Before sports betting became a big deal, everyone wanted to legalize online poker. However, poker’s revenues are relatively low compared to sports betting, making it more of an afterthought in corporate headquarters and statehouses.
Poker is a unique online casino game that involves peer-to-peer matches. In this regard, online casinos need a large player pool to make it effortless to sustain the games. Legal online poker in the US is gradually growing towards sustainable levels, and recent developments in the industry could make the growth happen at a higher rate. You can read more here about the best online poker sites for 2023 and find out more about the online poker sector in the US.
The Wire Act Effect
The Wire Act has significantly hindered the growth of legal online gambling for nearly a decade. While it did not stop legal online casinos and poker, it obstructed its growth. However, the death of Sheldon Adelson in 2021 saw Vegas Sands drop its intense opposition to online gambling.
Additionally, the wider vision of the Wire Act fronted by the DOJ in 2018 was also defeated in court. For example, it lost against the New Hampshire Lottery and IGT.
States Have Shifted Their Focus
States are continually exploring new ways of raising revenue. Gambling has emerged as one of the wells they are willing to draw from continually. In the recent past, they have done this by legalizing sports betting.
However, with sports betting available in 35 states, the other option that remains to be explored is online poker which is only available in seven states. In this regard, 2023 looks promising for online poker. Industry experts predict online poker will return to its former glory in 2023.
Here are some developments that will spur the growth of online poker in the US:
The Michigan Effect
Michigan is now a member of the Multi-State Internet Gaming Agreement. This interstate agreement between member states enables online poker operators to pool players across state boundaries.
This is a massive development because Michigan’s population of around 10 million is almost double the current player pool of the three member states of MSIGA. Additionally, Michigan’s entry will help ease the lingering legal concerns harbored by other states.
For example, industry commentators argue that Michigan’s entry to MSIGA will probably pave the way for Pennsylvania. The pundits claim that Pennsylvania will wait and see the developments in Michigan before making their move. Pennsylvania will boost the online poker player pool to about 36 million.
There is also Connecticut and West Virginia that have legalized online poker but have yet to launch. However, their small populations might not be conducive to online poker’s liquidity demands.
Arkansas also has a sort of legalized online poker. When the state legalized sports betting, it included a clause that allowed it to authorize online poker. It is only a matter of time before the state authorizes online poker.
The 2023 Wildcard!
The massive wildcard for 2023 possibility is the legalization of online poker in New York, Indiana, or any other state. Indiana is tipped as the strongest candidate in 2023 and would significantly boost the online poker sector in the US. On the other, New York’s 20 million population would significantly boost online poker.
Final Thoughts
Legal online poker in the US has a lot of growth opportunities. Suppose more states join MSIGA to reach the 40 million mark; the interest in online poker will grow in many other states.
