Absolute Poker may not be exceptional in any regard, but it's good on all counts, which in itself is exceptional in the world of online poker. If you want a hassle-free experience in a friendly environment with no wait at the tables, plenty of tournaments to choose from, and a bonus package that keeps on giving, then you'll be well satisfied with what you find at Absolute Poker.

Big First Bonus and a Long List of Ongoing Promotions

Absolute Poker is one of the only major poker rooms that offers a first deposit bonus in excess of 100%. Additionally, they have enough rotating promotions to offer a reload bonus pretty much every month. Their heavy tournament schedule accounts for a large portion of the 20,000+ players that crowd their tables around the clock. Here are a few highlights from Absolute Poker's promotions page:

150% first deposit bonus of up to $500

Monthly reload bonuses of 15% to 100% (depending on FAME level)

$75 friend referral bonus

Steps tournaments for cash and satellites

Bad Beat Jackpot

Million dollar leaderboard prize pool

Their FAME rewards program is merit-based, meaning that the more you play the more you will earn vs some of the more simplistic, flat rate points programs. At the top level of FAME, you'll actually earn interest on your player account balance. Absolute Poker players are also privy to shared promotions with the rest of the Cereus Network

Cereus Software

Speaking of the Cereus Network...As a member, Absolute Poker offers the same software package as Ultimate Bet with some minor differences in lobby and table layout. The software download process is effortless and instant and extends to Mac users, but if you don't want to clutter your desktop then Absolute Poker is one of the few poker rooms that still openly offers a no download flash version of their site. The logical lobby layout and extensive filter options make finding your ideal ring game or tournament easy. Windows are easy to manually or automatically resize for multi-tabling and automation of common play options also facilitates serious multi-tabling. The customized layouts don't save, but members have the option of downloading permanent skins.

Good Traffic and No Short Stackers

On the menu at Absolute Poker are regular Holdem, Omaha and Stud games plus a handful of HORSE ring games and the new 7 Deuce Holdem tables. They have one of the biggest stakes spreads with micro-stakes tables from $.01/$.02 to high roller tables of $500/$1000. At least half of Absolute Poker's traffic is at the fun tables. If that's your thing, then you'll never have to wait, but players aiming above low to middling Texas Holdem stakes may be disappointed. On the upside, even non-depositing members can earn AbsolutePoints by playing with cash earned from no deposit promotions or freeroll wins, but serious players need not worry—minimum buy in requirements ensure that only deep stack players are allowed at ring games.

Separate Tournaments and Sit & Gos

Tournaments are definitely one of the highlights of this poker room. In fact, Absolute Poker has so many tournaments that they actually have to offer separate pages for their MTTs and STTs. Larger jackpots, bigger prize pools and more frequent tournaments are just another perk of playing at a site that's part of a poker network. On a daily if not hourly basis, you'll be able to choose between regular buy ins, satellites, guaranteeds, special event qualifiers, freerolls and sit & gos. Buy ins range from $.50 for a first-step qualifier to $1000 for the $150,000 guaranteed.

Uber Deposit Options

American players are welcome here, though their deposit options are limited. Other international players have over two dozen funds transfer methods to choose from, a majority of which are free of charge. As with most poker rooms, the safest and fastest way for players to get money into their accounts is with a Visa or MasterCard, plus using this option allows them free choice of the other options when it's time to withdraw. While checks are available to American players, they can avoid the $8 charge by electing to use an E-wallet or bank wire instead.