Michigan lawmakers approve interstate online poker liquidity bill
Governor to sign bill into law a year after passing initial legislation on online betting and gaming in the state
Michigan has edged closer towards approving interstate online poker as the House of Representatives last week approved a bill on the matter.
The House voted 85-16 in favor of pooling poker liquidity as the state prepares to launch online casino in the new year.
The bill will now be put to Governor Gretchen Whitmer for final approval, although it is expected she will give it the seal of approval.
Pokerfuse has reported that online poker is expected to take longer to set live in the state due to a lengthier test and approval process than igaming.
December 21 marked exactly a year since the governor gave the go-ahead for igaming and mobile betting in the Great Lakes State.
At the time she said the move would secure tax revenue to go towards state school aid and a fund dedicated to first-responders.
She said: “The Michigan Department of Treasury expects estimates that this legalization will bring in $19m on new revenue to Michigan.”
It is not yet known which states will be included in the interstate liquidity pool, although Delaware, Nevada, and New Jersey already have their own arrangement for sharing poker liquidity across the three states, which is provided by 888.
Pennsylvania was the fourth state to launch online poker in November 2019 but tables at the sole poker operator, PokerStars, are restricted to those playing within the jurisdiction.
The rollout of interstate poker generally has been hampered by the DOJ’s ruling that all forms of online gaming fall under the Wire Act, so until there is clarification at a legal level poker will continue to struggle to gain meaningful liquidity and states are unlikely to pass ipoker laws.