Global registry services provider Afilias today announced the first phase of the introduction of a new generic top-level domain for one of the world’s favorite card games: “dot POKER” or .POKER. The first phase is the “sunrise” period, which is limited to eligible trademark holders and is open from February 5 through March 7, 2015.

.POKER is the first and only Internet domain dedicated to the game of poker. It is the most logical thus effective web address for anything and everything that has to do with poker – from gaming to news, tips, or products.

“Poker is one of the most popular games on the Internet today, and now there is a dedicated space on the Internet for all aspects of poker,” said Roland LaPlante, CMO of Afilias. “.POKER is an easy-to-remember web extension that will resonate with poker fans, gaming entities, tournament organizers, product manufacturers, news sources, and just about anyone involved in the game of poker.”

.POKER Registration Schedule

  • Sunrise: The notice period of the .POKER sunrise period has begun. Sunrise runs from February 5 through March 7, 2015. During sunrise, domains will be awarded in a first-come, first-served manner; however, eligibility during this period is limited strictly to trademark holders whose marks are registered in the Trademark Clearinghouse.
  • Landrush: From March 10 through April 9, 2015, the public can “put a stake in the ground” and apply for the names they want. Their applications will be finalized after the landrush period ends; and names receiving more than one registration will go to an auction process.
  • Open registration for all will begin April 21, 2015.

For more information about the .POKER domain, please visit the Afilias .POKER information page.

About Afilias

Afilias is the world’s second largest domain registry, with approximately 20 million names under management. Afilias powers a wide variety of top level domains, and will soon support hundreds of new TLDs now preparing for launch, including TLDs for cities, brands, communities and generic terms. Afilias’ specialized technology makes Internet addresses more accessible and useful through a wide range of applications, including Internet domain registry services, Managed DNS and mobile Web services like goMobi® and DeviceAtlas®.