Michigan has been accepted into the Multistate Internet Gambling Agreement, joining New Jersey, Nevada, and Delaware in the pact that allows online poker rooms to share players across state borders.
The application to join was processed quickly. CardsChat reported a few weeks ago that Michigan’s Gaming Control Board sent out a memo to online poker rooms about the potential change and its application to join the MSIGA.
The agreement allows online poker sites to pool players from different states into one client. Delaware and Nevada signed the agreement in 2014, and New Jersey joined in 2017.
Michigan has three sites currently operating: WSOP.com, BetMGM, and PokerStars. WSOP.com already takes advantage of MSIGA and shares player liquidity between Nevada, New Jersey, and Delaware.
Although nothing has been announced, look for the WSOP.com in Michigan to join that network soon, putting players from all four states at the same tables.
Michigan joins the MSIGA pic.twitter.com/GFBB9jCRFT
— Kevin Mathers (@Kevmath) April 6, 2022
Both PokerStars and 888poker operate rooms in Michigan and New Jersey, so also look for these rooms to combine the players together pending “full execution of the Agreement by the State of Michigan,” according to Wednesday’s press release.
“The Multi-State agreement welcomes Michigan to its ranks, along with its nearly 10 million residents, who can now avail themselves to a full array of interactive gambling among the Associations member states,” said Rebecca Satterfield, MSIGA’s manager and Gaming Manager for the Delaware Lottery. “The Association continues to be forward-thinking and welcomes the interest of additional gaming jurisdictions in becoming party to the Agreement.”
This leaves Pennsylvania as the only state with an online poker industry to remain isolated and geofenced, meaning players there can only compete against people inside the Commonwealth’s borders. The decision to enter MSIGA is in the hands of the Governor’s office.
“The (Tom) Wolf Administration continues to monitor how the expansion of online gaming in recent years has affected the gaming industry and Pennsylvania residents, and continues to review the agreement,” Emily Roderick, Deputy Press Secretary, told CardsChat via an email.
Connecticut and West Virginia also allow online poker sites to set up shop, but none have entered the tiny markets. As more states join the MSIGA, it’s likely that online poker will eventually come to these small markets.
