choice of both professional and recreational players alike.

UB Poker's recent software redesign has encouraged many players to give the poker organization another look. While never truly lacking in the graphic department, prior to its 2009 overhaul UB Poker was a playable, but unintriguing poker venue. Since then, UB Poker boasts clean and sharp imagery combined with improved speed and useability. All of the main aspects are there, including multi-tabling, table-resizing, and preset betting amounts. Also newly included is custom avatars, and although not original to the online poker market, it certainly brings UB Poker's software into the current century and helps entice more consumers to give their product a try.

The site also includes important characteristics such as note-taking and buddy lists, which allow players to statistically track which players are regulars and which others are fish. UB's sophisticated statistical engine also allows specific characteristics such as viewed flop percentages and stack sizes to be viewed, which helps those looking to further increase their edge through game selecting.

The lobby has been streamlined for simplicity, and now all of UB Poker's available features are easier than ever to locate. You can find all of the poker variations your looking for with the click of a button, and most options can be viewed at the top of UB Poker's tabular homepage.

Another interesting option that's nearly exclusive to UB Poker, is their "rabbit cam." This feature allows players who are curious to what future streets such as the turn or river may bring; a chance to peak at those cards. Although not for the faint of heart, it's often both relieving and infurating knowing whether or not your flush or straight draw would've completed by showdown. But nonetheless, its inclusion is quite innovative.

Although UB Poker offered Blackjack as a gaming option on their platform in the past, they've added a few additional casino games to help keep consumers interested. Now included is a full-fledged casino suite that boasts Blackjack, Craps, Baccarat, Casino War, and several popular poker table variations such as Carribean Stud and Pai Gow. UB now even offers options for those who prefer the excitement and spontaneity of slot machines or other betting games like Virtual Horse Racing and Keno, to participate in their favorite games. So whether you're a casino enthusiast, or just looking for a break from your 9 to 5 poker career, UB now satisfies most of your gambling urges.

It's also important to mention that UB Poker is now both a MAC and PC compatible poker room.

Despite a highly-publicized incident regarding Ultimate Bet superuser accounts in 2008, the level of service and security from UB Poker from that point forward has been very high. They constantly monitor their gaming, infrastructure and account security 24/7, to help ensure their consumers are receiving the highest level of safety obtainable. UB Poker's official web site lays claim to a policy that has "zero-tolerance towards any and all types of fraudulent activity," and they're frequently "adjusting, testing, and reviewing" their security software to reinforce that objective.

To assist with most of your in-game or UB Poker software inquiries, they offer an email contact form, in which your questions will usually be answered within 48 hours. If you need immediate assistance, their web site provides extensive FAQs on both technological issues, along with more commonplace gameplay concerns.

UB Poker answers its inquires with the utmost level of congeniality and expertise. They also offer 24/7 support.

For international or bilingual consumers, you're also provided the convenience of choosing your preferred lanaguage while accessing both their web site and poker platform.

Since its inclusion on the Cereus network, the greater amount of inherited traffic certainly contributes to the level of competition on UB Poker. While it's not currently the toughest poker site to play on, it's not quite the softest either. With a good amount of high-stakes games available, the level of difficulty you encounter will certainly be based on the stakes you regularly play. Micro and small-stakes games still consistently provide lucrative opportunities, but even those games are becoming increasingly difficult. Anywhere from the mid-stakes to high-stakes games, you're nearly guaranteed to find regular professionals who are waiting around every table for weaker players.

The overall concensus is that UB Poker offers a tougher-than-average lineup of competition. If you're truly looking to find soft action, your propensity should be to search through the low-to-mid stakes Omaha games, or the lower-level No-Limit Hold'em games where many newer participants start out.

One of the areas where UB Poker excels tremendously is its gaming options. As mentioned previously, aside from poker UB offers a plethora of the more traditional casino floor games for those who may be more adept at those variations. This includes Video Poker, Slot Machines, Keno, Blackjack, Baccarat, Horse Racing and Jackpot Games. On the topic of jackpots, UB Poker is also host to one of the largest online Bad Beat Jackpots in circulation. Regularly over six-figures, the jackpot is ready for the taking as long as participants take part in one of UB Poker's Jackpot or Turbo Jackpot tables. All that's required, is that you lose with quad 8s or better! It can be done!

Despite the excitement of casino payouts, UB Poker shines with its poker games. Offering Limit, Pot-Limit and No-Limit versions of Hold'em and Omaha, Seven-Card Stud, H.O.R.S.E. and Razz. Each game has its own nuances, and provides a certain level of difficulty based on the stake and type of game played.

Game selection shouldn't be a problem also, as UB Poker offers short-handed along with normal 9-player full ring games. Additional conveniences are also prevalent, such as whether or not you might enjoy playing speed, deep-stacked, short-stacked or heads-up cash games. When it comes down to it, UB Poker provides nearly all of the options expected by a top 10 online poker provider.

Arguably one of the premier online poker destinations for the tournament professional, UB Poker lays claim to some of the most lucrative and well-structured tournaments around. Whether you're interested in a $1000 buy-in event or a tiny $1 tournament entry-fee, most if not all of UB Poker's events are industry-leading in terms of playability and feasibility.

UB Poker offers guarantee, rebuy, bounty, satellite, freezeout, and heads-up tournaments just to name a few. Along with those tournament types, includes the smaller but still integral options like deep-stack and turbo tournaments.

Qualifying for some of the largest live poker events in the world is made easy with UB Poker's involvement in satellites and qualifiers almost around the clock. The World Series of Poker, World Poker Tour, European Poker Tour and Aussie Millions are just a few of the affiliates that UB Poker offers tournament entries to.

Although still a very popular component of nearly any online poker site, the freerolls offered on UB Poker are consistently in one poker variation; No-Limit Hold'em. Although No-Limit Hold'em is still the most popular poker variation around the globe, often the scope and size of these freerolls make it terribly difficult to be successful. More often than not, you'll be playing alongside thousands of other hopefuls in search of small payouts. But nonetheless, UB does offer a considerable amount of freerolls, should you be interested in one.

UB Poker offers a wide range of different stakes. Whether you're the more casual player looking to splash around at the tables, or you're looking for more structured and intense professional high-stakes poker, you should be able to find the competition your looking for at the appropriate limit. They're currently running games in No-Limit Hold'em from $.01/$.02 blinds up to $200/$400, and other variations such as Stud and Mixed Games go up to the $100/$200 blind level.

For the tournament and Sit-n-Go fanatics, they have large buy-in tournaments frequently, usually ranging up to $1000+$50. For the Sit-N-Go purist however, don't be afraid to take advantage of UB Poker's incredible $5000+$200 single-table buy-in. Multi-table Sit-N-Go's also go up to $65+$6.

While many sites have rewards programs in place, many of them can't compare to UB Poker's. Labeled as Rai$e, the implementation of UB Poker's multi-tiered VIP Points Program suits the site nicely, and makes it rewarding for regulars and recreational players alike to participate on the site to earn the benefit of great rewards.

UB's system is quite simple: As your points grow, so does the speed at which you accumulate them. As you move through each level, you earn more points with the same amount of play. There are five levels to move through: Member, Player, Contender, Legend and Icon. As you would assume by the name, once you've reached Icon status the only thing keeping you from becoming a sponsored poker professional, rather than a online poker player is yourself.

The options are nearly limitless when it comes to spending your hard-earned rewards points. UB Poker definitely recognized the amount of effort, determination and devotion it requires to reach the highest levels of the program, and it rewards those who have reached that highest level. Such benefits such as concierge, personalized attention at live events, and cash back every month are just a few of the incredible offers.

If you're more inclined to spend your rewards points on tangible goods, UB Poker's Ultimate Point Store doesn't disappoint either. You can redeem points on hundreds of items, including apparel, electronics or tournament packages.

UB Poker does offer additional promotions as well. The Bad Beat Jackpot is readily available to those who play at UB Poker's specific Jackpot tables. They also have the 7Deuce promotion, which involves specific tables wagering a side pot on the next person able to win a pot with the "worse hand in poker," 7-2. A one-of-a-kind promotion, it nearly guarantees tremendous action and intensity at your table, and it's currently only available at UB Poker.

Smaller, but important rewards such as DoublePoints during specific hours, Refer-a-Friend, First-Time Depositor 111% Bonus, and the unique 10,000,000 Play Chip Bonus are also all home to UB Poker.

With the inclusion of U.S. players, the amount of withdrawal and deposit options certainly suits the target demographic. Visa and Mastercard options are usually the most used deposit options amongst U.S. participants, although there are many other options available. UKash, Click2Pay, ClickandBuy, Moneybookers, Check by Mail, NetTeller, Bank Transfer, and Bank Wire are all available (some country dependent).

Considering withdrawals, most of the above are included. However, U.S. customers are limited to; Bank Transfer, Check by Mail, Check by Courier, and Premium Bank Wire.