Absolute Poker's current deposit bonus is 200% up to $200. The bonus clears as you accumulate Absolute Reward Points(see Player Rewards below for how points are accumulated). The bonus does clear $10 at a time (100 ARP = $10) and it moves to your real money account immediately. The clearance rate is manageable at most mid to lower level limits...the clearance feels faster than most because you are clearing it in $10 chunks. Pending bonuses expire 60 days after deposit. Absolute Poker is by far the leader in reload bonuses, offering multiple reloads nearly every week.
Software (5)
Absolute Poker's software has some great features and some features that are just down right bad. On the good side, they offer instant hand histories, table statistics displayed in lobby and a find player function. On the bad side, they use far too many confirmation boxes. They also have an issue with their waiting list functionality...if you join the wait list for more than one room and are called to join one of the rooms you were on the wait list for, you are automatically removed from the wait list of the other rooms (of course, you get a confirmation box for each room you have been taken off of the wait list). As far as game play goes, I have experienced no problems...buttons are large enough, 4 color decks and instant hand histories.
Traffic (6)
Peak hours at Absolute Poker will bring 10,000 to 20,000 players.
Ring Games (6)
Absolute Poker offers limit games ranging from $.02/$.04 to $75/$150 and pot/no limit games ranging from $.05/$.10 to $5/$10. Players viewing flop percentages range from low 20's to low 40's.
Tournaments (7)
Absolute Poker hosts about 50 regularly scheduled tournaments per day ranging from freerolls to $108 buy-in. They also have satellite tournaments, Absolute Rewards Point buy-in tournaments, 1 on 1 tournaments and private tournaments. Their Sit-n-Go tournaments are also available nearly 24 hours a day.
Variety (6)
Absolute Poker offers Texas Hold 'em, Omaha hi/lo, Omaha, 7 card stud and 7 card stud hi/lo. Most of the traffic is dedicated to Hold 'em followed by Omaha hi/lo, Omaha, 7 card stud and 7 card stud hi/lo.
Player Rewards (7)
Absolute Poker's player rewards system is called Absolute Rewards Points (ARP). One ARP is awarded for each hand played in a REAL money ring game with a limit of $2/$4 or lower that has collected at least the minimum rake ($.25). Two ARPs are awarded for every hand played in a real money ring game with a limit of $3/$6 or higher that has collected at least the minimum rake ($.25). Four ARPs are awarded for each $1 in tournament fees. The points can be used for ARP freeroll buy-ins. There is also an ARP store where you can purchase items ranging from a bobblehead to Absolute Poker apparel. 16 items are available.
Overall (7)
Absolute Poker is an up and coming site. Once they get the kinks worked out, it will be a great site. But, for now, it's a bit behind the bigger sites. That said, you can still find attractive games at Absolute Poker. Pay attention to the table stats in the main lobby to find the best situations. Like most sites, the Sit-n-Go tournaments can be beat. Absolute Poker also offers the most reload bonuses in the business.
