On July 8, online poker enthusiasts in Michigan gained access to an expanded, unified player network thanks to DraftKings’ cross-border platform that connects players in Michigan with those in Pennsylvania and New Jersey.

The Michigan Gaming Control Board (MGCB) announced the integration on Monday, which allows players from all three states to compete on shared tables and participate in collective tournaments, breaking the previous barrier of state-exclusive play.

Online poker thrives on player participation to populate tables and enhance prize pools, as players engage with one another instead of the house. Merging player pools across these three states provides DraftKings with a more substantial roster of active players, enhancing the gaming experience compared to state-only operations.

Michigan’s 2022 entry into the compact enabled the collaboration

The three-state integration is facilitated under the Multi-State Internet Gaming Agreement (MSIGA), into which Michigan entered in 2022. Other states involved include Delaware, Nevada, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia.

Prior to Michigan’s involvement in MSIGA, local online poker players were limited to competing solely against fellow Michiganders, resulting in smaller player pools and prize distributions compared to states with shared liquidity.

Last year, Pennsylvania joined the agreement focused on poker, a move expected to offer approximately 150,000 poker players across the participating states enhanced gameplay options. DraftKings may eventually expand its network to other MSIGA jurisdictions such as Nevada and West Virginia, contingent on regulatory approvals.

With this development, DraftKings becomes the second online operator to link Michigan’s poker community to an interstate pool, following the MGCB’s authorization of PokerStars, which operates via the FanDuel platform, for multi-state poker connectivity in April. DraftKings’ entry broadens the range of brands available in Michigan’s shared liquidity framework.

Regulators highlight their thorough review process

For the cross-state player pool to launch, DraftKings had to successfully complete an MGCB assessment, ensuring compliance with Michigan’s multi-state internet poker standards. In Michigan, DraftKings conducts its operations in partnership with the Bay Mills Indian Community, a local collaborator.

“This approval demonstrates the robustness of our collaboration with the Bay Mills Indian Community and the rigor of our regulatory evaluation,” remarked MGCB Executive Director Henry Williams.

“As Michigan’s multistate poker network continues to expand, we remain committed to ensuring that every operator upholds the same high standards of fairness, player safety, and security,” he added. The MGCB stated that this approval aligns with its mission to foster a licensed gaming environment while ensuring adherence to responsible gaming principles and industry integrity.