TORONTO, Sept. 21, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- The Stars Group today announced that its PokerStars World Championship of Online Poker (WCOOP) concluded earlier this week as the largest-ever online poker series with more than 1.1 million entries. The tournament awarded nearly $100 million in prizes during the two-week long schedule of events, comfortably exceeding its advertised guarantee of $70 million and surpassing last year's series and the previous prize pool record set in 2017 during PokerStars' Spring Championship of Online Poker, which awarded $94 million.
The tournament also set a record for the number of entries to an online poker tournament with more than 1.1 million entries from 148,000 unique players representing 140 countries.
WCOOP 2018 offered a 185-event schedule consisting of low, medium and high buy-in levels ranging from $2.20 to $25,000. A total of seven Platinum Passes to the PokerStars Players No Limit Hold'em Championship (PSPC), worth around $30,000 each, were also awarded to the winners of headline events. Overall, the series paid out more than 150,000 individual cash prizes and more than $15 million in first-place prizes.
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 19 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: Eric Hollreiser: Press@starsgroup.com
