BetMGM waited several months for the approval it received recently by the Michigan Gaming Control Board (MGCB) to operate digital poker games in conjunction with players from New Jersey.
Shuffle Up and Deal
BetMGM applied for multistate poker hosting in May, but the regulatory approval didn’t come until early November, when the gaming regulatory board gave a thumbs up for the online platform to host poker games in conjunction with players in New Jersey. This will create a bigger pool of players and a more competitive experience for all concerned.
The Lawful Internet Gaming Act and the Multi-State Internet Gaming Agreement (MSIGA) allow platforms in one state to join players in another state as long as those jurisdictions consent to participating in the multistate pool. BetMGM is the online gaming partner of MGM Grand Detroit and will initially allow No Limit Hold’em, Pot Limit Omaha Hi, and Fixed Limit 7-Card Stud Hi. The poker menu may expand, but approval will be required from the MGCB.
Henry Williams, Executive Director of the MGCB, said: “This authorization represents a significant step forward in the development of online gaming within our state boundaries. We are confident that the partnership with BetMGM will enhance the gaming experience for Michigan players and drive growth in the industry.”
BetMGM is one of three mobile gaming platforms in Michigan with a multistate poker license. PokerStars is aligned with the Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians, while Caesars’ World Series of Poker (WSOP) is partnered with the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and the Chippewa Indians.
“This platform upgrade is long overdue and is a big win for our players,” said Danielle Barille, vice president of online poker at Caesars Digital, back in May. “The best is yet to come for WSOP Online tournaments, and we’re thrilled to bring Michigan players into the fold with Nevada and New Jersey, resulting in a better experience, more value, and the biggest prize pools of the year.”
Pennsylvania Poised to Join MSIGA
Nevada and Delaware were the pioneers of the Multi-State Internet Gaming Agreement and launched the association in 2014, as they both had special dispensation from the federal government regarding sports betting and internet gambling before the US Supreme Court overturned PASPA, the federal law that prohibited sports betting and iGaming except in certain jurisdictions. PASPA was overturned in 2018, and New Jersey immediately joined the consortium, with Michigan and West Virginia coming aboard in 2022 and 2023, respectively.
But now another iGaming state, Pennsylvania, is seriously considering signing on to the MSIGA, and the governor is leading the charge.
“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,” Pennsylvania governor Josh Shapiro wrote in a letter to the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB).
“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.”
