US online poker could be headed for a major shakeup after West Virginia officially became the fifth member of the Multi-State Internet Gaming Agreement (MSIGA) on November 14 which was made possible through the help of New Jersey regulators.
New Developments
While online poker is already legal in West Virginia, none of the toppokeroperators areactive in the state. That’s about to change as leading online poker sites PokerStars, WSOP, and BetMGM, and up-and-coming Run It Once could launch in the Mountain State.
PokerStars in particular has already expressed interest in joining the West Virginia online poker market after the state joined MSIGA, saying it will “review” its options there. The operator currently runs a two-state network comprised of New Jersey and Michigan. To enter West Virginia, PokerStars will be required to partner with a land-based casino which could either be Wheeling Island or Mardi Gras.
West Virginia’s MSIGA membership is welcome news, but it will still take quite some time before shared liquidity becomes a reality in the state. Any operator keen on including West Virginia to its online poker network must first submit a letter of intent to the West Virginia Lottery Commission (WVLC). Upon receiving regulatory clearance, the operator may then proceed with its shared liquidity plans.
