BetMGM Joins PokerStars in Michigan’s Young Online Poker Market

BetMGM has joined Michigan’s nascent online poker market with the launch of the BetMGM Poker app in the state.

News about the rollout of its online poker product emerge after the operator went live with its digital casino and sports betting product in the state in January.

Michigan is the second state where BetMGM Poker has become available. The operation is also live in New Jersey. It is the primary digital poker service powered by the partypoker US network.

BetMGM is the product of the joint venture sealed between Las Vegas casino giant MGM Resorts International and UK gambling group Entain (formerly GVC Holdings). The two companies teamed up in 2018 right after the US Supreme Court annulled a long-time federal ban on athletic gambling. BetMGM has gone live with sports betting and iGaming in multiple states since then.

It first entered Michigan this past January when online casino-style gaming and wagering became legal in the state. It should be noted that MGM operates MGM Grand Detroit, one of the state’s three commercial casinos.

Incredible Early Success

Commenting on the rollout of their poker product, BetMGM CEO Adam Greenblatt said that the move “rounds out our premier gaming portfolio in the state.” He went on to say that their sports betting and iGaming offerings have been welcomed with “incredible early success” and that they are thrilled to now be providing local players with “another exciting gaming option.”

The BetMGM Poker app is now available for download on both Apple’s App Store and Google Play. It offers both tournaments and cash games of all buy-in levels and for players of all skill levels.

The single account integration with BetMGM’s other products in the state makes it possible for players to easily manage their funds with just one wallet.

BetMGM Director of Poker Ray Stefanelli said that there has been clear demand for online poker in Michigan and that they are proud to be offering local players a seat at their tables. The official added that they are confident their product will offer Michigan customers “an engaging, reliable, and fun poker experience.”

Off to a Strong Start

BetMGM Poker is only the second online poker platform to become available in the state since iGaming was legalized there. Flutter’s PokerStars went live in Michigan in January and already hosted a widely successful online poker tournament, the Michigan Championship of Online Poker.

Now, and for now, Michigan is a segregated market, which means that players can only play against fellow players located in Michigan.

However, an interstate compact is expected to take shape soon, allowing locally licensed operators to join their player pools with the ones they have built in New Jersey.

Online gaming was off to an incredible start, according to figures reported by the Michigan Gaming Control Board earlier in March. As many as 12 licensed operators provided digital casino and betting services in February, the first full month of legal Internet gambling, and these generated just under $90 million in revenue.

Online gaming accounted for the bulk of that with $79.7 million, while sports betting operations generated $9.5 million in revenue. Wagering providers saw total handle of nearly $302 million last month.

Source: “BetMGM Launches Online Poker in Michigan”, PR Newswire, March 22, 2021