Los Angeles, CA (April 23, 2020) – In the wake of drastic events that have postponed the availability of global live tournaments, the World Poker Tour® realigned its strategic planning to shift toward its online and content distribution businesses in the first quarter of 2020. The WPT® television show and the WPT’s sweepstakes-based online poker platform, ClubWPT™, are both experiencing high levels of customer demand in the newly reformed global market of experiential online engagement. The WPT and the WPT Family are now more accessible than ever through online poker and digital content.
ClubWPT is currently in the midst of rapid growth. In January, ClubWPT launched the innovative ClubWPT Million Dollar Bonus, which kickstarted a campaign of new users signing up for ClubWPT, where you can play poker for cash and prizes with no purchase necessary.* However, with live events postponed, ClubWPT pivoted to connecting with a targeted audience through its online, safe playing environment to further enhance the online poker experience.
WPT talent members Lynn Gilmartin, Tony Dunst, Vince Van Patten, and Matt Savage can be found playing on ClubWPT through streams on Twitch, YouTube, and Facebook which reach tens of thousands of engaged users.
In addition, ClubWPT also implemented a successful series of promotional programs designed to enhance retention rates while increasing the average revenue per subscriber. Virtual currency sales on ClubWPT grew 68% from Q1 in 2019 to Q1 in 2020. Overall, new registrations for ClubWPT are up 39% year-over-year in Q1 in 2020 and billed subscribers increased by 8.3 percent over the same period.
The WPT also announced the debut of the first WPT Online Series to take place on partypoker this May. The series includes $30 million in guarantees along with $9 million in guarantees across the WPT family of events. The $5 million guaranteed WPT Online Championship highlights the series and is the first for the WPT on a real money gaming platform.
In its 18th year of national broadcast, the WPT TV show is reaching record numbers of viewers across linear and OTT platforms. Season 17 of the World Poker Tour premiered on March 1 on FOX Sports and the show continues to be one of the highest-rated shows on that network, reaching more than 1 million viewers per week across first airings and syndication in the U.S.
WPT Studios increased syndication by 25% to reach additional households across the country. New syndication deals include: AT&T, Sinclair Networks, Cox Sports, Right Now TV, Action Channel and Altitude Sports.
OTT viewership numbers are up 125% in Q1 year-over-year on platforms that include PlutoTV, SamsungTV, and Xumo. WPT’s OTT viewership hit 8.2 million in Q1 this year.
“Online and Distribution are vital parts of the WPT portfolio and proving, once again, to be valuable in uncertain global times,” Adam Pliska, CEO of the World Poker Tour, said. “ClubWPT is offering players the opportunity to remain competitive in a safe climate and we are exceptionally pleased with the new experiences offered to our users. The WPT TV show continues to be a key asset for global programming as new content to replace sports on television. In our greatest challenge across 18 seasons, I am pleased to see the WPT business continue to bring poker to people’s lives around the globe.”
For more information regarding the World Poker Tour, head to WPT.com.
About World Poker Tour
World Poker Tour (WPT) is the premier name in internationally televised gaming and entertainment with brand presence in land-based tournaments, television, online, and mobile. Leading innovation in the sport of poker since 2002, WPT ignited the global poker boom with the creation of a unique television show based on a series of high-stakes poker tournaments. WPT has broadcast globally in more than 150 countries and territories, and is currently producing its 18th season, which airs on FOX Sports Regional Networks in the United States. Season XVIII of WPT is sponsored by ClubWPT.com. ClubWPT.com is a unique online membership site that offers inside access to the WPT, as well as a sweepstakes-based poker club available in 43 states and territories across the United States, Australia, Canada, France and the United Kingdom. WPT also participates in strategic brand license, partnership, and sponsorship opportunities. For more information, go to WPT.com. WPT Enterprises Inc. is a subsidiary of Allied Esports Entertainment, Inc.
About Allied Esports Entertainment
Allied Esports Entertainment (NASDAQ: AESE) is a global esports entertainment venture dedicated to providing transformative live experiences, multiplatform content and interactive services to audiences worldwide through its strategic fusion of two powerful entertainment brands: Allied Esports and the World Poker Tour (WPT). Allied Esports Entertainment was created in August 2019 when Black Ridge Acquisition Corp. completed its business combination with Allied Esports and WPT Enterprises.
Forward-Looking Statements
This communication contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements may relate to future results, strategy and plans of Allied Esports Entertainment, Inc. and the World Poker Tour (collectively, the “Companies”) (including certain projections and business trends, and statements, which may be identified by the use of the words “plans”, “expects” or “does not expect”, “estimated”, “is expected”, “budget”, “scheduled”, “estimates”, “forecasts”, “intends”, “anticipates” or “does not anticipate”, or “believes”, or variations of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results “may”, “could”, “would”, “might”, “projects”, “will” or “will be taken”, “occur” or “be achieved”). Forward-looking statements are based on the opinions and estimates of management of the Companies as of the date such statements are made, and they are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, each Company’s respective revenues and operating performance, general economic conditions, industry trends, legislation or regulatory requirements affecting the business in which it is engaged, management of growth, its business strategy and plans, the result of future financing efforts and its dependence on key personnel, and the ability to retain key personnel. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance upon any forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date made. These forward-looking statements are made only as of the date hereof, and no Company undertakes any obligation to update or revise the forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.
Investor Contact:
Lasse Glassen
Addo Investor Relations
[email protected]
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©2020 WPT Enterprises, Inc. All rights reserved.
*NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. Must be 18 or older to join the club and/or play online games. See Terms and Conditions at www.clubwpt.com for additional eligibility restrictions, prize descriptions, ARVs (Actual Retail Value), odds, how to play without becoming a paid member and complete details. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED.
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