TORONTO, CANADA – October 10, 2017 – The Stars Group Inc. today announced the launch of PokerStars Power Up, an innovative new variant of online poker that combines the competitiveness and strategy of traditional poker with the thrills and excitement of modern video games. PokerStars Power Up features specially designed graphics that bring the game to life through immersive visual and audio effects and multiple avatars with rich personas and backstories.
PokerStars Power Up is the latest innovation from The Stars Group and was created by its in-house game development team in collaboration with skilled poker and professional eSports players. The game delivers an engaging user experience within a futuristic, immersive competition that brings exciting twists and special powers to players within the context of a traditional poker tournament.
PokerStars Power Up, which will roll out across PokerStars .NET, .EU, .COM and .UK sites throughout the week, is based on a No Limit Hold’em Poker Sit & Go format with three players facing off across an agreed upon buy-in stake of $1, $3, $7 or $15. While players start with the same amount of poker chips and are dealt two poker cards each hand as usual, they also start with two randomly selected powers. These powers - such as ‘Clone’, ‘Intel’, ‘Disintegrate’ and ‘Scanner’ – are reloaded throughout the game and can be used to rapidly change the flow of the match. Each power contributes to a visceral gaming experience by allowing players to, among other things, receive a copy of the last power played, peek at the deck, eliminate a card, and force an opponent to reveal a card.
Adding yet another element of strategy to the game, each power uses ‘energy’. This means that players must strategically manage their energy levels so they can use their powers when it matters the most.
“Poker has maintained its popularity for nearly two centuries because it has evolved with the times. PokerStars Power Up continues this evolution by providing a modern twist on traditional poker that we believe will be exciting to not only poker players, but to a broad spectrum of gamers as well,” said Chief Executive Officer Rafi Ashkenazi. “We’ve been encouraged by the reaction during alpha testing in July and August and are optimistic that PokerStars Power Up will introduce poker to a new generation of mobile gamers, excite current players and help reconnect with less active or former players.”
To see PokerStars Power Up in action, visit: http://www.starsgroup.com/press-center/multimedia
About The Stars Group
The Stars Group is a leading provider of technology-based products and services in the global gaming and interactive entertainment industries. Through its Stars Interactive Group gaming division, The Stars Group ultimately owns gaming and related consumer businesses and brands, including PokerStars, PokerStars Casino, BetStars, Full Tilt, StarsDraft, and the PokerStars Championship, PokerStars Festival, PokerStars Caribbean Adventure and PokerStars MEGASTACK live poker tour brands (incorporating aspects of the European Poker Tour, Latin American Poker Tour and the Asia Pacific Poker Tour). These brands together have more than 113 million registered customers globally and collectively form the largest poker business in the world, comprising online poker games and tournaments, sponsored live poker competitions, marketing arrangements for branded poker rooms in popular casinos in major cities around the world, and poker programming and content created for television and online audiences. The Stars Group, through certain of these brands, also offers non-poker gaming products, including casino, sportsbook and daily fantasy sports. The Stars Group, through certain of its subsidiaries, is licensed or 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.
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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