TORONTO, Jan. 17, 2018 /CNW/ - The Stars Group Inc.
announced today that PokerStars, its flagship brand, launched a
shared player pool yesterday between locally licensed poker markets
in France and Spain. PokerStars is the first online poker
operator to offer a shared player pool under license in
France and Spain, which enables players from both
countries to compete against one another at PokerStars.fr and
PokerStars.es.
The launch follows the July 2017
agreement concerning online poker liquidity sharing by gaming
regulators in France, Spain, Portugal and Italy. Portugal is expected to join the combined
French and Spanish markets later this year, while regulators in
Italy have yet to confirm details
of the country's involvement.
"Shared liquidity in these markets will be great for players and
the poker category, generally," said Guy
Templer, Chief Operating Officer of Stars Interactive Group,
the gaming division of The Stars Group. "We applaud the French and
Spanish regulators' efforts to facilitate and enable a dramatic
improvement in the quality and integrity of the gaming experience
in their jurisdictions. With combined liquidity, players from
France and Spain can access a larger player pool with
bigger prizes, promotions and a better selection of games, all with
the confidence provided by a trusted, licensed operator.
"We look forward to extending the combined player pool to
Italian and Portuguese players, and we offer our full support to
the relevant authorities in those countries to do so."
To celebrate the launch of shared liquidity in France and Spain, PokerStars will be hosting a €5 million
guaranteed online poker tournament series, the France Espania
Hold'em (FRESH), which will be exclusively available to players
based in France and Spain from January 28 -
February 11, 2018. As a result of increased liquidity,
players will also have access to additional promotions surrounding
the FRESH series as well as an enhanced daily tournament offering,
bigger prize-pools and guarantees, and potentially larger prizes in
the Stars Rewards customer loyalty program.
About The Stars Group
The Stars Group is a leading provider of technology-based products
and services in the global gaming and interactive entertainment
industries. Through its Stars Interactive Group gaming division,
The Stars Group ultimately owns gaming and related consumer
businesses and brands, including PokerStars, PokerStars Casino,
BetStars, Full Tilt, and the PokerStars Festival, PokerStars
MEGASTACK, PokerStars Caribbean Adventure, European Poker Tour,
Latin American Poker Tour and the Asia Pacific Poker Tour live
poker tour and event brands. These brands together have more than
115 million registered customers globally and collectively form the
largest poker business in the world, comprising online poker games
and tournaments, sponsored live poker competitions, marketing
arrangements for branded poker rooms in popular casinos in major
cities around the world, and poker programming and content created
for television and online audiences. The Stars Group, through
certain of these brands, also offers non-poker gaming products,
including casino and sportsbook. The Stars Group, through certain
of its subsidiaries, is licensed or approved to offer, or offers
under third party licenses or approvals, its products and services
in various jurisdictions throughout the world, including in
Europe, both within and outside of
the European Union, the Americas and elsewhere. In particular,
PokerStars is the world's most licensed online gaming brand,
holding licenses or related operating approvals in 17
jurisdictions.
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward Looking Statements and
Other Information
This news release may contain forward-looking statements and
information within the meaning of applicable securities laws.
Forward-looking statements can, but may not always, be identified
by the use of words such as "anticipate", "plan", "continue",
"estimate", "expect", "may", "will", "intend", "could", "might",
"would", "should", "believe", and similar references to future
periods or the negatives of these words and expressions. These
statements are based on management's current expectations and are
subject to a number of risks, uncertainties, and assumptions. There
can be no assurance that actual results will not differ materially
from those expressed or implied in forward-looking statements.
Undue reliance should not be placed on forward-looking statements.
Please refer to The Stars Group's most recent annual information
form and annual and interim financial statements and management's
discussion and analysis for more information about the factors,
assumptions and risks that may apply to The Star's Group's
forward-looking statements. Each forward-looking statement speaks
only as of the date hereof, and The Stars Group undertakes no
obligation to correct or update any forward-looking statement,
whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise,
except as required by applicable law.
SOURCE The Stars Group Inc.