Scottish football giants Celtic FC have announced a partnership with
fcpokerroom.com that will see them become the latest football club
to open their own online poker room, reports The Herald. Unfortunately
there was little or no detail on the Internet poker room involved
or the software that it uses.
The new site, which is not yet operational will enable players to
form poker teams to play against each other as well as renowned Celtic
footie heroes, and forms part of an income generating scheme to help
finance a new training facility and the club’s youth development
programmes. The new site claims to offer a "host of prizes",
including a place in the Poker Tournament of Champions in Las Vegas.
Andy MacDonald, director of fcpokerroom.com said: "Our
aim is to develop an online poker community, both within Celtic and
through inter-club tournaments. "Players will soon be able to
play against teams from other Scottish Premier League (SPL) football
clubs in a new online poker tournament which could culminate in a
Scotland poker team playing against an England poker team."
Celtic spokesmen agreed, commenting: "We are delighted
to agree this new partnership with fcpokerroom. We're sure this new
association will provide our fans with a fun, exciting, next generation
entertainment facility which will also allow fans to play their part
in the development of Celtic Football Club."
While there are other Scottish clubs who are affiliated to poker sites,
such as Hibernian and Kilmarnock, Celtic are the first to have their
own site.
Update: Tribeca Tables announced that fcPokerRoom is the latest member of the Tribeca Tables poker network which also powers poker rooms such as Paddy Power, Victor Chandler, Blue Sq, Sporting Index and Expekt poker.
Bob Williams, Brand manager for Tribeca Tables, said; “We are very excited about the partnership. There are thousands of Celtic fans in virtually every corner of the globe and online poker is an excellent way to bring them together. Online poker is both a social and competitive experience. The new Celtic poker room will provide an excellent arena for fans of all playing abilities to join together, enjoy a game and share their latest Celtic stories.”
Celtic fans will directly benefit their club as a proportion of the revenue generated from the poker site will be ploughed straight back into Celtic Football Club in an effort to assist with the new training facilities and youth development.