On the heels of announcing its third-quarter financials, Caesars Entertainment has confirmed the finalization of the much-anticipated $500 million sale of the World Series of Poker (WSOP) brand to NSUS, the parent company of GGPoker. The acquisition officially transfers all intellectual property rights for WSOP to NSUS, marking a significant shift for the iconic poker series and its future direction.
However, Caesars will remain involved with WSOP in various capacities. For the next two decades, Caesars will continue to host the annual WSOP summer series at its Las Vegas properties, including the Horseshoe and Paris casinos, which have housed the tournament since it transitioned from the Rio in 2022. Additionally, Caesars Digital has secured a licensing arrangement that allows it to continue operating WSOP online poker sites in several U.S. states, including New Jersey, Nevada, Michigan, and Pennsylvania. This ongoing partnership keeps WSOP tied to Caesars’ broader gaming ecosystem, even as the brand’s ownership shifts.
Key personnel from WSOP will also transition to a new NSUS subsidiary, with long-time WSOP Executive Director Ty Stewart stepping into the role of CEO, accompanied by other seasoned staff members like Gregory Chochon as COO and Erik Eidissen as communications manager. The future plans for WSOP’s global online reach remain to be clarified, as GGPoker is expected to strategize around maximizing WSOP’s brand in international markets. Currently, GGPoker runs WSOP.ca in Ontario, where it has established a significant footprint.
This acquisition not only highlights GGPoker’s robust positioning in the global poker arena, having previously surpassed PokerStars in user engagement in 2022, but it also secures the longevity and expansion of the WSOP brand through a strategic collaboration between Caesars and NSUS.
