The success of interstate poker play in January suggests that it can greatly benefit Michigan online poker operators.
On January 1st, PokerStars introduced a unified gameplay experience for players from both Michigan and New Jersey.
The online casino operator experienced a substantial increase in revenue as a result.
Is PokerStars expected to continue benefiting from interstate play? When can we expect other poker operators to join in?
PokerStars MI online casino makes big revenue jump in January
The Michigan Gaming Control Board combines online poker revenue with Michigan online casino figures.
While it is difficult to determine the exact extent of the impact interstate play had on PokerStars, it undeniably had some level of influence.
PokerStars Casino MI experienced a substantial 64.6% increase in revenue during January compared to December 2022.
In December 2022, Stars recorded a revenue of $2.2 million, and this was succeeded by a revenue of $3.6 million in January.
The operator experienced a significant month-to-month increase of 64%, making January’s total the highest since December of 2021.
The initial estimations anticipated a 30-50% rise in PokerStars traffic in Michigan through interstate play. However, as of January, the traffic has exceeded expectations by more than doubling.
New Jersey also sees boost for PokerStars
PokerStars in the Garden State experienced a significant boost from the interstate play between Michigan and New Jersey.
New Jersey distinguishes its online poker revenue from its overall online casino revenue, and in January, the highest revenue was generated by PokerStars at $1.1 million. This surpassed the earnings of the other two online poker operators, WSOP and BetMGM, who both garnered slightly over $800,000.
PokerStars achieved victory in the New Jersey revenue competition for the first time in January, ending their winning drought since May 2020.
Since July 2020, it hadn’t crossed $1 million in revenue until now.
The momentum is expected to continue as PokerStars offers weekly guaranteed prize pools of $1 million to players from Michigan and New Jersey.
WSOP benefitting from interstate play elsewhere
Although the World Series of Poker has not yet found a solution for interstate play in Michigan, it has successfully implemented it in other locations.
For nearly five years, the WSOP has maintained a compact that includes shared pools between Nevada, Delaware, and New Jersey.
With a staggering $97.1 million, it continues to hold the title of the highest online poker revenue in New Jersey, leaving PokerStars way behind with just $62.7 million.
Since its launch in Michigan on March 28, 2022, WSOP has contributed to a significant increase in revenue for Caesars Casino MI.
Caesars’ revenue during the period from January 2021 to March 2022 amounted to only $25.9 million. However, from April 2022 to January 2025, their revenue significantly increased to $59.6 million.
In January, WSOP made history by introducing mystery bounty events to Michigan through its online platform. Pennsylvania quickly followed suit.
Although the exact impact on Caesars’ revenue remains uncertain, it seems to be positively influencing the overall player pools.
GameIntel reports that WSOP has surpassed its competitors in US online poker, with an impressive average of over 400 players per event.
When will WSOP, BetMGM add interstate play in Michigan?
Both the online platforms of WSOP and BetMGM Michigan Poker have welcomed the opportunity for interstate play.
In May of last year, Michigan became an official member of the Multi-State Internet Gaming Agreement.
Nevertheless, the MGCB necessitates that operators’ software must fulfill certain criteria before they are permitted to merge pools with other states.
No updates have been provided regarding the official clearance for interstate play of WSOP or BetMGM, and a timetable is yet to be determined.
The 2025 World Series of Poker (WSOP) is set to commence on May 30th and will extend until July 18th in Las Vegas.
The online bracelet series offered by WSOP in MI is undoubtedly valuable, but the potential revenue generated from combining online pools during this period is too substantial to overlook.
