PokerStars Holding Back: The Awaited Move
Online poker networks in the US expand as BetMGM connects Pennsylvania with interstate networks; PokerStars remains silent on joining the coalition.
America's online poker scene is lighting up recently, with Pennsylvania's entry into the Multi-State Internet Gaming Agreement (MSIGA) on April 28, 2024. Now, players can share virtual tables with fellow poker enthusiasts from other member states, including Michigan, New Jersey, Nevada, Delaware, and West Virginia.
However, one significant player is yet to jump into the shared liquidity pool — PokerStars. Having led the way as the first operator to launch online poker in Pennsylvania back in 2019, the delay in joining the shared liquidity seems odd for this big-name brand.
Speculations suggest that PokerStars might be meticulously preparing for the dive — putting all its pieces in place before flipping the switch. After all, it's a move filled with potential ramifications, given its prominent position in the online poker market.
Celebratory Dances: BetMGM and WSOP Online
In the meantime, rivals such as BetMGM and WSOP Online are reveling in the shared liquidity. BetMGM hosted a special freeroll event on April 28, linking players from Pennsylvania, Michigan, and New Jersey. The event, dubbed the "Free-Note" (referencing its usual "C-Note" tournament that costs $109 to enter), boasted a $30,000 prize pool and a $5,000 Aria prize package for the winner.
WSOP Online, on the other hand, unveiled its 2025 WSOP Online bracelet schedule on April 28, including all 30 tournaments that Pennsylvania players can now join seamlessly with those playing in Michigan, New Jersey, Nevada, and West Virginia.
Five of WSOP Online's tournaments will feature live final tables in Las Vegas, and this year, an Online Gold Bracelet Leadership board with over $30,000 in prizes will be introduced for the first time.
BetRivers in Sight?
While PokerStars, BetMGM, and WSOP Online currently dominate the limited US online poker market, new competition could soon emerge. Rush Street Interactive (RSI), the company behind BetRivers Poker, announced plans to debut its poker platform in multiple states, promising to intertwine player pools across them.
Launched in Pennsylvania in late October 2024, BetRivers Poker was already slated for a rollout in Michigan and New Jersey. However, no specific launch dates have been revealed at this point in time.
With RSI entering the scene, states like Delaware may find new opportunities. Once a hub for online poker, Delaware folded its online poker rooms at the beginning of 2024, switching to RSI as its online gaming provider.
If RSI ties Delaware's online poker network to the other networks, the tiny state might find itself back in the game. Similarly, West Virginia, a state with no poker rooms despite online poker being legal, may finally join the online poker boom.
In a world where poker is all about the right timing and strategic moves, we'll have to wait and see how the pieces fall into place for these industry leaders.
- PokerStars, despite leading the way in Pennsylvania's online poker market, has yet to participate in the shared liquidity pool, sparking speculation about its strategic plans.
- Pennsylvania, a member of the Multi-State Internet Gaming Agreement (MSIGA), now offers players the opportunity to play casino-games, casino-and-gambling, sports-betting, lotteries, and poker with others from across participating states.
- BetMGM and WSOP Online are capitalizing on this shared liquidity, with BetMGM hosting a special event linking Pennsylvania, Michigan, and New Jersey players, and WSOP Online announcing its 2025 WSOP Online bracelet schedule, which includes tournaments for all member states.
- Rush Street Interactive (RSI), the company behind BetRivers Poker, plans to debut its poker platform in multiple states, potentially expanding the online poker market and revitalizing states like Delaware and West Virginia.
- The emergence of RSI, with its ambitions to intertwine player pools across states, could significantly influence the US online poker market trends and lead to new opportunities for states like Delaware and West Virginia.
- As the online poker landscape evolves with key players like PokerStars, BetMGM, WSOP Online, and potential newcomers like RSI, the focus remains on strategic moves, industry-shaping partnerships, and the rise of influential casino-personalities as the industry continues to grow and adapt.
