PokerStars readies sportsbook for 2015
World's largest poker site will also roll out casino to half its player base by end of this year
PokerStars is set to be transformed into a multi-vertical operator after the poker giant confirmed plans to launch a branded sportsbook in 2015 to complement a global roll-out of casino games.
Earlier this year, PokerStars parent company the Rational Group, which was recently acquired by Amaya Gaming, said it was in the process of developing a sportsbook for its Full Tilt brand although refused to clarify whether PokerStars would also offer sports betting.
And today’s admission comes after Amaya Gaming CEO David Baazov last week said Full Tilt’s proprietary sportsbook remained “on track” for a H1 2015 launch.
The roll-out of PokerStars’ online casino is already underway having launched in Spain in October and the operator said it was on track to reach half its global player base by the end of the year.
The first offering will be blackjack and roulette, with additional casino games planned for next year on both PokerStars and Full Tilt casino.
“We are taking the same principles, practices and integrity that make PokerStars such a successful and beloved brand and applying them to new verticals,” a spokesman for the firm said.
“These new products will also support the development of poker and grow the overall business,” the spokesman added.
PokerStars said the launch of online casino in Spain, and on sister site Full Tilt in the UK, had been “greeted well” by poker players, with around 30% of poker customers playing casino games each month.
“Those launches have been successful in reactivating dormant customers, and extending the value of our existing poker customers,” the spokesman said.
“The experience on our poker platforms to-date also shows increases in net player deposits following the addition of casino games and a negligible impact on poker spend.
“We are confident these games will create more value to our PokerStars site and bolster the core poker offering,” the spokesman added.
PokerStars said it has enabled features to allow customers to remove the additional games from their view and to opt out of direct marketing and promotions of the casino games.
“We are committed to extending our leadership in poker and will continue to serve the passionate online poker player, while expanding our reach into new audiences and new gaming opportunities,” the spokesman added.