Due in part to a recent encryption vulnerability, the CEREUS Network fell from the sixth largest in the world in terms of real money ring game traffic to ninth this week, according to PokerScout.com.
Major sites such as PokerTableRatings.com, which first reported the security flaw, urged real money players on CEREUS Network sites UB.com and Absolute Poker to avoid hitting up the virtual felts entirely. If players insisted on logging in, they were encouraged to do so by plugging their computer directly into their modem rather than risk exposure via a wireless network. CEREUS employs a custom-made XOR-based security encryption, whereas other online poker sites and major corporations use SSL. An SSL encryption system is in the works, but likely won’t be rolled out until next week. Read more about the vulnerability.
Through the first 10 days of May, the average peak player volume in CEREUS Network cash game tables was 3,177. During the same period in April, the average peak weighed in at 3,479 players, meaning that traffic has dropped month over month by nearly 9%. Between March 25th and April 11th, the maximum peak cash game player volume on the CEREUS Network eclipsed 4,000 three times; it has not risen above 3,600 since.
Year over year, traffic on the CEREUS Network is off 11%. PokerTableRatings.com posted its security warning for CEREUS Network users on May 6th and provided its most recent update on May 7th. On the same day, the Kahnawake Gaming Commission, which serves as the licensing body for many top industry sites, issued a warning to players that read in part, “Based on information available at this time, it appears unlikely that player gaming data was actually compromised. However, this possibility will be reviewed further and, if necessary, the Commission will direct that the appropriate remedial actions be taken.”
CEREUS has faced stiff competition from Full Tilt and PokerStars in recent weeks, perhaps contributing to the dip in player volume. The quarterly Full Tilt Online Poker Series (FTOPS) kicked off on April 23rd and ran through May 2nd. On PokerStars, the annual Spring Championship of Online Poker (SCOOP) began on May 2nd and runs until the 16th. Also ongoing is MiniFTOPS XVI. The three tournament series featured a combined $70 million in guarantees, undoubtedly diverting attention away from the CEREUS Network.
Boss Media’s International Poker Network moved up two places this week to #6 worldwide, the spot formerly held by CEREUS. Traffic has been brisk on the International Poker Network, which features sites including BetClick, Extreme Poker, Fortune Poker, InterPoker, Paradise Poker, and Poker Heaven. The network is headquartered in Sweden, has its gaming server in Malta, and does not accept players from the United States.
Moving up from ninth to eighth worldwide was the massive Microgaming Network, which includes Ladbrokes, PokerTime, and Unibet. The network boasts a seven-day running average of 2,000 real money ring game players with a 24-hour peak of nearly 4,100.
Despite CEREUS Network developers implementing a more advanced encryption in response to the vulnerability, PokerTableRatings.com urged its users to continue avoiding UB.com and Absolute Poker: “Users should not assume they are safe until SSL is fully implemented and should continue to follow the recommendations in our security update.” CEREUS has not released an update on its SSL development since May 7th.
UB.com’s stable of pros includes 2010 National Heads-Up Poker Championship winner Annie Duke, 11-time World Series of Poker (WSOP) bracelet winner Phil Hellmuth, and PokerRoad personality Joe Sebok. Absolute Poker’s sponsored team includes Matt “Plattsburgh” Vengrin and “Real World: Las Vegas” diva Trishelle Cannatella.
