BetMGM is third interstate network in US
A new interstate online poker network has launched in the United States, as BetMGM Poker has connected its player pools in New Jersey and Michigan.
now players in both New Jersey and Michigan are sitting at the same tables
BetMGM took its servers down Wednesday morning, letting players know that it was necessary to push the upgrade to allow for shared liquidity. The servers came back online shortly thereafter, and now players in both New Jersey and Michigan are sitting at the same tables.
This gives the US its long-awaited third interstate poker network. WSOP Online connects New Jersey, Michigan, and Nevada (and used to include Delaware – more on that later). PokerStars links New Jersey and Michigan, just like BetMGM. WSOP Online is the only online poker room available in Nevada.
An active fall for US online poker
Though only a few states have legalized online poker and fewer actually have active internet poker rooms, the US online poker industry has been busy lately.
In mid-October, Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro instructed the state’s Gaming Control Board to begin negotiations with the members of the Multi-State Internet Gaming Agreement (MSIGA) to join the group. The deal is not done, but the target is before the end of the year.
When it happens (and it will – Pennsylvania would be a huge addition), WSOP, PokerStars, and BetMGM will all likely expand their networks in the Keystone State. In fact, that BetMGM decided to create its interstate network today is probably a good indication that Pennsylvania is joining MSIGA soon.
And just a week ago, BetRivers went live in Pennsylvania, the first new US online poker room to come along in a while. Part of the excitement of the launch is that BetRivers is the rebranded, revived Run It Once Poker, founded by Phil Galfond several years ago.
Additionally, DraftKings has launched its lottery (or jackpot) sit-and-go product, Electric Poker, in both Michigan and Pennsylvania.
More online poker expansion could be coming
As we have already discussed, the most exciting, seemingly imminent US online poker development should be Pennsylvania becoming a MSIGA member and WSOP, PokerStars, and BetMGM quickly expanding their interstate poker networks.
Nevada online poker is probably about a year out
Beyond that, though, BetMGM has indicated its intent to finally bring a second online poker room to Nevada, as it has an interactive license there. In April of this year, MGM Resorts International told the Nevada Gaming Commission that it has “everything lined up” to launch online poker in the state, but was focused on sports betting first. The company said that Nevada online poker is probably about a year out, which would put it in the spring of 2025.
BetMGM also offers online casino gaming in West Virginia, so poker could be a possibility there. No operator has gone live with online poker in West Virginia because of the market’s size, but it is a MSIGA member, so perhaps when Pennsylvania comes on board, operators might expand there.
And BetRivers’ launch in Pennsylvania could be good news for poker players in Delaware. Delaware’s three racinos used to have online poker rooms running on 888poker’s platform. It is the same software employed by WSOP and thus Delaware players could play on the WSOP Online network.
But at the beginning of 2024, the Delaware Lottery changed iGaming providers from 888 to Rush Street Interactive, the parent of BetRivers. Since then, Delaware has not had online poker, but now that BetRivers Poker is up and running and interstate networks are expanding, it’s possible poker could return to the state.