TORONTO, May 24, 2018 /PRNewswire/ --
The Stars Group Inc. (Nasdaq: TSG) (TSE:
TSGI) today announced that its popular annual Spring
Championship of Online Poker (SCOOP) tournament series exceeded its
largest ever $65 million guarantee,
ultimately paying out approximately $91
million in prizes and making it the second largest ever
online poker series behind last year's SCOOP which paid out
approximately $94 million.
This year's SCOOP ran from May 6 to May
23 spanning 16 days and 183 tournaments, 28 of which
individually guaranteed at least $1
million in prizes. The online series, which is in its tenth
year, attracted 141,862 players from 141 different countries for a
total of 1,071,706 tournament entries; tournament buy-ins ranged
from $2.20 to $25,000. Among the industry-leading prize
guarantees, the SCOOP-58-H Main Event sported a $5 million guarantee.
"The Spring Championship of Online Poker is one of the most
important highlights of the annual poker calendar," said Rafi
Ashkenazi, Chief Executive of The Stars Group. "In its tenth year,
we were pleased to deliver not only the largest online poker
guarantee in PokerStars history but to yet again pay out over
$90 million in prizes to our
players."
A total of five PokerStars Players No Limit Hold'em Championship
(PSPC) Platinum Passes, worth around $30,000 each, were awarded to the SCOOP main
event winners across each buy-in level, as well as the first-place
player on the SCOOP leader board and the winner of an 'All-in
Shootout' draw. The PSPC takes place in the Bahamas in 2019 and The Stars Group expects it
to be the largest $25,000 buy-in
poker tournament in poker history. The Stars Group is giving away a
total of $8 million worth of Platinum
Passes and an additional $1 million
for the overall winner at the PSPC.
About The Stars Group
The Stars Group is a leading provider of technology-based
products and services in the global gaming and interactive
entertainment industries. The Stars Group directly or indirectly,
including through its Stars Interactive Group division, owns gaming
and related consumer businesses and brands, such as PokerStars,
PokerStars Casino, BetStars, Full Tilt, and the PokerStars Players
No Limit Hold'em Championship, European Poker Tour, PokerStars
Caribbean Adventure, Latin American Poker Tour, Asia Pacific Poker
Tour, PokerStars Festival and PokerStars MEGASTACK live poker tour
and event brands. These brands together have millions of registered
customers globally and collectively form the largest poker business
in the world, comprising online poker games and tournaments,
sponsored live poker competitions, marketing arrangements for
branded poker rooms in popular casinos in major cities around the
world, and poker programming and content created for television and
online audiences. The Stars Group, through certain of these and
other brands, also offers non-poker gaming products, including
casino and sportsbook. The Stars Group, through certain of its
subsidiaries, is licensed or approved to offer, or offers under
third party licenses or approvals, its products and services in
various jurisdictions throughout the world, including in
Europe, both within and outside of
the European Union, Australia, the
Americas and elsewhere. In particular, PokerStars is the world's
most licensed online gaming brand, holding licenses or related
operating approvals in 17 jurisdictions.
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward Looking Statements and
Other Information
This news release may contain forward-looking statements and
information within the meaning of applicable securities laws.
Forward-looking statements can, but may not always, be identified
by the use of words such as "anticipate", "plan", "continue",
"estimate", "expect", "may", "will", "intend", "could", "might",
"would", "should", "believe", and similar references to future
periods or the negatives of these words and expressions. These
statements are based on management's current expectations and are
subject to a number of risks, uncertainties, and assumptions. There
can be no assurance that actual results will not differ materially
from those expressed or implied in forward-looking statements.
Undue reliance should not be placed on forward-looking statements.
Please refer to The Stars Group's most recent annual information
form and annual and interim financial statements and management's
discussion and analysis for more information about the factors,
assumptions and risks that may apply to The Star's Group's
forward-looking statements. Each forward-looking statement speaks
only as of the date hereof, and The Stars Group undertakes no
obligation to correct or update any forward-looking statement,
whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise,
except as required by applicable law.
For media inquiries, please contact:
Eric Hollreiser:
Press@starsgroup.com