Earlier this year, Ultimate Poker secured a partnership with Peppermill Casinos, making it the official online poker room for the casino chain. This agreement also enables players to make deposits and withdrawals from Ultimate Poker at any of the five Peppermill Casinos located throughout Nevada.
Ultimate Poker and the El Cortez have now struck a comparable agreement that enables Ultimate Poker players to deposit and withdraw at the El Cortez Hotel and Casino in Downtown Las Vegas.
Poker enthusiasts can now make in-person deposits at several locations throughout Nevada, not just in Las Vegas. The Peppermill Casino in Reno, as well as the Western Village Inn and Casino in Sparks, and the Rainbow Hotel Casino, Peppermill Hotel Casino, and Montego Bay Casino in Wendover, are all options for Ultimate Poker players. These locations are particularly convenient for those in northern Nevada.
In addition to the Station Casino locations, UP online poker players can now also deposit or withdraw from their online poker account in Downtown Las Vegas, thanks to a deal with El Cortez.
Casinos that have partnered with Ultimate Poker will not only offer increased deposit options but also promote Ultimate Poker within their premises. Alexandra Epstein, the Executive VP of El Cortez, said that by merging the online accessibility offered by Ultimate Poker with El Cortez’s classic Vegas ambiance, they are providing both new and existing players with a unique poker experience.
The impact of this change is uncertain, but providing more options to players is beneficial until credit cards gain widespread acceptance.
Payment processing still a major issue
Although both of these deals offer short-term benefits, particularly since in-person deposits have traditionally been the most straightforward and efficient way to fund online accounts, they do little to address the broader issue of payment processing for legal online poker sites.
The budding US online poker industry has attempted various strategies to reduce the alarming rate at which potential customers’ credit cards are being declined.
Websites have incorporated everything from Skrill and Neteller to extra in-person deposit options and prepaid cards.
Numerous solutions have been introduced, yet they have barely addressed the issue. It appears that the problem will only be resolved when making deposits at an online poker room in the US becomes instantaneous and feasible with almost any credit card one possesses.
People are searching for solutions
Secure Trading, a company, is attempting to address this issue with a new prepaid card, which is being promoted as a comprehensive solution.
As stated in a press release:
ST-1 oversees every stage of the transaction process, from registering players and handling their deposits to processing withdrawals. It assists operators in navigating this demanding industry by conducting detailed identification, location, and responsible gambling assessments. ST-1 provides operators with the ability to securely process deposits, handle back office management, and manage withdrawals through a single, fully integrated, compliant platform.
Nonetheless, this introduces an extra step to the process, as players need to register and top up their prepaid cards beforehand. Any player who wishes to sign up and load their online poker account impulsively will be subject to the conditions of their bank and credit card.
Note that Ultimate Poker also offers its own prepaid card.
Payment processing will continue to be one of the biggest burdens on the industry until players can spontaneously decide to play online poker and do so immediately.
