PokerStars to launch BetStars sportsbook
Amaya CEO confirms plans for standalone sportsbook platform by H1 2016
PokerStars will launch a standalone sportsbook platform under the BetStars brand in the first half of 2016, Amaya Gaming CEO David Baazov has confirmed.
The announcement ends speculation around Amaya’s plans in the sportsbook vertical after media reports suggested the gaming giant had acquired the BetStars.com domain in recent months.
Speaking to analysts after Amaya reported its Q3 financial results, Baazov said the firm had taken the strategic decision to delay the rollout of its sportsbook while it rebrands and improves the platform. Its limited sportsbook product currently resides within the PokerStars platform.
Detailing its sportsbook roadmap for the coming months, Amaya plans to add 16 new sports including poker and eSports as well as the launch of an enhanced odds offering.
The new BetStars platform will be designed in HMTL5 to enable seamless rollout across desktop, web and mobile, and will launch in additional markets such as Romania, Italy, Portugal and France.
Baazov did not confirm an exact timeline for launching BetStars and said while he hoped a full sportsbook rollout would be complete by H1 2016, it could slip back further.
PokerStars launched an in-client sportsbook back in March, and despite only being available in a handful of markets Amaya said it had attracted 100,000 real-money active uniques during Q3.
The gaming giant, which also owns Full Tilt, said it had generated positive early KPIs, with turnover up 180% from the start to the end of the quarter and achieving a margin of 8%.