UP Signs Deal with Peppermill, Launches “Strip Magic" Web Series, and More

Over the past week in Nevada, Ultimate Poker, the country’s first licensed online poker room, has been very active. The company has finalized a deal to incorporate five new casinos under its brand, introduced a $25 freeplay offer for all new players on the site, and launched a new web series featuring UP Pro and brand ambassador, Antonio “The Magician” Esfandiari.

So, if you haven’t been following the recent happenings at Ultimate Poker, here’s what you have missed.

UP’s deal with Peppermill

Ultimate Poker recently announced the addition of Peppermill Resort Spa Casino in Reno, Nevada to its brand. This announcement, made late last week, also includes the company’s four other casino properties in northern Nevada. These are the Western Village Inn and Casino in Sparks, Nevada, as well as the Rainbow Hotel Casino, Peppermill Hotel Casino, and Montego Bay Casino, all situated in Wendover, Nevada.

The deal isn’t exactly groundbreaking – Peppermill and its four other casino properties will function more like affiliate sites for Ultimate Poker rather than skins for the online poker room. However, this arrangement should benefit Ultimate Poker in two distinct ways.

Firstly, Ultimate Poker now has the ability to directly market to a whole new group of players using Peppermill’s extensive player list databases.

Secondly, the addition of the five Peppermill properties gives Ultimate Poker five new locations throughout Nevada. This is especially beneficial for US players currently struggling with payment processing issues as they can now deposit and withdraw funds from their UP accounts at these locations.

This is particularly beneficial given that the Peppermill properties are located in Reno, Sparks, and Wendover, since Station Casinos, the owners of Ultimate Poker, already have a presence in the Las Vegas area.

The deal still requires the endorsement of Nevada regulators. However, there is nothing unusual or contentious that might 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 is offering a $25 bonus to prospective customers as a start-up reward.

As stated on the Ultimate Poker website, this offer is open to all first-time players on the online poker site and does not necessitate making a deposit of any sort.

Sign up for your complimentary Ultimate Poker account and get an immediate credit of $25, in addition to a chance to win up to $500 in our monthly sweepstakes draw.

Strip Magic with Antonio

Antonio “The Magician” Esfandiari, Ultimate Poker’s main spokesperson and most recognized sponsored professional, did not earn his nickname for his ability to make his opponent’s chips vanish and reemerge in his own pile, although he is quite skilled at that. If you’re curious about how he acquired his nickname, it wasn’t due to this.

No, Antonio earned his nickname due to his potential as a magician before he started playing poker. Based on the first episode of the Strip Magic web series by Ultimate Poker, it appears that he has been maintaining his sleight of hand tricks.

The videos not only capture Antonio’s spontaneous street magic performances on the Las Vegas Strip, but also explore his history, such as his tenure as a magician and his ascension through the poker hierarchy. Overall, it’s an excellently produced video. At a duration of two and a half minutes, it’s not overly long to the point of being unbearable, and just lengthy enough to whet your appetite for more episodes.

“Filming street magic reminds me of a significant period in my life,” said Antonio Esfandiari, Ultimate Poker Brand Ambassador and magician. “As a child, my only dream was to become the next David Copperfield. That was my sole focus until I found poker. Achieving success in poker and returning to magic as a street hobby in Las Vegas was a great joy for me.”

Visit youtube.com/ultimatepoker to watch more episodes of Strip Magic and check out UP’s other YouTube clips.