The Stars Group's PokerStars Caribbean Adventure and PokerStars Players No-Limit Hold'em Championship Combine for a $63 Million Prize Pool
- The Stars Group (NASDAQ: TSG) (TSX: TSGI) today announced the success of the annual PokerStars Caribbean Adventure (PCA), which immediately followed the first ever PokerStars Players No-limit Hold'em Championship (PSPC), two major live poker tournaments sponsored by its flagship poker brand. Combined, the PCA and PSPC, which both took place at the Atlantis Resort & Casino in the Bahamas, awarded a total $63 million over 11 days of competition. "Together, the PCA and PSPC have set a new standard for live events of this kind," said Rafi Ashkenazi, Chief Executive Officer of The Stars Group. "These tournaments created many winning moments and exciting stories for our players and staff, particularly for Ramon Colillas, who won over $5 million from a free entry. It's a great start to the year." The PSPC took place from January 6 to 10 and was the largest $25,000 buy-in poker tournament in history with a field of over 1,000 players from and a total prize pool of $26.5 million, including $1 million added to the prize pool by PokerStars for first place. Spanish poker player Ramon Colillas took home the $5.1 million PSPC first-place prize and was one of six millionaires made during the event. Colillas qualified for the PSPC for free as one of 320 PokerStars customers who won a PSPC Platinum Pass during 2018, which in addition to the $25,000 buy-in covered travel and hotel accommodations. The PCA ended on January 16 and awarded a total prize pool of $36.3 million. The event attracted over 1,600 players representing 79 countries and generated over 11,000 entries. The $10,300 buy-in 2019 PCA Main Event attracted 865 entries, with a total prize pool of $8.4 million and Main Event first place prize of $1.6 million. The next major live poker tournament on the PokerStars 2019 calendar is the PokerStars-sponsored European Poker Tour (EPT) Sochi, which takes place in Sochi, Russia from March 20 through 29 and is the first stop of the 2019 EPT. About The Stars Group The Stars Group is a provider of technology-based product offerings in the global gaming and interactive entertainment industries. Its brands have millions of registered customers globally and collectively are leaders in online and mobile betting, poker, casino and other gaming-related offerings. The Stars Group owns or licenses gaming and related consumer businesses and brands, including PokerStars, PokerStars Casino, BetStars, Full Tilt, BetEasy, Sky Bet, Sky Vegas, Sky Casino, Sky Bingo, and Sky Poker, as well as live poker tour and event brands, including the PokerStars Players No Limit Hold'em Championship, European Poker Tour, PokerStars Caribbean Adventure, Latin American Poker Tour, Asia Pacific Poker Tour, PokerStars Festival and PokerStars MEGASTACK. The Stars Group is one of the world's most licensed online gaming operators with its subsidiaries collectively holding licenses or approvals in 21 jurisdictions throughout the world, including in Europe, Australia, and the Americas. The Stars Group's vision is to become the world's favorite iGaming destination and its mission is to provide its customers with winning moments. 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. For media inquiries, please contact: Vaughan Lewis, [email protected], [email protected]