Aftermath Interactive AB, a Sweden-based independent game studio, and Hensel Grad P.C., a U.S. gaming law and advisory firm, have announced a strategic agreement to develop a skill-based poker game for the U.S. market.
This collaboration combines Aftermath Interactive’s innovative game development capabilities with Hensel Grad’s extensive expertise in U.S. gaming laws and regulations. The goal is to create a digital poker experience that emphasizes skill. The concept is based on Aftermath Interactive’s free-to-play game, Hands of Victory, which is currently in early soft launch. Non-U.S. players can experience the game by participating in tournaments hosted on the Challengermode platform.
Aftermath Interactive, a startup game studio led by industry veterans with over 50 years of combined experience in game development, operations, and promotion, brings a wealth of knowledge to this partnership. Hensel Grad, established by former gaming regulators, assists gaming companies in navigating the complex and varied U.S. state-based regulatory environment.
By joining forces, Aftermath Interactive and Hensel Grad aim to leverage their respective strengths to provide U.S. poker players and other gamers with a new opportunity to showcase and enhance their skills in a regulated and engaging environment.
“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 Kim Lund, CEO of Aftermath Interactive. “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 US 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 draw on its knowledge of gaming laws and regulations to help shape the pay-to-enter version of Hands of Victory game for the U.S. in a manner that ensures 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 Susan Hensel, Co-founder and Partner of Hensel Grad. “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.”
