World Poker Fund Holdings (WPFH), the poker and entertainment company backed by Grammy-nominated rapper Soulja Boy, has acquired the tournament rights to the International Poker League (IPL) and IPL Vegas Open.
The deal for the IPL Vegas Open will see WPFH take ownership of 20 episodes of successful tournaments such as the Caesars Vegas Open, Venetian Vegas Open and UK Open, with each to be shown on streaming platform Lookhu.com via WPFH’s World Poker Channel.
Formerly the National Poker League, the IPL was first broadcast in 2006 with a buy-in of around $1,000.
The deal further strengthens WPFH’s portfolio of televised poker rights, with the company also owning poker-themed reality TV shows such as Poker Boss and America Loves Poker.
It is also exploring opportunities to develop relationships with Indian tribes that may be interested in developing land-based and online gaming offerings on autonomous tribal land.
Last week it hired gaming law expert Martin Owens as chief advisor of the WPFH Online and Interactive Gaming Committee to help steer this strategy.
WPFH will also hold non-cash poker tournaments to pick out potential future poker professionals, who it will sponsor in land-based cash tournaments.
As it is not directly involved in gaming activity, nor an operator of casinos or gaming venues, the company does not require to be licensed under US gaming regulations.
source : www.gamingintelligence.com
