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Michigan Online Poker Launch Delayed to January 2021

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If you’re in Michigan and waiting patiently for the launch of online poker, you’re going to be waiting a bit longer. The final rules for online gambling and online poker have been approved and provisional licenses issued. However, licensees still need to jump through a few more hoops before launch.

As such, it is now looking like January before online poker will be live in Michigan. However, similar to Pennsylvania, there is only one online poker site slated for an early launch.

Final Rules Approved for Michigan Online Gambling

It’s taken a little while, but the final rules for iGaming in Michigan are officially approved. On December 2nd, the rules for online gambling were approved by the Office of the Great Seal. That allowed the Michigan Gaming Control Board to start issuing licenses to online casinos, sports betting, and online poker providers.

It didn’t take long for the MGCB to approve licenses as they have already approved 15 provisional licenses. These licenses include online casino gambling, sports betting, and online poker. Some of the providers approved include Rush Street Interactive, Golden Nugget, GAN, FanDuel, William Hill, DraftKings, and Fox Bet.

Launch Still a Few Weeks Away

Many expected online gambling to launch by the end of 2020, but that’s not happening. While we could try and blame this on the COVID-19 pandemic, the reality is that sites still have a few hoops to jump through.

Sites still need to go through testing of software along with acquiring operational licenses for some of their employees. This is standard procedure at this point of the regulation process. However, sites can begin promoting online gambling offerings. Apps may be offered in various app stores where players can install them.

However, players will only be able to register for accounts. They will not be able to place bets until sites officially launch. Michigan regulators state that a launch will happen when operators meet the remaining requirements necessary to launch. How quickly this happens depends on the companies involved.

Who’s Licensed for Online Poker?

At this point, the only company that has applied for a license is PokerStars. They were one of the companies approved for a license. As such, PokerStars will be the first online poker site to launch in the Wolverine State.

This is similar to what happened in Pennsylvania. PokerStars was the first site to launch and presently remains the only option for online poker in PA. Michigan will be the third legal online poker state for PokerStars. They operate in PA and NJ presently.

That doesn’t mean that other sites will not launch in Michigan. It is likely that we will see Caesars Entertainment eventually file for rights to offer WSOP.com. Partypoker is another brand we expect in the state at some point.

The big question now is whether PokerStars will remain intrastate only or if they will start to work on an interstate online poker network. With sites in PA and NJ, this would seem a great time to do so. With an eventual launch also expected in West Virginia sometime in 2020, PokerStars could quickly overtake the WSOP.com network.

Remember – Intrastate Only

While Michigan becomes the fifth state to offer legal online poker, it is still intrastate only – at least for now. The only way that you can play at PokerStars once it launches is to be physically located in Michigan. Like in PA, NJ, DE, and NV, this is done via Wi-Fi.

Your IP address must be located within the state and must not be a VPN provider. If you cannot be verified via Wi-Fi, you cannot play. You don’t need to be a resident to play. Players can register and play from anywhere in Michigan.

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