Absolute Poker Bad Beat Jackpot
Absolute Poker is a fairly large online poker site that attracts players from all over the world. Because they accept U.S. players and because they have a downloadable Mac version of their software, the player base keeps going strong. Absolute Poker’s affiliation with Ultimate Bet as a part of the Cereus Network is important because the player base and tables are shared. Because of this, the bad beat jackpot climbs at a much faster rate. Absolute Poker was one of the first poker sites to offer players a chance at winning a large jackpot for actually losing the hand. Absolute Poker continues to offer one of the largest jackpots and, at one time, they had the largest recorded bad beat jackpot.
There are many poker sites that currently offer a bad beat jackpot. One unique thing about Absolute Poker is the payout structure. Players that are not at the table where the jackpot is won but are at other bad beat tables of the same type and stakes level still get a piece of the jackpot. If you happen to be playing at Ultimate Bet, the sister site to Absolute, you are equally entitled to a share of the winnings. The cash game tables, bad beat tables and tournaments are entirely shared within the Cereus Network.
How Is The Bad Beat Jackpot Paid Out?
Absolute Poker breaks down the bad beat jackpot when someone wins it. The total jackpot is split between the person that won the hand, the person that lost the hand, the other players at the table and the players at other bad beat tables of the same type and stakes level. In addition, a portion is returned to fund the next jackpot. The Cereus Network gets a percentage as well, which is similar to a rake.
The person that loses the hand is actually the bad beat jackpot winner. The bad beat jackpot winner is awarded 32.5% of the jackpot. The person that wins the hand is given the 2nd highest amount and is awarded 16.25% of the jackpot. Each player sitting at the table is given $1,000 aside from the hand winner and loser.
The two players that receive the largest portion of the jackpot make up 48.75% (32.5 + 16.25). In addition, 25% of the jackpot goes back to initially fund the next bad beat jackpot. Cereus Network’s cut of the bad beat jackpot is 10%. These two portions equal 35% (25 +10) and in combination with the other 48.75%, 83.75% of the bad beat jackpot is accounted for. The other 16.25% is the portion that is divided between the players sitting at other jackpot tables of the same game type and stakes level.
The 16.25% is divided up between the players at other tables after the $1,000 per player from the hand-winning table has been distributed. So, in actuality the 16.25% is going to be slightly lower than it seems.
Absolute Poker Bad Beat Jackpot Rules
- Players are required to have Quad 8’s (8888) or better when losing the hand to qualify.
- Both hole cards for the winner and loser of the hand must be used. Example: QK versus AA with A-A-K-K-K on the board. Quad K’s lose to Quad A’s but does not qualify as a bad beat because the Q was not used.
- The hand must have a showdown. In other words, it has to be completely played out.
- At least four bad beat tables have to have a rake being collected.
- To win the bad beat jackpot, the table must be labeled as such.
In the scenario of two players having a bad beat jackpot qualifying hand during the same hand at the same table, the two players that lose the hand will be the two jackpot winners. The 48.75% (32.5 + 16.25) will be divided 50/50 for 24.375% each.
If two players from different tables win the bad beat jackpot at the same time, the hand that started first will be the bad beat jackpot hand. This is based off of the time the hand began, which is recorded on the Cereus Network servers.
If Absolute Poker deems that there was any type of collusion during the bad beat jackpot hand, the hand will be disqualified.