PokerStars Best Poker Room
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Press/Analyst contact
Emma Howard, Jackie Cooper Public Relations
Emma_howard@jcpr.com / 020 7208 7216
Best Poker Operator of the Year: PokerStars.com
PokerStars.com was dealt the winning hand at this year's industry recognised eGaming Awards. According to Scott Longley, Editor of eGaming Review, PokerStars.com is "without question the online poker room to watch at the moment." PokerStars.com is pushed to front of the rank because of "its diversity of games and uptime stability," accompanied by exclusive ambassador programs with the last three World Series of Poker Champions (WSOP).
The shortlist of companies nominated for awards this year included some of the biggest names in the industry and indicates how far the online gaming industry has travelled in a short space of time. What sets PokerStars.com apart from its competitors is its strategic partnerships with the crème of champions - this proves a very powerful weapon in a crowded market.
Since being founded in 2001, PokerStars.com has dealt over three billion hands and run more than 14 million poker tournaments, awarding well over $1 billion in prize money. According to eGaming Review, PokerStars.com's performance has stood out in the past year, as well as its growth, difference, product and customer retention. The site is the world's largest poker tournament website, having recently passed the 3.5 million registered users milestone.
The most recent signing of Joe Hachem, the 2005 WSOP champion gives PokerStars.com a triple crown. Currently, 2003 WSOP champion Chris Moneymaker and 2004 WSOP champion Greg 'The Fossilman' Raymer both serve exclusively as PokerStars.com representatives. Notably, after Chris Moneymaker won the 2003 WSOP, PokerStars grew 1000% in six months. Hachem, who won the record $7.5 million top prize at the WSOP in Las Vegas in July, will go on to represent PokerStars.com as a sponsored player and ambassador.
Consecutive winners Raymer and Moneymaker won their seats to the WSOP by qualifying directly through PokerStars.com, and now with the current reigning champion Hachem on board, PokerStars.com has locked up the last three World Champions.
The Judges Decision:
- Judged for its performance of the last 12 months, PokerStars stands out, although it is not the biggest online site
- Leverage of stars names who emerged from the online scene is a key differentiator
- Without question the poker room to watch
Tamar Yaniv, Director of Marketing, EMEA:
"We are honored to be recognised by eGaming for our performance over the last 12 months. We have worked hard at making PokerStars the home of the ambitious tournament player and we are proud to have three World Champion ambassadors - earning us the trademark Where Poker Stars Become Champions."
PokerStars Facts:
Founded in 2001, PokerStars (www.pokerstars.com) is the world's leading tournament card room, with over 3,500,000 registered users worldwide.
PokerStars has dealt over three billion poker hands.
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.
After Chris Moneymaker (a PokerStars online qualifier) won the 2003 World Series of Poker, PokerStars grew 1,000 % in six months.
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.
