Microgaming has announced that the Microgaming Poker Network (MNP) will close in 2020.
The announcement, made on the Microgaming website, stated that the network model no longer fits with the company’s “strategic vision for poker”.
The network will continue to operate as usual until the closure, with tournaments, cash games, promotions and live events still available. A blog post on the MPN website states that the network will likely close in the second or third quarter of 2020.
The poker network, which has been in operation for over 16 years, was subject to an extensive internal review which revealed the need for a different strategy and business model. The closure will allow the company to “focus on redistributing key resources and personnel across the business.”
John Coleman, Microgaming CEO, stated that the company will continue to work in the poker space. Coleman commented that “this is not the end for poker at Microgaming […] which is driven to create the most enjoyable entertainment experiences, leading the way with world-class gaming content.”
“Ultimately, this move will help the business to achieve that vision as we follow a new strategic direction for the vertical, details of which will be revealed in due course,” Coleman added.
Brands that will be affected by the closure include Grosvenor Poker, 32Red Poker and 188Bet. Alex Scott, Managing Director of Microgaming Poker, commented that “every one of our poker rooms has told us they intend to find a new supplier for poker software.”
Scott added that Microgaming intends “to help them make the migration as simple and smooth as possible, for players and their business in general.”
The MPN Poker Tour, which this year included an event at Aspers Casino in London, will feature two more events before closure. This includes the event in Malta scheduled for October and one other event which is due to be confirmed before the Malta leg begins.
