PokerStars Delays Jump into Pennsylvania's Shared Poker Pool
Online Poker Networks in Pennsylvania Tie Up with BetMGM and WSOP, Silence from PokerStars Persists
It's been a bustling week for online poker in the United States, as Pennsylvania officially joins the Multi-State Internet Gaming Agreement (MSIGA), allowing its players to team up with players from other states. Pennsylvania is the sixth member of MSIGA, joining Michigan, New Jersey, Nevada, Delaware, and West Virginia.
Monday, April 28, marked the ** initiation of shared liquidity** for Pennsylvania, and this day also saw both BetMGM (alongside Borgata Poker) and WSOP Online expanding their player bases. BetMGM now links Pennsylvania, Michigan, and New Jersey, while WSOP Online links these three states, as well as Nevada.
Yet, one major player is missing - PokerStars. In November 2019, PokerStars was the first operator to launch online poker in Pennsylvania, but it's yet to take part in the shared liquidity action within the Commonwealth. The reasons behind this delay seem to revolve around operator-specific preparations rather than regulatory hindrances.
PokerStars players need not fret, though. Known for its dominance in the online poker scene, it's likely just fine-tuning its plans before making its move, and it'll simply have to navigate any consequences that come with being the latecomer compared to other big names.
BetMGM and WSOP's Celebration Dance
While PokerStars steps back for now, both BetMGM and WSOP Online are busy celebrating the shared liquidity. To celebrate, BetMGM hosted a special freeroll Monday night, inviting players in the newly combined Pennsylvania, Michigan, and New Jersey. Dubbed the "Free-Note," a clever play on its usual "C-Note" name, this event offered a $30,000 prize pool, in addition to giving the winner a $5,000 Aria prize package, including a $3,500 live tournament buy-in and $1,500 for travel and lodging.
WSOP Online announced its arrival in Pennsylvania as the first interstate poker network by unveiling its 2025 WSOP Online bracelet schedule. In previous years, Pennsylvanians could take part in WSOP Online bracelet events but separately from the rest. However, now, all 30 tournaments can be played by those seated at WSOP Online in Pennsylvania, Michigan, New Jersey, and Nevada.
Five of the online bracelet events will have live final tables in Las Vegas. For the first time, an Online Gold Bracelet Leaderboard has been introduced, boasting over $30,000 in prizes.
BetRivers’ Arrival on the Horizon?
Although BetMGM, WSOP Online, and PokerStars are the only three interstate poker networks in the US's limited online poker market, they may soon face competition. Rush Street Interactive (RSI) has plans to expand BetRivers Poker, potentially entering various states and merging their player pools.
BetRivers Poker, the US-based reboot of Phil Galfond's Run It Once Poker, debuted in Pennsylvania in late October 2024. RSI had already been working toward a BetRivers Poker launch in Michigan and New Jersey, but no dates have been shared with the public yet.
Delaware may benefit from this future BetRivers interstate network. After the Delaware Lottery switched to RSI as its online gaming provider at the start of 2024, online poker in the state came to a halt. With a small player base of its own, Delaware could be connected to other states as RSI expands its network. Similarly, West Virginia, which has legalized online poker but lacks poker rooms, may finally make its online poker debut.
- Despite the initiation of shared liquidity in Pennsylvania's online poker, PokerStars, a dominating name in the scene, is yet to participate, focusing on operator-specific preparations.
- In the meanwhile, BetMGM and WSOP Online have seized the moment, celebrating the expanded player bases and connecting with players across Pennsylvania, Michigan, and New Jersey.
- To mark the occasion, BetMGM hosted a special freeroll event titled "Free-Note," offering a $30,000 prize pool and a $5,000 Aria prize package for the winner.
- WSOP Online unveiled its 2025 WSOP Online bracelet schedule, making all 30 tournaments playable across Pennsylvania, Michigan, New Jersey, and Nevada.
- WSOP Online's schedule includes five online bracelet events with live final tables in Las Vegas, and an Online Gold Bracelet Leaderboard has been introduced, offering over $30,000 in prizes.
- As the market evolves, Rush Street Interactive might bring competition to the trio, planning to expand BetRivers Poker into multiple states and merge player pools.
- BetRivers Poker, previously Phil Galfond's Run It Once Poker, debuted in Pennsylvania in October 2024, with plans to enter Michigan and New Jersey, although no concrete dates have been shared.
- After RSI became Delaware's online gaming provider in 2024, online poker in the state stopped, but could potentially rejoin other states as RSI expands the BetRivers network, and West Virginia could debut in online poker with a similar opportunity.
