Sweden-based independent game studio Aftermath Interactive and Hensel Grad P.C., a Pennsylvania gaming law and advisory firm, Thursday announced a strategic agreement to develop a skill-based poker game for launch in the U.S.
Per the agreement, the companies will collaborate to create a digital poker experience, building on Aftermath Interactive’s Hands of Victory, a free-to-play game currently in soft launch. Non-U.S. players can currently try the game through tournaments hosted on the Challengermode platform.
“Our vision leverages patent-approved technology and our Hands of Victory IP to evolve poker as a competitive skill game and provide players with fun new ways to showcase poker-related skills while competing for prize money,” said Aftermath Interactive CEO Kim Lund in a statement. “By introducing novel skill-enhancing game mechanics, more action-oriented character-based gameplay, and a dynamic, decision-based, scoring system, we believe a pay-to-enter version of Hands of Victory can fill a profound hole in the U.S. market. Thanks to this strategic agreement, we can now explore various paths to deliver that vision transparently and in line with state and federal laws.”
Hensel Grad will leverage its knowledge of gaming laws and regulations to shape the pay-to-enter version of Hands of Victory game for the U.S. market to ensure the game qualifies as a game of skill under state laws.
“U.S. courts have long held that traditional poker is a game of chance and, therefore, subject to state gambling laws,” said Hensel Grad Partner and Co-founder Susan Hensel. “The Hands of Victory game is different from traditional poker. It will equip players with a wide range of tactical tools to put an entertaining and engaging twist on poker and will be unlike any other game currently available to U.S. players.”
