Press Releases
The Stars Group’s Pokerstars Concludes Largest-ever Online Poker Series With 1.1 Million Entries and $100 Million in Prizes
The Stars Group announced that its PokerStars World Championship of Online Poker (WCOOP) concluded earlier this week as the largest-ever online poker series with more than 1.1 million entries. The tournament awarded nearly $100 million in prizes during the two-week long schedule of events, comfortably exceeding its advertised guarantee of $70 million and surpassing last year’s series and the previous prize pool record set in 2017 during PokerStars’ Spring Championship of Online Poker, which awarded $94 million.
The tournament also set a record for the number of entries to an online poker tournament with more than 1.1 million entries from 148,000 unique players representing 140 countries.
WCOOP 2018 offered a 185-event schedule consisting of low, medium and high buy-in levels ranging from $2.20 to $25,000. A total of seven Platinum Passes to the PokerStars Players No Limit Hold’em Championship (PSPC), worth around $30,000 each, were also awarded to the winners of headline events. Overall, the series paid out more than 150,000 individual cash prizes and more than $15 million in first-place prizes.
About The Stars Group
The Stars Group is a provider of technology-based product offerings in the global gaming and interactive entertainment industries. Its brands have millions of registered customers globally and collectively are leaders in online and mobile betting, poker, casino and other gaming-related offerings. The Stars Group owns or licenses gaming and related consumer businesses and brands, including PokerStars, PokerStars Casino, BetStars, Full Tilt, BetEasy, Sky Bet, Sky Vegas, Sky Casino, Sky Bingo, and Sky Poker, as well as live poker tour and event brands, including 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. The Stars Group is one of the world’s most licensed online gaming operators with its subsidiaries collectively holding licenses or approvals in 19 jurisdictions throughout the world, including in Europe, Australia, and the Americas. The Stars Group’s vision is to become the world’s favorite iGaming destination and its mission is to provide its customers with winning moments.
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.
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SUPERSCALE RAISES $1.2 MILLION FOR GAME BUSINESS ANALYTICS ‘SUPERPLATFORM’
SuperScale, the game business analytics company, announces it has secured an investment round of $1.2 million to support the launch and rapid expansion of SuperPlatform, the ultimate game business analytics platform.
SuperPlatform solves a critical industry challenge: aligning changes in game business strategy from top to bottom with consistent and trustable data that is always up-to-date. The platform provides executives with a single source of reliable, standardized business insights from across the organization in order to execute data-backed strategies with coherence and confidence. After a soft launch in August 2024, 60 studios are already using SuperPlatform to understand their entire business in one integrated platform.
The fresh funding round was led by existing investors including Across Private Investments, LevelUp Ventures, Zero One Hundred, and Venture to Future Fund, along with new investor Strecko Investments. Following the successful soft launch and strong market adoption of SuperPlatform, SuperScale has already become cashflow positive and is extending the current funding round by a further $2.15 million by the end of 2024, positioning the company for sustained success.
The no-SDK SuperPlatform integration ensures consistency of business data from over 40 sources across marketing, product, and finance, providing an all-in-one, AI-powered view of games business performance. It brings games studios and publishers all the flexibility and data ownership of an internal solution at a fraction of the cost of today’s fragmented tools. SuperPlatform includes advanced features such as predictive modeling, automated data health monitoring, and hundreds of standardized use cases—all tailored to the unique needs of individual decision makers inside game organizations of all sizes.
A standout feature of SuperPlatform is its ‘Command Center’ which enables gaming executives and investors to model shifts in strategy, and execute them across their organizations. Whether a CEO of an indie studio focused on maximizing short-term cash flow or a Portfolio GM aiming to boost first-year profits in a larger gaming organization, SuperPlatform provides decision-makers with the accurate success criteria needed to align their teams with the organization’s goals.
Ivan Trančík, Founder and CEO of SuperScale, commented:
“Apple’s privacy changes and the post-pandemic slump rocked the games industry. CEOs, CFOs and investors have been kept up at night, scrambling to implement radically different business strategies across their organizations. By consolidating essential tools and analytics into one platform, we give studios of all sizes the peace of mind to trust their business data again, while reducing the need for multiple platform tools or costly internal solutions.”
He added:
“SuperPlatform is our flagship SaaS offering and is the culmination of eight years of internal development, encompassing all the tools and models developed by SuperScale. It has already delivered record profits to our partners as part of our existing complementary solutions and, by offering it as a unified platform, we can empower a much broader range of studios to achieve unprecedented results.”
Michal Csonga, partner at Zero One Hundred, said:
“SuperScale has executed a stellar corporate and product transformation during the most turbulent period in the history of the gaming industry. They have consolidated years of expertise into one software platform. SuperPlatform saves game studios and developers significant time and costs and increases profits drastically. We are thrilled to support this success story that is reshaping this global industry.”
Founded in 2015, SuperScale has long been known for offering a suite of solutions to game developers and publishers, powered by the proprietary analytics technology that now underpins SuperPlatform. By making it available to all on a subscription basis, SuperScale completes its transition from a service-based to a SaaS (software-as-a-service) model. To find out how SuperPlatform can unlock your game’s true potential, simply copy the link of your game in the Google Play or App Store into the platform’s Revenue Uplift calculator.
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GR8 Tech Closes the Year at SiGMA Europe 2024 with Industry Success
SiGMA Europe 2024 closed the year with a bang, and GR8 Tech seized the spotlight, leaving a lasting impression on industry leaders and professionals. The event proved pivotal for GR8 Tech, with nearly 300 meetings showcasing robust interest in its offerings. Of these, 15 discussions are already progressing toward long-term agreements, laying the groundwork for expanded partnerships and future business launches. The event highlighted the demand for customizable iGaming solutions and GR8 Tech’s impactful presence at the year’s grand finale.
Kiril Nestorovski, Sales Director at GR8 Tech: “What’s really grabbed attention in SiGMA Europe is our openness to discuss and be flexible, but what truly surprises people is the quality of our products. I’ve had clients react with phrases like, “Can I touch the screen to see if it’s real?” when they saw our demos. That kind of response speaks volumes about the impact our products have, especially in the sportsbook area.”
Sharing Expertise: Panel Discussion Takeaways
At the “Trends and Predictions for 2025” panel, GR8 Tech CEO Evgen Belousov and other industry leaders shared insights into esports and sportsbooks’ future, spotlighting AI-driven personalization, opinion-based betting, and esports as key disruptors.
The panelists drew a fascinating parallel between sportsbooks and streaming platforms. As competition intensifies, operators are now juggling multiple feed suppliers to deliver exclusive, tailored content. Much like streaming services fighting for exclusive rights, sportsbooks are investing in diverse and unique betting experiences to stand out. Diversification is now becoming essential for staying relevant in the market.
Belousov explored how sportsbooks are evolving from casino add-ons to profitable standalone ventures, redefining their role within the iGaming ecosystem. The panel underscored AI’s transformative impact on player acquisition, gamification, CRM, and risk management – all the areas where GR8 Tech leads the way with practical innovations aimed at increasing operators’ profitability.
Opinion-based betting – wagering on elections or entertainment outcomes – emerged as a rising trend, appealing to younger, tech-savvy players seeking interactive experiences. Esports also increased its role as a game-changer, with younger generations gravitating toward familiar titles like Dota 2 and Counter-Strike over traditional sports.
Focus for 2025: Driving Innovation
Yevhen Krazhan, CBDO at GR8 Tech: “As we wrap up 2024, I’m proud to say that GR8 Tech has exceeded expectations, performing at 150% of our initial goals. The demand and interest in our solutions have been overwhelming, and we’re excited to see how the trends of reactivation and investment growth continue into 2025. With strong momentum from events like SiGMA and the upcoming ICE, we are poised for another successful year. Our strategic focus remains clear – leading the charge as a global sportsbook platform. We’re ready for what lies ahead, and we’re confident that 2025 will be another great year for GR8 Tech.”
As the year comes to a close, the partnerships forged at SiGMA Europe 2024 have paved the way for GR8 Tech’s next major event: ICE 2025. Building on this year’s success, GR8 Tech will showcase its cutting-edge solutions and push iGaming boundaries, solidifying its industry leadership. Stay tuned for exciting developments and join us at ICE 2025!
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