APAT acquires Poker.co.uk
Site will be rebranded later in the year " will host satellites and direct entry to tournaments and represents organisation's first foray into online poker.
The Amateur Poker Association & Tour (APAT) has announced it will enter the online poker market after it acquired the assets of online poker room Poker.co.uk.
Following the deal, worth an unspecified sum, APAT will take control of the player database, online poker software and customer support contracts of the website, which sits on GTECH G2’s International Poker Network.
The Poker.co.uk online poker room will be rebranded APAT later in the year. It will host satellites and direct entry to APAT’s Live and Online Championship tournaments, the National Online League and the inaugural National Online Cup.
Des Duffy, managing director of APAT, said of the deal: “We’re excited that APAT will add an online poker room to our product range and look forward to delivering a high quality online poker experience for our customers, as we have in the casino environment since 2006.”
Matt Dale, founder of Poker.co.uk added: “With a membership of over 50,000 players and a reputation for being very community focussed, APAT is well positioned to bring something new to the online poker market and I’m delighted to play a part”.
Dale will join the business in the position of online poker director, while ex head of online, Leigh Wiltshire, will become marketing director at the London based organisation.
The International Poker Network launched its new poker 8.0 software earlier this year, and also includes the poker offerings of operators including Redbet and Gaming Media Group.