PokerStars DFS launch faces delays, says Baazov
Amaya CEO David Baazov says NJ launch on the horizon but hints that fantasy sports launch may face delays
PokerStars remains on track to launch in New Jersey in Q3 2015, according to the CEO of parent company Amaya Gaming David Baazov (pictured), who is less confident of entering the daily fantasy sports (DFS) sector before the start of the NFL season in September as previously suggested.
Speaking to investors after Amaya revealed a massive 2558% rise in Q1 2015 revenues to CA$340.7m thanks to the addition of PokerStars and Full Tilt, Baazov said he planned to be active in the DFS market by the start of the NFL season, but was now aiming to do so by the end of the year.
Baazov wouldnât be drawn on whether Amaya would enter the DFS market with its own platform, through acquisition, or white-label agreement after EGR North America revealed the firm had been in talks to acquire DraftDay.
âWe havenât commented on that and I think that thereâs number of things weâre looking at,â Baazov said. âWe donât just simply look to do something and recreate without that, weâd like to be able to change the mould somewhat.â
While DFS market leaders FanDuel and DraftKings continue to spend millions of dollars on marketing, Baazov indicated that Amaya would leverage PokerStarsâ player-base and brand equity instead of spending big to attract players.
âGiven our existing customer database for that market [poker] and given our brand power, and brand recognition within the [DFS] marketplace, we see that is being very accretive.
âThis is an area that we feel we could generate cash and that wonât be an incremental expenses,â he added.
The chief exec said he was âvery pleasedâ with the progress made in California in recent weeks after lawmakers in the state voted on and passed online poker legislation for the first time, but remained cautious.
âWeâre very happy to have collation that we have that we have there [in California] and yes weâre very, very excited about what momentum we see and its some that I guess weâre going to have to stay tune.
âItâs not something that we have a crystal ball on when it comes to politics.â
Amaya reported Q1 revenues of $340.4m and EBITDA of $140.3m driven by contributions from PokerStars and Full Tilt.