PokerStars begins Michigan & New Jersey shared online poker liquidity

PokerStars has begun the operation of the group’s first shared liquidity poker network outside of Europe after combining player pools across Michigan and New Jersey.

In a move that was confirmed by the Michigan Gaming Control Board, the Flutter Entertainment brand vowed to deliver “more choice, more tournaments, more players”.

PokerStars became the first online poker operator to announce shared liquidity in these states after MGCB approval was granted on December 20, with the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement subsequently following suit three days later.

A go-live date was reached at the turn of the new year, with PokerStars celebrating the cross-border shared liquidity with $150,000 guaranteed on new year’s day.

“Michigan and New Jersey joining forces is great news for our players in these two states, and poker, more generally, as it promises a better experience and even more value, all with the confidence provided by a trusted, licensed operator,” said Severin Rasset, PokerStars US Managing Director. 

“Our community will experience more breadth and depth of games, more tournaments with bigger prizes to win, amped-up promotions, and more choice. 

“To kick start, we are offering generous guarantees on our debut multi-state tournaments, that will no doubt provide lots of value for those who take to the tables. 

“We worked closely with the regulators of New Jersey and Michigan, and we hope that more will follow this great example.”

The MGCB confirmed that PokerStars is the only operator cleared for multi-state online poker that includes the Wolverine State, following permission being granted to the group and tribal partner the Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians.

“Poker players in Michigan have anticipated eagerly the launch of multistate internet poker,” Henry Williams, executive director of the MGCB, had previously said after green-lighting this move.

“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.”

Adding: “A larger volume of players likely will result in more game options, more frequent games and larger tournament prizes.”

Other operators and platform providers would need to obtain necessary approvals to introduce poker and to offer multijurisdictional games. Currently, MGM Grand Detroit with BetMGM and the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians with World Series of Poker also are authorised poker providers in Michigan, but they are not authorised for multijurisdictional play.