Second regulated online poker network in Michigan goes live Monday
The rapidly-expanding regulated poker economy in Michigan welcomed a new platform Monday. BetMGM Poker Michigan went live in the Wolverine State, becoming the second regulated online poker platform operating in Michigan.
PokerStars Michigan launched in January, and the debut of BetMGM MI Poker brings the total number of available regulated online poker options in the state to two. BetMGM operates under the license of MGM Grand Detroit, and players can find the poker platform as part of the integrated BetMGM online sports betting and casino app.
In less than two months, Michigan has transformed from a prospective major online gambling hub to one of the most extensive legal iGaming markets in the U.S. A synchronized launch of online casinos and sports betting sites took place on Jan. 22, 2021.
PokerStars MI went live on Jan. 29, and the debut of BetMGM Poker expands the online poker market in Michigan even further. No other online poker operators are approved by the Michigan Gaming Control Board as of yet.
That means the battle for Michigan online poker market share comes down to PokerStars and BetMGM. The BetMGM Poker platform is powered by partypoker software, and players familiar with New Jersey’s partypoker US Network should find the platform familiar.
Outlook for BetMGM Poker In Michigan
The partypoker US Network hosts special tournament series for New Jersey players on an almost monthly basis.
The biggest of those New Jersey-exclusive online tournament festivals ran in December, as the World Poker Tour ran its first-ever online Main Tour event on the partypoker US Network. The WPT Online Poker Open Main Event ran as a $3,500 buy-in, $1 million guaranteed tournament.
Final attendance for the tournament boosted the prize pool to $1.2 million, including a $239,820 first-place prize. Tournament winner Soheb Porbandarwala took home that six-figure payday, as well as the usual spoils awarded to a WPT Main Tour champion.
The partnership between the World Poker Tour and partypoker could bring the WPT Main Tour to BetMGM Poker Michigan at some point as well.
Potential for interstate poker
Michigan gaming laws allow online poker operators to share player pools with other states if they wish. BetMGM Poker Michigan has an open door to link player pools with New Jersey’s partypoker skins.
Such a merger would transform the partypoker US Network into a truly national poker network. A recent announcement from the First District Court of Appeals points to a future free of legal hurdles for interstate poker, and a joint Michigan-New Jersey network operated by BetMGM/partypoker would form one of the biggest potential player pools in the U.S.
BetMGM Poker MI is available for download as a browser-based client, as well as via mobile apps for Apple iOS and Android devices. Players must be located within Michigan and be at least 21 or over to play at BetMGM Poker Michigan.
Featured image source: Twitter
