DraftKings has launched a shared online poker network connecting players in Michigan, Pennsylvania and New Jersey, further expanding interstate liquidity within the regulated US online poker market.
The Michigan Gaming Control Board confirmed on July 13, 2026, that DraftKings had received regulatory approval to launch its multi-state poker network. The shared player pool officially became operational on July 8.
In Michigan, DraftKings offers its online poker product through its partnership with the Bay Mills Indian Community, which serves as the company’s licensed tribal operator partner in the state.
One Shared Player Pool Across Three States
The launch means that DraftKings poker players located in Michigan, Pennsylvania and New Jersey are no longer limited to competing only against players from their own state.
Eligible users can now participate in poker games and tournaments against DraftKings players located across all three regulated jurisdictions.
DraftKings currently offers its Electric Poker product in Michigan, Pennsylvania and New Jersey. Electric Poker is a fast-paced, three-player No-Limit Texas Hold’em tournament format featuring short blind levels and randomly selected prize-pool multipliers.
The most important benefit of connecting the three markets is increased player liquidity. A larger number of simultaneously active players can result in:
- more active and fully occupied poker tables;
- shorter waiting times before games begin;
- a wider selection of available stakes;
- more competitive tournaments;
- larger potential guaranteed prize pools.
Shared liquidity is especially important for online poker because the quality and availability of games depend directly on the number of active players using the platform.
DraftKings Receives Regulatory Approval in Michigan
Before the network could be launched, the Michigan Gaming Control Board conducted a regulatory review of DraftKings’ online poker platform.
The regulator determined that DraftKings met the necessary requirements relating to game fairness, platform security, technical integrity and player protection.
Michigan Gaming Control Board Executive Director Henry Williams said the approval demonstrated the effectiveness of the cooperation between DraftKings, the Bay Mills Indian Community and state regulators.
Operators seeking to participate in interstate poker networks must meet the same regulatory standards concerning security, fairness and game integrity before they are permitted to combine player pools.
The Role of the MSIGA Agreement
The interstate network is made possible by the Multi-State Internet Gaming Agreement, commonly known as MSIGA.
Michigan joined the agreement in 2022, allowing licensed online poker operators in the state to seek approval to connect local players with users in other participating jurisdictions.
The MSIGA currently includes Michigan, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Nevada, Delaware and West Virginia.
Before Michigan joined the agreement, players located in the state could only compete against other players physically located within Michigan.
However, membership in MSIGA does not automatically allow every operator to combine its player pools. Each company must obtain separate approval from the relevant gaming regulators before launching interstate poker games.
Why Shared Liquidity Matters for US Online Poker
Online poker depends more heavily on a consistent number of active users than traditional online casino games such as slots, blackjack or roulette.
When a poker market is restricted to the borders of a single state, a limited player population can result in empty tables, longer waiting times and fewer available tournaments, particularly outside peak playing hours.
Shared liquidity allows operators to combine players from several regulated markets into a larger network.
DraftKings can now provide a more stable player base, a broader selection of games and potentially larger tournament prize pools across three of the most important regulated online gambling markets in the United States.
The move is also expected to increase competition among US online poker operators, several of which already operate multi-state networks.
For DraftKings, the launch represents an opportunity to strengthen its position beyond sports betting and online casino gaming while developing a more significant presence in the regulated US poker market.
For the wider industry, the expansion provides further evidence that the future growth of regulated online poker in the United States may depend on cooperation between states rather than isolated, state-specific player pools.
Source
Michigan Gaming Control Board
Publication date: July 13, 2026
Region: United States – Michigan, Pennsylvania and New Jersey
Category: Online poker, regulation and interstate liquidity
