DOUGLAS, Isle of Man, Jan. 5, 2006 (PRIMEZONE) -- The Prima Network (www.primapoker.com), the world's leading online poker network, has announced that PinnacleSports.com (www.pinnaclesports.com) will launch its own poker room in early 2006. PinnacleSports.com is the Internet's largest and most respected sports betting site, offering reduced margin wagering to customers in more than 80 countries worldwide. The deal brings together two of the world's foremost gaming sites and marks the 18th card room to join The Prima Network in the past year.
"Our decision to sign with The Prima Network was easy given its outstanding reputation and software, that poker players clearly love," said Simon Noble of PinnacleSports.com. "The Prima Network has a proven track record of integrating card rooms into other online operations quickly and efficiently -- an attribute that was essential to launching our new poker site."
Recently awarded 2005 Top Gaming Portal by Gambling Online Magazine, The Prima Network is recognized by analysts and entrepreneurs as being at the forefront of online poker. Its seamless network unites card rooms and thousands of players around the world.
When card rooms enter the market today they face grueling barriers of entry, from acquiring enough players to sustain 24-hour activity, to frequently offering large prize pools that compete with the more than 200 poker sites on the Internet. New operators on The Prima Network, however, enjoy distinct advantages when entering the online poker arena. The network gives card rooms access to:
-- One of the largest pools of online players, enabling
24-hour action
-- The best online poker software
-- Superior marketing support
-- A wide variety of poker games for all levels of play
-- Large weekly and marketable prize pools that attract thousands
of online players
"It's a great opportunity for us to be working with PinnacleSports.com," said Roger Raatgever, CEO of The Prima Network. "The Prima Network is in tune with sportsbooks, such as Pinnacle Sports, recognizing the instant value of providing online poker to their wagering customers. We offer unique tournaments and serious prize pools that are easily marketed to potential players."
About The Prima Network
The Prima Network, the world's leading online poker network, is powered by Microgaming software, the leading developer of Internet gaming systems. The Prima Network licenses to more than 35 operators worldwide to form a global poker network. The Prima Network ensures that a critical mass of online poker players and a wide variety of games and tournaments are available at all times. Sought by online poker players and operators, The Prima Network symbolizes quality, representing the highest standards in online poker play, fairness, and credibility. For more information, please visit www.primapoker.com.
About PinnacleSports.com
PinnacleSports.com is the Internet's largest sports betting site, serving customers in more than 80 countries worldwide. Founded in 1998, PinnacleSports.com was the first sports book to introduce reduced margin wagering using a -105 pricing model that gives bettors up to 50% better value on wagers than traditional bookmakers. With low minimum bet requirements and the highest maximum limits on the Web, PinnacleSports.com has earned an industry leading reputation for providing consistent value to the player, professional customer service and the quickest payouts online. Fully licensed and regulated in Curacao and the United Kingdom, the company offers a secure environment for sports betting, racing and casino gaming.