Gossip: Amaya Gaming and Pokerstars talking acquisition - Page 2 - Poker News

or Rational realizes that it has little chance of breaking into the US market within the next decade, thus making PokerStars less valuable to Rational than to someone who has a better chance of breaking Stars into the US market. if the price is anywhere within that gap in value, it's win/win (Rational sells for more than it's worth to them; buyer buys for less than it's worth to them).

This is a really good insight.

So good that I feel like an ******* for not realizing it on my own.

06-12-2014 , 03:43 PM

#27

TwistedArtisan

newbie

Join Date: Oct 2013 Posts: 22

Quote:

An official announcement is expected within 24 hours that Amaya has a solid deal in place with PokerStars parent Rational Group; however, as of this writing, no one from any of these participants has had an official comment.

http://www.cardschat.com/news/pokers...#ixzz34SKD0j6w

06-12-2014 , 04:26 PM

#28

ArtySmokes

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Join Date: Aug 2011 Posts: 6,999

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stone_Palace

Exercise extreme caution if you're thinking about buying Amaya stock

Trading has been suspended, because this is basically a done deal.

06-12-2014 , 04:31 PM

#29

integratyper777

grinder

Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 440

Someone was manipulating the stock price along with this. Unless the demand went ape**** because there's so much money in the poker market that is liquid and probably so little stock that is available to purchase. I could see this, and I could see the stock rebounding way down.

They could also be changing symbols.

06-12-2014 , 04:55 PM

#30

idun215

veteran

Join Date: Jul 2012 Posts: 3,015

If Amaya does acquire Rational Group what happens to the Scheinberg's. I thought part of the reason they were rejected from NJ was because of their personal legal troubles.

06-12-2014 , 04:57 PM

#31

mcc3504

Pooh-Bah

Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 3,908

how good is this for US online poker (stars + ftp chances of re entering the market)

06-12-2014 , 05:10 PM

#32

curtinsea

WA iPoker NOW

Join Date: Jan 2011 Posts: 1,361

Quote:

Originally Posted by mcc3504

how good is this for US online poker (stars + ftp chances of re entering the market)

Probably gets them back in the process in NJ; doesn't move the ball in CA at all

06-12-2014 , 05:12 PM

#33

dnkyhunter31

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Subbing to potential epic thread.

If this gets me playing on star before 2020, this will all be worth it.

06-12-2014 , 05:12 PM

#34

ArtySmokes

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Join Date: Aug 2011 Posts: 6,999

Quote:

Originally Posted by idun215

If Amaya does acquire Rational Group what happens to the Scheinberg's.

I'd guess they cry all the way to the bank, retire to the Bahamas, and never set foot on the Isle of Man again.

06-12-2014 , 05:18 PM

#35

dankhank

dankest of hanks

Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 8,114

Quote:

Originally Posted by mcc3504

how good is this for US online poker (stars + ftp chances of re entering the market)

Seems like it would give Pokerstars a foothold in the market (in Jersey), but that widespread legal US online poker will still happen on a state by state basis.

06-12-2014 , 05:19 PM

#36

curtinsea

WA iPoker NOW

Join Date: Jan 2011 Posts: 1,361

The 'bad actors' clause in CA is not about the actors at all, despite the arguments from the Tribes. What they fear is a single platform holding 65% of the entire market, meaning only those lucky enough to partner with that giant having a shot at being profitable in the market.

This is borne out in the language itself, specifically 19990.404.(3)(f) (of the so far unintroduced coalition bill; same language is in the current bills as well) which states that any entity that "proposes to use assets, whether owned by the applicant or any other entity, that were used to accept such wagers"

In other words, the platform itself is tainted, and would not be allowed, regardless of ownership. So a sale to Amaya doesn't move the ball in CA at all. The bad actor language would still need to be removed.

since the popularity of the product itself is unchanged, I don't see how the Tribes would view it any differently under the new ownership.

06-12-2014 , 05:21 PM

#37

LetsGambool

banned

Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 26,568

Looks like an LBO type financing package with $1B of debt going on the business. Probably not a positive on that front from a players perspective, cash gonna be needed to service/repay that debt.

06-12-2014 , 05:34 PM

#38

Shane Stewart

grinder

Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 561

Quote:

Originally Posted by ArtySmokes

I'd guess they cry all the way to the bank, retire to the Bahamas, and never set foot on the Isle of Man again.

Wrong.

I believe Isai's son Mark paid something like 35mm fine. He's free to go where he pleases. Isai is still under indictment and I believe is likely stuck on the Isle of Man. He can't go somewhere where he can be extradited to the USA for trial.

06-12-2014 , 06:41 PM

#39

VP$IP

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Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 6,841

Quote:

Originally Posted by curtinsea

In other words, the platform itself is tainted, and would not be allowed, regardless of ownership. So a sale to Amaya doesn't move the ball in CA at all. The bad actor language would still need to be removed.

The platform could be re-branded and tweaked, if they were willing to give up the name recognition.

06-12-2014 , 06:59 PM

#40

Monorail

adept

Join Date: Feb 2014 Posts: 991

Quote:

Originally Posted by VP$IP

The platform could be re-branded and tweaked, if they were willing to give up the name recognition.

Re-branding something doesn't change the underlying ASSET. Stars and FTP software is forever tainted.

06-12-2014 , 07:01 PM

#41

bjsmith22

veteran

Join Date: Sep 2011 Posts: 2,235

Quote:

Originally Posted by Monorail

Re-branding something doesn't change the underlying ASSET. Stars and FTP software is forever tainted.

So, this might sound dumb but...

Stars offers to sell their software for 1 dollar to US govt, obv US accepts

US doesn't use that software because its tainted?

06-12-2014 , 07:06 PM

#42

curtinsea

WA iPoker NOW

Join Date: Jan 2011 Posts: 1,361

Quote:

Originally Posted by bjsmith22

So, this might sound dumb but...

Stars offers to sell their software for 1 dollar to US govt, obv US accepts

US doesn't use that software because its tainted?

'bad actor' is a state obstacle (is/was/always will be)

Unless the language is removed from legislation, no pokerstars in CA under any guise

06-12-2014 , 07:25 PM

#43

ASAP17

Pooh-Bah

Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 5,882

This thread needs more love considering Blackstone is financing this deal. Should not be overlooked the impact this could have in getting Stars back to the US faster.

06-12-2014 , 07:56 PM

#44

idun215

veteran

Join Date: Jul 2012 Posts: 3,015

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-0...ing-today.html

1billlion for Pokerstars looks a little cheap.

06-12-2014 , 08:31 PM

#45

DrawNone

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Join Date: May 2013 Posts: 5,023

looks like the owners of Pokerstars are cashing out.

06-12-2014 , 09:27 PM

#46

ASAP17

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Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 5,882

Stars should be worth way more than $1b. That's a huge red flag for the online industry if so...

06-12-2014 , 09:30 PM

#47

Willyoman

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Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 10,468

Guys, it's in.

Mod please change title. Or create new thread. This is huge.

Quote:

Amaya Agrees to Acquire Rational Group, Owner of PokerStars and Full Tilt Poker, for $4.9 Billion

Amaya Gaming Group Inc.
3 minutes ago

Acquisition Creates World's Largest Publicly-Traded Online Gaming Company

MONTREAL, CANADA and ONCHAN, ISLE OF MAN, June 12, 2014 /PRNewswire/ - Amaya Gaming Group Inc. (AYA.TO) ("Amaya" or the "Corporation") and privately held Oldford Group Limited ("Oldford Group"), the parent company of Rational Group Ltd. ("Rational Group"), the world's largest poker business and owner and operator of the PokerStars and Full Tilt Poker brands, announced today they have entered into a definitive agreement (the "Agreement") for the Corporation to acquire 100% of the issued and outstanding shares of Oldford Group in an all-cash transaction for an aggregate purchase price of $4.9 billion (the "Purchase Price"), including certain deferred payments and subject to certain other customary adjustments (the "Transaction"). All $ figures are in US dollars unless noted otherwise.

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/amaya-...012400010.html

06-12-2014 , 09:31 PM

#48

curtinsea

WA iPoker NOW

Join Date: Jan 2011 Posts: 1,361

Quote:

Originally Posted by ASAP17

Stars should be worth way more than $1b. That's a huge red flag for the online industry if so...

It is indeed, barely more than what they paid the DoJ to settle BF case. I think what we are going to hear tomorrow is that Amaya bought FTP

06-12-2014 , 09:31 PM

#49

bjsmith22

veteran

Join Date: Sep 2011 Posts: 2,235

Quote:

Originally Posted by curtinsea

It is indeed, barely more than what they paid the DoJ to settle BF case. I think what we are going to hear tomorrow is that Amaya bought FTP

lol look up brah

06-12-2014 , 09:32 PM

#50

bjsmith22

veteran

Join Date: Sep 2011 Posts: 2,235

also, +1 to new thread, biggest news possible in online poker IMO

Am I the only one who ha never heard of the oldford group?

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