POKERSTARS #RAISEIT TO 158 MILLION WITH GLOBAL SOCIAL CAMPAIGN FEATURING SPORT HEROES

Campaign videos featuring Cristiano Ronaldo, Dwyane Wade, Neymar Jr, and Ronaldo Nazario are a hit with sports fans around the world

ONCHAN, Isle of Man – February 28, 2017 – PokerStars second instalment of #raiseit, the global social media campaign featuring Team PokerStars SportStar Cristiano Ronaldo and renowned basketball player Dwyane Wade, has been a success around the world with their unique series of videos surpassing 112 million views. The entire campaign, which features other legendary sports stars, has now surpassed 158 million views on social media and www.nowraiseit.com.

Sports fans across the globe watched football sensation Ronaldo and NBA star and Chicago Bulls player Wade attempt to one-up each other in the series of playful yet competitive videos created by the world’s largest online site, PokerStars, an Amaya Inc. (Nasdaq: AYA; TSX: AYA) brand. The series played out from November 2016 to January 2017 on Ronaldo and Wade’s social media channels, introducing millions of people to the PokerStars brand.  

SHOWSTOPPING TRICK SHOTS

The unique videos saw the sporting superstars showcase an impressive array of trick shots while carrying out everyday tasks in seven rounds of the fun social duelling campaign. The various rounds included Superstar Wake-Up, Meme Battle, Happy Holidays, Getting Ready in Style, Breakfast My Way, Extreme Workout, and Aerial Duel, with Superstar Wake-Up and Getting Ready in Style proving to be favourites with viewers. 

Cristiano Ronaldo said: “#raiseit encourages people to show the talents they have whether it’s something they use everyday or a secret talent that they can surprise people with. It takes a lot of hard work and dedication to become the best at what you do so I really enjoy challenging others to do better as it keeps me on my toes.

“Being paired with Dwyane for #raiseit encouraged me to think about how we could compete with each other creatively and have some fun trying to one up each other. I like to challenge myself both on and off the pitch and these videos provided the perfect outlet for that.”

Ronaldo and Wade’s #raiseit videos, which they posted on their social media channels, were part of the second instalment of the popular #raiseit campaign by PokerStars. Team PokerStars SportStar Neymar Jr and Brazilian football legend Ronaldo Nazario took part in the first campaign where the pair took on drone, egg/teabag, and tablecloth/toothbrush challenges in June last year. Overall, the videos for both campaigns have received more than 158 million views.

As well as receiving outstanding viewing results, the videos received millions of likes and thousands of comments and shares on social media channels. #raiseit also made headlines around the world with articles about the campaign featuring on well-known news outlets such as The Daily Mail, Goal.com, Yahoo, and Sky Sport Italia. In addition, Wade appeared on popular radio and TV talks shows The Dan Patrick Show and ESPN’s Mike & Mike to talk about the challenges.

THE #RAISEIT MENTALITY

#raiseit is a fun take on the poker mentality of raising the stakes in order to ‘one-up’ your opponent. It showcases the competitive nature of poker and sport, and the focus, tenacity and endurance needed to succeed in both activities.

“Reaching new audiences is the lifeblood of our business and we are very pleased to have created entertaining and engaging social content that brings the PokerStars brand and the playful competition of poker to such a mass audience,” said Eric Hollreiser, Vice President of Corporate Communications for PokerStars and Amaya Inc. “The fun competitive nature of these sports stars embody the spirit of the brand and the accessibility of poker as a social game of wits and strategy.”

To view the #raiseit challenges go to www.nowraiseit.com

For further information, please contact press@pokerstars.com

About PokerStars

PokerStars operates the world’s most popular online poker sites, serving the global poker community. Since it launched in 2001, PokerStars has become the first choice of players all over the world, with more daily tournaments than anywhere else and with the best online security. More than 165 billion hands have been dealt on PokerStars, which is more than any other site.

PokerStars is the flagship brand of Rational Group, which is ultimately owned by Amaya Inc. (Nasdaq: AYA; TSX: AYA) and operates gaming-related businesses and brands, including PokerStars, PokerStars Casino, BetStars, Full Tilt, StarsDraft, and the PokerStars Championship and PokerStars Festival live poker tour brands (incorporating the European Poker Tour, PokerStars Caribbean Adventure, Latin American Poker Tour and the Asia Pacific Poker Tour). Amaya, through certain subsidiaries, is licensed, approved to offer, or offers under third party licenses or approvals, its products and services in various jurisdictions throughout the world, including in Europe, both within and outside of the European Union, the Americas and elsewhere. In particular, PokerStars is the world’s most licensed online gaming brand, holding licenses or related operating approvals in 17 jurisdictions. PokerStars.com and PokerStars.eu operate globally under licenses from the Isle of Man and Malta governments, respectively.

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