WSOP signs Tencent deal to grow game in Asia
Caesars Interactive Entertainment’s World Series of Poker (WSOP) has partnered with Chinese internet provider Tencent.
The multi-year agreement is aimed at helping to educate and grow the competitive game of poker in Asia.
The partnership will also seek to include elements inspired by esports in future events to extend poker’s audience reach.
WSOP will develop a programme for Tencent to help train and certify poker tournament staff and provide expertise on event structures, rules, equipment and procedures to ensure any live poker events in Asia use the globally-recognised standards.
Tencent will also benefit through exclusive merchandise rights, as well as media content distribution rights, including live streaming of events, to WSOP in Asia
“There is so much untapped potential in Asia and we’ve found the perfect partner in Tencent to help spread the great game throughout the entire continent,” said Ty Stewart, executive director of WSOP.
“We plan to use the WSOP brand and our expertise, along with Tencent’s reach in Asia, to inspire the next generation of competitive sport players.”
Tencent Poker, launched in 2014, is the most popular play-for-fun social poker app in China. The social game will soon offer a WSOP branded game zone with interactive content, as well as a portal for potential land based tournaments. The Tencent Poker app will continue and remain a free-to-play app.
In addition, land-based events such as WSOP China and WSOP Asia are under discussion as part of the deal.
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