The Stars Group's Pokerstars Spring Championship of Online Poker Surpasses Guarantee With $91 Million Prize Pool

TORONTO, May 24, 2018 /PRNewswire/ --

The Stars Group Inc. (Nasdaq: TSG) (TSE: TSGI) today announced that its popular annual Spring Championship of Online Poker (SCOOP) tournament series exceeded its largest ever $65 million guarantee, ultimately paying out approximately $91 million in prizes and making it the second largest ever online poker series behind last year's SCOOP which paid out approximately $94 million.

This year's SCOOP ran from May 6 to May 23 spanning 16 days and 183 tournaments, 28 of which individually guaranteed at least $1 million in prizes. The online series, which is in its tenth year, attracted 141,862 players from 141 different countries for a total of 1,071,706 tournament entries; tournament buy-ins ranged from $2.20 to $25,000. Among the industry-leading prize guarantees, the SCOOP-58-H Main Event sported a $5 million guarantee.

"The Spring Championship of Online Poker is one of the most important highlights of the annual poker calendar," said Rafi Ashkenazi, Chief Executive of The Stars Group. "In its tenth year, we were pleased to deliver not only the largest online poker guarantee in PokerStars history but to yet again pay out over $90 million in prizes to our players."

A total of five PokerStars Players No Limit Hold'em Championship (PSPC) Platinum Passes, worth around $30,000 each, were awarded to the SCOOP main event winners across each buy-in level, as well as the first-place player on the SCOOP leader board and the winner of an 'All-in Shootout' draw. The PSPC takes place in the Bahamas in 2019 and The Stars Group expects it to be the largest $25,000 buy-in poker tournament in poker history. The Stars Group is giving away a total of $8 million worth of Platinum Passes and an additional $1 million for the overall winner at the PSPC.

About The Stars Group  

The Stars Group is a leading provider of technology-based products and services in the global gaming and interactive entertainment industries. The Stars Group directly or indirectly, including through its Stars Interactive Group division, owns gaming and related consumer businesses and brands, such as PokerStars, PokerStars Casino, BetStars, Full Tilt, and the PokerStars Players No Limit Hold'em Championship, European Poker Tour, PokerStars Caribbean Adventure, Latin American Poker Tour, Asia Pacific Poker Tour, PokerStars Festival and PokerStars MEGASTACK live poker tour and event brands. These brands together have millions of registered customers globally and collectively form the largest poker business in the world, comprising online poker games and tournaments, sponsored live poker competitions, marketing arrangements for branded poker rooms in popular casinos in major cities around the world, and poker programming and content created for television and online audiences. The Stars Group, through certain of these and other brands, also offers non-poker gaming products, including casino and sportsbook. The Stars Group, through certain of its subsidiaries, is licensed or approved to offer, or offers under third party licenses or approvals, its products and services in various jurisdictions throughout the world, including in Europe, both within and outside of the European Union, Australia, the Americas and elsewhere. In particular, PokerStars is the world's most licensed online gaming brand, holding licenses or related operating approvals in 17 jurisdictions.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward Looking Statements and Other Information 

This news release may contain forward-looking statements and information within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Forward-looking statements can, but may not always, be identified by the use of words such as "anticipate", "plan", "continue", "estimate", "expect", "may", "will", "intend", "could", "might", "would", "should", "believe", and similar references to future periods or the negatives of these words and expressions. These statements are based on management's current expectations and are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties, and assumptions. There can be no assurance that actual results will not differ materially from those expressed or implied in forward-looking statements. Undue reliance should not be placed on forward-looking statements. Please refer to The Stars Group's most recent annual information form and annual and interim financial statements and management's discussion and analysis for more information about the factors, assumptions and risks that may apply to The Star's Group's forward-looking statements. Each forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date hereof, and The Stars Group undertakes no obligation to correct or update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable law.

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SOURCE The Stars Group