On July 8, DraftKings enhanced its online poker offering in Michigan by launching a cross-border platform that connects players from Michigan, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey. This new initiative allows participants from these states to share tables and tournament fields, breaking the previous limitation of playing only with residents from a single state.
The Michigan Gaming Control Board (MGCB) confirmed the launch on Monday, emphasizing that player volume is crucial for sustaining prize pools and filling tables, as players compete against each other rather than the house. By merging the player pools from three states, DraftKings significantly increases the number of active players available at any time compared to a single-state operation.
This three-state network operates under the Multi-State Internet Gaming Agreement (MSIGA), which Michigan joined in 2022. Other states participating in this compact include Delaware, Nevada, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia.
Prior to joining MSIGA, online poker players in Michigan were limited to competing against fellow residents, leading to smaller tables and prize pools compared to states with shared liquidity. Pennsylvania's entry into the agreement last year was expected to provide around 150,000 poker players across the participating states with more table options.
DraftKings is the second operator to connect Michigan poker players to an out-of-state pool through MSIGA, following PokerStars, which was approved by the MGCB in April to operate on the FanDuel platform. The addition of DraftKings creates a second brand within this shared-liquidity framework in Michigan.
To establish the cross-border pool, DraftKings underwent an MGCB review to ensure compliance with Michigan's multi-state internet poker regulations. In Michigan, DraftKings collaborates with the Bay Mills Indian Community, which acts as its local partner for this offering.
Henry Williams, Executive Director of the MGCB, stated, "This approval reflects the strength of our partnership with Bay Mills Indian Community and the thoroughness of our regulatory process. As Michigan's multistate poker network continues to grow, we remain focused on ensuring every operator meets the same high standards for fairness, security, and player protection."
The MGCB noted that this clearance aligns with its commitment to promoting licensed and regulated gaming activities while ensuring responsible gaming practices and maintaining industry integrity.