GGPoker Expands into the Middle East with PokerArabia Skin

GGPoker is the largest poker brand in the world and frequently cements its position by expanding into new markets. The latest market it entered is the Middle Eastern jurisdiction. It partnered with a Lebanese-licensed brand, PokerArabia. However, what does this mean for GGPoker and PokerArabia?

PokerArabia is the only officially recognised poker room in the Middle East. This government-licensed poker room’s operator is Casino Du Liban, a renowned 35,000-square-metre casino. 

Located 22 km north of Beirut, it’s owned by a Lebanese company that’s majority government-owned. This poker room used EvenBet Gaming software and catered solely to Lebanese players in their local currency. 

Over the weekend of September 1st, it switched to using GGPoker software. It’ll be a white-label skin using its original name, logo, and branding. However, it’ll use the moniker “Powered by GGPoker,” which will spread its name to local players.

With this new skin, PokerArabia will get the entire GGPoker experience. It also provides access to the poker room’s global player pool, promotions, and reward programs. The integration of GGPoker software is limited to its poker product. 

As such, you won’t find any casino games from the globally-leading brand on PokerArabia. Instead, you’ll find all its popular poker games. These include Mystery Battle Royale, Spin & Gold, Flip & Go, MTT Tournaments, and WSOP online bracelets. 

Instead of using the local currency, these games will be operated in USD. Further, Middle Eastern players can still find an “Arabia Exclusive” lobby available to them on PokerArabia. This lobby serves countries like Lebanon, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates. 

It offers poker titles like PLO, PLO-5, and Hold ’em. It’s the first time one of GGPoker’s skins has a segregated player pool like this platform does.

This integration is significant due to the difficulty poker rooms have when trying to enter the Middle Eastern market. Due to most Islamic countries banning gambling, it isn’t easy to establish a legalised iGaming brand. 

However, partnering with PokerArabia, which has an operator in Casino Du Liban, can bypass these issues. The London Clubs International, which is a subsidiary of Caesars Entertainment, manages the casino. 

The NSUS Group, GGPoker’s parent company, recently obtained the rights to WSOP from Caesars, opening new doors for WSOP live events. In the future, we might see a WSOP live tournament held at Casino Du Liban.

GGPoker has obtained many poker skins in its effort to expand global liquidity for online poker. These countries include Latvia, Estonia, Armenia, Malta, the Netherlands, Ontario, the Czech Republic, and the Philippines.

GGPoker goes to great lengths to ensure its players have access to quality games from anywhere in the world. However, that’s not all you have to look forward to. New players signing up via RakeRace.com can also participate in the exclusive $8,000 point race. In this cash race, a $1 net rake will equal three points, and all you have to do is link your GGPoker account with your RakeRace.com one.