The World Poker Tour (WPT) is one of the most popular and prestigious poker tournament series in the world. Since its inception in 2002, the WPT has grown in popularity and has become a staple for poker enthusiasts worldwide.
But have you ever wondered who owns the World Poker Tour? In this article, we will delve into the ownership history of the WPT and discuss its current ownership status.
The World Poker Tour was founded by Steve Lipscomb, a television producer and entrepreneur, in 2002. The WPT quickly gained popularity due to its innovative camera work, which allowed viewers to see players’ hole cards and watch their strategies unfold in real-time. The initial success of the WPT led to its acquisition by PartyGaming in 2009.
PartyGaming was a Gibraltar-based online gambling company that had been founded in 1997. It was listed on the London Stock Exchange and had a market capitalization of over £4 billion at its peak. PartyGaming purchased the World Poker Tour for $12.3 million and also acquired all of its assets, including its library of television episodes.
In 2011, PartyGaming merged with Bwin Interactive Entertainment AG to form bwin.party Digital Entertainment plc. This merger created one of the largest online gaming companies in the world, with a market capitalization of over £2 billion. As part of this merger, bwin.party became the owner of the World Poker Tour.
However, bwin.party’s ownership of the World Poker Tour was short-lived. In 2015, bwin.party was acquired by GVC Holdings plc, a multinational sports betting and gaming group based in Isle of Man. GVC Holdings is listed on the London Stock Exchange and has a market capitalization of over £6 billion as of August 2021.
Following this acquisition by GVC Holdings plc, it became unclear who owned the World Poker Tour. However, in 2018, Allied Esports Entertainment, a subsidiary of Ourgame International Holdings Ltd., purchased the World Poker Tour from bwin.party for $78.25 million.
Ourgame International Holdings Ltd. is a Hong Kong-based gaming and entertainment company that was founded in 2010. It is listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange and has a market capitalization of over HKD 2 billion as of August 2021. Ourgame International Holdings Ltd. owns Allied Esports Entertainment, which in turn owns the World Poker Tour.
In conclusion, the World Poker Tour has had several owners since its inception in 2002. From Steve Lipscomb to PartyGaming to bwin.party to GVC Holdings plc and finally to Allied Esports Entertainment, the ownership history of the WPT is quite intriguing. Currently, the WPT is owned by Ourgame International Holdings Ltd., a Hong Kong-based gaming and entertainment company through its subsidiary Allied Esports Entertainment.
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