—WPT’s Sister Company, Allied Esports, and
Grupo Salinas enter into an agreement to develop and launch an
esports strategy in Mexico—
The World Poker Tour® today announced a five-year strategic
alliance with TV Azteca, a company of Grupo Salinas, a group of
multi-faceted, fast-growing, global companies, that will bring
WPT®’s poker content library to a growing Latin America audience.
In addition, the WPT’s sister company, Allied Esports, and Grupo
Salinas have entered into an agreement to work toward developing
and launching an esports strategy in Mexico.
Pursuant to the strategic alliance, TV Azteca’s multimedia
network will aggressively promote the WPT®, and in partnership with
Grupo Salinas’ companies, the World Poker Tour will introduce its
premier poker events throughout Mexico. Further, WPT will license
its internationally recognized brand to TV Azteca to develop social
poker and gaming products customized exclusively for the Latin
America marketplace. As the World Poker Tour’s global presence
grows, Grupo Salinas will feature WPT-branded merchandise
throughout its stores, placed all over Mexico and throughout Latin
America.
TV Azteca will also introduce a Spanish-language WPT-branded
social poker game, the first such offering created exclusively for
the Spanish-speaking community. This offering will be expanded to
include poker, casino games, education, and will be signed to
become a social gaming hub for the region. Moreover, TV Azteca
plans to incorporate WPT’s assets in the region to create a rewards
program unlike any other in social poker today. The brand offering
is expected to be announced soon and will be fully customized in
terms of language, style, and payment system for the Mexican and
larger Latin American community.
Bolstering this new offering will be the power of TV Azteca’s
broadcast position in Mexico. TV Azteca has pledged to localize all
WPT programs with well-known world-class commentators who will be
announced at a later date. Incorporating a local celebrity roster
from TV Azteca is expected to ensure WPT’s 17 seasons of televised
content has new life and greatest impact to the tens of millions of
viewers in the free-to-air market of coverage. The two groups will
also collaborate to produce original Spanish-language programs at
TV Azteca’s state-of-the-art studios located in Mexico City. TV
Azteca is the number-one sports network in Mexico and controls more
than 40 local broadcast and regional free-to-air stations, as well
as providing cable packages including Netflix and HBO for the
region. TV Azteca’s free-to-air stations reach over 95 percent of
the Mexican market and have the potential to make WPT appointment
programming.
Beyond plans for multi-channel television distribution, the WPT
will partner with TV Azteca to put on up to two WPT Main Tour
events, and eight WPTDeepStacks and WPT500 events each season.
These world-class poker tournaments will take place as part of the
newly developed WPT LATAM Tour, with the first event expected to
take place within the first twelve months of the alliance.
Grupo Salinas was formed in 2001 by Ricardo Salinas and operates
as a holding company to the following enterprises: TV Azteca, Grupo
Elektra, Advance America, Banco Azteca, Seguros Azteca, Afore
Azteca, Italika, Punto Casa de Bolsa, TV Azteca Digital, Totalplay,
Totalplay Empresarial and Totalsec.
Grupo Salinas’ companies operate in Mexico, USA, El Salvador,
Guatemala, Honduras, Peru, and Panama.
“This extraordinary deal with TV Azteca represents a historic
advancement for the World Poker Tour into Latin America as WPT
continues its global growth,” Adam Pliska, CEO of the World Poker
Tour, said. “Aligning with Grupo Salinas and having their full
commitment behind this project enables us to leverage its extensive
network of television distribution outlets, land-based casinos,
social media platforms, and merchandising venues, to engage with
the Latin America poker and social games market.”
Esports Agreement: The next phase
With more than 2.2 billion gamers globally, and viewership and
revenue growing at double digits rates, esports represents a huge
opportunity. Recognizing this, Allied Esports and Grupo Salinas are
working toward an agreement to deliver live esports experiences,
esports related content, and an online platform to the markets in
Mexico and throughout Latin America.
As announced in December 2018, the World Poker Tour and Allied
Esports International, both currently owned by Ourgame
International Holdings Limited, are expected to be acquired,
subject to shareholder and regulatory approvals and the
satisfaction of other conditions to closing, by Black Ridge
Acquisition Corp. (NASDAQ: BRAC), to form Allied Esports
Entertainment, Inc. (AESE).
“We believe this alliance with Grupo Salinas further
demonstrates the cohesive integration that can take place between
WPT and Allied Esports. We expect Grupo Salinas and TV Azteca to be
exceptional partners for WPT and Allied Esports in the Latin
America market,” Ken DeCubellis, CEO of BRAC and future CFO of
AESE, said.
“Grupo Salinas and TV Azteca graciously welcome the World Poker
Tour and Allied Esports as part of our wealth of offerings across
Latin America and Mexico,” TV Azteca CEO Benjamin Salinas, said.
“We are fully committed to using our vast network to completely
change the social gaming market in Mexico and to ensure that these
games are available to all people in ways that are catered to them.
By pairing with the WPT in this long-term relationship, we are
taking a major step into social gaming and the global growth of
poker as we fulfill our mission of being fully dedicated to
best-in-class products, services, and entertainment to the
market.”
For more information regarding the World Poker Tour, head to
WPT.com.
About World Poker Tour
World Poker Tour (WPT) is the premier name in internationally
televised gaming and entertainment with brand presence in
land-based tournaments, television, online, and mobile. Leading
innovation in the sport of poker since 2002, WPT ignited the global
poker boom with the creation of a unique television show based on a
series of high-stakes poker tournaments. WPT has broadcast globally
in more than 150 countries and territories, and is currently
producing its 17th season, which airs on FOX Sports Regional
Networks in the United States. Season XVII of WPT is sponsored by
ClubWPT.com.
ClubWPT.com is a unique online membership site that offers
inside access to the WPT, as well as a sweepstakes-based poker club
available in 35 states across the United States with innovative
features and state-of-the-art creative elements inspired by WPT’s
16 years of experience in gaming entertainment. WPT also
participates in strategic brand license, partnership, and
sponsorship opportunities. WPT Enterprises Inc. is a subsidiary of
Ourgame International Holdings, Ltd. For more information, go to
WPT.com.
About Allied Esports International, Inc.
Named to Fast Company’s World’s Most Innovative Companies list
for 2019, Allied Esports is a premier esports entertainment company
with a global network of dedicated esports properties and content
production facilities. Its mission is to connect players, streamers
and fans via integrated arenas and mobile esports trucks around the
world that serve as both gaming battlegrounds and every day content
generation hubs. Allied Esports is a subsidiary of Ourgame
International (SEHK:899), owner of WPT Enterprises, Inc., the
operator of The World Poker Tour®. Ourgame has entered into an
agreement with Black Ridge Acquisition Corp. (NASDAQ: BRAC) to
combine, and once all applicable shareholder and regulatory
consents have been obtained, and the other conditions to closing
have been satisfied, Allied Esports and the World Poker Tour to
form Allied Esports Entertainment, Inc.
Through direct operation and affiliate relationships via the
Allied Esports Property Network, the first esports venue affiliate
program available to partners looking to open new esports
facilities around the world, Allied Esports locations currently
include 11 properties in the top three esports markets across the
globe: North America’s HyperX Esports Arena Las Vegas, HyperX
Esports Truck “Big Meta,” Esports Arena Orange County and Esports
Arena Oakland; Europe’s HyperX Esports Truck “Big Betty” and HyperX
Studio in Hamburg, Germany; and China’s Lianmeng Dianjing in
Beijing, Lianmeng Dianjing SEG Arena in Shenzhen, Lianmeng Dianjing
Tianjin Arena, Lianmeng Dianjing Gui’an Arena and Lianmeng Dianjing
LGD Gaming Hangzhou Arena. The Allied Esports Property Network’s
12th property, run by Fortress Esports, is expected to open in
Melbourne, Australia in 2019. For more information about Allied
Esports visit AlliedEsports.gg and follow @AlliedEsports.
About Grupo Salinas
Grupo Salinas (www.gruposalinas.com) is a group of dynamic, fast
growing, and technologically advanced companies focused on creating
economic value through market innovation and goods and services
that improve standards of living; social value, to create social
capabilities to improve communities; and environmental value, by
reducing the negative impact of business activities. Created by
Mexican entrepreneur Ricardo B. Salinas (www.ricardosalinas.com),
Grupo Salinas operates as a management development and decision
forum for the top leaders of member companies. These companies
include: TV Azteca (www.TVazteca.com; www.irtvazteca.com), Grupo
Elektra (www.grupoelektra.com.mx), Banco Azteca
(www.bancoazteca.com.mx), Advance America (www.advanceamerica.net),
Afore Azteca (www.aforeazteca.com.mx), Seguros Azteca
(www.segurosazteca.com.mx), Punto Casa de Bolsa
(www.puntocasadebolsa.mx), Totalplay (www.totalplay.com.mx) and
Totalplay Empresarial (totalplayempresarial.com.mx). TV Azteca and
Grupo Elektra trade on the Mexican Stock Exchange and are part of
its Sustainability Index. Each of the Grupo Salinas companies
operates independently, with its own management, board of directors
and shareholders. Grupo Salinas has no equity holdings. The group
of companies share a common vision, values and strategies for
achieving rapid growth, superior results and world-class
performance.
Forward-Looking Statements
This communication contains “forward-looking statements” within
the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
as amended, and the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of
1995. Forward-looking statements may relate to the proposed
transaction (the “Proposed Transaction”) between WPT’s parent
company, Ourgame International Holdings Limited, and Black Ridge
Acquisition Corp. (NASDAQ: BRAC) and any other statements relating
to future results, strategy and plans of Black Ridge and Ourgame
(including certain projections and business trends, and statements
which may be identified by the use of the words “plans”, “expects”
or “does not expect”, “estimated”, “is expected”, “budget”,
“scheduled”, “estimates”, “forecasts”, “intends”, “anticipates” or
“does not anticipate”, or “believes”, or variations of such words
and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results “may”,
“could”, “would”, “might”, “projects”, “will” or “will be taken”,
“occur” or “be achieved”). Forward-looking statements are based on
the opinions and estimates of management of Ourgame as of the date
such statements are made, and they are subject to known and unknown
risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other factors that may cause
the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements
to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such
forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include,
but are not limited to, its revenues and operating performance,
general economic conditions, industry trends, legislation or
regulatory requirements affecting the business in which it is
engaged, management of growth, its business strategy and plans, the
result of future financing efforts and its dependence on key
personnel, the successful combination of Black Ridge with Ourgame’s
business and the ability to retain key personnel. Readers are
cautioned not to place undue reliance upon any forward-looking
statements, which speak only as of the date made. These
forward-looking statements are made only as of the date hereof, and
Ourgame undertakes no obligations to update or revise the
forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information,
future events or otherwise, except as required by law.
No Offer or Solicitation
This communication is for informational purposes only and is
neither an offer to sell or purchase, nor the solicitation of an
offer to buy or sell any securities, nor is it a solicitation of
any vote, consent, or approval in any jurisdiction pursuant to or
in connection with the Proposed Transaction or otherwise, nor shall
there be any sale, issuance or transfer of securities in any
jurisdiction in contravention of applicable law.
Participants in Solicitation
Black Ridge and Ourgame, and their respective directors and
executive officers, may be deemed participants in the solicitation
of proxies of Black Ridge stockholders in respect of the Proposed
Transaction. Information about the directors and executive officers
of Ourgame and more detailed information regarding the identity of
all potential participants, and their direct and indirect
interests, by security holdings or otherwise, are set forth in
Black Ridge’s preliminary proxy statement which has been filed with
the SEC. Investors may obtain additional information about the
interests of such participants by reading such proxy statement at
the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.
©2019 WPT Enterprises, Inc. All rights reserved.
WPT, World Poker Tour and Spade Card Design are registered
trademarks of WPT Enterprises, Inc. All rights reserved
View source
version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190306005810/en/
WPT Media ContactMatt Clark – matthew.clark@wpt.com
TV Azteca Media ContactLuciano Pascoe –
lpascoe@gruposalinas.com.mx
Media Contact:Brian FisherAllied
Esportsbrian@esportsallied.com
Investor Contact:Lasse GlassenAddo Investor
Relationslglassen@addoir.com424-238-6249
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