888poker: Ownership, Licences & Regulatory History
888poker is one of Europe’s longest-running online poker operators, tracing its origins to 1997 as Pacific Poker before rebranding under the 888 Holdings group. It operates its own independent network and holds licences across multiple European jurisdictions.
Operator Factual Record
- Founded
- 1997 (as Pacific Poker); rebranded 888poker circa 2010
- Parent Company
- 888 Holdings plc (LSE: 888)
- Incorporation
- Gibraltar
- Primary Licences
- Gibraltar Regulatory Authority; UK Gambling Commission; Malta Gaming Authority
- European Regulated Markets
- UK, Spain, Romania, Denmark, Estonia, and others via MGA licence
- Network
- Independent 888poker network; also provides software to WSOP.com (US markets)
- Game Types
- Texas Holdem, Omaha; cash games, tournaments, Sit-and-Gos, SNAP fast-fold poker
- UKGC Sanction (2022)
- 14.9 million GBP penalty for social responsibility and anti-money laundering failures
Company History
888 Holdings was founded in 1997 by Israeli entrepreneurs Avi and Aaron Shaked and Ron and Shay Ben-Yitzhak. The online poker arm launched as Pacific Poker and built a substantial player base during the online poker boom years. The site rebranded as 888poker in the early 2010s to align with the broader 888 Holdings brand identity.
888 Holdings went public on the London Stock Exchange in 2005. The company has operated across online casino, sports betting and poker, with poker representing a declining share of revenue over the past decade as casino products have grown. 888 Holdings has remained an independent publicly listed company, unlike several competitors that were absorbed into larger groups.
The WSOP Software Partnership
888 Holdings has provided the software platform for WSOP.com, the World Series of Poker’s online operation in regulated US states including Nevada, New Jersey and Delaware. This partnership has given 888 a presence in the US regulated market under the WSOP brand. The arrangement is a technology licensing deal, not a merger. GGPoker separately acquired sponsorship of the live WSOP events.
Regulatory Action — 2022 UKGC Penalty
In September 2022, the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) imposed a regulatory settlement of 9.4 million GBP on 888 Holdings’ UK operating entity, following an investigation into social responsibility and anti-money laundering failures. A subsequent review resulted in a further penalty. The UKGC found failures including inadequate due diligence on high-value customers and insufficient protections for customers showing signs of gambling harm. The findings and the penalty amount are matters of public record published by the UKGC.
888 Holdings implemented remediation measures in response and submitted to enhanced monitoring requirements. This regulatory action is noted as a matter of factual record.
William Hill Acquisition
In 2022, 888 Holdings completed the acquisition of William Hill’s non-US assets from Caesars Entertainment for approximately 2.2 billion GBP. This transformed 888 Holdings from a predominantly online company into a large omnichannel gambling group with significant retail betting operations in the UK. The integration was complex and 888 Holdings subsequently restructured, including a strategic review of its poker operations relative to its wider portfolio.
Traffic and Market Position
888poker consistently ranks among the top European poker networks by player traffic, typically appearing in the top three to five operators in European evening peak measurements. Traffic has declined relative to peak years, consistent with broader online poker market trends. The introduction of fast-fold SNAP poker was positioned to attract recreational players with shorter available sessions.
European Regulatory Status
888poker operates localised products in markets where it holds domestic licences, including the UK and Spain. In markets covered by its MGA licence, players are served under the Malta framework. The Gibraltar licence covers the core of the 888 Holdings corporate structure.