PR Coup by PokerStars in Wall Street Journal!

PR Coup by PokerStars in Wall Street Journal!
In a long Wall Street Journal article written by reputable gambling journalist Alexandra Berzon, the Isle of Man-based online poker giant Pokerstars embarked on a promotional action, with its CEO Mark Scheinberg (39) welcoming Berzon to the Pokerstars headquarters at Onchan on the island. On the occasion, Scheinberg underlined that the Pokerstars business is well-funded, legitimate, ethical and legal, and operates in a variety of acceptable and genuine licensing jurisdictions, at the same time denying the US Justice Department's money laundering, bank fraud and illegal gambling charges against him. The article goes on to explain the whole situation PokerStars is facing in the US - its target market, and the changing attitudes in the country. Regarding the company's stats, it was revealed that almost a quarter of a million people played in one of its annual tournaments this year, and millions more tune in to watch its live televised events. The numbers are truly impressive, especially when one takes into account the info that 54 percent of global player market share is held by PokerStars, seven times more than its nearest competitor. According to the article's author, Pokerstars remains confident it will enter the US market, and can spend millions on advertising and hiring high profile sportsmen like tennis champ Rafa Nadal and lobbyists-politicians like the former Democratic congressman Richard Gephardt. Another PokerStars official, Guy Templar, the head of business development, talked to Berzon and said: "We have to begin to explain that we're a completely normal company. We're not a backroom shop on a rock in the sea." And while praising such modesty, Warren Bartlett, a gambling consultant on the island, said that companies had to be more available if they were to win licenses and influence people. Furthermore, complimenting the company's marketing tactics, the piece notes they have helped put online poker on the map, especially thanks to the innovative moves such as convincing a Russian detective show to use poker to solve crimes.
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