“We’re the largest real money online poker room in the US already”

What are the main features of UltimatePoker.com?
We have big tournaments, Sit n Gos and cash games on software that is familiar to online poker players. All indications are that our players are really happy. In two weeks, we’ve dealt one million hands. But our most outstanding feature is that the best is yet to come. We’re driven by innovation. We’re adding new features constantly and working with regulators to implement them. People are happy now. But six months from now, the site is going to be far better.

Who are Ultimate Poker's main figures/professional players?
Our CEO, Tobin Prior, has an impressive record in the online and brick-and-mortar side of the business. He understands how to work with regulators, and establish player trust in any gaming environment. 

Another huge reason that customers can trust our company is that we own our own software. We purchased CyberArts, an American company in Silicon Valley, because it makes cutting edge software and has a clean regulatory profile. Any time an issue comes up – or an innovative idea is needed – I can call Chris Derossi, the CTO of Ultimate Gaming and co-founder of Cyber Arts, and get right to it. That may sound normal. But if you look around at some of the other online gaming companies, you’ll find that they’re basically leasing their technology from outside companies that may have other obligations and may not be able to be as devoted to the task.

Then there’s our CMO, Joe Versaci. Nobody knows more about online gaming than Joe. Wherever I turn, I get great counsel.

As for professional players, we’re proud to have the Magician, Antonio Esfandiari, as our brand ambassador.  He’s a great player. In fact, he’s the all-time leading professional money winner. Antonio embodies what Ultimate Poker is about: trust, hard work, dedication, authenticity, and a fun, winning lifestyle. 

Here's something that many people don’t know about Antonio. He came to see how much damage was done to the poker industry in the wake of all the problems that came with these offshore companies. It was essential to Antonio that when online poker was legalized that all players got a game that made them feel secure. If it’s one word that symbolizes what we’re about, it’s trust. So Antonio and Ultimate Poker are a perfect match. 

What kind of players are you targeting to?
If you are over 21, living in or are visiting Nevada, and like to play poker online, then you’ve got a home at Ultimate Poker. We’re also very fortunate to have a great synergy with our sister companies – the UFC and Station Casinos. Anybody in Las Vegas knows that the locals play at Station Casinos. So we’ve got a very loyal base in Nevada. We’re also very connected to the audience of the UFC – which is the fastest growing sport in the world. 

What are your predictions for the coming months? What results do you expect?
We've exceeded our estimates so far. I think that we will contine to surpass our expectations moving forward.

What does this launch mean for US and the worldwide online gaming industry?
For the US, it means two crucial things: Jobs and tax revenue.  For too long, online gaming jobs and American dollars were flying away to some island somewhere in the middle of the ocean. Now, thanks to the lead of Nevada’s regulators, those jobs and those dollars can stay home. This is the creation of a new industry in the US and changes the landscape of the gaming industry. Millions of Americans want to play poker online and we expect other states, and even other countries, to follow Nevada’s lead with proper regulation and legislation.  

In your opinion, how will real money online gaming evolve in US? How will Station Casinos continue to contribute with the growth of this industry?
Real Money, online gaming will only continue to grow for the same reason that shopping on the Internet has grown. People want more options. If someone in a suburb of Reno wants to shop at 11 at night, he or she can go to Amazon. If someone in a suburb of Reno wants to get together with eight other players to play poker on a Wednesday night, it’s much easier for him to find those players at Ultimate Poker. We’re the largest real money online poker room in the country already.  

What people don’t understand is that Station Casinos is a big part of this growth. Many of our customers have actually come in to a Station Casinos property to register. Afterward, they go to restaurants or enjoy the other forms of entertainment. That keeps the local job market healthy and provides more tax dollars. So, the sister businesses only help each other. 

We were hiring more support staff on Day One. Nevada - and America - is stronger for it.