HOW ONLINE POKER OPERATES IN US STATES

Michigan

Online poker became legal in December 2019, but it was not until January 2021 that the first operator was set up. The law was updated to allow interstate connections with New Jersey, Nevada and Delaware as part of the Multi-State Internet Gaming Agreement. There are three poker sites currently operating in Michigan: BetMGM Poker, PokerStars and WSOP Poker.

Nevada

Online gambling has been legal in Nevada since 2013 and online poker has been around ever since. However, as Nevada was already a hugely popular area for live casino, with Las Vegas hosting the biggest poker tournaments, the World Series of Poker and the World Poker Tour, initially online poker didn’t take off until the Covid-19 pandemic.

Pennsylvania

Online poker became legal in 2017; however in Pennsylvania, it is intrastate or “ring-fenced.” Therefore, players can only play against people who are also in Pennsylvania. There has been much talk about the prospect of Pennsylvania becoming a multi-state operator.

West Virginia

Online poker was legalized in 2019, however much like in Connecticut, there are currently no online poker sites operating in the state.

New Jersey

Online gambling, including poker, has been legal since 2013. New Jersey has the highest amount of online poker players in the US, with seven different operators, and PokerStars as one of its main brands.

Connecticut

Online poker is technically legal in Connecticut. However, at this moment in time, Connecticut law only permits up to two gaming platforms, currently held by FanDuel and DraftKings, neither of which offer online poker. Therefore, it is legal, but there is no legal way to play. However, poker sites are rumored to be in the process of being set up

Delaware

Has a smaller population than Connecticut but has not had the same issue. In fact, Delaware became the first state to legalize online poker in 2012. Providers must conform to various state laws to ensure the safety of players. In 2014, Delaware signed a multi -state poker agreement, allowing players to compete with people in other states.