It’s been three months since the Michigan Gaming Control Board (MGCB) agreed to join the Multi-State Internet Gaming Agreement (MSIGA), however, it remains unknown when interstate poker would finally go live in the state as the latest developments show operators won’t be able to merge their player pools just yet.
While we wait for that one big announcement, let’s take a look at the changes that could happen to the US online poker landscape once Michigan players are allowed to compete with their counterparts in New Jersey.
Massive Increase in Cash Game Traffic
The most obvious outcome of interstate poker becoming active in Michigan is the significant increase in cash game traffic. Players in the Wolverine state will see more cash games running, with more than 700 cash game seats expected to be filled.
The race to US online poker dominance will also intensify, and PokerStars in particular will see its position improve considering that it leads the Michigan market by a wide margin, currently accounting for more than 50% of the market. At the moment, it ranks third in New Jersey, with WSOP well ahead, holding a 60% market share. BetMGM meanwhile is in second place both in Michigan and New Jersey.
WSOP Still Leads But PokerStars Jumps to No. 2
The WSOP/888 will lose its edge as the only online poker network connecting multiple states in the US, though it will still lead the market (44%) when Michigan players are added to the pool. PokerStars jumps to second place (32%), while BetMGM drops to third place at 25% but it could still very well elevate its market status.