To operate successfully, online poker rooms need to be associated with a top-rated poker network. For Coral Poker, the brand has operated for some time on the iPoker Network. However, on December 4th, the brand closed its skin on the network as they prepare to move to partypoker’s network. An email was sent to players to reveal the change.
Details of the Email
In the email to players, Coral Poker stated that they are set to make big changes. Coral Poker is joining the GVC Partypoker network, which is the safest and most established poker network in the world. The changes will not affect player’s cash balance but Poker Points and Bonus balances will be reset.
The Points, Bonuses, Golden Chips and Free Spins will remain in player’s accounts until December 3rd 2019 at 23:59. The email was sent out only about a week before the impending closure, leaving some players pretty frustrated by having to spend their points or clean any bonuses.
While players took to poker forums to talk about their frustration, PokerNews reports that the migration will not be fully complete until 2020 begins. Players essentially have a few weeks to finish up at the site before the switch.
Once the Coral Poker switch is complete, Ladbrokes will also make the change to the partypoker network.
Move After Acquisition
The change to the partypoker network is not surprising since GVC Holdings acquired Ladbrokes-Coral in March of last year. The parent company of partypoker spent £3.2 billion on the purchase. The sale could have cost GVC more but the price was reduced due to the maximum stake change for the Fixed Odds Betting Terminals in the UK last year.
The acquisition by GVC took place just over two years after Ladbrokes and Coral came together as one. GVC has reportedly been interested in the merger for quite some time and by March 2018 got their wish.
The iPoker Network is owned by Playtech, a top-rated software developer. Playtech and GVC Holdings recently announced a new agreement in which Playtech will continue to offer software options for the brands of GVC.
Playtech provides software for online casinos, as well as back-office solutions and self-service betting terminals for GVC Holdings and Ladbrokes Coral in the UK as well as other areas such as the Republic of Ireland.
We expect the transition of Coral Poker to run smoothly and based on reports, the transition should be finished by early 2020. Players can easily speak to customer support at the site to find out more information about the move, specifically based on individual needs such as loyalty points accrued and bonuses to clear.
Player cash balances should not be affected but players can also reach out to support for more information in this regard.
We shall see how the transition affects the brand in the coming weeks as Coral Poker makes the big switch to the popular partypoker network.
