Pennsylvania Online Poker Rooms Will Join Shared Liquidity Pool In April, Regulators SaidKeystone State Online Poker Players Will Be Able To Compete With Those In New Jersey, Nevada And Michigan |
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Pennsylvania gaming regulators recently said that the state should officially be joining the country’s online poker shared liquidity market in April.
Adding the Keystone State to the Multi-State Internet Gaming Agreement could give a major boost to the country’s online poker market.
“We continue to work internally and with online poker operators to get the shared liquidity market up sometime in April,” Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board communications director Doug Harbach told PlayPennsylvania. “The agreement would, of course, be signed prior to that launch.”
Finalizing Agreement
PokerStars, WSOP.com and BetMGM all operate in Pennsylvania and could begin linking with players in New Jersey, Nevada, and Michigan. However, WSOP.com is the only operator in all three states. On the other hand, PokerStars and BetMGM are only in New Jersey and Michigan.
Rush Street Interactive also launched BetRivers poker in Pennsylvania late last year.
Despite legalizing online poker in 2017 and seeing the first platform launch in 2019, Pennsylvania is the only U.S. online poker remaining as a ringed-in market. In other words, Pennsylvania players can only play with others in the state.
The process of changing that started in October when state officials began negotiating to join the interstate compact, and ultimately accepted an invitation in January. But signing the final agreement is still in the works.
“In order to remain competitive in the gambling sector, I am expressing my strong support for Pennsylvania to join the MSIGA alongside Michigan, Delaware, Nevada, New Jersey and West Virginia,” Gov. Josh Shapiro said. “Pennsylvania should capitalize on our status as a leader in legalized gambling, and join this compact, which would bring in additional revenue for the Commonwealth and allow players more gaming options.”
Waiting Game To Boost Player Pools
Shared online poker wouldn’t launch overnight even after officially joining the MSIGA. There are still technical specifications and regulations to work through. However, seeing platforms linked by the end of 2025 is a possibility.
Pennsylvania could bring significant player and prize pool boosts to the MSIGA states, adding a population of almost 13 million people. Michigan’s population is 10 million, New Jersey has 9.3 million, and Nevada has 3.2 million. That brings the total population of all four states to 35.5 million.
West Virginia (1.8 million) and Delaware (1 million) are also members of the MSIGA, but have yet to see any poker operators launch. Connecticut is also currently considering a bill to join the agreement after legalizing online poker in 2021, but also haven’t had an operator launch in its state yet.
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