PokerStars to Launch Live Poker Room in Macau Casino
PokerStars, the world’s largest online poker room, has confirmed that it will launch a new poker room bearing the PokerStars brand in Macau’s City of Dreams Casino. This is the third live poker room of its kind to be launched by PokerStars under the moniker PokerStars Live Poker Room.
Early this month, PokerStars launched a live poker room in Spain’s Casino Gran Madrid and shortly after that, it launched another live poker room in London’s Hippodrome Casino. The casino at City of Dreams will be called “PokerStars Live at the City of Dreams” and will be located on the land casino’s main floor. City of Dreams Casino happens to be the second biggest land casino in Macau.
The new live poker venue will host a wide range of live poker events, such as the Macau leg of the Asia Pacific Poker Tour (APPT), the Macau Poker Cup, and the Macau Millions. A wide range of poker tournaments and cash games will also be held in this live poker room, which will have around 13 poker tables.
The correct date of launch and event schedule will be shortly available. Danny McDonagh, director (live operations for Asia Pacific) for PokerStars, said, “Players know that PokerStars is synonymous with integrity and high quality. That makes this collaboration a natural fit because City of Dreams has been at the forefront in providing the most innovative and premium gaming experience that is second to none in Macau.”
PokerStars established its presence in Macau’s brick-and-mortar casino industry by launching a live poker room in Macau’s Grand Waldo Casino in May 2008. The live poker room in City of Dreams Casino happens to be PokerStars second live poker room in the city.
In March 2009, PokerStars’ contract with Grand Waldo expired and the online poker company began looking for another base. In late 2012, PokerStars organized its Macau leg of the APPT and the Macau Poker Cup in Grand Waldo Casino, but not in a poker room bearing its brand.
PokerStars move to launch live poker rooms in brick-and-mortar casinos is part of its new marketing strategy. The poker operator is also trying to re-enter the US poker market by acquiring the struggling Atlantic Club Casino Hotel, but this acquisition deal, according to Eric Hollreiser, the head (corporate communications) for Rational Group, depends upon “the grant of an interim casino authorization by the relevant New Jersey authorities.”
Donald Wittkowski, a reporter from Atlantic City, said that the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement “has up to 90 days to conduct its investigation and file a report with the Casino Control Commission.” The commission now has just a few days to hold a hearing and announce its decision regarding the acquisition.
According to a statement made to PokerFuse, PokerStars’ acquisition of the Atlantic Club Casino Hotel will “secure up to 2000 jobs and maintain the economic benefits the casino brings to New Jersey.” The land casino “will operate as normal under current management, who will be retained following completion of the acquisition” in the interim period.
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