Cereus Network

The Cereus Network is one of the top ten poker online networks and was formed in 2008 with the joining of two existing and popular poker rooms – Ultimate Bet (originally 2001) and Absolute Poker (2003). Both these web sites (and the network) are privately owned by Mr Joseph Tokwiro Norton, previously a Mohawk Grand Chief in the Canadian province of Kahnawake.

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Although the games server is still based in Kahnawake, the headquarters of the Cereus Network is now based in Malta and consequently it allows players from the USA.  Traffic levels on the Cereus Network are fairly consistent, with the average number of cash players currently around 1940, peaking to 3300 during the most popular tournaments.

Cereus Software

The Cereus Network uses its own in-house poker software, developed by Tokwiro Enterprises, and drawing features from many existing poker rooms. The action is superbly smooth and there are also several unique elements to the software including detachable stats and chat boxes. Multi-tabling is supported in “tile” or “cascade” mode – automatically bringing the most recent activity to the front screen – and table resizing can be done manually if preferred. The facility exists to use “Hot Keys” for your betting action and the software also allows for unique avatars to be uploaded, a choice of skins to be applied, and the table view adjusted to suit players´ preferences. 

The software can be downloaded onto Windows, theres also an instant Flash version for playing in your browser, one for mobile phones and Linux users, and an AP-Mac download, specifically for MacIntosh users. The Flash and AP-Mac versions do not yet have the full facilities of the Windows download and access to certain “Non-standard” games is limited.

Network Players

The Cereus Network sponsors a number of established and up-and-coming stars in the world of poker. Amongst them you will find  Phil Hellmuth (UB), Annie Duke (UB), Michael Binger (UB), Trishelle Cannatella (AP), Matt Vengrin (AP) and Lacey Jones (AP) regularly playing at the tables, with a bounty being offered on their heads if you knock any of them out during the networks big $200.000 guaranteed tournament on a Sunday (16.00 EST).

Cereus Tournaments

Some big tournaments that the network is noted for include:

Ultimate Bet Aruba Classic – Held live at the Radisson Hotel in Aruba with over $5million of prize money available during the week-long event.

Weekend Tournaments include a further $100.000 Guaranteed Event (Sundays 14.00 EST), a deep stack $50.000 Guaranteed Event (Saturdays 15.05 EST) and daily “Sniper” (bounty) tournaments including Saturdays ($25K Gtd) and Sundays ($40K Gtd). The first Sunday of every month sees a $128.000 Heads Up tournament hosted by Annie Duke on Ultimate Bet. Promotions are regularly changing, so please see the individual web sites for more details.

Many of the smaller “freezeout” tournaments played outside of peak hours are often undersubscribed

Poker Games

Games played on the (full) Cereus Network:

• Texas Hold’em
• Omaha
• Omaha Hi/Lo
• 7 Card Stud
• 7 Card Stud Hi/Lo
• Razz
• HORSE/HOSE Mixed Poker Games.

There is also a Blackjack Tournament tab available for anyone who prefers to mix up their cards action.

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