BetRivers Poker has marked its first full year of operations, quietly emerging as one of the most compelling growth stories in the US online poker market.
In the 12 months since it dealt its first real-money hand in Pennsylvania, the operator has expanded to three more states and subsequently launched a shared liquidity network, signed one of poker’s biggest names as its ambassador, rolled out regular software upgrades to improve its platform, debuted its Championship series, and maintained a steady schedule of weekly promotions, a pace unmatched by any other new operator in recent years.
In this article, we take a closer look at the operator’s first year, tracing its journey from launch to expansion, and examining how the platform has evolved across software, promotions, and player engagement.
BetRivers Poker: First Year in Review
- Expanded from 1 to 4 states: Launched in Pennsylvania, Michigan, Delaware, and West Virginia within its first year, becoming only the second US operator with a four-state network.
- Ran non-stop promotions: Maintained at least two or three active offers at all times, including Rakeback Revolution, SNG Reload, and Happy Hour events.
- Signed a marquee ambassador: Added Phil Hellmuth to its roster, boosting brand visibility and player engagement through special knockout and rakeback promos.
- Ran its first-ever championship series: Debuted the Multi-State Summer Series and Championship Series, together paying out over $800K in prizes.
- Set for New Jersey launch: Expected to go live in New Jersey this winter, which would make BetRivers Poker the first operator with access to five US states.
- The best online poker software in the US with the lowest cash game rake.
- Generous 100% deposit match bonus up to $1000 ($250 in Delaware)
- Now live for players in Pennsylvania, Michigan, Delaware & West Virginia!
Early Experiments and Player Engagement
BetRivers Poker officially went live in Pennsylvania on October 31, 2024, after several weeks of closed testing. Entering a market already served by PokerStars, WSOP, and BetMGM, the new platform faced immediate competition. Still, it managed to carve out a niche with its low-rake structure, smooth software, and player-friendly features carried over from its predecessor, Run It Once Poker.
The launch included all core formats, cash games, sit and gos, and multi-table tournaments (MTTs) — from day one. Promotions were modest at first, consisting mainly of freerolls and a 100% deposit match up to $1,000. A few overlays appeared in early tournaments, but the product itself performed reliably, setting a solid foundation for future growth.
Shortly after launch, Phil Galfond shared a blog post that shed light on the operator’s player-first philosophy. He revealed that BetRivers had experimented internally with a “no revenue” model, returning nearly all rake through overlays, bonuses, and promotions. That mindset soon showed up in practice with the introduction of the Rakeback Revolution, a long-running rewards campaign that gave players up to 250% extra rewards points. Originally slated to end in January, it was extended several times and continues to this day.
While the first few months were relatively quiet, the operator used the period to refine its product. Tournament guarantees were conservative, peaking around $12,000 to $15,000, but were occasionally boosted to gauge player demand. Minor bugs were fixed through continuous software updates, adding features such as a built-in HUD toggle, tournament duration estimates, downloadable hand histories, and revamped lobbies.
Momentum Picks Up With Hellmuth’s Signing
Momentum really started to build in February 2025, when the brand signed Phil Hellmuth as a brand ambassador across its gaming verticals. The partnership instantly boosted the poker room’s visibility, with Hellmuth frequently sporting his BetRivers hoodie, even during the WSOP 2025, and making regular livestream appearances that kept the brand in the spotlight.
To celebrate his arrival, the operator launched several themed promotions, including “I Knocked Out a VIP”, which rewarded players who eliminated Hellmuth or Galfond in tournaments, and “Hellmuth’s Haul”, which offered extra rakeback. These were followed by recurring formats like SNG Reload, Happy Hours, and Boosted Guarantees, ensuring there was always something active for players across cash, sit and go, and tournament play.
The biggest leap came mid-year, when the operator expanded beyond Pennsylvania. On June 10, the operator launched in Michigan, Delaware, and West Virginia, and unlike most new rollouts, it began with a shared liquidity network connecting all four states from day one.
This expansion marked several milestones:
- The return of regulated poker to Delaware after an 18-month gap.
- The first-ever launch of online poker in West Virginia.
- A tie with WSOP as the only operators offering poker in four regulated states.
The impact was immediate. Delaware’s regulated poker revenue more than doubled, reaching over $80,000 in October, the best result for that market in its 12-year history. The launch of a multi-state player pool also created deeper liquidity for tournaments and more action in cash games.
Non-Stop Promotions Post Expansion
Once the four-state network went live, the operator adopted an aggressive promotional strategy. It became one of the only US operators to run continuous promotions, with at least two or three active at any given time. From cash-game leaderboards and SNG Select tickets to reload bonuses and added prize pools, BetRivers has maintained a visible, player-engagement-driven approach.
In August, it launched its first multi-state tournament festival, the Multi-State Summer Series, featuring $200,000 in total guarantees and leaderboard rewards. The series was modest by industry standards but symbolized a step forward in the operator’s confidence to scale. By the end of August, the site also launched Progressive Knockout (PKO) tournaments, a popular format among all online poker operators.
The operator also showed a playful, competitive streak. When PokerStars skipped its annual Championship Online (COOP) Series, BetRivers introduced its own Championship Series with $500K in guaranteed prizes. Though the series faced significant overlays, it still awarded over $600K in total payouts, a clear sign of the operator’s ambition and dedication to standing by its guarantees.
As its one-year anniversary approached, the platform rolled out a ten-day lineup of advent-style promotions to celebrate its first year in operation. The campaign includes a mix of deposit bonuses, boosted tournament prize pools, free tickets, bonus point multipliers, and several other popular promotions that have featured throughout the year.
Beyond its software and promotions, BetRivers also made visible efforts to build community rapport. Ambassadors often join live streams, Galfond interacts directly with players, and the brand has added personal touches such as sending t-shirts or custom video messages to players.
This individualized approach, rare in the US online poker market, has helped BetRivers Poker foster goodwill, particularly in smaller states like Delaware, where local engagement matters.
Next Stop: New Jersey
The next big milestone is clearly on the horizon. When BetRivers expanded to three new states, New Jersey was not among the launch states. The operator did say that it hoped to go live in New Jersey by the end of 2025. Though no official date has been confirmed, RSI executives reiterated during the company’s Q3 earnings call that the rollout remains on track pending final regulatory approval.
Once live, BetRivers will become the first and only US operator with access to five states: Pennsylvania, Michigan, Delaware, West Virginia, and New Jersey. The addition of New Jersey’s 10 million residents would expand the network’s potential reach by over 35%, setting the stage for larger guarantees and stronger liquidity.
From a single-state debut to a four-state network and soon five, BetRivers’ progress in its first year has been steady and deliberate. It has not yet matched its rivals in tournament scale or traffic, but it has achieved more than any new entrant in the post-Black Friday era.
If 2024 was about proving its platform worked, and 2025 was about expansion, then the coming year will be about scale. With shared liquidity, broader reach, and growing brand recognition, BetRivers Poker now finds itself in rare company and on the verge of becoming a true force in the regulated US market.
