While Caesars Is Selling WSOP, Not Much Changes For NJ Poker Players

Written By Corey Sharp on August 1, 2024
Image of a sign for the World Series of Poker for a story on Caesars selling WSOP and its effect on the New Jersey gambling market.

Caesars Entertainment has agreed to sell the rights of World Series of Poker (WSOP) to NSUS Group Inc., the owner of GGPoker, for $500 million.

The deal includes $250 million in cash and another $250 million to be paid five years after the transaction’s closing date.

While monumental on the surface, New Jersey poker players should not fear much. Because according to Thursday’s announcement, it does not appear that WSOP NJ will change in any way.

Caesars to continue featuring WSOP in retail locations

The press release made clear that, despite selling it off, Caesars has secured the right to continue hosting live tournaments at its Las Vegas casinos for the next 20 years.

In addition, Caesars properties across the country, including Caesars Atlantic City, will continue to display WSOP branding in the poker room.

“After collaborating with Caesars Entertainment for years, NSUS Group, the operators of GGPoker, is thrilled to announce their new role in leading the World Series of Poker, the world’s most renowned poker brand,” Michael Kim, chief executive officer of NSUS Group Inc., said in a statement.

“We will leverage GGPoker’s cutting-edge technology and industry expertise to create an exciting future for WSOP, ensuring players have an increasingly improved, safe, and seamless poker experience. Under the new leadership, NSUS intends to expand WSOP worldwide, positioning it at the forefront of poker’s growth.”

Caesars to get clearance to run WSOP NJ online product

Caesars is also in the process of obtaining a license from NSUS to continue operating WSOP’s real-money online poker business, including WSOP NJ. However, it’ll be restricted from offering peer-to-peer operations for a period of time.

“We’ve enjoyed a longstanding and successful partnership with GGPoker that has helped spur the growth of the WSOP brand,” Eric Hession, president of Caesars Digital, said in the announcement.

“This transaction is an exciting step for Caesars as a company and the WSOP brand as it continues to evolve. We can’t wait to see what NSUS has in store for growing the WSOP’s legacy in poker, and we look forward to continuing to deliver an unmatched and familiar experience to poker players going forward.”

Any transaction worth half a billion dollars is certainly a big deal. However, the news doesn’t appear to affect New Jersey poker players all that much, if at all.

The Garden State remains a strong market in the poker industry, and the latest sale does not change that.

Photo by John Locher / AP Photo
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Corey Sharp

Corey Sharp serves as the lead writer for PlayNJ after joining Catena Media in 2022. Born and raised in Philadelphia, he previously worked for the Philadelphia Inquirer and NBC Sports Philadelphia as a sports writer and content producer. As lead writer for PlayNJ, Corey heads up a talented team of expert journalists and analysts to bring you the most comprehensive coverage of gambling news in New Jersey.

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