PokerStars continues online casino push with Playtech slots integration

Isle of Man-based operator says adding tier one providers will help combat poker’s summer swoon

 

PokerStars has agreed a deal to integrate Playtech slots into its online casino, as the Amaya-owned brand continues its push to become a more diversified operator.

PokerStars players on mobile and desktop now have access to a variety of Playtech titles, such as White King, Frankie Dettori and Great Blue with more branded slots on the way including Top Gun, Gladiator and the Age of the Gods™ series.

“We are very excited to partner with Playtech, and to provide our customers some of the best slots in the industry,” Sam Hobcraft, director of casino at PokerStars, said.

“In particular, their suite of Jackpot games will fill one of the final gaps in our product offering.”

The integration is part of a strategic move to lessen PokerStars’ reliance on poker and bolster its presence on online casino and sportsbook.

Amaya interim CEO Rafi Ashkenazi said earlier this year that integrating tier one providers was a key strategy for online casino growth.

“If we can release at least one tier one provider every quarter that would be a very good pace for the company,” he said.

Ashkenazi also predicted the Playtech partnership would help combat the summer swoon often associated with poker sites, projecting a “boost in Q3 onwards”.

The Isle of Man-based firm is also planning to introduce a new mobile casino by the end of Q3, with mobile described as “increasingly important to the business”, given that users have better cross-sell trends than desktop players, according to Ashkenazi.

Amaya’s Q1 results saw poker revenues down approximately 11% year-on-year with casino and sports betting revenues up 267%.