Two Months after Ceasing Operations in New Jersey, Ultimate Gaming Shuts Down Operations in Nevada

Just two months after Ultimate Gaming announced its withdrawal from the New Jersey online gaming market, the company has now stated that it is ending its operations in Nevada, with immediate effect.

In late September, PokerGuru had reported that Ultimate Gaming had terminated its online gaming collaboration with Trump Taj Mahal Associates LLC in Atlantic City, after the latter had filed for bankruptcy. Ultimate gaming had cited losses due to an unpaid amount of $1.5 million, owed by the Taj Casino. At that time, the company had stated that its online gaming operations through its site, UltimatePoker.com, would continue operating in Nevada.

Ultimate Gaming was the pioneer in launching operations in the newly regulated US market. 5 months short of completing a successful 2-year run in the US, the company has begun winding down operations in a second state.

Speaking about the shutdown, the company stated that it was due to the increasingly difficult operating requirements.

Tom Breitling, Chairman, Ultimate Gaming explained that, “the state-by-state approach to online gaming has created an extremely cost-prohibitive and challenging operating environment. These factors have combined to make the path to profitability very difficult and uncertain. Consequently, we have decided to cease operations.”

“We are grateful to the Nevada Gaming Commission and Gaming Control Board for allowing us to be the first company to operate online poker in Nevada and greatly appreciate their leadership and support as the first state to license and regulate online poker. We are working closely with the Gaming Control Board to ensure a smooth transition for our customers as we cease Nevada operations.” Breitling concluded.

Though Ultimate Gaming launched their site months before the WSOP branded poker room, the latter soon surpassed it, with a large volume of traffic. Ultimate has been showing a slide in profits, ever since the start of this year. Whether the company will cease operations altogether, or will be acquired by a giant, is a thought to be pondered.

The Ultimate site has already begun refusing bets from players and all its 5-affiliate casinos in Nevada have also stopped operating.