PokerStars Launches Sportsbetting Brand BetStars

PokerStars continues to grow beyond its original remit as an online poker site, and has now launched its new sportsbook called BetStars. The Amaya-owned company has initially restricted its sports offering to a limited number of separate online platform on Betstars.com, Betstars.eu, and Betstars.uk, as well as Android and iOS applications. However, PokerStars customers are also able to access the BetStars brand from within the PokerStars client. Commenting on the development, Rational Group CEO Rafi Ashkenazi explained:
“We’re applying the same dedication and passion we have for poker to sports betting, and intend to create an authentic, world-class offering. The BetStars brand will build on this passion and provide a safe, trustworthy and, most importantly, exciting environment for sports fans.”
In the meantime, BetStars is offering its betting options across only a handful of sports, including soccer, tennis and basketball, although horseracing and other popular sports are expected to be added throughout 2016. While PokerStars is hoping to reach at least half its enormous player base with BetStars, the company said it would also run campaigns to attract new players to the sportsbook in the second half of 2016.
“The brand will also feature a range of in-play betting options and exclusive offers and promotions that sports bettors expect from a world-class online sportsbook,” a company statement explained.
Industry analyst believe the launch of BetStars may offer a potential side-benefit to PokerStars’ legion of poker players, due to possibility of sportsbettors chancing their luck at the virtual tables. This could lead to a significant increase in traffic, and as one poker player posting on the TwoPlusTwo forum recently wrote:
“Stars is a brand now like 888 (who also have 888bingo ftw). I think the good thing is that sports bettors will punt around their winnings in poker games instead of vice versa.”