The Stars Group and Flutter Entertainment have finally received clearance regarding their merger from the United Kingdom regulators. After being granted necessary licenses by the regulator, the two business ventures can continue with their already proposed $12.2 billion-worth merger which once completed will create the largest online gambling and betting business globally. This combined group is expected to have net revenues worth around $4 billion in normal working environments.

Before being granted necessary licenses to proceed with the merger talks, the companies involved wondered whether the Competition and Markets Authority would demand that some The Stars Group and Flutter Entertainment brands be sold before the CMA approved the business deal. Fortunately for the companies involved, the CMA concluded that fans of online betting activities residing in the United Kingdom would have enough choice after the merger deal is completed. Furthermore, the Competition and Markets Authority also concluded that the merger will not worsen the overall offering to gamers who bet online.

Findings of the Competition and Markets Authority

In its latest research regarding the proposed merger between The Stars Group and Flutter Entertainment, the Competition and Markets Authority has found that online gambling firms compete strongly for their customers while the United Kingdom betting market is packed with a number of small and large online sports betting operators that offer their services here. The CMA has also found out that there the merging companies would leave space for those smaller operators to proceed with their activities which finally prompted the regulator to allow the two companies to complete the merger.

It should be noted that this was the last fundamental regulatory hurdle for the proposed merger deal as The Stars Group and Flutter Entertainment have been already granted necessary permissions by antitrust regulatory authorities in Canada, Austria, Germany and the United States where The Stars Group is based as well as in Australia where both sports betting operators enjoy a great reputation and have a great share of the entire betting market.

Being granted necessary licenses in the United Kingdom was definitely the toughest obstacle to come across. Speaking of the online betting market in the United Kingdom, The Stars Group and Flutter Entertainment-owned brands together account for over forty percent of the United Kingdom’s online sports betting market as well as around twenty-six percent of the overall online gaming market in the country. Before being granted necessary licenses, some experts believed that Flutter Entertainment may have to sell some of its brands to appease the Competition and Markets Authority.

Several Smaller Regulators Still to Approve the Merger Deal

However, the companies’ merger deal has been approved while the two have managed to keep all of their brands. According to Flutter Entertainment officials, there are still several smaller regulatory bodies that need to approve the company’s merger deal. They also added that this could be postponed due to the global coronavirus crisis. However, the company’s officials also added that the crisis will not jeopardize the merger deal.

In one of the company’s press releases, the officials said that the deal will not be sabotaged despite the massive economic shock related to the cancellation and postponement of sports events across the globe. All in all, Flutter Entertainment will be more affected by the coronavirus crisis as the majority of its revenues come from online sports betting while The Stars Group makes the majority of its gaming revenues from online casino and poker games.

PokerStars has recently reached its 200^th billionth dealt hand which is certainly the news worthy of celebration. This is one of the greatest accomplishments a poker domain was able to fulfill, and PokerStars has decided to properly celebrate such occasion. Furthermore, the poker operator, in ownership of the Stars Group, came up with an idea to share their success with players who helped them in getting to this impressive number by offering $2 million in total via giveaways, merchandise, and other promos.

A Big Thanks to Poker Community

By dealing 200^th billionth poker hand, PokerStars has managed to do something truly memorable. Especially when considering that, in June 2013, they’ve had a chance to get to 100^th billionth hand, and fast-forward to their 200^th billionth in a six-year time-frame. As a thank you to this unbelievable achievement, PokerStars has enabled multiple rewards to their customers.

According to PokerStars officials, they’ve just been waiting for this moment, and thankfully, it’s finally arrived, a chance for the company to once again give back to the community as it has done on previous milestone hand celebrations.

Six players who on May 4 participated in 8c/16c No Limit Hold’em cash game, reaching that highly-anticipated digit, were each rewarded with $10,000 while ‘KeySssi” went with the pot. In addition, after 200^th billionth number, celebrations commenced, handing out all kinds of prizes to players who had their part in making it all happen. Prizes included promos such as Star Reward Chests, more than $400,000 worth of ‘free tournament ticket drops, Mega Freeroll tournament, worth $200,000, merchandise from the Stars Store as well as giveaways.

Also, for all players who had a chance to play poker on their site, even one hand since the time poker was opened for players in December 2001, an opportunity to spin 200 Billion Hands Celebration Wheel for free was allowed with an every-day prize, set up to $2,000. During this celebratory period, over 6 million spins were granted.

Séverin Rasset, director of Poker Innovation and Operations for The Stars Group, on this particular occasion, stated that it’s truly remarkable they’ve been able to get to this number. In fact, it’s almost hard to believe. Two hundred billion has been their goal for quite some time, and finally, succeeding deserves celebration in a manner which will show how grateful they’re towards those who made it happen. Their team is more than happy about everything that’s happened and they’re in anticipation for what comes next. In the end, Séverin Rasset passed his congratulations to the team behind this enormous achievement.

Pokerstars Still Going Strong

From the moment it was founded in 2001 and up till now, PokerStars has turned into the most sought-out online poker site. Being number one in the gaming community when it comes to poker, this operator provides optimum conditions for its customers which include numerous daily tournaments as well as high-level online security. The fact they’ve succeeded getting to that impressive two hundred billion figure speaks for itself, especially since they’re the first site ever to do it. Also, their ability to get from 100^th billionth to 200^th billionth hand in such a short time is another achievement worth admiring.