Global Poker, the longest-standing sweepstakes poker site in the US, is about to finalize the three-step process that will see the operator completely exit West Virginia. The site has already stopped awarding new Sweeps Coins to players in West Virginia and it ceased all SC gameplay in the state. Players still have until November 25 to redeem any SCs they have in their balances, after which Global Poker will have completed its WV exit.
A few months ago, this would have been a significant blow to all the players in the state, as, until recently, there were no regulated West Virginia online poker rooms. It was a rather unfortunate situation, given the fact that the state had all legal provisions in place, but there was simply no interest from any major operators to set up shop.
All this changed back in July, when BetRivers Poker launched in West Virginia. To make things even better, BetRivers came in style, with a four-state network comprising Michigan, Delaware, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia, removing any concerns about too small a player pool if the room were to cater only to WV players.
- 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!
BetRivers Poker’s Timely Arrival
Online poker has technically been legal in West Virginia since 2019, with the law allowing for the state to join other regulated states through agreements such as the MSIGA. However, there was simply no interest from major operators to launch in the state, leaving residents of the Mountain State to look for alternatives.
Then, after a wait of over five years, WV players got some good news, as BetRivers Poker came through on its promise and went live. From day one, the platform was a part of the four-state network, ensuring solid player traffic. For the first time, an operator decided to look at a broader picture and give WV fans of the game an opportunity to enjoy safe and regulated online poker.
Instead of asking why, BetRivers Poker went in with a why not attitude, understanding that even small markets can play a significant role when they are a part of a larger network.
As it turned out, the launch came at the best of times, as West Virginia decided to come after sweepstakes operators, further reducing the number of remotely safe options available to the players.
As of right now, BetRivers Poker remains the only properly licensed and regulated site operating in WV. In the sweepstakes department, ClubWPT Gold is still holding on, but it’s hard to say for how long and if their recently changed model will help them stay away from legal troubles.
A Poker Site With a Mission
The US online poker market has been quite turbulent and very segmented since the events of Black Friday. Individual states have been slow to pass relevant laws to regulate online poker, and the interest in cooperation between regulated states and the operators present in those states has been somewhat flimsy as well.
BetRivers Poker, guided by different principles that put the player first, is a real breath of fresh air in this sense. From the very first moment, their focus has been on bringing together as many states as possible in an attempt to create as big a network as possible.
This approach was the very reason why players in West Virginia finally got an opportunity to play legal online poker after years of waiting. BetRivers Poker came through, showing that, with a bit of willingness to do what needs to be done, it wasn’t that hard after all.
And the operator isn’t showing any signs of slowing down, either. Plans are already in place to add New Jersey to the fold, which would make BetRivers the first and only operator to feature a five-state network. Although nothing is guaranteed, this development is likely to happen in the next couple of months.
Through it all, the site has managed to stay true to its original principles, many of which were originally envisioned by Phil Galfond. The player-first approach with generous promotions and constantly keeping their ear to the ground to listen to the community feedback has served BetRivers Poker well, growing their reputation in the poker world — and, we can honestly say, deservedly so.
