The Sunday Times reported that PokerStars, the worlds biggest online poker site had taken a stake in the recently opened Hippodrome Casino in London operated by Simon Thomas and his family, which would value the venue at some £100 million.
However The iGaming Post can exclusively confirm after talking to PokerStars Director of Communications, Eric Hollreiser that the facts of the deal are as follows;
• PokerStars will refurbish and re-brand the poker deck at the Hippodrome Casino to create the UK’s first PokerStars’ poker room.
• In 2013, the Hippodrome will become home to a range of new PokerStars’ sponsored tournaments and special events which the site will promote to its customer base of 50 million registered players.
• PokerStars has also taken an equity investment in the Hippodrome as part of the deal. However not releasing the amount of the deal, PokerStars can say that the valuation reported in the Sunday Times is not accurate.
• PokerStars will also provide poker for a future Hippodrome online casino site.
Guy Templer, Group Strategy Director for PokerStars, said “PokerStars’ expertise and success in both online and live poker makes partnering with Hippodrome a natural fit.” And continued, “the Hippodrome has dramatically raised the quality bar for the UK casino industry,”
Templer also said, “So together we will give poker players the same great poker experience, live 24/7 in the heart of London that they get from PokerStars online. We are looking forward to unveiling some great new live events for the UK poker market in 2013.”
Casino Life & Business Magazine will report on any further developments when they happen.
Source: gaming-awards.com
