International Entertainment Corporation (IEC) boss Stanley Choi says that he is “very, very close” to securing a new home for live PokerStars branded events in Macau after the former PokerStars LIVE Macau poker room at City of Dreams closed down last month.
In a lengthy interview with PokerNews, Choi – the Hong Kong businessman and high stakes poker player who took control of IEC last year – revealed his grand plans for poker in Asia following the announcement last week that IEC had signed a collaboration agreement with The Stars Group to operate land-based live events and poker rooms under the branding of PokerStars in certain Asian countries.
Those plans incorporate Japan, South Korea, Vietnam, Singapore, Malaysia and Cambodia among others, while Choi also confirmed that Macau formed part of IEC’s PokerStars deal.
“We are very, very close,” he said. “Because it’s not finalized yet, I can only say that I’m positive to have a substitute for City of Dreams soon.”
Choi added that the room would likely be considerably smaller than its former home at City of Dreams, with no more than 10 tables for most of the year. More tables would be added for major tournaments. PokerStars LIVE Macau has traditionally been home to four of the region’s biggest events including the Macau Poker Cup, APPT Macau, the Macau Millions and the Asia Championships of Poker (ACOP).
Choi also told PokerNews of his desire to launch a PokerStars LIVE poker room in Tokyo, despite live cash games remaining illegal in Japan.
“I’ve been there many times and they are just obsessed with the game without having to play for a reward,” he said.
In the more immediate future, Korea and Vietnam are in Choi’s sights.
“Besides Macau, we are also exploring Korea,” he said. “That will be our next target. There’s a big casino there with 3,000 rooms that opened up last month. There’s another one opening in Vietnam, opening in 2019, that I’m looking at.
“So there are a lot of options in Asia and we’re looking at several opportunities in several Asian countries.”
The Stars Group confirmed to Inside Asian Gaming (IAG) last week that it had reached an agreement with IEC “to license the PokerStars brand for land-based live events and poker rooms across Asia. IEC, a publicly listed company, will hold the sole and exclusive rights to run PokerStars branded events in certain Asian countries as mutually agreed by The Stars Group and IEC, which will be operated through a subsidiary.”
Representatives from Melco Resorts and Entertainment recently told IAG that the company planned to turn the former PokerStars LIVE Macau poker room at City of Dreams into junket rooms.
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