PokerStars Delays Shared Liquidity in Pennsylvania Until an Unspecified Future Date
New and Fresh Take
PokerStars finally throws its cards on the table when it comes to Pennsylvania's entry into the Multi-State Internet Gaming Agreement (MSIGA), revealing it won't be linking its PA online poker room with its existing multi-state network immediately. The company alludes to "current global operational priorities" as the impediment. However, it assures its dedication to US online poker and hints at a future connection with its MI-NJ network.
In an exclusive sit-down with our site on Thurs, PokerStars stated, "Yeah, we get it, shared player pools can pump up the poker ecosystem, but we got some bigger fish to fry right now. Yes, PA will join the club, but not today."
The revelation comes after BetMGM and WSOP expanded their shared liquidity networks to welcome PA online poker players on April 28, the day the state joined the compact.
On the other hand, BetRivers Poker, currently operating only in Pennsylvania, has announced plans to branch out into other MSIGA states and is preparing to establish a multi-state network. This decision leaves PokerStars as the lone major operator to keep quiet about its intentions regarding PA shared liquidity, until now.
A Shocking Postponement
Given PokerStars' leading position in the US market, the postponement came as a surprise. The operator led the charge in PA when the state set up its regulated market in 2019, was the first to go live in Michigan in 2021, and initiated the successful merger of player pools between Michigan and New Jersey in early 2023. So a lot of folks expected PokerStars to be among the first to connect PA to its multi-state network when the state joined the MSIGA. Instead, BetMGM - the last to roll out a shared liquidity network - and WSOP - which took around 18 months to connect Michigan players - were the first to move when Pennsylvania got in.
Initially, the postponement was attributed to technical hurdles. PokerStars PA faced a major server upgrade in January 2025 and had issues in late April. However, PokerStars' statement makes it clear that this delay is not technical but a strategic choice based on internal priorities.
What's Behind the Postponement?
It's not clear what exactly these priorities involve, but there are a few possible scenarios. One theory is that Flutter, PokerStars' parent company, is concentrating on consolidating its different products and brands worldwide, possibly working on technical infrastructure updates, compliance modifications, or a longer-term strategy that may involve FanDuel, another Flutter-owned brand. Speculation has it that Flutter could eventually merge PokerStars and FanDuel brands in the US. PokerStars refused to comment on any such plans when contacted by Poker Industry PRO.
Another possibility is that the delay has nothing to do with the FanDuel integration, and resources are simply being allocated elsewhere within the company. After all, online poker generates only a tiny fraction of Flutter's overall revenue.
Can't Afford to Ignore PA
However, Pennsylvania is a market that cannot be ignored. Before the shared liquidity merger, PokerStars PA had more than half of the state's online poker traffic and was nearly as big as its own NJ-MI network. Delaying the jump into the combined liquidity pool translates to missing out on significant growth opportunities. That said, PokerStars remains active in three regulated states - New Jersey, Michigan, Pennsylvania, and the ring-fenced Ontario market in Canada - and has announced the return of the NAPT this year, along with a successful PokerStars Open Philadelphia event.
PokerStars' PA has recently reduced tournament guarantees, likely due to players shifting toward operators offering multi-state games. Meanwhile, BetMGM and WSOP are already smashing tournament guarantees following their respective liquidity mergers, and the Pennsylvania online poker market is expected to thrive. As BetMGM now operates a tri-state network, WSOP launches the country's first four-state network, and BetRivers Poker prepares to become the third multi-state operator, PokerStars is still expected to eventually join the multi-state pool, disappointing PokerStars players who'll have to wait a while for the expansion.
- Despite their leading position in the US market, PokerStars' decision to postpone connecting Pennsylvania to their multi-state network comes as a surprise, especially considering their initial dominance in the state's online poker market.
- The strategic postponement may be tied to broader priorities within PokerStars' parent company, Flutter Entertainment, potentially involving consolidation of products, technical infrastructure updates, or long-term strategic plans that might include other Flutter-owned brands like FanDuel.
