The poker community across the world were taken by surprise when Canadian based Amaya Gaming announced that it would be acquiring Full Tilt Poker and PokerStars, the biggest online poker company in the world.
The acquisition is yet to be completed and both parties are currently sorting through terms and conditions in order to successfully complete the transaction. PokerStars which operates out of the Isle of Man has been in business for the last 14 years and has built up and extensive and impressive player database.
The Scheinberg’s who co-founded PokerStars have confirmed that once the acquisition is completed, they will exit the company and will no longer be involved in operations. These sudden changes had left a number of employees from PokerStars unsettled and uncertain about their future.
However, PokerStars released an official statement assuring employees that they had nothing to be concerned about. The statement read
PokerStars is a consumer facing business which means there is little or no overlap between the two companies that would lead to job losses.
PokerStars also confirmed its commitment to the Isle of Man and said that the acquisition will in no way affect PokerStars commitment and business in the Isle of Man. The huge group of online poker players from across the world were also concerned if their accounts with PokerStars would get affected or if the new management would make sudden changes to the existing terms and conditions. However, both PokerStars and Amaya gaming assured players that the acquisition will in no way impact their online accounts with PokerStars. Steve Day, who is the PokerStars Director of Poker Room Operations, also addressed rumours that PokerStars was going to exit the Canadian market. Day stated that PokerStars will not exit the Canadian market but will look to serve all existing markets while looking to expand in the U.S.
Day also assured PokerStars online poker players that if the company did decide to make any changes in the near future, it would inform them well in advance before rolling out any changes. Amaya Gaming CEO David Baazov also went on record to inform various media channels that they were committed to both employees and players from Pokerstars and confirmed that the purchase will in no way affect either of them.
Baazov confirmed that company will make strategic plans to diversify their portfolio and get into other igaming verticals in the near future. The company is looking to venture into sports betting, social gaming and online casino gambling.
