BetMGM Announces “Imminent Launch” of Online Poker Shared Liquidity

Summary:

• BetMGM has confirmed plans to merge its player pools in the US in a recent business update
• Only PokerStars and the WSOP currently run a network under MSIGA
• BetMGM could be heading towards the establishment of a four-state network

BetMGM is eyeing to launch its own online poker network in the US, with the operator announcing the “imminent launch” of poker shared liquidity.

In a business update this week, BetMGM gave its clearest indication yet that it is keen on combining its player pools in the US regulated online poker market, following in the footsteps of WSOP and PokerStars.

BetMGM Keen on Building US Online Poker Network

BetMGM held a business update for analysts and investors on December 4 to discuss the company’s business performance to date, product enhancements and technology upgrades, financial outlook, and future plans.

A transcript of the meeting is not available yet, but prior to the event, presentation slides were published on the websites of BetMGM’s parent companies, MGM Resorts and Entain.

Under the Business Review section of the presentation, handled by BetMGM CEO Adam Greenblatt, BetMGM highlighted its omnichannel offering where it indicated that multi-state online poker is in the works. The exact words, “Poker shared liquidity launch imminent”, can be found on the 11th slide of the presentation.

Exciting Possibilities for Shared Liquidity

With that confirmation, we can look ahead to some potential developments in the months to come, including BetMGM merging its player pools in New Jersey and Michigan to build a two-state network. PokerStars did that in January, less than a year after Michigan joined the Multi-State Internet Gaming Agreement (MSIGA).

The WSOP has yet to announce plans to add The Wolverine State to its existing network which currently covers three states – New Jersey, Nevada, and Delaware.

In November, West Virginia officially became the fifth member of MSIGA. Online poker is already legal in the state but no online poker site has launched there yet. That is expected to change following its MSIGA membership.

Based on previous statements from BetMGM, the operator may consider joining the West Virginia market and that would pave the way for the establishment of a three-state network. There are also speculations that BetMGM could expand its online poker offering to Nevada, and that would result in a four-state network.

Add Pennsylvania to the mix and BetMGM could run one of the biggest online poker networks in the US. The operator is already active in the Keystone State and is probably waiting for it to join MSIGA.