DraftKings has expanded its poker offerings by connecting its player pool in Michigan to those in New Jersey and Pennsylvania, following approval from state regulators.
The Michigan Gaming Control Board (MGCB) has granted DraftKings permission to combine its Michigan players with those already playing from New Jersey and Pennsylvania, with the latter state being integrated into the system on July 8.
In Michigan, DraftKings operates its online casino through a partnership with the Bay Mills Indian Community, which also manages a physical casino within the state. This partnership extends to DraftKings' poker operations.
The MGCB announced in a recent release that after a thorough review, DraftKings has met all regulatory standards necessary for multi-state internet poker activities in Michigan.
MGCB Executive Director Henry Williams commented, "This approval reflects the strength of our partnership with Bay Mills Indian Community and the thoroughness of our regulatory process. As Michigan’s multistate poker network continues to grow, we remain focused on ensuring every operator meets the same high bar for fairness, security, and player protection."
Michigan became a participant in the Multi-State Internet Gaming Agreement (MSIGA) in 2022, joining five other states: Delaware, Nevada, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia. However, DraftKings does not offer sports betting or online casino gaming in Delaware due to the state's monopoly model with Rush Street Interactive's BetRivers. Similarly, it has opted not to seek licenses in Nevada because of the state's strict regulations on prediction markets, a service it offers in other states. While it is licensed for sports betting and iGaming in West Virginia, poker is not included in its offerings there.
In a competitive landscape, DraftKings is facing stiff challenges from other operators. Notably, FanDuel, its primary competitor in sports betting and casino games, has teamed up with PokerStars, which has already established a poker pool that includes Michigan, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. This arrangement was officially approved by the MGCB in March.
BetMGM Poker also shares a player pool in the same three states. While DraftKings has achieved multi-state pooling, it still has competitors with even broader reach. Both BetRivers and the WSOP Online, owned by NSUS, have networks covering four states, with BetRivers operating in Delaware, Michigan, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia, while WSOP Online connects players across New Jersey, Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Nevada. Earlier this year, BetRivers expressed intentions to expand its footprint to five states, including New Jersey.
