World Poker Tour Announces WPTDeepStacks Acquisition
WPT Enterprises, Inc. announced today its acquisition of WPTDeepStacks and will take full ownership and operational control of the brand Jan. 12.
“The World Poker Tour is proud to acquire WPTDeepStacks,” said Adam Pliska, chief executive officer of the World Poker Tour, in a release. “WPT, bordered by the support of our parent company Ourgame, is currently looking for strategic, friendly acquisition opportunities of businesses and management teams that reflect our brand and company values. We feel WPTDeepStacks is a model of this initiative.”
Jan. 12 marks the start of Season 4 of the WPTDeepStacks. The tour was launched in 2012 and was originally a partnership with the WPT that began in mid-2014 to replace the WPT Regional and DeepStacks Poker Tour brands in the United States and Europe.
“We are excited to take our relationship with the World Poker Tour to the next level,” said Chris Torina, WPTDeepStacks executive director, in a release. “Partnering with the World Poker Tour to form WPTDeepStacks cemented the brand as poker’s premier mid-major tour. We look forward to continuing to innovate, expand and offer the most player-friendly tournaments at the world’s most beautiful properties.”
Pliska said in a release that over the years, Torina has become a friend and steward of the WPT brand, building it into an established poker brand with his team.
With this acquisition, WPTDeepStacks can expand into new regions and develop new partnerships. The DeepStack Poker Tour will continue, even with the acquisition of all assets, to operate in Canada on its own.
Season 4 of the WPTDeepStacks Hollywood will kick off Jan. 19-24 at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Florida and features a $1 million guaranteed $1,100 Main Event.
This tournament will host 18 events in 2017 and will have a new location for the $1 million guaranteed WPTDeepStacks Championship Dec. 1-4: Thunder Valley Casino Resort in Lincoln, California. This championship event has a $2,500 buy-in.
