32Red Poker To Close In Conjunction With MPN on May 19

32Red Poker has confirmed it will be ceasing operations, when its online poker network, Microgaming Poker Network (MPN) finally shuts its doors on May 19. The management broke the news to customers via email, with the full details of the closure published on 32Red.com.

32Red Poker is the online poker product of the Kindred-owned British gaming giant 32Red.

It started operating in 2002, and has been in the industry for 18 long years. Moving forward, the company said players can head over to its sister brand Unibet Poker and make it their new home.

This is not the end for 32Red though as its online casino and sports betting verticals will remain active. Players will still be able to access their respective accounts on 32Red and use their funds to enjoy the company’s other online gaming offerings.

However, all poker games and specific poker promotions, including the hugely popular Bad Beat Jackpot will be decommissioned effective May 18.

When MPN announced last year that it would terminate its online poker operations, it was widely anticipated that some of its skins would ultimately close given the challenges and difficulties of finding a new network. However the closure of 32Red Poker still came as a surprise to many, as the site has managed to attract a unique player pool, established a strong community, and maintained a good reputation over the years.

While 32Red referred its poker players to Unibet Poker, it’s unlikely that a massive transition will take place as both sites have different communities. But maybe it’s a strategy adopted by Kindred which also owns Unibet — closing 32Red’s poker operations could effectively boost poker traffic at Unibet, as some players will inevitably switch to the site as soon as 32Red Poker closes. Kindred successfully acquired 32Red in 2017 under a £176 million deal.

Other major MPN skins have already migrated to their new homes, such as OlyBet which successfully transitioned to the GGPoker Network on April 30. Grosvenor Poker has also confirmed it will move to iPoker following MPN’s closure, joining Red Star Poker.
MPN Shutdown

In December 2019, MPN announced it would shut down its online poker operations on May 19, 2020. The decision was made following an extensive review of its online poker portfolio. CEO John Coleman said they’re now focused on a different strategic vision for poker, and the network model is no longer part of it.

We can expect more skins jumping to other networks or shutting down come May 19.