On April 6, the Multi-State Internet Gaming Association admitted Michigan, which joins Nevada, Delaware and New Jersey, states that allow online poker. Players from those states can play online poker together, across state lines, resulting in greater online poker liquidity, or participation, creating larger pools and offering more tournament opportunities. Pennsylvania also legalized online poker but observers said it’s not likely to join MSIGA.
MSIGA Manager and Delaware Lottery Internet Gaming Manager Rebecca Satterfield said, “The Multi-State Internet Gaming Association welcomes Michigan to its ranks, along with its nearly 10 million residents, who can now avail themselves of a full array of interactive gaming among the association’s member states. The association continues to be forward thinking and welcomes the interest of additional gaming jurisdictions in becoming party to the agreement.”
Michigan legalized online gaming, including poker, in 2019. The law allows the state to permit its online poker sites to pool players with other states where poker also sites are licensed. Analysts said players in the four states in the MSIGA agreement will all see a significant improvement in available services and operators including PokerStars US, BetMGM US and WSOP can expect a big boost in business.
Nevada and Delaware formed a compact in 2014 to share online poker, since Delaware’s population was too small to sustain its own viable poker app. New Jersey joined the compact three years later.
Michigan launched online poker in 2021, at the request of the state lottery. The legislature passed a separate bill allowing the Michigan Gaming Control Board to enter multi-state compacts exclusively for online poker. After Michigan entered MSIGA, it took WSOP six months to make its debut there. Powered by 888 Holdings, WSOP is the only operator that can pool players across all four of MSIGA member states.
In addition, for the first time players on PokerStars’ and BetMGM Poker‘s regulated U.S. sites will be able to play against opponents in another state. Luke Staudenmaier, BetMGM’s director of poker, said, “BetMGM applauds MSIGA for admitting Michigan into the consortium. Shared liquidity is paramount to the growth of online poker and this is a huge step in the right direction. We remain committed to expanding BetMGM’s poker offering and look forward to serving shared player pools in the future.” Exactly when that will happen isn’t known but observers hope the process will be more streamlined.
