In a move announced on Tuesday, the Peak Group Malta, the parent company of Sun Poker, announced that its online poker site, along with Omni Casino and CSCasino.com, will be moving to Playtech’s iPoker Network effective in the middle of December. Players will be able to remain on the CryptoLogic Network until January 31st, 2009, according to an e-mail sent by Sun Poker officials to affiliates.
The move should be welcome news to users on Sun Poker. According to the statement, the new software’s capability will be a selling point for customers: “As you may know, the Playtech software is one of the most popular in the world due to its award winning game offerings, multiple currency and multiple language features, and unparalleled innovation in the online gaming world.” Playtech was founded in 1999 and produces software for the iPoker Network, which it owns and operates.
Sun Poker is currently on the CryptoLogic Network. According to an FAQ posted on the online poker room’s affiliate website, players will have new accounts opened for them on the iPoker Network and will need to download new software in order to play. Customers will then transfer their balances over, which can be done “directly within their account on Cryptologic.” Current online poker rooms that make their homes on the iPoker Network include Betfred Poker, CD Poker, Chili Poker, Expekt Poker, Kiwi Poker, Noble Poker, Poker Ocean, Titan Poker, and VC Poker.
My Poker Points, or MPPs, will not transfer to the iPoker Network. Instead, Sun Poker is hosting a “special promotion once we move which will be based on the number MPP’s you have accumulated on the Cryptologic network.” The iPoker Network is currently gearing up for the third European Championship of Online Poker, or ECOOP as it’s commonly known as. Last year, a total of $2.85 million was up for grabs and over 44,000 players hit the virtual felts to play in its events. This year, the ECOOP III Main Event takes place on December 7th and boasts a $1,060 price tag. The tournament has a $1.5 million guaranteed prize pool.
Also in 2007, iPoker integrated the Tribeca Poker Network into its offering. Playtech is traded on the London Stock Exchange under the symbol “PTEC.” At the time of writing, it had closed the day down ₤3.75, or 1.02%, to land at ₤363.25. It has traded in a window during the past 52 weeks of ₤308 to ₤558. In October, Playtech announced that William Hill had acquired the “assets, businesses and contracts comprising an affiliate marketing business, customer services operation and gaming brands and websites, from Playtech,” according to a press release. The “integration” of Playtech and William Hill is slated to occur within eight months from now. William Hill Poker is also a member of the CryptoLogic Network.
Another change for players on Sun Poker is that the iPoker Network does not allow rakeback, which is a popular program whereby players recoup a percentage of their rake paid to the online poker room. Various “no rake” sites have popped up to take advantage of the high level of interest in rakeback. Sun Poker is expected to introduce a loyalty program in lieu of rakeback, although the specifics of it were not available. Players can remain on the CryptoLogic Network until January 31st. When they wake up the next day, they will officially be brand new customers of iPoker.
Sun Poker officials declined to comment further on the move. We’ll have more information as it unfolds right here on Poker News Daily.