PokerStars Introduces Shared Pools in New Jersey and Michigan

PokerStars Introduces Shared Pools in New Jersey and Michigan

PokerStars Logo
PokerStars Logo

PokerStars announced a two-day service interruption in Michigan and New Jersey. In connection, the Poker Room Operator announced server maintenance scheduled for Dec 12 and 13. The upkeep is a significant component of establishing a shared pool for the two states.

A few days of server maintenance may be a small price to pay for players in New Jersey and Michigan, as something significant may be imminent. Although there has been no official announcement, shared liquidity is imminent.

Top 3 Online poker Sites in Michigan, MI, USA

  • Slot Title
  • Pay Back
  • Key Features
Poker bonus: $2,000 in deposit bonuses

  • Superb player traffic
  • Payout Speed: Instant
Poker bonus: $2,000 in deposit bonusesPlay NowOur score:
Poker bonus: $2,000 in deposit bonuses
Read more
Poker bonus: 100% first deposit bonus up to $3,000

  • Anonymous Tables
  • Payout Speed: <24 hours
Poker bonus: 100% first deposit bonus up to $3,000Play NowOur score:
Poker bonus: 100% first deposit bonus up to $3,000
Read more
Poker bonus: 100% first deposit bonus up to $500

  • Fast-Fold Zone Poker Options
  • Payout Speed: Instant
Poker bonus: 100% first deposit bonus up to $500Play NowOur score:
Poker bonus: 100% first deposit bonus up to $500
Read more

First MSIGA License Awarded to PokerStars in Michigan

On December 9, PokerStars announced a two-day downtime scheduled for December 12 and 13 in New Jersey and Michigan. 

The server maintenance will affect all three major services — poker, casino, and sports betting — as part of what PokerStars USA referred to as a “major site upgrade.” 

The purpose of the planned maintenance is to prepare for the liquidity sharing between the two states.

Bringing More Games and Larger Poker Tournaments 

Michigan and New Jersey sharing player pools means that players from both states will be able to compete with one another. PokerStars USA stated that the maintenance was part of a larger plan to “bring more games, larger prize pools, and guarantees in poker tournaments” to both states. 

The servers are expected to be fully operational on December 14, and PokerStars USA will tweet when they are. There was no mention of an official date for the completion of the sharing liquidity process, but many believe it will be at least a few days after maintenance.

The player pool sharing is permissible under the Multi-State Internet Gaming Agreement (MSIGA), which Michigan joined in May after receiving approval in April.

Multi-State Online Poker Picking Up Speed

Prior to Michigan’s acceptance, MSIGA’s roster of member states only included Nevada and New Jersey, with MSIGA’s home state of Delaware rounding out the list. 

The general idea behind the sharing of player pools between states is that it will benefit both the players and the operators. In addition, it gives fans another reason to be excited.

PokerStars – The First Online Poker Operator in Michigan Market

PokerStars is the first online poker operator in Michigan to utilize shared liquidity. WSOP also has a presence in the state, but neither it nor BetMGM have disclosed whether or not such a move can be anticipated from them.

WSOP’s experience with shared liquidity is already governed by MSIGA, which includes Delaware, Nevada, and New Jersey, so it makes sense to include Michigan. 

However, PokerStars has effectively beaten WSOP to the punch, as few of the prerequisites have been met by WSOP, whereas PokerStars is about to make an announcement. It is still unclear whether or how this will affect the WSOP in the long run, but PokerStars is on the right track in the short term, especially with the holiday season underway.

When discussing multi-state online poker, Pennsylvania’s booming online poker market is a frequent topic of conversation. Many have their eyes on Pennsylvania if it ever decides to join the MSIGA.

Our Recommended Mobile Video Poker Casino

Our Rating

  • Up To $5000 Welcome Bonus
  • Big Selection of Video Poker Games
  • Support Bitcoin For Deposits And Withdrawals
  • Accepts Players From the US
BoVegas Online Casino

About Lou De Aguila

Lou Aguila is a news and feature writer for Golden Casino News. For over a decade, Lou has published news and featured articles for some of the most reputable sports betting and online casino sites in the world, including BetNow.UK, VegasOdds, and BWin. Apart from being a hardcore live casino punter, he also covers sports stories in North American leagues from time to time.