MGM Grand Detroit with BetMGM and the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians with World Series of Poker also are authorized poker providers in Michigan, but they are not authorized for multi-jurisdictional play.
PokerStars has been officially given the green light by the state regulatory boards of Michigan and New Jersey to launch multi-state online poker between the two states.
On December 28, the Michigan Gaming Control Board (MGCB) announced the approval of The Stars Group (now Flutter), the parent company of online poker giant PokerStars, its tribal partner. the Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians, to go ahead with the merger of PokerStars MI & PokerStars NJ starting January 1, 2023.
The state regulatory board confirmed that PokerStars US is the only operator authorized for multi-state online poker involving Michigan. WSOP MI and BetMGM Poker MI — the other two operators licensed to offer real money online poker in Michigan — have yet to be approved.
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“Currently, MGM Grand Detroit with BetMGM and the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians with World Series of Poker also are authorized poker providers in Michigan, but they are not authorized for multi-jurisdictional play,” the MGCB announced in a statement on Wednesday morning.
Currently, WSOP is the only operator to take advantage of the multi-state online poker compact. It shares player pools between three states — Nevada, Delaware, and New Jersey — the other signatories of the Multi-State Internet Gaming Agreement (MSIGA).
With PokerStars US launching shared liquidity, WSOP will lose its unique position as the only operator to connect networks across state lines. While PokerStars will be the second operator to launch interstate online poker in the US, it will be the first to form a network involving Michigan.
I congratulate the Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians and TSG PokerStars for being the first operator and provider granted permission to launch multi-state internet poker in Michigan.
“Poker players in Michigan have anticipated eagerly the launch of multi-state internet poker,” said Henry Williams, Executive Director at MGCB, in a press release. “I congratulate the Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians and TSG PokerStars for being the first operator and provider granted permission to launch multi-state internet poker in Michigan.”
Its competitors have not made any announcements of combining their player pools between states. However, BetMGM has recently made efforts to upgrade its online poker platform in New Jersey, presumably to prepare for sharing liquidity. Curiously, WSOP — which already offers shared liquidity in the US — has made no such efforts to include Michigan in its existing pool.
The MGCB granted PokerStars’ authorization for multi-jurisdictional poker on December 20, and New Jersey’s gaming regulatory board followed suit on December 23 — the same day PokerStars US Network announced the launch of shared liquidity between MI & NJ would begin on New Year’s Day.
To mark the advent of PokerStars’ shared liquidity in the US, the operator has launched three special shared New Year’s Bash tournaments with guarantees of nearly $200,000.
- $100 buy-in, New Year’s $100K Sunday Special [Two-Day], $100K Gtd
- $10 buy-in, New Year’s Day Mini Special, $50K Gtd
- $500 buy-in, New Year’s High Roller Special, $40K Gtd
The New Year’s Sunday Special tournament boasting $100,000 in guaranteed prize money will be accompanied by a special PokerStars Casino promotion offering up to $50 free in casino credits to all those who take part in the tournament.
The Beginning of a New Era
Michigan joining the multi-state online poker compact has been looming for months. In March, the MGCB released a five-page guideline for operators interested in launching interstate online poker. A month later, existing signatories officially invited the state to become the fourth member, and in May, the state finally became a part of the agreement.
However, for the next few months, no signs of progress were made on the development, and operators kept mum about their shared liquidity plans. However, in November, PokerStars hinted at “exciting news” concerning its US network — pokerfuse correctly predicted that this development would be the announcement of the PokerStars NJ + MI merger.
Indeed, this was soon confirmed after PokerStars announced a two-day downtime in both states in mid-December to perform the server upgrades necessary to support multi-state online poker.
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Despite the long delays, this expansion is one of the brightest developments for regulated real money US online poker in recent years. Not only is it a historic moment for MI online poker and NJ online poker, but it’s also a monumental moment for US online poker as a whole. A more extensive player pool is the bedrock of a healthy online poker ecosystem as it provides players with a greater selection of games and stakes. It also allows them access to larger prize pools in tournaments, attracting even more players. For regulators, it helps contribute more revenue and taxes back to the state — so it’s a win-win for all the parties involved.
“A larger volume of players likely will result in more game options, more frequent games, and larger tournament prizes,” Williams added.
The merger of PokerStars NJ and PokerStars MI will occur on January 1, 2023. Three New Year’s Bash Tournaments will support the launch of shared liquidity with combined guarantees of nearly $200,000.
Grab the latest PokerStars NJ download or PokerStars MI download and get ready to ring in the new year with the country’s hottest new online poker network! Sign up here
