PokerStars readies Q1 sportsbook launch
Parent company Amaya Gaming says sports betting will be ready "ahead of schedule" and plans aggressive casino marketing campaign
PokerStars is on track to launch its hotly anticipated sportsbook “ahead of schedule” in the first quarter of the year, parent company Amaya Gaming has revealed.
Amaya said sportsbook would launch within the PokerStars client “in certain markets”, with a wider roll-out and the launch of web and mobile versions taking place throughout the year.
The platform has been built predominantly in-house with some “non-differentiating” components farmed out to third party providers.
In November, PokerStars revealed it had begun building its in-house sportsbook trading team, which is being led by former bet365 VIP trading manager Ian Marmion.
PokerStars’ move into sportsbook is part of a wider expansion into additional gaming verticals, with the firm completing its global roll-out of online casino in December.
The poker operator said it will also launch web and mobile versions of its casino in 2015, supported by an “aggressive consumer marketing campaign”.
Early results from the test launch of casino in the regulated Spanish market showed 30% cross sell to its poker database and the firm achieve a double digit market share in the country.