PokerStars has been approved by the Michigan Gaming Control Board to become the first operator in the state to launch online multistate poker.
Following approval in May, Michigan became the fourth state to join the Multi-State Internet Gaming Agreement, allowing its players to pool their players with other PokerStars players from licensed and approved jurisdictions.
Interstate poker was permitted in Michigan through a bill that was signed into law in January 2021, soon after a separate bill allowed for online casino including poker without shared liquidity.
As of January 1, 2023, the state of New Jersey allows players from that state to play with those in Michigan. Besides Michigan and New Jersey, the Multi-State Internet Gaming Agreement also includes Delaware and Nevada.
MGCB executive director Henry Williams congratulated PokerStars and its land-based licensing partner Odawa Online for the launch, and noted that “a larger volume of players likely will result in more game options, more frequent games and larger tournament prizes”.
PokerStars is currently the only operator approved to pool poker liquidity with other states. However, any licensed operator in the state can partner with a platform provider to provide online multistate poker, subject to MGCB approval. BetMGm and World Series of Poker are currently also live in Michigan, with Michigan-only player pools.
Williams also noted that the increased tax revenue from multistate poker will go towards bolstering K-12 education in the state of Michigan.