Exclusive: BetRivers Poker Goes Live in Pennsylvania

As poker players, we designed this platform from the ground up to be for the players — all players BetRivers Poker is finally ready to make its public debut. The site opened its doors to players at 9AM eastern time on Thursday, October 31 for full real money online poker. The site is fully legal and regulated by the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board.

Anyone in Pennsylvania can create an account on BetRivers today on their website then proceed to download the BetRivers Poker software and jump into games immediately.

From the first day of launch, BetRivers Poker is a complete online poker experience. There’s Holdem and Omaha games; cash and multi-table tournaments. There’s BetRivers’ unique SNG Select, which allows players to choose between a 3-handed SNG or a spins-style game called Cub3d, with randomized top prizes.

The site is right now promoting a huge 100% up to $1000 welcome bonus for new players with code POKER. According to site reps, this bonus is open to both new and existing BetRivers customers making their first deposit on the poker sitie.

There’s a desktop client for Mac and Windows, and mobile apps are available for iPhone and Android. Unique features from Run it Once Poker — dynamic avatars, HeroIQ built-in HUD, “fair play” auto-seating, randomized screen names — are all part of today’s launch.

As we previously revealed, the site promises to have “among the lowest rake in Pennsylvania,” according to today’s press release from BetRivers’ parent company, RSI. Its integration into the existing iRush Rewards should mean decent rewards for online poker players from day 1.

Today’s launch is only in Pennsylvania. But the folks at BetRivers Poker say they’re just getting started, “with plans to expand into additional jurisdictions as part of RSI’s long-term strategy.” This suggests a launch in Delaware, Michigan and New Jersey are all in the cards.

Once the software is downloaded, players are prompted to select their “location” — currently, the only options are BetRivers Pennsylvania or Sugarhouse Pennsylvania, a sister site. Unless you already have a Sugarhouse account, you can select BetRivers.

Then you’ll seen a screen showing the BetRivers Poker website. Click the button in the middle, “Enter Games Lobby.” This will open a new window that acts as the traditional online poker client.

Phil Galfond’s Run it Once Poker, Re-imagined

I’ve been heavily involved in the game design, promotions, and policy decisions, and, more importantly, in building an incredible team that sees online poker the way I do Phil Galfond takes center stage in this relaunch of his brainchild, Run it Once Poker, now repackaged as BetRivers for the US market. The philosophy behind the site remains much unchanged.

“As poker players, we designed this platform from the ground up to be for the players — all players,” said Galfond in the press release today. “From the amateur playing their very first hand to the sophisticated pro, everyone was kept in mind as we focused on fairness, excitement, and generous rewards that truly benefit the player.”

Galfond is referred to as a “key differentiator” of the BetRivers Poker platform, acting not just as an ambassador, but as “a vital partner in its design and development.”

“I’ve been heavily involved in the game design, promotions, and policy decisions, and, more importantly, in building an incredible team that sees online poker the way I do,” he added.

It marks the fifth PA online poker site to go live under local regulation, joining the ranks of PokerStars, WSOP, BetMGM Poker, and Borgata Poker — the sixth, if you include DraftKings’ Electric Poker.

It brings fresh excitement to the US online poker scene, which has seen limited growth in recent years. Indeed, it is the first new regulated option for a real money online poker app in over three years. While sports giant DraftKings recently introduced its peer-to-peer Electric Poker product in its casino, BetRivers Poker represents a full-scale online poker launch that goes head-to-head with the likes of PokerStars and WSOP Online.

Launch Details for BetRivers Poker PA

As mentioned, the platform will have all the popular playing formats, including cash games, sit & go’s, lottery sit and gos, and multi-table tournaments.

To promote its launch, it is expected that BetRivers Poker PA will offer players a generous welcome package, likely competing with a traditional 100% deposit match up to $600 offered by other operators. A freeroll schedule also seems likely.

However, at the time of writing, these launch details have not been disclosed.

BetRivers Poker borrows many innovative features previously seen during Run It Once Poker’s time in the global dot-com market. Unique features such as Dynamic Avatars, randomized aliases, built-in HUD, Cub3d (its jackpot style sit and go product), blind seating with fixed buy-in, all will be available on the new platform — all of which distinguish the platform from its competitors.

Interestingly, BetRivers has adopted the tagline “Fun. Fair. Rewarding” for its online poker platform, a marketing approach reminiscent of the messaging that helped define Run It Once Poker when it first launched.

There were no specifics on the rewards program, other than integration into the existing rewards program, iRush Rewards. This likely means that the loyalty program of before — a system called Splash the Pot, and Legends rewards — will not return.

The company also promised tight integration with its retail poker rooms. Rush Street collaborates with Rivers Casinos in Pittsburgh and Philadelphia, and the company plans to create “a seamless experience for players, bridging the gap between the BetRivers digital and Rivers Casino offerings,” said Richard Schwartz, Chief Executive Officer of Rush Street Interactive.

The Long Road for BetRivers to Launching Poker

BetRivers Poker has been a long time coming. Run It Once Poker operated in the international market in 2020 to 2021, but it lacked support for multi-table tournaments (MTTs) and a mobile app. In 2022, BetRivers’ parent company, Rush Street Interactive (RSI), acquired Run It Once Poker in a $5.8 million deal.

This acquisition included RIO’s platform, its development team, and Galfond himself, with the goal of entering the regulated US online poker market and integrating the platform with BetRivers’ existing casino and sports betting operations.

Over the past two years, the company reworked the platform, integrating it with its existing casino and sports betting systems while adding several new features, including support for tournaments and a mobile app.

While RSI remained tight-lipped about its poker plans during this time, significant progress was made behind the scenes. The company actively recruited poker executives and hired key directors and industry experts to lead the effort.

Then, in early September, BetRivers began a series of closed real-money tests, inviting a select group of players to try the new site. These tests featured limited stakes and select games available for a few hours at a time. Participants received $50 for testing the platform and access to freerolls.

The last test session, which lasted four hours, took place on October 19, marking the last step before the platform’s public launch today.

A Bright Future for BetRivers and US Online Poker

No doubt, BetRivers Poker enters a competitive market in both Pennsylvania and, as it expands, the US as a whole. There’s three other networks (PokerStars, WSOP, and BetMGM) in PA and in the other online poker markets; four if you include DraftKings. That’s a lot of competition in a relatively small market.

Pennsylvania sites are all segregated from other US states, as PA has yet to join multi-state poker, though that means an even playing field for BetRivers. Currently, PokerStars PA dominates the market, while BetMGM and WSOP compete for second and third place.

That’s not an easy market to enter. But BetRivers’ product launch is certainly the most exciting in recent US online poker history. The product looks polished and introduces many features not seen anywhere else, which could attract both casual and serious players alike.

Phil Galfond’s presence could also make a big difference, and BetRivers has both retail presence and the Poker Night in America brand to help promote it.

BetRivers Poker USA has plans to expand into other regulated markets such as New Jersey, Michigan, Delaware, and West Virginia, with the potential to roll out a broader shared liquidity network. However, the timeline for these launches has not yet been disclosed.