Full review of Absolute Poker

Summary
AbsolutePoker is clearly aiming to be a serious player in the world of online poker. They have created an overall high-quality poker room, and offer a well-organized and thorough website. AbsolutePoker is a medium sized poker room where the action concentrates on Texas Hold'em, in particular short handed games. The software is of good standard, with most sophisticated features, such as 'find a player', playing statistics, hand history, etc. AbsolutePoker allows you to play at three tables simultaneously and this feature runs quite smoothly. The action at the tables is decent, with high 'viewed flop percentages' at the lower stakes tables. Presently, the site is endorsed by poker player Mark Seif who won two (!) 2005 WSOP bracelets. Real money player statistics - August 2005: 900-1,200 ring game players during peak hours, 1,300-1,800 tournament players during peak hours.

Software and graphics
The software is fairly quick and reliable although it has a bit of a 'pinball machine' feel to it, including a few annoying sound effects. The lobby is easy to use, with standard design and functions. Another irritating detail is that you cannot eliminate the 'fun money' games from the lobby. The 'private tournament' option, however, is a great feature that allows players to bring their friends or co-workers together for a private online tournament.

Ring game traffic
Traffic has not reached considerable volume and currently play is concentrated on low stakes No-Limit Hold'em ($1-$2 down to 2c-4c games). A majority of the ring games are 6-handed tables. There are typically 700-1,000 real money ring game players during peak hours, out of which at least 90-95% are in the Hold'em section.

Tournament traffic
AbsolutePoker has tournament traffic of 1,200-1,800 real money players during peak hours.

Game variety
Their game variety is essentially industry standard. The games offered are Texas Hold'em (1 on 1, PL, NL, Limit, and short-handed), Omaha, Omaha Hi-Lo, Seven-Card Stud, and Seven-Card Stud Hi-Lo. These games range from 6-handed to 10-handed games in No-Limit, Pot-Limit and Limit style. Their fixed limit Texas Hold'em games vary from $50/$100 down to $0.02/$0.04 although most games are concentrated on the micro-limits. AbsolutePoker's NL games vary from $5/$10 down to $0.25/$0.10, but again most action in the micro-limits. Almost all of the action is focused on the Texas Hold'em tables.

Rake
AbsolutePoker uses a pretty standard 'no flop, no drop' policy, meaning that they do not take out any rake from pots where there was no flop. The rake is at 5% on all types of games (from all limits and number of players) and stops at a maximum of $3.

Soft competition
The traffic is at its greatest at the micro-limits where the games vary from fairly loose to plain loose, often with a 'viewed flop percentage' reaching upwards 50% to 60%. This translates to very action packed, juicy games for the small stakes player. You can normally find decent Hold'em games up to the $2-$4 limits and for No-Limit up to $1-$2. At the full ring games and the middle limits around $2-$4, the games become much tighter and will average around 30% or less for the 'viewed flop percentage'.

Sign up bonus
AbsolutePoker offers a sign-up is bonus of 100% up to $100 to every new player on their first purchase or a 50% bonus up to $500 if using NETeller. The bonus will automatically be added to your 'Pending Bonus' account where it will be held and automatically released to your cash account based on the following requirements; for each raked hand (minimum rake of $0.25) you play you will receive 1 point, and you will receive 1 point for each $1 of tournament buy-in fee. At 100 points $10 will be transferred from your 'Pending Bonus' account to your cash account. Money in your pending account will expire 60 days from the time it was awarded unless it has been transferred to your real money account by meeting the hands played requirements. You can view your point total and bonus amounts at the 'Cashier'. You will continue to earn points until you have received 100% of your bonus money.

Loyalty bonus
AbsolutePoker offers the 'Absolute Rewards Loyalty Program': While playing for real money you earn points, so called Absolute Rewards Points (AR Points). Points are earned in two different ways; either through hands played at real money ring games, or from tournament buy-in fees. Points are earned as follows: (1) one point is awarded for every 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); (2) two points 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); (3) four points for every dollar in the tournament buy-in fee ($10 $1 tournament would earn 4 points); and, (4) special tournaments that award points to the winners. In addition, once you have played a minimum of 500 hands, AbsolutePoker will mail you an 'Absolute Reward Card' which reportedly gives the holder VIP-treatment at live tournaments, etc.

Promotions
In addition to the 'Absolute Rewards Loyalty Program' they offer a good refer-a-friend program. Once your friend registers a new player account, deposits a minimum of $25, and plays in 100 real money raked hands, you will be credited with $50 and your friend's pending bonus account will be credited with $25. They also offer many good free rolls, WSOP free rolls, and re-load bonuses. For example, they offer a weekly re-load bonus.

Support
Currently, the only support function available is via email. Their respond time is fairly quick and accurate. Their website is informative and covers most important topics.

Financial security
Good, for a relative newcomer with financial muscle; they boast a serious approach to the business and high set goals.

Deposit & withdrawal options
Deposit options: NETeller, CentralCoin, FirePay, VISA, MasterCard, Electronic Check, Bank Draft, and Wire Transfer. Cash out options: NETeller, FirePay, and Check.