The publicly-traded slots and gaming manufacturer IGT has announced that its recently-acquired online poker network Entraction will be renamed to the IGT Poker Network.
IGT purchased the Swedish-based Entraction for $115m back in March 2011. Last week’s announcement comes ahead of ICE, the annual London-based online gaming industry expo, where IGT plans to show off its new aquisition in an attempt to entice existing poker rooms from other networks.
“This is the first show where we will be able to demonstrate the full range of products and services which our recent acquisition of Entraction has enabled us to do,” reads the official press release. “All Entraction products will be shown under the IGT brand … conference attendees will see how IGT’s poker network is a serious and competitive alternative for existing poker operators.”
IGT is making a major play for its share of the online gaming market, with its eyes firmly fixed on the United States market ahead of state regulation. It was one of six gaming firms to apply for a license in Nevada and its recent $550m acquisition of social gaming company Double Down Interactive – creators of the popular Facebook game DoubleDown Casino – confirm the intentions of the Nevada based business.
The announcement is the third such name change of a small poker network in the last month. US-facing micro network Yatahay recently changed to the Winning Poker Network, and the Action Poker Network is now called the Chico Poker Network.
