Ultimate Poker is firmly etched in the history of online poker, as it was the first licensed online poker room in Nevada and consequently in the United States. After enjoying a monopoly in the Nevada Internet poker market for almost half a year, Ultimate Poker is now facing competition following the launch of WSOP.com.
In this review, we’re going to give you a comprehensive analysis of what the Ultimate Poker Nevada online poker room can offer you.
History of Ultimate Poker in Nevada
Ultimate Poker, the first licensed US online poker site, made a successful debut on April 30, 2013. Despite the anticipated initial glitches that needed to be resolved, it has established itself as a reliable online poker site.
With that said, Ultimate Poker, in their haste to pioneer the online poker room market, overlooked certain GUI components and features, which irked some players. Nevertheless, they compensated for their initial stripped-down software launch in September 2013 by releasing an enhanced version of their software, referred to as Ultimate Poker v2.0.
After a successful launch in Nevada, Ultimate Gaming, the parent company of Ultimate Poker, has partnered with the Trump Taj Mahal in New Jersey. They will provide their online gaming software to the Trump Taj Mahal, introducing the Ultimate Poker brand to the Garden State.
In October 2013, Ultimate Poker introduced Pot Limit Omaha (PLO) and Omaha 8 or better games.
The Companies behind Ultimate Poker
Fertitta Interactive, a subsidiary of Fertitta Entertainment, established Ultimate Poker. Fertitta Entertainment is the owner of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), resulting in a branding link with Ultimate Poker. They also own Station Casinos in Nevada.
Ultimate Poker chose not to partner with an established online poker provider, opting instead to purchase the Los Angeles-based CyberArts Software Design Company to develop the Ultimate Poker client. This move appears to have been beneficial, as Ultimate Poker not only entered the Nevada market ahead of their competition, but also retained its position as the sole licensed online poker room for close to half a year.
Ultimate Poker Rewards program in Nevada
Ultimate Poker’s “Color Up” VIP Program
The Nevada Internet poker site, Ultimate Poker, utilizes a tiered rewards program known as “Color Up.”
Color Up offers eight monthly stages and two annual reward levels that players can attain by collecting XP-Points. These points decide a player’s rank in the Color Up scheme. The further you progress, the more benefits you become eligible for, such as the U-Points multiplier. However, this should not be confused with XP-Points, which can be used to buy items from the Ultimate Poker store. A comparison of this program with the WSOP.com’s VIP program is available here.
The formula for awarding XP-Points is as follows:
For every $1 of rake generated, a player is awarded 10 XP-Points, following the Winner Take All rake method used by Ultimate Poker.
A player receives 10 XP-Points for every $1 paid in tournament fees.
Monthly Tiers
White equals 0 XP-Points, which is the starting level for all players.
20 XP-Points equals Red.
100 XP-Points is equivalent to Green.
500 XP-Points equals Black.
1,000 XP-Points is represented by Yellow.
2,500 XP-Points equals Purple.
Orange equals 5,000 XP-Points.
10,000 XP-Points is equal to Cranberry.
Yearly Tiers
100,000 XP-Points is equivalent to a Gold Plaque.
1,000,000 XP-Points is equivalent to a Platinum Plaque.
Here you can find a comparison to WSOP.com’s VIP program.
Ultimate Poker’s Nevada Deposit Bonus
Ultimate Poker is granting a $50 first-time deposit bonus to all new players who deposit a minimum of $50 on the site, a unique offer that is not matched by its competitor. To redeem the deposit bonus, players need to earn 1,500 XP’s at the Ultimate Poker tables.
Ultimate Poker Software
Games Offered by Ultimate Poker in Nevada
Ultimate Poker is now providing their online poker players in Nevada with both Holdem and Omaha poker games. They have limit, pot-limit, and no-limit Holdem tables, as well as PLO, limit, and PLO8 or better games.
All these poker variants are offered by Ultimate Poker as cash-games, multi-table tournaments, and sit & go tournaments.
Software, and GUI
The launch of Ultimate Poker version 2.0 in September significantly enhanced the software of Ultimate Poker. The site now proudly features 3-D avatars, enhanced graphics and animation, resizable tables, and numerous other features that seasoned players seek in an online poker site.
Despite Ultimate Poker version 2.0 being a significant upgrade, it still falls short compared to many competitors. Ultimate Poker still needs to address issues such as subpar hand histories and a lack of customizable seating and game-play options.