Wednesday, April 25, 2012

PokerStars buying Full Tilt - rumors, yes, but is this a good thing?


So, the rumor is that PokerStars is planning to buy the assets of Full Tilt Poker for about $70 million or so, and much of that $$$ is to go to repayment for the ex-players.  The rumor is not being confirmed in a way that makes many think it’s true, but that’s not the purpose of this post.

Is this a good thing?  For the world’s largest poker site to buy what used to be the second-largest?  For PS, yes, a good thing….talk about killing the competition!  Of course, it still doesn’t get them into the door in the USA…or does it?

Here’s the PokerStarsBlog, Corporate Division, in the form of Eric Hollreiser, Head of Corporate Communications for PokerStars

We've had a lot of enquiries and there's lots of speculation on the forums, so I wanted to address the PokerStars chatter. As you know, PokerStars is in settlement discussions with the U.S. Department of Justice. As such settlement discussions are always confidential, we are unable to comment on rumors.

Wait…the rumor is about you buying FT.  What does the DOJ have to do with it?

Ohhhhhh…of course…the repayment for the ex-players!  If PokerStars “makes nice” and gets the money back in the hands of US players from Full Tilt (which would not have happened in the first place if the DOJ had let Black Friday come and go), they just might, JUST MIGHT, get back in good graces with the USA government, and, if the USA government ever gets off its ass and re-legalizes online poker, guess who stands a good chance of getting some sort of foot in that door?

So now it does make some sense, and yes, I see it as a good thing, as I have been a long-time PokerStars fan and player.  Remember, I’m a small-stakes guy, so it’s bit for the SuperNova status or any of that payback crap.  Best software, great customer service…and oh yeah, THEY paid their US players off after Black Friday.

So let’s hope the rumors are true, and, for my support, they can make me a PS small-stakes pro when the time comes.

Soon?

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