The Quick Summary

One of the oldest poker rooms, Ultimate Bet has been around since 1999. Originally launched with help from Annie Duke and Phil Hellmuth – who remain involved with the site’s operations – UltimateBet is licensed by the Kahnawake Gaming Commission in Canada and it is rated among the top 10 poker rooms in terms of player traffic.

One of the largest, most popular sites, Ultimate Bet has survived a few major ups and down and it remains committed to offering a superior online poker experience to poker players in the US and the rest of the world.

Popularity: 9 of 10 - Excellent

Player traffic at Ultimate Bet is constantly high and tournaments are always populated, which guarantees a lot of action from the lower levels all the way to the high stakes: at peak times you can expect between 2400-3500 players in ring games and around 4,000 tournament players. At the time of writing, Ultimate Bet is the 7th most popular online site, and has earned a solid position among the large poker rooms.

Security: 8 of 10 - Excellent

At the time of writing, Ultimate Bet is preparing to unveil a new Security Center which is expected to set the highest standards for security and integrity. All activity in the site is recorded and monitored; player information – such as financial data and hole cards – is encrypted to the same level of security as online banking sites; and the highest level of software and human expertise is used to prevent and detect collusion at the site.

Player Competition: 8 of 10 - Excellent

Since Ultimate Bet attracts a great deal of traffic, competition tends to be tough and you will find a lot of “sharks” at the ring games and tournaments.
The action at the mid to high stakes tables is very tight – not apt for beginners, but good for those who want to play against other good players to refine their own play. The $2/$4 No Limit rooms are full of very aggressive players that keep pushing others into big decisions pre flop. Competition is definitely a higher caliber than many other sites, but you can still find plenty of loose play at the lowest stakes.

Site Software: 9 of 10 - Excellent

The excellent proprietary software at Ultimate Bet constantly attracts new customers and keeps the old ones coming back. Ultimate Bet boasts attractive graphics and tables have a very clean look, with the player always facing the table from the bottom chair. Ultimate Bet’s efficient servers ensure that players hardly ever face disconnection problems.

“Ultimate Buddy” is an attractive feature which allows you to locate your buddies wherever and whenever they log in – double click on their names and you will be taken to their table. Ultimate Buddy comes pre-loaded with Phil Hellmuth’s and Annie Duke’s name so if you are lucky enough you might be able to sit down with them on a game.

Another useful feature for multitable fans is the fact that tables can be resized, tiled and cascaded according to the player’s wishes. The fixed seating position (always at the bottom of the table) is also especially useful for multitable players.

Customer Support: 6 of 10 - Good

Customer support at Ultimate Bet is offered via e-mail, and though it might take some time for an agent to respond, answers to queries are usually very informative and accurate (although there have been several complaints on the quality of technical support.) Ultimate Bet doesn’t offer phone or live chat support, which is a serious drawback for such a large site.

Company Ethics: 7 of 10 - Good

Ultimate Bet is currently focused on a renewal and upgrade of their security software and procedures, which is likely to result in an excellent Security Center. They are also investing in signing up popular and respected online pros for their recently created Star Team.

Site Promotions: 9 of 10 - Good

Ultimate Bet offers a variety of traditional games including Stud, Omaha and Hold ‘Em along with more exotic ones such as Triple Draw and Pineapple. The site is definitely best known for its 10-handed NL games, but you can find action on six handed tables and heads-up too.
Everyday there are numerous freerolls in which you can win “bonus dollars”- many players complain that bonus dollars are hard to clear, but if you do not have the patience to turn them into real dollars you can spend them in Ultimate Bet’s store.

People like Ultimate Bet’s bonuses because they are credited instantly. At the time of writing Ultimate Bet offers a 111% first deposit bonus up to $1100. Their Refer-a-Friend program is also very attractive: if you refer a friend they can receive a bonus of up to $50, while you make twice as much.

Overall Review: 8 of 10 - Excellent

Ultimate Bet has high traffic, so finding a game that suits you will not be any problem. Their software is one of the best available, including the “Ultimate Buddy” feature, micro view and an efficient lobby. Lobby, cashier and tables run smoothly without any problems even while multitabling.

Ultimate Bet is a great site if you want to improve your poker skills, but perhaps not so for making easy money. However, their rake structure offers great value for your money.

Final Result: We give Ultimate Bet a final overall score of 8 out of 10.