PokerStars.com, the world’s largest poker tournament website, launches its exclusive online partnership with the FL Interactive (FLi) Network of official football club websites.
The deal, brokered by BLM Sports Marketing, means football fans will be able to play poker online against 3 million players from around the world and each local club whose website is operated by FLi will benefit financially as a result of their fans playing poker on PokerStars.com.
The partnership will see PokerStars.com linking up with FLi’s 77 official club websites with news of forthcoming activities and tournaments being released regularly. This will ensure football fans are fully informed of what’s coming up next and create maximum awareness and excitement around events.
Beginners to the game of poker will be able to play in bespoke tournaments through free money games can gain poker experience without spending a penny.
PokerStars.com gained worldwide attention and earned the trademark ‘where poker stars become champions’ when PokerStars qualifier Chris Moneymaker won the 2003 World Series of Poker & $2.5million. Moneymaker was followed by PokeStars qualifier Greg Raymer in 2004, who became World Champion and took home $5milllion.
FLi is the digital rights holder for 77 English and Welsh Football Clubs, including 6 from the FA Premier League, 67 from The Football League and 4 from the Conference. FLi was created to manage and develop the internet and mobile rights of its participating clubs, and is the UK’s largest digital football rights holder. The FLi network is also the largest football information service in the UK with almost 3m individuals accessing the network on a monthly basis.
PokerStars.com uses industry-leading software to ensure that noone under the age of 18 is able to play on the site. PokerStars.com responsibly markets its products to adult gamblers and the support staff are on hand to identify any problems and take appropriate action.
Tamar Yaniv, Head of Marketing Europe for PokerStars.com said: “Poker and football, both require a combination of passion and skill to be successful, and we are looking forward to working with each of the football club websites and the FLi on a variety of exciting projects. Football and poker communities are similar in that they love to talk about the game and this will provide a great opportunity for football fans to back their club and learn new skills whilst enjoying themselves at the same time.”
Andy Clilverd, Managing Director at BLM Sports Marketing said: “Being able to communicate on a regular basis with around 500,000 registered FLi users offers huge potential to both Pokerstars and the FLi clubs.”
Kieron Kilbride, General Manager at FLi said: “We are delighted to be working with PokerStars.com over the next two years. FLi represents a unique community that delivers unmatched access to football fans with passionate loyalties and rivalries. PokerStars.com is the world’s largest tournament website, which means that their best-of-breed services are perfectly suited to plugging in to the passion.”
PokerStars
Founded in 2001, PokerStars (http://www.pokerstars.com/) is the world’s leading tournament card room, with over 2,000,000 registered users worldwide.
PokerStars recently dealt its two billionth poker hand.
PokerStars boasts the world’s most innovative poker software. It was the first site to introduce advanced multi-table tournaments, integrated game statistics, players’ notes, personalized images, time bank for tournaments and ring big bet games, satellite tournaments, multi-table sit and go tournaments, and much more.
The PokerStars online support team offers round-the-clock service to all players. Readers of Casino Player magazine recently voted PokerStars #1 for “Best Customer Support 2005”.
Players’ funds are always secure with PokerStars. Their money is kept in segregated accounts, managed by the Royal Bank of Scotland plc, one of Europe’s leading financial services groups. PokerStars was voted #1 for “Best Payouts – Poker 2005” (Casino Player magazine).
PokerStars utilizes industry-leading security software to ensure the integrity of the system, including encryption, card shuffle randomness and preventative measures against cheating and collusion.
PokerStars is the headline sponsor of the European Poker Tour (EPT), broadcast on five TV (UK) and Eurosport. The first EPT season, 2004/05, generated a prize pool of over €4.5m and was the richest poker tournament ever held in Europe larger prize pool than all four golf majors put together.
FL Interactive
Initially a joint venture between The Football League and Premium TV, FLi became a wholly owned subsidiary of The Football League in June 2004 with Premium TV retained as a service provider.
FLi’s role as a leading sports rights holder is to provide and monetise internet and mobile services for participating football clubs.
Every month FLi’s 77 official club websites are visited by more than 2.8 million football supporters, creating 32 million page impressions.
FLi is the biggest internet and mobile subscription network in the UK