PokerStars investment will grow game, says Global Poker League chief
Alex Dreyfus says poker has "bright future" after Amaya-owned giant becomes lead sponsor of team poker competition
PokerStars is the “only company” that has the size and investment power to grow poker, according to poker entrepreneur Alex Dreyfus, who believes the vertical still has “clear growth potential” despite its current stagnation.
Talking to EGR after announcing PokerStars as the lead sponsor of his Global Poker League (GPL), Dreyfus said the support of the Amaya-owned brand was vital in his effort to “sportify” poker.
“It does bring legitimacy and it will help us increase our range of audience and business opportunities over the long-term,” Dreyfus said.
“PokerStars is the only company that has the ability to invest massively into poker in the next three to five years to grow the vertical.
“We all believe that the game has a clear potential, but that potential has to come with game innovations and new narratives to fit the new generation of consumers. The poker industry can’t rely only on its existing market, it needs to expand,” he added.
The GPL, which restarts on Tuesday, features 12 pro teams each playing 45 regular season games against each other over a 12-week season.
Dreyfus said the GPL took inspiration from traditional sports like the NBA, as well as the booming eSports sector, with the format designed to attract new media attention and new players to the games.
“Poker is an old game, but a young industry,” Dreyfus added. “There is a need to create a new narrative in order for the media to have an appetite for the game again. Our initiatives are driven towards this goal, and having PokerStars â which is the leading poker powerhouse â supporting this vision is very exciting for us.”
The GPL will be livestreamed three days a week on PokerStars TV.
PokerStars â which saw poker revenues flatline in Q2 â has been continuing its efforts to appeal to a new audience in recent, with a more attractive rewards scheme for part-time players and the launch of new Win the Button online tournaments.
Eric Hollreiser, PokerStars’ director of corporate communications, added: “The Global Poker League brings an innovative team-based twist to poker and we are happy to support Mediarex in their quest to bring poker to new audiences.”