GAMBLING INSIDER

European affiliate network Catena Media has announced the acquisition of online poker news and comparison site PokerScout.com and its related assets for a fee of $350,000.

PokerScout is a traffic comparison site for the online poker industry and the acquisition by Catena follows the passage of gaming legislation in the US state of Pennsylvania, which the company hopes will open a new market for regulated online poker and casino games.

In addition to the acquisition of PokerScout, Catena Media already operates multiple media assets in Pennsylvania and owns several domains tailored to the US, including a number New Jersey's regulated online gaming market.

Last month, Pennsylvania governor Tom Wolf has now signed sweeping new legislation that will allow gambling online, in truck stops and in airports across the state, becoming the fourth state to allow online gaming. Pennsylvania is also the first to allow online play for both commercial casinos and its lucrative state lottery, which delivered $1bn in profits on $4bn in sales.

In a statement announcing the acquisition, Henrik Persson Ekdahl, CEO of Catena Media said: "We are proud of the acquisition of PokerScout, which is the leading traffic comparison site for the online poker industry. This acquisition is well-timed given that Pennsylvania is set to open their market for online gaming.

“We hope that more states will follow in Pennsylvania's footsteps. We have been prepared for a long time and this is a milestone for our continued expansion in the US."