MICROGAME AND WORLD SERIES OF POKER (WSOP) ANNOUNCE EXCLUSIVE ALLIANCE IN ITALY
PEOPLE’S POKER TO CO-BRAND POKER NETWORK WITH WSOP
PARTNERSHIP WITH ITALIAN POKER LEADER INCLUDES LAND-BASED EVENTS AND EXCLUSIVE WSOP SATELLITES
Las Vegas, Nevada/Benevento, Italy, December 17, 2010 – Caesars Interactive Entertainment, Inc., (CIE, formerly Harrah’s Interactive Entertainment/HIE), has announced a long-term agreement with Microgame S.p.A. for the Italian poker market utilizing its World Series of Poker brand.
Under terms of the agreement, Microgame and CIE will work together exclusively to market the WSOP brand in Italy, both with online and offline poker tournaments and promotions.
In Italy, Microgame operates the largest poker network in the newly-regulated online market.
“This agreement is a logical step in our European and global expansion strategy to partner with leading local companies as we look to expand the WSOP brand,” said Caesars Interactive Entertainment CEO Mitch Garber. “Microgame is a clear leader in Italy and we look forward to working hard together to grow the poker market.”
People’s Poker, a network of over 120 online poker sites, will be co-branded utilizing the WSOP brand and People’s Poker brand, and serve as the online hub for poker playing in the Italian market. Using Microgame’s vast network both online and at retail, the WSOP brand will be utilized to attract new players to poker via these avenues.
“We are honored to have been selected as the exclusive Italian partner for the WSOP,” said Microgame CEO Fabrizio D’Aloia. “The People’s Poker Network, powered by Microgame, confirms its position of leadership in the Italian Poker Market and we are truly excited to offer our customers something unique. The WSOP has over 40 years of history and heritage and an alliance with Microgame online marks an exciting new chapter for both of us.”
Microgame and the WSOP will create land-based tournaments for the Italian players using the WSOP name and Microgame receives exclusive rights to do so throughout the length of the agreement.
As part of this agreement, Microgame becomes the exclusive satellite provider in Italy of WSOP land-based events. Microgame will also act as the exclusive pre-registration booking office for Italian players for the WSOP Main Event held in Las Vegas.
ABOUT MICROGAME
Microgame S.p.A., founded in 1996, is the leading Service Provider for remote gaming market in Italy, authorised by the Autonomous Administration of State Monopolies (AAMS) Microgame provides gaming solutions for fixed odds betting, horse race betting, skill games and poker, instant lotteries, bingo and National totalisator games. Its shareholders include two U.S.A. private equity funds (Monitor Clipper Partners “MCP” and TPG Growth), founders and management. In 2009 Microgame’s customers have collectively generated a gross gaming turnover of more than € 1 billion; in the same year, Microgame recorded a turnover of about € 250 million. The company also manages People’s Poker and People’s Bingo, the largest poker and bingo networks in Italy. www.microgame.it
ABOUT THE WORLD SERIES OF POKER
The World Series of Poker (WSOP) is the largest, richest and most prestigious gaming event in the world, awarding millions of dollars in prize money and the prestigious gold bracelet, globally recognized as the sport’s top prize. Featuring a comprehensive slate of tournaments in every major poker variation, the WSOP is poker’s longest running tournament in the world, dating back to 1970. In 2010, the event attracted 72,966 entrants from 117 different countries to the Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas and awarded over $187 million in prize money. In addition, the WSOP has formed groundbreaking alliances in broadcasting, digital media and corporate sponsorships, while successfully expanding the brand internationally with the advent in 2007 of the World Series of Poker Europe. The WSOP Circuit Tour is entering its seventh season in 2010-11, and will feature 12 stops throughout the U.S., plus for the first-time ever, a stop in South Africa. For more information on the World Series of Poker, please visit www.WSOP.com.
ABOUT CAESARS INTERACTIVE ENTERTAINMENT, INC. (CIE)
Caesars Entertainment launched a new subsidiary, Caesars Interactive Entertainment (CIE) in May of 2009, to manage the global growth of its World Series of Poker brand and explore the use of interactive gaming technologies to expand the reach of Caesars brands globally, starting in Europe. CIE will be utilized to develop new opportunities to strengthen and grow Caesars customer base. CIE offers both free-to-play and real money gaming to UK residents under the WSOP.com, CAESARSBingo.com and CAESARSCasino.com brand names.
CAESARS ENTERTAINMENT, INC.
Caesars Entertainment, Inc. is the world's largest provider of branded casino entertainment. Since its beginning in Reno, Nevada, more than 70 years ago, Caesars has grown through development of new properties, expansions and acquisitions, and now owns or manages casinos on four continents. The Company's properties operate primarily under the Caesars®, Harrah's® and Horseshoe® brand names; Caesars also owns the London Clubs International family of casinos and the World Series of Poker®. Caesars Entertainment is focused on building loyalty and value with its customers through a unique combination of great service, excellent products, unsurpassed distribution, operational excellence and technology leadership. For more information, please visit www.caesars.com.
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