Caesars Leisure has right this moment introduced that they are going to be promoting the enduring World Sequence of Poker Model to NSUS Group Inc, a number one funding group and operator of main on-line poker site GGPoker.
Based on a press launch, the deal is ready to be value $500 million—$250 million in money and a $250 million promissory be aware “due 5 years after the transaction’s deadline”.
Sale Comes After WSOP Growth
The sale comes off the again of the biggest WSOP Major Occasion in historical past and fewer than 4 months earlier than the return of WSOP Paradise to the Bahamas.
The sale represents an enormous step into the US market from NSUS Group Inc., however GGPoker’s connection to the WSOP has been clear for all to see since they held the WSOP On-line in 2020.
4 years in the past, Ty Stewart, govt director of the WSOP, stated he “could not be extra excited” about deepening the connection the WSOP had with GGPoker.
The connection has now turn out to be a wedding, with NSUS Group Inc. buying the mental property rights for a nine-figure sum — dwarfing the roughly $50 million Harrah’s paid again in 2004.
Caesars Nonetheless Set to Be Closely Concerned
Whereas the discharge focuses on mental property rights, there have been additionally indicators that Caesars Leisure will proceed to be concerned in working each the WSOP and the WSOP Circuit.
Not solely will the WSOP’s flagship stay match collection proceed to be held at Caesars’ Las Vegas casinos for the subsequent twenty years, however Caesars properties can proceed to characteristic WSOP branding.
With the WSOP Circuit having gotten underway in Choctaw, US circuit regulars will probably be happy to know that Caesars locations will nonetheless obtain “preferential rights” to host stay WSOP Circuit occasions.
“We are able to’t wait to see what NSUS has in retailer for rising the WSOP’s legacy in poker”
Eric Hession, President of Caesars Digital, stated that the transaction is an thrilling step for Caesars as an organization and the WSOP model because it continues to evolve.
“We’ve loved a longstanding and profitable partnership with GGPoker that has helped spur the expansion of the WSOP model,” stated Hession.
“We are able to’t wait to see what NSUS has in retailer for rising the WSOP’s legacy in poker, and we look ahead to persevering with to ship an unmatched and acquainted expertise to poker gamers going ahead.”
NSUS says WSOP to “Increase Worldwide”
As a part of the announcement, Michael Kim, CEO of NSUS Group Inc., stated that after collaborating with Caesars Leisure for years, NSUS Group Inc. was thrilled to announce its new function.
“We are going to leverage GGPoker’s cutting-edge know-how and trade experience to create an thrilling future for WSOP, making certain gamers have an more and more improved, secure, and seamless poker expertise.
“Below the brand new management, NSUS intends to increase WSOP worldwide, positioning it on the forefront of poker’s development.”
The World Sequence of Poker already has a protracted historical past of worldwide enlargement, beginning first with the introduction of WSOP Europe in 2007 and the WSOP APAC in 2013 and 2014.
Most lately, the Bahamas hosted WSOP Paradise for the primary time in 2023. Lower than a month in the past, the WSOP introduced that the competition will return to the Caribbean in December this yr.
What About WSOP On-line?
The World Sequence of Poker operates real-money on-line poker in Nevada, New Jersey, Michigan and Pennsylvania. Based on the discharge, Caesars Digital will obtain a license from NSUS to proceed working in these states.
Nonetheless, it additionally states that they are going to be restricted from poker operations “for the foreseeable future”, presumably because of the sale.
This sale is topic to customary regulatory approvals and different closing situations and is predicted to shut previous to the top of 2024.