Michigan wants to join a Multistate Interstate Gaming Agreement (MSIGA). The addition of Michigan to current members Nevada, New Jersey, and Delaware is still under review by the Michigan Gaming Control Board (MGCB) and is unlikely to happen quickly. According to Rebecca Satterfield, current manager for MSIGA, suggested amendments have been drafted to make it easier for future states to join the association.
Encourage other states to join
Michigan joining would boost the population total to 23 million and it could encourage three other online poker states to join. If Pennsylvania, Connecticut, and West Virginia joined, it would push the population over 40 million.
A bill that legalized online casinos, sports betting, online poker, and daily fantasy sports in Michigan was signed into law in 2019. In 2020, casinos started to make partnerships with iGaming platforms.
Michigan online gambling at casinos like Play Gun Lake gives gamblers the opportunity to play online slots and table games like poker. They can even play poker with live dealers to offer an experience much like being in a land-based casino. They can also enjoy bonuses and more.
Boost population to sustain U.S. online poker
A population of over 40 million would help to sustain the U.S. online poker market. It would provide liquidity for sites to compete with offshore operators and run tournaments of a decent size. Playing poker online is gaining more traction than visiting a casino in person. Players have the convenience of playing poker from anywhere on any device for real money.
MGCB guidance
The MGCB only covers interstate poker agreements in the U.S. It lays out paths operators can take now or in the future should they sign an agreement with other states. For example, an operator already offering poker could introduce a new Michigan platform supporting multistate poker. It could use game software already approved by the board for multistate poker or submit new software.
Before the signing of an agreement with other states, there are different inter-state rules and requirements to consider. Testing must also take place, especially when operators aren’t already sharing liquidity with other states. Delaware and Nevada formed the MSIGA in February 2014, but it wasn’t until March, a year later, that they linked their player pools. New Jersey joined in October 2017, and player pooling only happened in May 2018. Now that the infrastructure exists, it should become quicker for states to join in the future.
Larger tournaments and more money to win
When Michigan joins MSIGA, BetMGM and PokerStars will be able to merge their Michigan and New Jersey player pools. This will break the monopoly held by 888. It plans to launch its online poker site, WSOP.com, in Michigan in the near future.
More states are legalizing online poker, and players are excited by what a larger player pool could offer. For those with a poker-winning strategy, combining player pools can result in larger tournaments and more money to be won.
