GMG acquires new poker site and makes deal with Gaming VC
Poker Heaven and Poker Channel owner Gaming Media Group (GMG) has announced a string of deals across its TV and online businesses, including the acquisition of poker site Stella Poker.
Gaming Media Group (GMG) has announced a set of new deals across its TV and online businesses, including the acquisition of a new poker site.
GMG’s online poker division Poker Heaven has acquired the poker site Stella Poker for an undisclosed sum. Stella Poker targets the Croatian and Serbian markets and is part of the International Poker Network (IPN), on which Poker Heaven already sits. Poker Heaven has also hired Colin McCreadie as its head of poker, from InterPoker/AdsDotCom, where he headed up the poker team for four years.
GMG’s business-to-business operation, InTouch Gaming, is also to provide a customised version of its player portal ‘The Player Zone’ to Gaming VC’s poker site Casino Club Poker.
The group is also expanding its TV network the Poker Channel by increasing its distribution in Eastern Europe, launching on UPC Direct in Hungary and the Czech Republic, and Focus Sat in Romania. The Channel has acquired three-year rights for High Stakes Poker from Sony/GSN, for all of Europe and Russia, excluding France, which is on a non-exclusive basis.
EGR reported at the end of last year that the Poker Channel was increasing its presence in Eastern Europe through the purchase of Bulgarian poker affiliate site Igrach.com and a distribution deal for the Poker Channel in that country. The Poker Channel also launched in Argentina and South Africa last May.
GMG chief executive Crispin Nieboer (pictured) said: “These recent deals show our continued investment in both content and distribution in our TV business, and localised markets and quality staff in our online business.”
GMG has been exploring options for the sale of the business and has appointed advisers from Cavendish Corporate Finance, UK newspaper the Daily Telegraph reported in May.