The Amateur Poker Association & Tour (APAT), considered as Europe’s largest organization for recreational poker players with a membership of over 50,000 players, has officially acquired poker.co.uk. As part of the sale, the APAT will receive poker.co.uk’s player database, online poker software and customer support contracts in the former’s bid to start its own online poker venture for all of its members.
In a statement, Des Duffy, Managing Director of APAT said: “We’re excited that APAT will add an online poker room to our product range and look forward to delivering a high quality online poker experience for our customers.”
First formed in 2006, the APAT has become one of the most popular clubs for poker players in the UK. In the same year that it was formed, the APAT also launched the country’s first national poker tour where it has since become a global presence in the industry, having sponsored a host of poker events outside the UK, including tournaments in Las Vegas and Spain.
With the purchase of poker.co.uk, APAT intends to give the site the full re-brand treatment. While it will still be hosted on the GTECH G2 network, the APAT wants to revamp the aesthetics of the site to give it a different look to it. Eventually, the APAT plans to bring satellites and direct entry to APAT’s Live and Online Championship tournaments to the site. On top of that, the new poker.co.uk site will also play host to the National Online League and the inaugural National Online Cup while also having a complete schedule of tournaments and cash games that will run around the clock.
Matt Dale, the founder of poker.co.uk and is now the online poker director of APAT, added: “With a membership of over 50,000 players and a reputation for being very community focussed, APAT is well positioned to bring something new to the online poker market and I’m delighted to play a part”.
