David Baazov built Amaya Gaming into one of the world's largest online gambling operators, culminating in the company's blockbuster acquisition of PokerStars and Full Tilt Poker for $4.9 billion in 2014. The deal transformed Amaya from a mid-tier software provider into the dominant force in online poker.
Baazov started young, showing entrepreneurial instincts that led him to found Amaya in 2000. His early focus centered on providing gaming software and services to established operators. The company grew steadily through the 2000s, weathering the post-UIGEA landscape that devastated American online poker.
The PokerStars acquisition marked Baazov's most aggressive play. PokerStars held roughly 50 percent of the online poker market at the time. Full Tilt Poker, despite its collapse and regulatory troubles years earlier, still commanded significant brand recognition. By combining these assets with Amaya's existing operations, Baazov consolidated market control and positioned Amaya as the undisputed heavyweight of online poker.
The deal required navigating complex regulatory terrain. PokerStars operated across multiple jurisdictions with varying compliance demands. Baazov's team worked to maintain operator licenses in established markets while pursuing new ones. The acquisition faced scrutiny from authorities, but ultimately closed successfully.
Under Baazov's leadership, Amaya invested heavily in recreational player experience and responsible gambling features. The company rebranded itself as The Stars Group in 2017, signaling its evolution beyond gaming software into a comprehensive gaming operator.
Baazov's tenure as CEO ended in 2018 when internal investigations and regulatory issues prompted his departure. However, his strategic vision for consolidating online poker under a single powerhouse operator proved durable. The Stars Group continued expanding post