Online poker website launches in Nevada; legal for residents only

Poker fanatics in Nevada now have an online play-from-home option to gamble.

The first legal online poker website launched Tuesday in the Silver State, home to the casino city of Las Vegas.

The site, UltimatePoker.com, went up just two months after the cash-strapped state legalized online poker.

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Nevada had been racing to beat New Jersey, which also legalized online gambling, in implementing wagering websites. Delaware has also legalized some form of online betting.

For now, only Nevada residents 21 or older can place bets on the site, run by Ultimate Gaming, a Las Vegas-based company.

The company is a majority-owned subsidiary of Station Casinos LLC, which owns a number of casinos located off The Strip frequented by Las Vegas locals.

Station Casinos is owned by Frank and Lorenzo Fertitta, who also own Ultimate Fighting Championship, the mixed martial arts fighting sport. Ultimate Poker’s advertising had been featured in cross promotions during UFC fights prior to its launch Tuesday.

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ricardo.lopez@latimes.com