Is Party Poker Legal In Us
The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB) approved an interactive gaming license for BetMGM /Roar Digital. The two companies partner in the US to offer the partypoker US Network in the US. Pennsylvania would make the platform’s second state offering online poker. The following is a brief overview of US states with legal online poker, as well as the specific poker sites that are available in those states. Click to jump to a section: The 4 USA States with Legal Online Poker 1. New Jersey hosts the largest legal online gambling industry of any US state. Party Poker, the largest online poker room in the United States was shut down by the US Federal Government back in 2006, calling that day the Black Friday for the US poker community. New Jersey has granted the license to Party Poker and the Borgata Casino. Unfortunately, online poker isn’t considered to be a specifically legal operation within the state. That’s not to say that it is illegal, but the UIGEA is still in effect across the US, which does put restrictions on what California is able to do as far as online poker is concerned. Poker Players Alliance iDevelopment and Economic Association Online poker in the United States is a topic that generates lots of information, much of it conflicting but all that can be broken down by state, as we have here. As mentioned, legal United States online poker is not a black and white situation. Adding to the complexity.
Online poker players in Michigan received some good news on Thursday. The Michigan Gaming Control Board (MGCB) approved provisional licenses for 15 platform providers.
For poker fans, two companies stand out on that list: Roar Digital and TSG Interactive (The Stars Group). Roar is the gaming partnership between MGM and GVC Holdings (owner of partypoker US Network).
TSG is a division of Flutter Entertainment, which owns PokerStars and the Fox Bet sports wagering platform.
The MGCB told USPoker on Thursday that online gaming may be launching in the coming weeks. It’s unknown if that could include poker.
“Based on what we know at this point, we expect to authorize launch by mid-January,” MGCB spokeswoman Mary Kay Bean told USPoker in an email.
“We don’t know whether poker will be among the games included at initial launch. It will depend on an operator’s readiness to offer poker (their games have been evaluated by independent testing labs and our own gaming lab) and their desire to do so.”
What the operator approvals mean
Those timelines can change but a launch a couple weeks after New Year’s would be welcomed by players. The approvals grant each company a provisional license to operate in the state.
This comes after the filing of the administrative rules for online casino gaming and sports betting on Dec. 2. Operators still aren’t quite at the launch stage yet however.
“The platform providers still must meet other regulatory requirements before online gaming and sports betting can launch in Michigan,” MGCB executive director Richard S. Kalm said in a news release. “The launch date will depend on how quickly they can fulfill the requirements.”
Those requirements include independent testing of platforms and games. To ensure gaming integrity, MGCB must also approve each company’s internal controls. The firms also must secure occupational licenses for certain employees.
The companies approved for provisional licenses with their better-known brands include:
- TSG Interactive US Services Limited (Fox Bet, PokerStars)
- BetMGM (Roar Digital and partypoker US Network)
- American Wagering, Inc. (William Hill Sports Book)
- Betfair Interactive US (FanDuel Sportsbook)
- Churchill Downs Interactive Gaming (TwinSpires)
- Crown MI Gaming (DraftKings)
- GAN Nevada Inc. (online gaming technology provider)
- Golden Nugget Online Gaming, Inc.
- NYX Digital Gaming USA (digital gaming supplier)
- Parx Interactive Inc.
- Penn Sports Interactive
- PointsBet Michigan
- Rush Street Interactive MI
- Sports Information Services Limited (Kambi sports betting service)
- WSI US, LLC (Wynn Sports)
A look ahead at Michigan online poker
Poker players will probably be most interested in those first two operators. PokerStars operates “ringed-in” platforms in New Jersey and Pennsylvania. The company remains the only operator in the latter.
Partypoker US Network operates in New Jersey and also includes the BetMGM and BorgataPoker.com skins.
World Series of Poker (WSOP.com) and its software partner 888poker are absent from the list so far. Pennsylvania has also approved WSOP/888 and partypoker US, but they have yet to go live.
Major launches by these in Michigan and Pennsylvania could add to the growing momentum the US market experienced in 2020.
A couple other companies on the list of license approvals also stand out. Parx has a major live poker scene in Pennsylvania.
Rush Street Interactive is also a major leader in online gaming. Phil Hellmuth is linked to the company and told USPoker that Rush Street has plans to eventually launch online poker.
The MGCB has accepted applications from companies since mid-May. The board has also worked toward:
- communicating licensing requirements
- reviewing internal controls
- reviewing branding submissions
The agency has already allowed operators to unveil apps prior to full-scale launch, which has hastened the process. Michigan residents can download and create accounts. No bets can go forward until final approval to launch.
“The platform providers’ ability to meet the requirements of the laws and rules will determine which entities can be licensed for launch first,” Kalm said.
A Michigan player’s perspective
No doubt many Michigan players will be pleased with the news that legal, real money online poker is getting closer. The state legalized online gaming, sports betting, and poker in 2019.
Until the legal battle over the Wire Act is final, however, Michigan will be a ringed-in market. That means players only battle other players within the state.
Mike Lehnner is a 51-year-old retired corrections officer and runs the Team Michigan Poker Facebook group. He divides time between Ithaca and Las Vegas and pleased his home state is getting closer to legal online poker.
“I think it is long overdue as it never should have been shut down,” he says, referring to Black Friday. “Michigan has some of the best poker players in the world and I just wish the player pool was expanded.”
Lehnner believes the Wolverine State can be a leader in the industry and model for other states.
“Long term, I hope we get back to nationwide and worldwide player pools,” he says. “I think we are on the verge of another poker boom. Expanding player pools will be critical to allowing a boom to happen.”
After some stops and starts, Pennsylvania online poker players received good news on Wednesday. The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB) approved an interactive gaming license for BetMGM/Roar Digital.
The two companies partner in the US to offer the partypoker US Network in the US. Pennsylvania would make the platform’s second state offering online poker.
However, a potential launch date hasn’t been announced and Roar officials had no comment.
Getting the online poker party started in PA?
A new poker site in PA would give players at least another option. Under PGCB regulations, the MGM/Roar is recognized as a Qualified Gaming Entity (QGE). That means it operates as a stand-alone entity and doesn’t need a land-based partner.
The PGCB also approved the company for sports betting (although it would need a land-based partner) and other real money online casino gaming. Party’s possible entry into the market comes after some hiccups along the way.
The company was expected to be approved in August. PGCB chief enforcement counsel Cyrus Pitre spoke on the subject at the group’s July 8 meeting.
However, that timeline was delayed and apparently shifted to October. Players will now be awaiting to see when the platform might launch.
In Pennsylvania, players would find another “ringed-in” online poker option. That means users can only play others within the state. PokerStars already operates in this manner.
WSOP.com operates the only shared liquidity pact among Nevada, New Jersey, and with 888poker in Delaware. The future of interstate compacts remains unknown until the legal challenges regarding the Wire Act play out.
What to expect from a partypoker launch
Partypoker remains one of the best known online poker sites in the world. The company offers a nice software experience and has made major improvements to its mobile app in recent months.
In New Jersey, the platform also includes the BetMGM and BorgataPoker.com skins. It’s unknown if there will be additional skins in PA.
In recent months, party has ramped up some of its offerings in New Jersey. The company partners with the World Poker Tour for live and online events internationally.
That has also carried over to two recent events in New Jersey. The WPT Online Borgata Series in September featured 11 events and an overall guarantee of $275,000. The series proved a hit and ultimately paid out $912,000.
Pennsylvania offers a nice opportunity for even more events like this if the platform launches. With a population of almost 13 million, the state is the largest with legalized online poker. That’s about 4 million more than in the Garden State.
Partypoker could help grow PA market
PokerStars launched in the Keystone State in November 2019 and has had a poker monopoly for almost a full year. The company has seen nice revenue in the state to coincide with other operators in New Jersey, Nevada, and Delaware.
While revenue numbers have declined in recent months, those are still at historically high levels. In September, PokerStars achieved online poker revenue of $2.4 million after an August total of $2.7 million.
The site has brought major series like the PA Championship of Online Poker (PACOOP) and major events like Pennsyl-MANIA to the state.
The partypoker approval could bring a second player in the market. The company has been bullish in recent years on expansion and that includes the US.
More PA live poker rooms reopen
Beyond online poker, many players have been happy to see live poker return in the Keystone State. Mount Airy was the first to return on Oct. 16. Others that have returned recently include:
- Meadows Racetrack and Casino
- Mohegan Sun Pocono
- Rivers Philadelphia
PA casinos began reopening in June under added safety protocols. However, poker rooms haven’t been a part of that until now. As gamblers head back to casinos, PGCB officials expect the poker re-openings to spur table game revenues up further.
Legal Poker Sites For Us Players
In September, table games accounted for $59.2 million in casino revenue. That’s down from August’s $65.1 million and $70.6 million in September 2019.
“The reopening of poker rooms will add to the positive performance of table games,” PGCB executive director Kevin O’Toole noted in Wednesday’s meeting about the recent reopening of live poker rooms.
Many Pennsylvania players are also hoping a new online poker room heads their way soon as well. USPoker will continue to update this story as more details emerge.
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