Global Poker Index Acquired By Zokay Entertainment

Gaming company Zokay Entertainment has become the new owner of the Global Poker Index (GPI), after purchasing the poker ranking system from Pinnacle Entertainment.
Originally owned by Federated Sports + Gaming Inc., the company soon ran up debts of around $5 million and was forced to file for bankruptcy on 29th February 2012, less than a year after first launching the GPI. Its assets were then sold in June with casino operator Pinnacle Entertainment, who was owed $2 million at the time, purchasing the GPI along with the Epic Poker League, EpicPoker.com and the Heartland Poker Tour.
Just a few weeks on and Zokay Entertainment has now bought the GPI from Pinnacle Entertainment for an undisclosed amount, with the company owner Alex Dreyfus clearly delighted by the acquisition. Commenting on the deal, Dreyfus said:
“The GPI is the best poker ranking system in the world, and we plan to make it even better. A ranking system of this caliber is needed in the poker industry to bring it in line with other competitive contests of skill and sports industries. The GPI provides a ranking system on par with those you would find in golf or tennis.”
The former ChiliGaming CEO Alex Dreyfus would also appear to have big plans for its future, and amongst his vision for the GPI is creating a national rankings system whereby countries are ranked according to the caliber of their tournament players. Further planned will be the GPI Player of the Year award, as well as a new GPI VIP Club.
Alex Dreyfus’ vision for the GPI would also seem to strike a chord with the GPI co-creator Eric Faulkner, who following announcement of the deal, commented:
“I could not be more excited that the Global Poker Index is now part of the Zokay family. The new and innovative extensions of the GPI will further solidify the GPI as the global standard in live tournament poker rankings and garner an immense amount of regional excitement.”