Caesars Entertainment has sold the famous World Series of Poker and its online branding rights to NSUS, its technology partner for the Canadian-facing WSOP.com online poker site. Caesars retained the right to continue operating its existing WSOP Online network in the US, which runs on technology from another company, Evoke.
Caesars also agreed not to launch any new poker sites for a limited period of time, subject to certain exceptions. At the same time, NSUS indicated that it intends to launch WSOP-branded sites in additional international markets.
Caesars (Caesars Entertainment 28,44 +4,67%) said on Aug. 1:
Caesars Digital will also receive a license from NSUS to continue operating its recently upgraded WSOP Online real-money poker business in Nevada, New Jersey, Michigan, and Pennsylvania for the foreseeable future, but will otherwise be restricted from operating online peer-to-peer real-money poker operations for a specified period of time and subject to certain exceptions.
The announcement didn’t mention the remaining states where online poker is legal, but not currently offered by an operator:
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- West Virginia
Meanwhile, GGPoker is already a familiar brand to WSOP bettors in Ontario, where GGPoker’s tech has powered the WSOP since its debut in October 2022.
However, when Bonus visited the GGPoker site on Aug. 1 from Philadelphia, an interstitial popped up with a crying Daniel Negreanu cartoon saying:
We’re sorry. We do not offer real money gambling in the country you are in.
“I understand,” reads the red button visitors must click to enter the site.
Clicking through to the site didn’t yield new information about the sale. GGPoker reposted the Caesars press release, as did NSUS, pronounced “Answers.”
Meanwhile, the Aug. 1 news was Caesars’ second big announcement of the week. On July 30, Caesars told Michigan online casino bettors that they’d be getting a new brand in September — Horseshoe Online Casino.
WSOP Sold to GGPoker Parent, NSUS
NSUS now owns the “intellectual property rights” to WSOP and will organize the live series in Las Vegas and its associated circuit. However Caesars venues will still be the preferred location for such events for the next 20 years.
The Caesars announcement reads:
In addition, brick-and-mortar poker rooms currently operated by Caesars will continue to feature WSOP branding, and Caesars destinations will continue to enjoy preferential rights to host live WSOP Circuit (WSOP-C) events going forward.
However, NSUS is looking forward to the benefits of owning the WSOP brand, NSUS CEO Michael Kim says:
We will leverage GGPoker’s cutting-edge technology and industry expertise to create an exciting future for WSOP, ensuring players have an increasingly improved, safe, and seamless poker experience. Under the new leadership, NSUS intends to expand WSOP worldwide, positioning it at the forefront of poker’s growth.
Why a Negreanu Cartoon?
As for the Negreanu cartoon, the Canadian professional poker player who now lives in Las Vegas is a GGPoker brand ambassador. He’s also won the most prize money in WSOP history — $23.4 million.
On July 17, Texan Jonathan Tamayo won the $10 million 2024 total. Tamayo is the tournament’s 17th-highest earner, with $11.5 million in winnings.
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