PokerStars is committed to the long-term growth of the game in the US and globally and are working on content, partnership, and product enhancements … as we build towards our entry into PA shared liquidity
PokerStars has broken its silence regarding Pennsylvania’s recent entry into the Multi-State Internet Gaming Agreement (MSIGA), confirming that it will not be connecting its PA online poker room with its existing shared liquidity network in the short term.
In an statement sent to pokerfuse on Thursday, PokerStars said that “current global operational priorities” are the reason behind the delay. However, it reaffirmed its commitment to US online poker and hinted it would connect PokerStars PA with its existing MI-NJ network “at a later date.”
“PokerStars recognizes and welcomes the importance of shared player pools in enhancing the poker ecosystem,” the statement reads. “But current global operational priorities mean that joining the Pennsylvania shared liquidity initiative will come at a later date.”
The statement comes after both BetMGM and WSOP expanded their shared liquidity networks to include Pennsylvania online poker players on April 28, the same day the state’s participation in the compact took effect.
Meanwhile, BetRivers Poker, which currently operates only in Pennsylvania, has also announced plans to expand into other MSIGA states and has confirmed it is preparing to launch a multi-state network of its own.
That left PokerStars as the only major operator that had not issued any public communication about its intentions regarding PA shared liquidity — until now.
A Surprising Delay
The delay was unexpected given PokerStars’ track record in the US market as a leader in this region. It was the first operator to go live in Pennsylvania when the state opened its regulated market in 2019. It was the first to go live in Michigan in 2021. It also led the way with the first successful merger of player pools between Michigan and New Jersey in early 2023.
Given that, many assumed it would be among the first to connect PA to its multi-state network when the state joined MSIGA. Instead, BetMGM, which was the last to launch a shared liquidity network, and WSOP, which took around 18 months to connect Michigan players, were the first to act when Pennsylvania joined. PokerStars remained on the sidelines.
Initially, the delay was assumed to be because of technical hurdles. PokerStars PA underwent a major server upgrade in January 2025 and experienced downtime and platform issues in late April. However, the newly issued statement makes it clear that the delay is not technical — but strategic decision based on internal priorities.
The site will continue to operate as a standalone site for the foreseeable future.
“Players in Pennsylvania can continue to enjoy the PokerStars experience, including high-quality multi-table tournaments, cash games, and local promotions designed specifically for PA players,” the statement adds.
While the operator did not provide a concrete timeline for when it might join, it did state it remains “committed to the long-term growth of the game in the US and globally,” and that it is “working on content, partnership, and product enhancements” to prepare for future growth.
What’s Behind the Delay?
The mention of global operational priorities is vague, and the operator did not elaborate. However, there are a few likely contributing factors.
One possible reason is that Flutter, the parent company of PokerStars, is simply focused on bringing its different products and brands together globally. That could include work on technical infrastructure, compliance updates, or a longer-term strategy that may involve the FanDuel brand, which Flutter also owns.
It has been speculated that Flutter could eventually rebrand PokerStars in the US under the FanDuel name or create a more unified offering between the two brands. However, for now, that remains speculation. PokerStars declined to comment on any such plans when contacted by Poker Industry PRO. Flutter also did not elaborate further on PokerStars’ US poker strategy during its Q1 2025 earnings call held on Wednesday.
It is also entirely possible that the delay has nothing to do with FanDuel integration. As stated, the decision is due to “global operational priorities,” and considering that online poker contributes a tiny portion of Flutter’s overall revenue, it is plausible that resources are simply being allocated elsewhere within the company.
Too Big to Ignore the PA Market
Still, Pennsylvania is not a market that should be overlooked. Before the April 28 shared liquidity merger, PokerStars PA accounted for more than half of the state’s online poker traffic and rivaled the size of its own NJ-MI network. A delay in tapping into the combined liquidity pool means missing out on big growth opportunities, so the reasoning behind the decision must be a compelling one.
While PokerStars PA won’t be part of the shared liquidity immediately, it is clear the operator is not stepping away from the US market. It remains active in three regulated states — New Jersey, Michigan, and Pennsylvania — as well as in the ring-fenced Ontario market in Canada. It announced that the NAPT will return this year and recently ran a successful PokerStars Open Philadelphia.
However, in Pennsylvania, the brand has recently begun reducing tournament guarantees, likely in response to players shifting toward operators now offering multi-state games.
Meanwhile, BetMGM and WSOP are already crushing tournament guarantees following their respective liquidity mergers and the Pennsylvania online poker market is expected to grow.
With BetMGM now operating a tri-state network and WSOP launching the country’s first four-state network, BetRivers Poker is preparing to become the third multi-state operator. PokerStars is still expected to eventually join the multi-state pool. But today’s announcement will disappoint PokerStars players, who are going to have to wait a while yet for it to expand.
