Over the past week, Ultimate Poker has been extremely active in Nevada. This first licensed online poker room in the nation has struck a deal to include five new casinos under its brand. Additionally, the site has announced a new offer of $25 freeplay for all new players. They have also initiated a new web series featuring UP Pro and brand ambassador Antonio “The Magician” Esfandiari.
So, if you haven’t been up to date with the recent happenings at Ultimate Poker, here’s what you’ve missed.
UP’s deal with Peppermill
Ultimate Poker announced last week that it has incorporated the Peppermill Resort Spa Casino in Reno, Nevada into its UP brand. This addition joins the company’s four other northern Nevada casino properties: the Western Village Inn and Casino in Sparks, the Rainbow Hotel Casino, the Peppermill Hotel Casino, and the Montego Bay Casino, all in Wendover.
While the agreement isn’t exactly groundbreaking—Peppermill and its four other casino properties will function more like affiliate sites of Ultimate Poker rather than mere skins for the online poker room—it should prove quite advantageous for Ultimate Poker in two distinct ways.
Firstly, Ultimate Poker now has access to Peppermill’s comprehensive player list databases, enabling them to market directly to a completely new set of players.
Secondly, the addition of five Peppermill properties to Ultimate Poker provides five new locations across Nevada for US players to deposit and withdraw funds from their UP accounts. This comes as a significant advantage, especially considering the current payment processing challenges faced by US players.
This is particularly beneficial given that Peppermill properties are located in Reno, Sparks, and Wendover. Station Casinos, the owners of Ultimate Poker, already have a strong presence in the Las Vegas area.
The deal still requires the endorsement of Nevada regulators, but there’s nothing unusual or contentious likely to hinder its finalization.
You can read Howard Stutz’s excellent column for more information on the deal.
Ultimate Poker’s new $25 Freeplay offer
Ultimate Poker is seeking new players and offering a $25 bonus to prospective customers as a start-up reward.
The Ultimate Poker website declares that this offer is open to all individuals playing for the first time on their online poker site. Importantly, it doesn’t necessitate the player to deposit any sort of amount.
Sign up for your complimentary Ultimate Poker account and get an immediate credit of $25, along with the chance to bag up to $500 in our monthly sweepstakes draw.
Strip Magic with Antonio
Antonio “The Magician” Esfandiari, the best known sponsored pro and chief spokesperson for Ultimate Poker, got his nickname not because he has a knack for making his opponent’s chips disappear and reappear in his stack (even though he is quite good at that, too).
Antonio earned his nickname not because of poker, but due to his early interest in magic. It appears he has maintained his talent for sleight of hand, as evidenced by the first episode of the Strip Magic web series produced by Ultimate Poker.
The videos provide a comprehensive look at Antonio, featuring not just his spontaneous street magic acts on the Las Vegas Strip, but also his personal journey, including his past as a magician and his rise through the poker ranks. Overall, the video is very well crafted. At a duration of two and a half minutes, it’s neither too long to lose interest, nor too short, leaving viewers eager for more episodes.
“Shooting street magic brings back memories of a unique period in my life,” commented Antonio Esfandiari, the Ultimate Poker Brand Ambassador and magician. “As a child, I had a dream to follow in the footsteps of David Copperfield. That was my sole focus until I stumbled upon poker. Excelling in poker and returning to magic as a pastime on the streets of Las Vegas was a great joy for me.”
Visit youtube.com/ultimatepoker for additional episodes of Strip Magic and to view UP’s other YouTube content.