Operators mull switch to new dot.poker domain
New domain names available from next month but not expected to be widely adopted by major poker brands
Online poker operators are mulling over whether or not they will adopt new dot.poker web domains when they become available for purchase early next month.
The new suffixes, being sold by internet domain name registry Afilias, will be exclusively available to operators with trademarks registered in the Trademark Clearing House from 5 February to 7 March.
They will then be made available for the public to purchase, during which time individuals as well as poker operators can apply for specific dot.poker domains. If more than one party requests the same dot.poker domain the purchaser will be decided via an auction process.
When contacted by eGaming Review, a number of operators confirmed they were considering acquiring the new dot.poker domains, but said they would likely complement rather than replace dot.com and dot.country suffixes.
888’s COO Itai Frieberger said he was not getting “too excited about it”. “It’s nice, but far from a game-changer,” he told eGR.
And a spokesman for bwin.party said the firm was “keeping a watching brief” but had “no immediate plans” to launch its brands via dot.poker domains. “But it is something we are keeping under review,” the spokesman added.
The domains are expected to be of more interest to affiliates, content providers and smaller operators for SEO purposes.
Founder of the Global Poker Index, Alex Dreyfus, said small skins may also use them to launch sites like “thebest.poker or ilove.poker.”
However, larger operators may be forced to snap up the next suffixes next month in order to prevent other companies or individuals using their brand names on the dot.poker domain.