PokerStars appears to be gearing up for the launch of its US daily fantasy sports (DFS) product in time for September’s start of a new NFL Season.
Last week the Amaya Inc owned poker brand contacted former US players to participate in a DFS survey as it tried to gather market information. At present the operator has not outlined any details on its DFS market strategy or upcoming product. PokerStars asked its former US players for opinions and suggestions regarding DFS products, promotions and sign-up offers.
In March Amya Inc CEO David Baazov outlined to the media, that PokerStars woud enter the DFS market by autumn 2015.
“We have also taken the strategic decision to enter the daily fantasy sports category and are pursuing parallel tracks of internal development and strategic acquisition. The goal is to be up before the NFL season starts” Baazov commented in March
PokerStars governance believes that there is a strong crossover factor between online poker and DFS products. Following its forced withdrawal from the US online poker market on 15 April 2011 (Black Friday), the operator believes that a substantial number of its former US customer base took up fantasy sports.
PokerStars will be the second major new entrant in the billion dollar DFS market, as online media operator Yahoo announced in April that it would enter the market by revamping its former product offering.