Ultimate Poker signs pro player Esfandiari
Three-time World Series of Poker bracelet winner becomes first ever brand ambassador for a licensed US operator.
Fertitta Interactive brand Ultimate Poker has become the first licensed US operator to sign a professional poker player as a brand ambassador.
Antonio Esfandiari (pictured) is ranked number one for all-time tournament poker winnings worldwide and has won two World Poker Tour titles as well as three World Series of Poker (WSOP) bracelets, including last summer’s US$1m buy-in Big One for One Drop tournament, where he won a record $18.3m.
Fertitta co-founder Tom Breitling described Esfandiari as “the ultimate champion and modern poker player,” saying “he brings the gaming lifestyle to the online arena with his work-hard, play-hard attitude.”
eGaming Review understands Fertitta, which received its Nevada online poker licence in October last year, is likely to be among the first operators to go live. Since being awarded its licence the operator has also agreed a deal with CAMS to use its geolocation, player age verification and payment processing services, while this week it signed an affiliate marketing deal with Income Access.
It has also launched a freeplay version of Ultimate Poker on Facebook and is awaiting the approval of its software by one of the state’s independent testing labs before offering real-money online poker in Nevada.