PokerStars will become the first New Jersey online poker room to merge its Michigan player pool on January 1, 2023. In May, Michigan entered into the Multi-State Internet Gaming Agreement. This deal already included Delaware, Nevada, and New Jersey.
A PokerStars press release, stated, in part:
“Michigan and New Jersey joining forces is great news for our players in these two states, and poker, more generally, as it promises a better experience and even more value, all with the confidence provided by a trusted, licensed operator,” said PokerStars US Managing Director, Severin Rasset. “Our community will experience more breadth and depth of games, more tournaments with bigger prizes to win, amped-up promotions, and more choice. To kick start, we are offering generous guarantees on our debut multi-state tournaments that will no doubt provide lots of value for those who take to the tables. We worked closely with the regulators of New Jersey and Michigan, and we hope that more will follow this great example.”
The first day of multi-state action will have two major tournaments. The first starts at 6pm ET on January 1, 2023. It has a $100 buy-in and a $100,000 guaranteed prize pool. At 6:30pm ET, there will be a $10 buy-in and a $50,000 guaranteed prize pool. Online poker players in Michigan and New Jersey will be able to play in these events.
It is not open for PokerStars players in Pennsylvania. That state has yet to enter into the interstate online poker liquidity sharing agreement. Nevada is the only other state with regulated online poker. PokerStars does not operate there.
Two other New Jersey poker sites are expected to add Michigan player pools
PokerStars may be the first New Jersey online poker room to include Michigan players, but it will not be the last. WSOP.com is currently the only New Jersey poker site with an interstate player pool. In 2015, this site combined its Delaware and Nevada tables. In 2018, New Jersey players joined the pool. 888 is a skin on WSOP.com in New Jersey. There is also a Michigan WSOP online poker room.
The WSOP poker network has suffered from poor management, archaic software, incompetent player support and cashouts that can take much longer than the industry standard. This author is banned from WSOP.com for calling out its poor business practices. For all these reasons, we discourage players from giving action to 888 and WSOP.com.
BetMGM Poker is a much better option for New Jersey poker players. It also has a Michigan site and plans to enter the Nevada market. Borgata Poker and Partypoker are skins on BetMGM’s New Jersey poker network.
Best New Jersey online poker bonuses
The BetMGM Poker network of sites offers the best bonuses in New Jersey. BetMGM Poker and Borgata Poker each offer new players a 100% up to $1,000 first deposit bonus. It clears at 54% rakeback. Each site offers players up to $75 in free tournament tickets. Players may claim the bonus at both sites.