Absolute Poker to stop marketing pros to the U.S.

[The Buzz]

It looks like Absolute Poker has stopped marketing pros the U.S. Snooptodd is following the story...

[GPWA Aaron]

Here's the story we've posted on our site ...

Ultimate Bet and Absolute Poker are changing their marketing plans, and as a result, several well-known poker pros, including Michael Mizrachi, Mark Seif and Antonio Esfandiari, will no longer be used to promote the sites.

UB and AP are both owned by Absolute Entertainment following a merger in November 2006. Both sites, which run on different networks, have continued to allow real-money play by U.S. customers in the months following the UIGEA.

"There has been a decision to reevaluate which poker professionals we work with on each brand in the future," said a company official who asked not to be identified. "But that decision was made purely on the basis of trying to protect our ability to continue to be able to offer U.S. customers the very best in online poker."

The source said that both sites were concerned that as official spokespeople for the sites, professional poker players could become targets for the Department of Justice and their business relationships with the sites could be viewed as "aiding and abetting" Internet gambling.

Phil Hellmuth and Annie Duke, who have been part of UB since the site opened, will remain with UB to promote the brand internationally. The site will also focus on promoting the Aruba Poker Classic in the U.S. AP will focus on promoting Canadian model Serinda Swan and Internet players through its Absolute Dream package.

"The business has gone through a number of changes as a consequence of current legislation," said the AP/UB official. "It's a marketing decision so that we're free to market what we want where we want without putting a degree of risk to our business."

[GPWA Aaron]

Here's the text of an official release sent by the folks at Absolute Poker and Ultimate Bet this morning ...

Absolute Poker and UltimateBet – US Business still Growing

With their US Business still breaking growth records AbsolutePoker.com and Ultimatebet.com announce huge promotions, international plans and news on the Pros.

Both businesses continue to offer US customers and poker players from around the world access to the hottest tournaments and the very best in online poker. The business is committed to improving the poker experience that thousands of players from around the world enjoy today.

Absolute Poker has just announced its second Absolute Dream Package Winner who was the second Absolute Poker player this year to win access to over $100 million in tournament prize pools through the $150k Absolute Dream Package prize package. The winner is on his way to living out every poker players dream at the main events this year with free entry to the biggest tournaments, training from the Pros and a starring role in TV’s richest cash game.

UltimateBet once again is the title sponsor of the 6th annual Aruba Poker Classic, which takes place in a 5-Star resort in Aruba this September. With over 700 players expected to qualify exclusively through UltimateBet.com - and with satellites running now at Absolutepoker.com – this year’s event will be the event poker players will be talking about for years to come. The $8,000 Aruba prize package will send players to Aruba to compete for the coveted Aruba Poker Classic Title and their share of over $2.5million in prize money!

Poker Pros in US – US business as normal
Ultimatebet and Absolute Poker remain forever committed to offering the best online poker experience to poker players in the US and the rest of the world. Both businesses have made a decision to further protect their ability to continue to offer US customers the very best in online poker.

The businesses will no longer actively use Professional Poker Players to endorse either Dotcom brands in the US domestic market, but will continue to do so Internationally. However Leading Pros such as Mark Seif, Phil Hellmuth, Annie Duke and others continue to work for Absolute Poker and UltimateBet. The marketing decision on the Dotcom Brands in the US and does not in any way affect US players.

The Pros remain committed to the business and will continue to promote both AbsolutePoker.com and Ultimatebet.com in the International market and work with AbsolutePoker.net and Ultimatebet.net.

Pros to Be Used in International Markets
Absolute Poker and UltimateBet will continue to work with the best pros in the industry to help drive their significant Growth Strategy. Furthermore, they will look work with their current Pros and sign new Pros to work with either brand in the International Market.

Legendary Poker Pros Phil Hellmuth and Annie Duke who have worked closely with UltimateBet since its creation will continue to endorse UltimateBet.com in International Markets. Johan Storakers – Sweden’s no.1 professional poker player – Jim Worth aka Krazy Kanuck are also in the current stable of UltimateBet.com Pros.

Absolute Poker who’s Pros includes Mark Seif and others has just signed a 12-month deal with their beautiful host – Serinda Swan – the Face of AbsolutePoker.com. Serinda will star alongside the successful winners of the Absolute Dream package in TV, magazine and online adverts worldwide.

Come experience absolute thrills and ultimate excitement today at Absolutepoker.com and UltimateBet.com. See you at the tables.