Although it was widely expected, Rush Street Interactive (RSI), the parent company of BetRivers Poker, has now officially confirmed plans to launch online poker in multiple states.
“Rush Street Interactive is preparing to launch BetRivers Poker in multiple states following Pennsylvania’s entry into the Multi-State Internet Gaming Agreement (MSIGA) and approval of shared player liquidity,” the company said via press release on Tuesday.
“By combining player pools with PA, BetRivers Poker will offer more tables, larger prize pools, and the ability for our players to compete against opponents across multiple states—all on a single BetRivers platform. Further details, including a full press release, will be shared shortly,” it went on to say.
The announcement follows Pennsylvania’s recent entry into the Multi-State Internet Gaming Agreement (MSIGA), signed by Governor Josh Shapiro last week, becoming the largest state in the six-member pact.
BetMGM Poker and WSOP Online were quick to take advantage of the expanded player pool, and now BetRivers Poker, currently live only in Pennsylvania, is preparing to follow suit.
The company has not yet revealed a timeline for its shared liquidity rollout or specified which states will be included, but it appears well-positioned to launch a four- or five-state network. Behind the scenes, BetRivers is actively working toward expansion in New Jersey and Michigan, both major MSIGA states.
RSI also holds exclusive market access in Delaware, where it is expected to eventually introduce online poker. Furthermore, the company could be the first to offer regulated online poker in West Virginia.
By year’s end, BetRivers Poker could be operating a five-state shared liquidity network, potentially becoming the only operator with that level of multi-state presence.
BetMGM and WSOP First to Expand
It has been a landmark month for Pennsylvania online poker players and the regulated US online poker market overall. The state officially joined the MSIGA compact, and BetMGM and WSOP were quick to seize the opportunity.
Both operators launched celebratory promotions, BetMGM Poker with a freeroll and a $1 million guaranteed weekend series, and WSOP with a $200,000 guaranteed Sunday major and the announcement of its online bracelet schedule, now open to players across all four compact states for the first time.
The response has been strong, with both networks seeing tournament guarantees smashed, some doubled or even tripled and cash games running steadily around the clock.
Meanwhile, PokerStars remains the only operator yet to respond to Pennsylvania joining the compact. With the state’s large player base, adding PA to its existing NJ-MI network would likely push PokerStars to the top in terms of traffic, though the gap between networks may not be substantial.
Pokerfuse understands that the operator is expected to announce its plans for Pennsylvania and the expansion of its player pool in the near future.
BetRivers Poker Prepares for Expansion
Now, with BetRivers signaling its intention to launch a multi-state online poker network, there is a potential for the first-ever five-state shared liquidity pool in the US. That would be a remarkable achievement for a platform that only launched its online poker product about six months ago. If it follows through, BetRivers could become the market leader in terms of state reach within its first year.
Although its player pool in Pennsylvania is currently smaller than more established competitors, BetRivers has built a loyal following, with its cash games and tournaments consistently filling during peak hours.
The launch was modest at first, with the operator relying largely on word of mouth and external promotion from Phil Galfond, founder of Run It Once Poker, the same platform used for BetRivers Poker, and the site’s lead ambassador.
However, the operator has since made significant strides. It introduced an ambitious “Rakeback Revolution” initiative—rebating all rake through rewards, overlays, and promotions. Originally planned as a three-month trial, it was extended in February and is now a permanent feature.
Marketing efforts have also ramped up, including campaigns featuring its marquee ambassador, Phil Hellmuth. The platform has seen regular software upgrades and ongoing improvements to its game offerings, and it is preparing to introduce Progressive Knockouts (PKOs) once the shared liquidity network is in place.
Until now, the one major area where BetRivers lagged was multi-state expansion. But that’s changing, it’s finally on track to join the ranks of long-established operators with a shared liquidity network.
RSI is expected to address its online poker platform and plans to expand its player pool during its first-quarter earnings call with investors on Wednesday, followed by details in a press release.
