The two key advantages the UltimateBet software has are the simplified "mini view" option and the speed at which chips are collected and cards are dealt. The mini view option minimizes superfluous graphics and displays all of the pertinent information for each hand in a long, skinny window. The combination of those two big features makes for a very efficient poker experience, especially for players who enjoy multi-tabling.

For those who prefer the full-table view, there are six options for background customization (the tabletop is always the same). The themes include Red Rock, Aruba, underwater, London, plain black, and, of course, Las Vegas. There are many useful, easy to manipulate checkboxes in the options menu, including behavior options ("confirm bet Pot," "confirm Fold," etc.) and display options (four color deck, "show whole dollars only," "full animation," etc.). The software allows users to have an animation- and information-heavy experience or an ultra-simple motif, whichever strikes their fancy.

UltimateBet does not offer user-defined avatars or uploadable photos, opting rather for the simple chair-with-a-screen-name-on-it style. Holecards show up nice and big on the user's screen and betting options are logically placed and easily utilized. A "player stats" button brings up a pop-up window displaying a well-organized, intuitive table of statistics to enable a player to better assess their play.

The software is also efficient in that it allows players who have just sat down at a table to Check boxes for "wait for Big Blind" and "post big Blind now." Such options are simple and convenient but are surprisingly not commonly implemented in the software of other poker sites (they do exist on other sites, but traditionally appear only once a new hand has been dealt at the table, rather than immediately, forcing the player to wait to make his choice and forcing the other players to wait for his decision, as well).

The software is also unconventionally efficient in the way it deals with the chat box. Users are given a wealth of customizable options for chat in the options menu, including checkboxes for each type of chat (for instance, dealer, player, or observer) for the user to dictate what they want to see and font color choices for the user to specify how they want to see it.

The main lobby is separated into "games," "scheduled tournaments," and "sit-and-go tournaments." The cash-games are grouped together by poker variant, but no filtration system is present therein to allow for the omission of certain stakes or full/empty tables from viewing. However, the entire list is sortable to make finding the right table a little easier. There is also a special tab that sorts by "high-," "medium-," "low-," "no-," and "pot-" limit, but this tab mixes all of the poker variants together. The lobby displays average pot, percent of players who see the Flop, and hands per hour.

The tournament lobbies are similarly organized, opting to group by tournament type rather than Buy-In. Buy-in is sortable within each tournament-type tab. Lobbies for a specific tournament have much information, including biggest/smallest/average Stack , time until next break, time until next blind level (and what it will be), and total/current number of players.

UltimateBet does not currently support final table deal-making, although players are, of course, allowed to make deals and transfer money on their own terms (UltimateBet does not oversee or guarantee such deals).

UltimateBet has a rather unique, intuitive system for sit-and-gos. Players select the "table" offering the variant (no-limit hold'em, Omaha, etc.), the style (shorthanded, turbo, etc.), and stakes they want and are taken to a waiting list. All players wishing to play in this kind of event go on the list and a table is immediately started when enough people have signed up. This eliminates the annoyances of having to quickly click on and register for tournaments before they fill up or waiting for a new table to open up before you can register.

The system also ensures that tables fill up at a consistent, rapid pace, especially the lower-limit hold'em tournaments. The sit-and gos do, indeed, fill up quickly.

The multitable tournament schedule was formulated with the help of poker star Annie Duke herself. The new schedule includes Sniper (bounty) tournaments, a popular format wherein players are paid for each opponent they eliminate in addition to how well they place. UltimateBet offers a weekly $200,000-guaranteed tournament on Sundays that consistently requires an overlay for having too few entrants. This attendance deficiency is actually a boon for players looking to get more bang for their buck and play for dead money.

While there are plenty of games available for hold'em, players will most likely have to join a short waiting list for any stakes over $0.10-$0.25. Games like royal hold'em, deuce-to-seven triple draw, and pineapple usually have one to two small-stakes tables running at a time.

Visa, Mastercard, ePassporte, Click2Pay (non-U.S. only), FirePay (non-U.S. only), NETELLER (non-U.S. only), Moneybookers, ATM Online, bank draft/cachier's check, wire transfer

MICRO
$0.01/$0.20 - Max $3 - No Limit
$0.01/$0.10 - No max - LIMIT


LOW
$0.05/$1 - Max $3 - NO LIMIT
$0.25/$5 - Max $2 - LIMIT


MEDIUM
$0.05/$1 - Max $3 - NO LIMIT
$1/$20 - Max $3 - LIMIT

HIGH
$0.05/$1 - Max $3 - NO LIMIT
$1/$100 - Max $5 - LIMIT

* Hold'em (limit, no-limit, pot-limit, Heads Up)
* Omaha (high, eight-or-better, heads up)
* Seven-card stud (high, eight-or-better, heads up)
* Razz
* H.O.R.S.E. (including: hold'em, Omaha, razz, stud, and stud eight-or-better)
* H.O.S.E. (including: hold'em, Omaha, stud, and stud eight-or-better)
* H.O. (including: hold'em and Omaha eight-or-better)
* Triple draw (deuce-seven, ace-five)
* Royal Hold'em
* Elimination Blackjack tournaments

STAKES: $0.02-$0.04 up to $300-$600

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Phone: N/A

Additional Comments:
Options for support include:

* E-mail, 24/7 (no confirmation of receipt)
* Online customer service form (equivalent to e-mail; no confirmation page or confirmation e-mail)
* FAQ


Response time:

* E-mail; 1-1.5 days on average; some inquiries did not receive a response (for general inquiries, based on test e-mails)

* Mini view available for tables. View gives only the essential information and is an excellent option for players who multi-table
* Intuitive and efficient sit-and-go signup process
* Tournament schedule formulated with help of Annie Duke
* Choice of table background from a predetermined set of six
* Elimination Blackjack available within the same software

* RAI$E loyalty program offers a cash-for-points option, point auctions for cool gadgets, merchandise, and experiences, and other innovating perks
* UltimateBet Online Championship (UBOC)
* UltimateBet.com Aruba Poker Classic satellites
* Sniper bounty tournaments
* Tournament leader Board prizes