Michigan has indicated its intention to join the shared liquidity compact … [888] is excited for the opportunity this would present.
Online poker site WSOP Michigan has overtaken its PA sibling and market rival BetMGM MI, becoming the second-largest platform for real money online poker in Michigan, the latest cash game traffic data reveals.
According to GameIntel, which tracks concurrent cash game players across all major online poker sites, the 7-day moving average at WSOP MI hit 80 on Tuesday, April 19.
This puts it just a pip in front of BetMGM MI, Michigan’s long-standing second-place poker room. As per Poker Industry PRO, which makes GameIntel figures available to subscribers on its unique PRO Data platform, it averaged 79 on the same day. PokerStars MI is still the clear market leader, with 50% of total cash game traffic, but its market share is declining.
The strong showing will be welcome news for the operator, its partner 888, and Michigan online poker players, who are now enjoying a robust Michigan online poker scene with three competitive offers.
It also puts WSOP in a great position as it goes into its first-ever Michigan Online Circuit Series, which starts today, and puts it on strong footing ahead of Michigan permitting multi-state online poker.
- Up to $100 in free play on your first deposit
- Play on the WSOP to win WSOP Bracelet and Rings
- Only site in Michigan to offer Online Qualifiers to live WSOP Series
- Great tournament action 24/7
WSOP is Number Two in Michigan: Key Takeaways
- In just three weeks, WSOP MI has grown large enough to overtake incumbent BetMGM MI.
- PokerStars still controls 50% of the market, but WSOP is chipping in to this lead.
- WSOP MI Online Circuit Series starts today, with 12 ring events spread each day until May 1.
- Michigan is expected to join the MSIGA soon, which will permit WSOP MI to connect with its existing US network in New Jersey, Nevada, and Delaware.
WSOP Michigan Has Enjoyed Constant Growth Over the Last Two Weeks
WSOP MI launched on March 30 and reported almost 60 concurrent players on its opening day. This calmed down over its first week, hitting a low of 53 on April 5. Ever since then, it has been on a tear.
Its traffic, which is based on a 7-day moving average to smooth out the natural peaks and troughs of weekends vs weekdays, has risen almost every day, up over 50% in the last two weeks.
Just last week, pokerfuse reported that WSOP MI had carved out a Michigan online poker market share of over 20%. The latest numbers now put it at 25%, and single-day figures suggest its cash game traffic will continue to grow into the next week, solidifying its second-place market position.
Michigan Online Poker: Market Share by Cash Game Traffic
| Operator | Cash game traffic | Market share |
|---|---|---|
| PokerStars MI | 162 | 50.5% |
| WSOP MI | 80 | 24.9% |
| BetMGM MI | 79 | 24.6% |
| Total | 321 |
Perhaps even more surprising is that WSOP MI has overtaken WSOP PA, its longer-standing sibling, operating in a much bigger state (Pennsylvania’s population is 12.8 million, compared to Michigan’s 10 million). This change of places occurred on April 15 and, since then, the gap has widened, with WSOP MI some 11% larger than Pennsylvania.
While this is not entirely unexpected — PokerStars MI sat ahead of PokerStars PA for its first four months, due to pent-up demand in the state — what’s particularly surprising is that WSOP MI is already sitting at highs that it never enjoyed in its first months in PA.
In fact, when WSOP PA debuted back in the summer of 2021, its traffic sat at just 30 cash game seats, a level it held for many months. While it ultimately grew over the following six months to the size it is today, only a few times has it peaked above 80 concurrent cash game seats. Given the trajectory that WSOP MI is on, it could certainly surpass WSOP PA’s all-time high cash game traffic (97 seats, set in early February).
WSOP’s Position Strengthens as Michigan Set to Join Multi-State Poker
WSOP.com was the first operator to service interstate poker and is all-in on the future of online poker in the United States
All this bodes very well for when Michigan permits its licensed operators to connect their online poker player pools with those in New Jersey, Nevada, and Delaware.
This process is in its final stages. A draft bill is currently under review and the Michigan Gambling Control Board (MGCB) hopes to sign the MSIGA “expeditiously” once the State AG approves it. It will then be a case of individual operators being approved for multi-state play.
For the World Series of Poker and its partner 888, it will mean connecting WSOP MI with its existing three-state online poker network, which covers WSOP NV in Nevada, both brands in New Jersey, and a trio of small online poker rooms in Delaware.
“WSOP.com was the first operator to service interstate poker and is all-in on the future of online poker in the United States,” said WSOP Executive Director, Ty Stewart, in a recent statement to pokerfuse. “We embrace any momentum to offer a unified experience for poker players to compete in regulated states and across new markets.”
As it stands today, that network enjoys an average of approximately 230 concurrent cash game seats, neck-and-neck with PokerStars PA as the largest regulated network for real money online poker in the US. When it connects this with Michigan, the network will immediately be boosted well north of 300 concurrent players, significantly improving the online poker offer for players.
“In March 2022, the Group launched the [WSOP] brand in Michigan under its partnership with Caesars Interactive Limited, bringing the Group’s latest poker platform to another US state following the launch of Pennsylvania last year,” 888 Holdings stated in a Q1 2022 market update on Wednesday. “Michigan has indicated its intention to join the shared liquidity compact and the Group is excited for the opportunity this would present.”
- Up to $100 in free play on your first deposit
- Play on the WSOP to win WSOP Bracelet and Rings
- Only site in Michigan to offer Online Qualifiers to live WSOP Series
- Great tournament action 24/7
Meanwhile, the Online Circuit Series at WSOP MI Gets Underway
While this development is hopefully just weeks (or possibly a few months) away, WSOP is not waiting around. In fact, it has planned its first Online Circuit Series in Michigan, kicking off today — with some very ambitious guarantees which could offer significant value for players.
There is one ring event scheduled each day over the next twelve days. Each event has a big guarantee, and the winner of each tournament will win a coveted WSOP gold ring.
The action culminates with the $525 buy-in Main Event, which will need to attract 200 entries to cover its $100,000 guarantee. Satellites are available today in the client.
WSOP MI Online Circuit Series starts on Wednesday, April 20, and runs through to May 1.
WSOP MI First-Ever Online Circuit Series
| Tournament | Buy-in | Gtd | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Event #1 NLH PKO [2x Re-entry] | $109 | $20,000 | Wednesday, April 20 |
| Event #2 NLH PKO [2x Re-entry] | $215 | $30,000 | Thursday, April 21 |
| Event #3 NLH Freezeout | $215 | $20,000 | Friday, April 22 |
| Event #4 NLH [2x Re-entry] | $320 | $30,000 | Saturday, April 23 |
| Event #5 NLH Monster Stack [2x Re-entry] | $215 | $75,000 | Sunday, April 24 |
| Event #6 NLH PKO [2x Re-entry] | $215 | $50,000 | Monday, April 25 |
| Event #7 NLH High Roller 6-Max [2x Re-entry] | $1,000 | $50,000 | Tuesday, April 26 |
| Event #8 PLO PKO 6-Max [2x Re-entry] | $109 | $15,000 | Wednesday, April 27 |
| Event #9 NLH BIG $500 [3x Re-entry] | $500 | $50,000 | Thursday, April 28 |
| Event #10 NLH Deep Turbo [2x Re-entry] | $215 | $20,000 | Friday, April 29 |
| Event #11 NLH PKO [2x Re-entry] | $215 | $50,000 | Saturday, April 30 |
| Event #12 NLH Main Event [3x Re-entry] | $525 | $100,000 | Sunday, May 1 |
Not signed up yet? Take a look at the WSOP MI No Deposit Bonus to boost your bankroll ahead of the first Online Circuit Series »
