PurePlay

About PurePlay

PurePlay, founded in 2004 by Marc Marin and Jason Kellerman, established itself as an operator in the online social gaming market. Based in San Francisco, the company developed an online poker room and a suite of other casual games, including slots, blackjack, and roulette. The platform was designed to allow users to play competitively for real cash prizes without the financial risk typically associated with online gambling.

The company's business model centered on a membership structure. For a monthly fee of around $20, players gained access to a large number of tournaments with substantial prize pools. A free, ad-supported membership was also available, offering entry into a more limited set of tournaments. This dual-revenue stream, combining subscriptions and advertising, allowed PurePlay to award significant monthly cash prizes, reportedly giving away $2.8 million in the first two years after its 2005 launch.

PurePlay successfully attracted a substantial user base, reportedly exceeding two million players by early 2008, positioning it as a major play-for-cash site in the United States at the time. The firm secured significant venture capital, raising a total of $16.8M over its lifetime. A notable Series C funding round in May 2008 brought in $15M, with participation from investors including Bay Partners. Following its operational years, the company is now considered to be out of business as of October 2018.