Can Alibaba punt on Match Poker pay off in China?

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Match Poker is hoping to make major progress in the key Chinese market through a new strategic partnership between Oceans Sports & Entertainment, its marketing agency in the region, and Ali Sports, a subsidiary of online retail giant Alibaba Group.

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Oceans’ Shoto Zhu

The promotion of Match Poker, a non-gambling, mobile-based version of the game which is currently conducting a funding round as it seeks global expansion, has been announced as a priority project for the partnership between two of China’s biggest and most influential sports sector organisations.

Under the agreement, Oceans will manage the on-ground event logistics and traditional marketing of Match Poker and the other sporting events in its portfolio, while Ali Sports “will introduce a comprehensive new digital ecosystem to improve the experience and value for the projects’ participants, audience, sponsors and business partners”.

Oceans chief executive Shoto Zhu told TotallyGaming.com that the partnership with the media, marketing, data and financial services powerhouse will play a significant role in driving growth of the mind sport…

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