Adda52.com and WPT sign agreement
Adda52.com has over 800,000 registered users on its website, making it the largest online poker room in India. This fact is perhaps already known to most Indian poker enthusiasts, and isn't cause for unusual amounts of excitement – but when there is an announcement to say that Adda52.com has signed an international brand licensing agreement with WPT, things start to get interesting.
In a country that is home to 1.25 billion people, there is certainly a burgeoning interest in poker, coupled with favourable legal shifts towards poker in certain provinces. Add an announcement like this into the mix, and we could begin to see the pieces of a potential Indian poker boom puzzle, start falling into place.
The statement reads as follows: "We are proud to partner with Adda52.com, India's premier poker platform, and to expand the World Poker Tour's global footprint into one of the fastest growing markets worldwide," said Adam Pliska, President and CEO of the WPT. "Alongside Adda52.com, the World Poker Tour is uniquely positioned to bring the WPT experience to millions of fans and players in India and help grow the mind sport of poker throughout the country."
Anuj Gupta, who is founder and CEO of Adda52.com spoke warmly of the new alliance with WPT, pointing out that it is an important time for poker in India. He remarked: “There is a poker boom and the Indian poker community is looking for a better tournament experience. With this tie-up, we want the poker community to be exposed to international standards of poker with better structures, well-defined tournaments, and the knowledge the WPT brings to the table.”
The brand licensing agreement
The new arrangement paves the way for Gaussian Networks Pvt. Ltd., parent company of Adda52.com, to provide WPT products to an Indian customer base, air televised episodes of WPT events, and also look to generate local sponsorship opportunities. Adda52 will also run qualifiers for WPT events on its online website.
More partnerships for the WPT?
Ourgame International Holdings Pvt. Ltd. purchased the WPT brand in June 2015. The Hong Kong gaming company has been very active since then when it comes to projects and deals relating to the WPT. Angelica Hael who sits as Vice President of Global Tour Management for the WPT backed this up further by declaring there was drive underway to elevate the WPT to a world renowned brand and particularly, to reach out further into the Asian continent. She added that, other alliances in regions of Asia were being discussed.
Live events in India
Live events on Indian soil remain an uncertain proposition, as the legal situation on a national level remains fluid. The Deltin Royale Poker Room in Goa holds the distinction of having hosted the largest live poker tournaments in India, and remains one of the handful of venues that are able to host live tournaments. With outgoing management in this poker room, an opportunity is certainly there for Adda52 to begin taking steps into the live arena.
Article by Craig B.
Louis Hartwell
Graduated in Media Communication at the University of Lausanne, Louis Hartman is a co-founder of somuchpoker.com. He began his career in Cambodia as freelance journalist. In same time he was making his living by playing poker every night at that time. Intense learner, he read dozens of poker strategy books to improve his skills during many years. With a strong interest about poker "behind the scene" in Asia and his communication skills, Louis launched Somuchpoker in 2014.
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