Michigan Online Poker Now Live With PokerStars Launch
Over a week ago, online gambling officially launched in Michigan. At the time, online poker did not launch but regulators claimed that operators only needed a few more days for testing. On Friday, online poker officially launch with the PokerStars becoming the first online poker site in the Wolverine State.
Along with PokerStars, both Stars Casino and Fox Bet launched on Friday. The Michigan Gaming Control Board also announced that Barstools Sports is launching, with the site opening on Monday.
PokerStars Becomes First Michigan Online Poker Site
Similar to the launch in Pennsylvania, PokerStars is the first site to launch in Michigan. The site officially launched on Friday, and the MGCB made the announcement. Executive Director Richard Kalm stated, “We welcome the addition of Odawa Casino, Poker Stars, Fox Bet, and Barstool Casino to Michigan’s growing online gaming and sports wagering market… Their participation will generate revenue to support education, tribal communities, and the city of Detroit.”
PokerStars is currently the only site operating in Michigan, giving it a dominant position in the market. This mirrors the situation in Pennsylvania, where other sites have yet to launch, and it’s unclear when a second site will be available.
PokerStars MI has already announced multiple Michigan-based tournaments, with large guarantees and prize pools. Players can expect events like the MISCOOP to be coming soon, likely in April.
Stars Casino and Fox Bet Also Launches
It appears that Odawa Casino waited to launch all of its online gambling products at once. Stars Casino and Fox Bet both launched at the same as PokerStars on Friday. This will give gamblers a complete online gambling experience. Players can play online slots, blackjack, table games, and bet on sports all from one central product.
The launch of PokerStars and its respective brands did not go off without a hitch though. On Friday, players had trouble downloading the client. Players were able to find a way around this but others had difficulty making online casino deposits. Visa deposits, MasterCard deposits, and Paypal deposits all presented difficulty.
Barstool Casino Arrives on Monday
The other site mentioned in Friday’s press release was Barstool Casino. You may remember that Greektown Casino only launched Barstool Sportsbook on January 23rd. It appears that the casino just needed more time to test its product rather than abandoning it altogether.
This now means that all but one Michigan online license holder has launched both online casino gambling and online sportsbook products. However, at this time the only poker room is PokerStars. The only license holder yet to launch is Parx.
What is the Future of Online Poker in Michigan?
The future of online poker in Michigan looks promising, with BetMGM Poker emerging as a likely candidate for the next poker room in the state. BetMGM was granted an operator’s license in December 2020 and is expected to launch soon.
Additionally, players might see interstate poker in the future. The Michigan Gaming Control Board (MGCB) is reportedly in talks with the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement about interstate poker compacts. If successful, this could lead to networked poker sites by late 2021 or early 2022.
We’re also keeping an eye on Pennsylvania, as lawmakers may consider changes to gambling laws that could allow interstate poker. If this happens, it could lead to a significant expansion of the US legal online poker network.
