Michigan Allows PokerStars To Share Players With Sister Site In New JerseyPokerStars Can Have One Network Between Two States |
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Online poker players in Michigan finally have access to more substantial player pools.
Gambling regulators in the Wolverine State announced that Michigan internet gaming operator Odawa Online and platform partner The Stars Group have permission to launch multistate internet poker games in Michigan.
The Michigan Gaming Control Board granted approval Dec. 20, and New Jersey granted TSG Poker Stars permission on Dec. 23, to launch liquidity sharing on Jan. 1, 2023.
Michigan players can now play with New Jersey players and vice versa.
“Poker players in Michigan have anticipated eagerly the launch of multistate internet poker,” said Henry Williams, executive director, MGCB. “I congratulate the Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians and TSG Poker Stars for being the first operator and provider granted permission to launch multistate internet poker in Michigan.”
In April, Michigan asked to join the Multi-State Internet Gaming Agreement, and Williams signed the agreement in May. Other MSIGA members include Delaware, New Jersey and Nevada.
PokerStars is not licensed or operational in Nevada or Delaware. The agreement allows Odawa Online and TSG to pool their Michigan players with players in the other jurisdictions in the agreement where TSG is licensed and authorized to operate.
Prior to the 2023 launch, all Michigan poker players could play online only against other players physically located in the state. The agreement allows all authorized operators and providers to pool their Michigan players with players in the other jurisdictions where they are licensed and authorized to operate.
“A larger volume of players likely will result in more game options, more frequent games and larger tournament prizes,” Williams added in his statement.
Any Michigan licensed operator may partner with a platform provider to offer multijurisdictional poker. The operator and platform provider must meet MGCB requirements before the agency would approve the launch for real-money poker games.
“Other operators and platform providers would need to obtain necessary approvals to introduce poker and to offer multijurisdictional games,” Williams said.
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 multijurisdictional play.
Pennsylvania is another online poker state, but it doesn’t currently allow player pooling.
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