Yesterday, OnlinePokerReport.com reported that “sources close to the process” have said that Full Tilt Poker plans to expand its portfolio and add casino gambling to its offerings. That information has been confirmed this morning, as Rational Group, parent company of Full Tilt, has issued an official statement to media outlets.
“The Rational Group intends to expand our product offering to include casino style games on Full Tilt Poker,” the statement begins. “While adding new games, we remain committed to building our leadership in poker with PokerStars and Full Tilt Poker and continuing to deliver the highest quality poker experience to players.”
No timetable has been announced as to when any new games will be added. PokerStars will remain as-is. “These new games on Full Tilt will provide more gaming options with the same high quality player experience, integrity, security, safety and support that players have come to expect from our brands. PokerStars will continue to offer a Poker-only experience,” the statement concluded.
PokerStars and Full Tilt Poker, former rivals now both owned by Rational Group since Rational’s purchase of Full Tilt in 2012, have long been two of the only purely poker sites on the internet. When potential legal storms were brewing in the United States for online gaming firms doing business in the country, one of the prevailing thoughts (or hopes) was that operators like PokerStars and Full Tilt would be safe because they did not offer sports betting and, to a lesser extent, casino gaming. Because federal law did not explicitly outlaw online poker, it seemed that any sites that only offered poker would be in the clear. Obviously, that didn’t work out, as eleven people involved with PokerStars, Full Tilt Poker, and Absolute Poker were named in the Black Friday indictments of April 15th 2011 (Absolute did offer casino gaming). Neither PokerStars nor Full Tilt have served U.S. customers since and Absolute Poker is out of business.
OnlinePokerReport speculates that Full Tilt’s name will change as well, perhaps dropping the “Poker” in favor of an all-encompassing “Gaming.” The article also makes some educated guesses as to why Rational Group may be doing this, reasons that make perfect sense to us here at Poker News Daily. With PokerStars looking to re-enter the U.S. market via New Jersey (it has partnered with Resorts Casino Hotel and has filed an application for an interactive gaming license), it very well may want to have a full gaming stable, rather than just poker, as New Jersey will allow its operators to offer all casino gaming online. It helps that casino games are generally quite profitable, as well (the house always wins, right?).
Additionally, despite a complete change in ownership and management, Full Tilt Poker doesn’t have the bright, shining name it once did because of the post-Black Friday financial scandal that has still resulted in Americans being without their old Full Tilt funds. A rebranding, however slight, might serve to put some of the ill will in the past.
