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February 11, 2021February 11, 2021

Basics of Michigan online poker play

For online poker, you can only play through a phone or computer app or a so-called “poker client” from the PokerStars Michigan website. There is no browser play.

A poker client acts as an intermediary between your computer and the one hosting the game.

Players must download the Michigan version even if they have the PokerStars.net or the New Jersey or Pennsylvania version of the client. The client has baked-in geolocation software. Sometimes downloading with an incognito browser or clearing the cache solves downloading errors.

There are restrictions unique to using the mobile app

Players are limited to how much they can play in more than one tournament or cash game at once while on a mobile device. PokerStars’ app limits users to up to five tables. Only four of those can be cash games.

Does it matter that Michigan isn’t in the multi-state compact?

A technicality involved with the writing of gaming legislation prevents Michigan from joining the Multi-State Internet Gaming Association, which allows Delaware, Nevada and New Jersey to share player pools. Pools allow for financial stability for all through greater liquidity. Pennsylvania, which launched legal online in 2019, has not joined and Richard Kalm, executive director of the Michigan Gaming Control Board, said not to expect his state to enter into any alliances until later in 2021.

A clause that would have facilitated an interstate compact was removed before the legislation was passed, lawmakers have said. The removal was intended to address multi-state progressive slot jackpots.

The post A Basic FAQ To Playing Online Poker in Michigan appeared first on Play USA.

California Screenwriter Transitions From ‘Rad’ to Rounder, Produces Global Poker Podcast

Bikes, bros, ‘80s music, and epic dance scenes – screenwriter Sam Bernard just knew he had something. His film Rad debuted in 1986 and while it may not have been an Oscar winner, the film brought plenty of joy to teenagers enthralled by all things BMX racing and freestyle.

While he may be involved in other Hollywood projects, Rad remains a beloved film for many children of the ‘80s. Bernard looks back fondly at the film, but in recent years his focus has turned from pedals to poker.

The writer and producer is a regular player at the sweepstakes poker site Global Poker. His interest in the site even led to producing the Talking Global Poker podcast specifically geared toward the site’s players.

Bernad recently spoke with USPoker about Rad, a possible sequel, screenwriting, poker, podcasting, and more.

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From bikes to bluffs

While Bernard spends much of his life writing and working on film and TV, poker is also a passion. After Rad, Bernard went on to write and produce other films but frequented California poker rooms in between projects.

That included multiple daily tournaments at Hollywood Park and Hustler Casino to fill the void of movie downtime. He’s been playing cards as long as he can remember.

“My parents were card players,” he says.

Bernard first began playing Seven Card Stud in the local card rooms. He now enjoys tournaments more and enjoys playing small casino events.

ScreenwriterSam Bernard at the poker tables (in glasses).

In 2017, Bernard began trying his hand at online poker via the sweepstakes site Global Poker under the screen name “Gyropilot313.” That moniker came from a unique experience on a film.

“The name Gyropilot came from working on a movie in the Philippines and I got to pilot a Gyrocopter,” he says.

Since joining Global Bernard has scored several nice tournament victories. One of his early wins came in a $5 rebuy tournament that carries a $5,000 guarantee.

“I remember that tournament because I limped Aces under the gun,” Bernard says.

The hand and the tournament certainly had a happy ending.

Growing up Hollywood

Bernard grew up in the Hollywood area but was anything but a rich kid despite the 90210 area code. His father was an actor, but Bernard didn’t drive a Mercedes or BMW like most students in his high school.

As a teen, Bernard began working in the film industry, moving his way up from production assistant. He absorbed as much information as possible and wanted to get into screenwriting. An important early lesson? Focus on the market. That tiny bit of advice has stuck with him.

“If you want to write to express yourself, write a poem or a song,” he says. “If you want to write for movies, you have to write what sells.”

At age 25, Bernard got his shot. While driving through Venice Beach one day in the early 1980s, a BMX crew piqued his interest.

“I saw these kids on half pipes and had no idea what they were doing,” Bernard says. “I was looking for my next project, and went and talked to them and they basically told me to fuck off.”

Undeterred, Bernard saw something in this small group of rebels and investigated further. He headed to a local bike shop and the owner gave him a BMX magazine.

After leafing through the publication, Bernard thought he was on to something. His roommate happened to know Hal Needham and set up a meeting. Needham had worked as a stuntman, actor, director, and producer since the 1950s.

A friend of Burt Reynolds, Needham directed the Smokey and the Bandit and Cannonball Run films. But he wasn’t initially sold on Bernard’s vision.

“Look – I make movies, I drive cars fast, and blow shit up,” Needham told the young screenwriter. “I don’t know nothing about bicycles.”

Bernard had one final ace left up his sleeve. He invited Needham to check out a BMX freestyle exhibition. Actually seeing riders spin on the handlebars and whip their bike around like gymnasts did the trick.

Just 10 minutes into the show, Needham looked at Bernard and nodded. Bernard had the green light and was off to the races.

One rad plot

It may not have been a box office smash, but Rad remains popular among bike fans for its kitschy appeal. The film is a 1980s underdog story about BMX rider Cru Jones (Bill Allen), who lives in a small town with his mother (Talia Shire).

When a major BMX race comes to his hometown, Cru gets a chance to show off his skills. Along the way, he runs into problems with the event organizer and BMX pro Bart Taylor (Bart Conner). Some devious backdoor dealing also hinders Cru’s chances at success.

The riders battle it out on “Helltrack,” purported to be the toughest track ever built. One scene even showcases a classic “BMX prom dance” scene featuring Cru’s love interest, played by Lori Laughlin.

The Rad cast and crew in a group photo at Helltrack.

Bernard co-wrote the screenplay along with Geoffrey Edwards and the film was originally called Balls Out. The plan was to market to an older crowd with more edginess.

However, that was scrapped and the story was geared toward a younger audience. The new title used some ‘80s slang for radical.

“People loved it because the good guys win and the bad guys walk away with their tails between their legs,” Bernard says.

The film initially tested well, but didn’t do well at the box office. With the birth of the Internet and growing video sales, Rad eventually became popular among bike enthusiasts.

“It has since grown into a cult classic,” he says, “and I started getting letters and I was stunned.”

The movie has now been converted to 4K high definition and available on Amazon, AppleTV, Google Play, and other streaming services. The movie is also debuting on Blu Ray in March.

Manning the microphone to talk Global Poker

With much of Hollywood slowed down during the pandemic, Bernard took his love of poker to the next level. The site offers a social gaming site and has featured a tight-knit group of players.

Bernard eventually connected with site regulars Sean “Seanell” Connell and Ken “WizofAz” Summer. Soon the Talking Global Poker podcast was born.

“The three of us became friends while playing on the online poker site Global Poker,” the show’s description notes, “and started this podcast because we love the unique sense of community it promotes through social media.”

The show debuted in February 2020 and Bernard took on the role as head producer. He’s also the administrator on the show’s Facebook group.

Talking Global Poker is independent from the poker site, but the company has been receptive to the project. Global has unofficially endorsed the podcast by offering special online freeroll tournaments for listeners. Global has even featured the hosts as bounties in some events.

“Originally I thought we would get a cease and desist letter from the company but the opposite happened,“ Bernard says.

Global Poker general manager David Lyons supports the podcast and even appeared as a guest. Other players making an appearance have included Jesse Silva, Jamie Kerstetter, and Sopranos star Robert Iler.

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Looking ahead

The podcast is close to launching the second season and there have been more than 30 episodes so far. One of the best things from the podcast, Bernard says, has been working with Connell and Summer. He says: “They’ve become friends for life.”

At the moment, Bernard is working for a video game company. He can’t offer many details but is excited about the project. His love of poker may also move into his professional life eventually.

“I have an idea about writing a poker story about a local player down and out on his luck,” he says, “but right now I am working a lot on the video game script.”

Bernard draws inspiration from poker. And just as in any great story, the game is about the people involved. Bernard plays to win, but enjoys the dynamics of the “actors” on the live felt

“I love the game of poker,” Bernard says. “But the characters in the game are what make it great.”

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The post California Screenwriter Transitions From ‘Rad’ to Rounder, Produces Global Poker Podcast appeared first on .

GGPoker Parent Company Wins Manufacturer Approval in Pennsylvania, Operator Looks at US Expansion

Pennsylvania may eventually have another online poker option after GGPoker was approved in the state on Wednesday. NSUS, the site’s parent company, was approved by the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB).

NSUS has received an interactive gaming manufacturer license for the state. This would allow NSUS/GG to provide the technology for an online casino or poker product in the market.

“NSUS provides software and technology for interactive gaming activities,” the proposal notes about NSUS’s petition for the license.

There was no discussion in the meeting and the PGCB approved NSUS unanimously. If the company wants to operate a co-branded website, such as PokerStars and Mount Airy, it would have to obtain an operator license.

What does this mean for online poker in PA?

For GGPoker, receiving approval has long been a goal. Pennsylvania would become the first state it could legally operate in the US in some form.

The interactive gaming manufacturer license would allow NSUS to provide GGPoker software to a partner in the state. As a manufacturer, however, the company wouldn’t be able to brand the platform as its own.

An operator license is needed to run the brand, manage customer accounts, and generally operate the poker site as its own. With the manufacturer’s license, it would simply be a technology provider in essence.

Either way, the state’s players may eventually have some form of GGPoker to play real money online poker. On the other hand, NSUS also owns other forms online gambling-related brands and the approval could include those.

Expansion has been part of the company’s plans in recent years. GG was founded in 2014 and initially the company focused primarily on the Asian market.

After China cracked down on poker in 2019, the company began expanding even further into other markets. The US market is now part of that goal.

“The GGPoker team has been preparing for eventual entry into the US market,” the company said in a statement to USPoker on Tuesday. “It’s been a great process thus far working with the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board. Obtaining a license to operate in Pennsylvania would be an important step toward reaching our US goals.”

Looking to the future in PA and beyond

Where GGPoker goes from here remains to be seen. It’s not known if the company is negotiating with a partner in the state yet to provide its software.

GG has become popular for massive prize pools and major events. In 2020, that expanded to include the World Series of Poker.

That included WSOP Super Circuit Online events as well as the WSOP Online. The latter series became the first online series outside the US to award championship bracelets.

What could be in the works for Pennsylvania online poker? Initially, the state would be a “ringed-in” market – meaning players would only play others within the state.

PokerStars remains the only operator that has gone live in the state at the moment. Caesars/WSOP.com and its gaming partner 888poker have also been approved but not yet gone live.

Partypoker/BetMGM, as part of the Roar Digital company (a partnership in the US between partypoker owner Entain and MGM), has also been approved but not launched yet either.

In 2018, GGPoker made news for signing one of the biggest names in poker as a brand ambassador. Daniel Negreanu reps the company and often boasts of its software experience. He hopes the new approval in PA is the first state of many for GG.

“Pennsylvania players can expect the best software and online poker platform in the world,” Negreanu told USPoker. “The software is engaging and just makes everything more fun. I hope to see GGPoker available across all the legal states, including my home here in Nevada.”

A busy few years for GGPoker

Since launching into expansion mode, GGPoker has grown at lightning speed. The international site ranks third on the PokerScout online poker traffic report.

In December, the site hosted one half of the WSOP $10,000 Main Event. Damian Salas. won the GG half and also went on to win the title for $2.4 million.

The software has numerous bells and whistles, but one of the most interesting may be the staking feature. This allows players to stake others on the site right through the software.

Also in December the site made some news, including some negative press, by signing social media star Dan Bilzerian. Critics argued the company signed someone seen as misogynistic.

Others have criticized the site for lax enforcement of VPN usage at times. However, NSUS/GG apparently met all requirements to provide its service in the Keystone State.

In the last few years, GGPoker has made major efforts at launching its streaming mediums on Twitch and YouTube. That included daily live streams of Negreanu’s heads-up battle with Doug Polk.

In 2020, the site reached deals expanding further into Europe. The company also signed poker superstar Fedor Holz as well as his training site Pokercode. GG players received access to Pokercode as part of the deal, providing a training vehicle for the site.

Many questions remain on what to expect in Pennsylvania. But as of Wednesday, the site has at least appears to have gained a foothold of some sort into the US market.

The post GGPoker Parent Company Wins Manufacturer Approval in Pennsylvania, Operator Looks at US Expansion appeared first on .

February 9, 2021February 10, 2021

PokerStars Unveils Michigan’s 1st Online Poker Series; MICOOP Guarantees $1 Million

Less than two weeks after launching in the Wolverine State, PokerStars now brings Michigan the state’s its first online poker tournament. The first Michigan Championship of Online Poker (MICOOP) is set for Feb. 20 to March 8 with $1 million guaranteed.

PokerStars became the first online poker provider in the state after going live on Jan. 29. The COOP brand is recognized by many in the poker world. Michigan now has its own version of the popular brand.

“Coming off the launch of our real-money gaming brands in Michigan, it is clear that players want the world class offerings that only PokerStars can bring,” FOX Bet/PokerStars USA CEO Kip Levin said in a news release. “As the sole online and mobile poker product in Michigan, our commitment and investment in PokerStars is vital as we aim to bring all aspects of a great customer experience to the poker community.

“We are excited for Michiganders to join our most popular series and crown our first big winner who will join in the prestigious footsteps of other Championship Of Online Poker (COOP) champions.”

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A look at the PokerStars MICOOP series

Michigan players will find 60 tournaments with buy-ins ranging from $10 to $500. The series features numerous game options No Limit Hold’em, Pot Limit Omaha, Five Card Draw, and mixed games.

Tournament types include Progressive Knockout (PKO), turbo, traditional bounty, marathon, and others. In a PKO, once a player knocks out another, that player wins a portion of the bounty. The other portion is added to the winning player’s bounty and he progressively becomes a bigger target.

A two-day $300 Main Event highlights the action on March 7-8, featuring a guaranteed prize pool of $125,000.

Another interesting event to watch include the $500 High Roller on Feb. 24 with $35,000 guaranteed. A $50 Mini Main Event is set for March 7 with $35,000 guaranteed. Other highlights include:

$100 Kick Off, Nightly Stars (Event 1, Feb. 20) – $30,000 guaranteed
$200 Thursday Thrill PKO (Event 20, Feb. 25) – $30,000 guaranteed
$30 Mini Thursday Thrill PKO (Event 21, Feb. 25) – $15,000 guaranteed
$250 Sunday Special (Event 31, Feb. 28) – $50,000 guaranteed
$20 NLHE Turbo (Event 46, March 4) – $15,000 guaranteed
$50 Six-Max Turbo Zoom (Event 51, March 6) – $15,000 guaranteed

Here’s a look at the complete schedule:

Event	Date	Tournament	Buy-in	Guarantee	Time
1	Feb. 20	$100 NLHE [MICOOP Kick Off, Nightly Stars SE], $30K Gtd	$100	$30,000	6 p.m.
2	Feb. 20	$20 NLHE [Rebuy], $10K Gtd	$20	$10,000	7 p.m.
3	Feb. 20	$50 NLHE [8-Max], $20K Gtd	$50	$20,000	8 p.m.
4	Feb. 21	$100 NLHE [8-Max, Deepstacks], $25K Gtd	$100	$25,000	2 p.m.
5	Feb. 21	$50 NLHE [Progressive KO, Sunday Warm Up SE], $10K Gtd	$50	$10,000	4 p.m.
6	Feb. 21	$200 NLHE [Sunday Special SE], $40K Gtd	$200	$40,000	5 p.m.
7	Feb. 21	$25 NLHE [Sunday Special Mini], $12.5K Gtd	$25	$12,500	5:30 p.m.
8	Feb. 21	$100 PLO [8-Max], $10K Gtd	$100	$10,000	7 p.m.
9	Feb. 21	$75 NLHE [Second Chance], $7.5K Gtd	$75	$7,500	8 p.m.
10	Feb. 21	$50 NLHE [8-Max, Hyper-Turbo, Sunday Supersonic SE], $5K Gtd	$50	$5,000	10 p.m.
11	Feb. 22	$100 NLHE [4-Max], $15K Gtd	$100	$15,000	7 p.m.
12	Feb. 22	$50 NLHE [6-Max, Progressive KO, Battle Royale SE], $20K Gtd	$50	$20,000	8 p.m.
13	Feb. 22	$50 PLO8 [8-Max], $7.5K Gtd	$50	$7,500	9 p.m.
14	Feb. 23	$200 NLHE [Super Tuesday SE], $30K Gtd	$200	$30,000	8 p.m.
15	Feb. 23	$30 NLHE [Super Tuesday Mini], $15K Gtd	$30	$15,000	8:30 p.m.
16	Feb. 23	$50 PL 5-Card Draw [Turbo], $3K Gtd	$50	$3,000	9 p.m.
17	Feb. 24	$100 PLO [6-Max], $7.5K Gtd	$100	$7,500	7:30 p.m.
18	Feb. 24	$500 NLHE [6-Max, High Roller], $35K Gtd	$500	$35,000	8 p.m.
19	Feb. 24	$50 NLHE [6-Max], $20K Gtd	$50	$20,000	8:30 p.m.
20	Feb. 25	$200 NLHE [Progressive KO, Thursday Thrill SE], $30K Gtd	$200	$30,000	8 p.m.
21	Feb. 25	$30 NLHE [Progressive KO, Thursday Thrill Mini], $15K Gtd	$30	$15,000	8:30 p.m.
22	Feb. 25	$30 5-Card PLO [6-Max, Turbo], $3K Gtd	$30	$3,000	9 p.m.
23	Feb. 26	$100 FLHE [6-Max], $5K Gtd	$100	$5,000	5 p.m.
24	Feb. 26	$100 NLHE [Big Antes], $7.5K Gtd	$100	$7,500	8 p.m.
25	Feb. 26	$150 NLHE [6-Max, Turbo], $10K Gtd	$50	$10,000	8:30 p.m.
26	Feb. 27	$50 HORSE [Turbo], $3K Gtd	$50	$3,000	6 p.m.
27	Feb. 27	$50 NLHE [Rebuy], $10K Gtd	$50	$10,000	7 p.m.
28	Feb. 27	$100 NLHE [Turbo, Saturday Speedway SE], $10K Gtd	$100	$10,000	8 p.m.
29	Feb. 28	$100 NLHE [8-Max, Marathon], $25K Gtd	$100	$25,000	2 p.m.
30	Feb. 28	$50 NLHE [Sunday Warm Up SE], $12.5K Gtd	$50	$12,500	4 p.m.
31	Feb. 28	$250 NLHE [Sunday Special SE], $50K Gtd	$250	$50,000	5 p.m.
32	Feb. 28	$30 NLHE [Sunday Special Mini], $15K Gtd	$30	$15,000	5:30 p.m.
33	Feb. 28	$50 PLO [8-Max, Turbo], $5K Gtd	$50	$5,000	7 p.m.
34	Feb. 28	$100 NLHE [6-Max], $10K Gtd	$100	$10,000	8 p.m.
35	Feb. 28	$75 NLHE [Hyper-Turbo, Sunday Supersonic SE], $10K Gtd	$75	$10,000	10 p.m.
36	Mar. 1	$50 NLHE [4-Max], $10K Gtd	$50	$10,000	7 p.m.
37	Mar. 1	$100 NLHE [6-Max, Progressive KO, Battle Royale SE], $25K Gtd	$100	$25,000	8 p.m.
38	Mar. 2	$250 NLHE [Super Tuesday SE], $35K Gtd	$250	$35,000	8 p.m.
39	Mar. 2	$50 NLHE [Super Tuesday Mini], $20K Gtd	$50	$20,000	8:30 p.m.
40	Mar. 2	$50 Stud Hi-Lo, $5K Gtd	$50	$5,000	9 p.m.
41	Mar. 3	$250 PLO [6-Max, High Roller], $12.5K Gtd	$250	$12,500	8 p.m.
42	Mar. 3	$30 PLO [6-Max], $5K Gtd	$30	$5,000	8:30 p.m.
43	Mar. 3	$100 NLHE [6-Max, Turbo], $10K Gtd	$100	$10,000	9 p.m.
44	Mar. 4	$250 NLHE [Progressive KO, Thursday Thrill SE], $35K Gtd	$250	$35,000	8 p.m.
45	Mar. 4	$50 NLHE [Progressive KO, Thursday Thrill Mini], $20K Gtd	$50	$20,000	8:30 p.m.
46	Mar. 4	$20 NLHE [Turbo], $15K Gtd	$20	$15,000	9 p.m.
47	Mar. 5	$10 NLHE [6-Max, Rebuy], $10K Gtd	$10	$10,000	6 p.m.
48	Mar. 5	$75 NLHE, $15K Gtd	$75	$15,000	8 p.m.
49	Mar. 5	$20 NLHE [6-Max, Turbo], $5K Gtd	$20	$5,000	9:30 p.m.
50	Mar. 6	$50 8-Game, $3K Gtd	$50	$3,000	6 p.m.
51	Mar. 6	$50 NLHE [6-Max, Turbo, Zoom], $15K Gtd	$50	$15,000	7 p.m.
52	Mar. 6	$50 NLHE [Turbo, Saturday Speedway SE], $5K Gtd	$50	$5,000	8 p.m.
53	Mar. 7	$50 NLHE [8-Max, Marathon], $10K Gtd	$50	$10,000	2 p.m.
54	Mar. 7	$100 NLHE [Progressive KO], $30K Gtd	$100	$30,000	4 p.m.
55	Mar. 7	$300 NLHE [Main Event], $125K Gtd	$300	$125,000	5 p.m.
56	Mar. 7	$50 NLHE [Mini Main Event], $35K Gtd	$50	$35,000	6 p.m.
57	Mar. 7	$200 NLHE [6-Max, Turbo], $20K Gtd	$200	$20,000	7:30 p.m.
58	Mar. 7	$100 NLHE [Hyper-Turbo, Sunday Supersonic SE], $10K Gtd	$100	$10,000	10 p.m.
59	Mar. 8	$100 NLHE [Nightly Stars SE], $30K Gtd	$100	$30,000	7 p.m.
60	Mar. 8	$20 NLHE [Heads-Up, Turbo, Progressive KO, Zoom], $10K Gtd	$20	$10,000	9 p.m.

PokerStars offers numerous qualifying opportunities

Those looking to get in the MICOOP will find several bargain price events. Satellites start at just $2.

Players can also win entry into the series via other free and low-cost routes including:

Main Event Depositor Freeroll – Deposit $30 or more and earn a ticket into this event on March 7. The tournament puts 35 Main Event seats up for grabs.

Second Chance Freerolls – These events are for those who play a MICOOP event and fail to make the money. These players receive a ticket to a Second Chance Freeroll, which run daily.

PokerStars’ COOP series has delivered record-breaking tournaments to customers in Pennsylvania and New Jersey. The series brand boasts the biggest and richest prize pools and guarantees.

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The post PokerStars Unveils Michigan’s 1st Online Poker Series; MICOOP Guarantees $1 Million appeared first on .

What’s Ahead for PokerStars in Michigan? Company CEO Kip Levin Offers Some Insight

Michigan recently became the fifth state with legalized online poker and offers some momentum for the industry in the US. PokerStars has been operating in the state for 12 days and seems to be gaining some early traction.

The recent Wire Act ruling also is well-timed and paves the way for expanded interstate compacts. For PokerStars, that could eventually mean linking player pools in Michigan, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania.

This could be a boon to the industry and allow Stars to compete with WSOP.com’s shared liquidity in Nevada, New Jersey, and Delaware. PokerStars has big plans for the Michigan market and sees it as a major opportunity to grow the brand in the US.

FOX Bet (sister company of PokerStars USA) CEO Kip Levin recently spoke with USPoker about where the company is headed in the Wolverine State.

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What’s in store for PokerStars Michigan?

For PokerStars, adding a third legalized state in the US has been a major accomplishment. The industry has been slow to grow since online poker returned in 2013. But a fifth legalized state offers an opportunity at real expansion.

“It means a great deal,” Levin says of PokerStars launching Michigan. ”We already have real momentum based on our success in Pennsylvania and New Jersey, and we have several key learnings from those states that we can apply to Michigan.”

Players on the sites will find all that most players would expect from the company’s well-regarded software. Some of those include:

Cash games
Spin & Go’s
Daily tournaments

Levin said the company will also be rolling out PokerStars’ popular COOP (Championship of Online Poker) brand in the state soon. These major series also usually feature a couple versions including a SCOOP (spring).

The series has proven popular in NJ and PA. An MCOOP series may bring in plenty of online players in Michigan, where PokerStars remains the only operator so far. The company also remains the only game in town in Pennsylvania.

That head start offers the company an opportunity to grow its player base before competitors move in.

Will PokerStars Michigan have any major differences?

Levin said there won’t be any key changes to the platform in Michigan. However, adding more markets allows the company to improve the experience for US players.

Stars continues to fine tune its product in the American market. The company is continually adding to its offerings and promotional efforts in the US.

In Pennsylvania, that has included one-off events like Pennsyl-MANIA tournaments. Michigan players may see similar efforts.

“[There won’t be] any wholesale differences to the product but we are improving on the experience everyday through features like Home Games, which allows you to set up your own tournament in a virtual environment with your friends and fellow poker players,” Levin says.

Bringing new players to online poker

The shift in online poker recently has been geared toward adding new people to the player pool. PokerStars has been a part of that.

The company introduced more social gaming aspects in recent years. That includes features like “throwables,” allowing players to toss a virtual object at an opponent.

In May, the company’s international platform also introduced the “Rail” feature. This offers players a personalized dashboard to include favorite tournaments, social media, Twitch streams, videos, promotions, and more.

Like in other states, PokerStars Michigan offers a seamless mobile and gaming environment. Players can easily navigate between poker, online casino, and FOX Bet sports betting.

Levin sees this platform allowing players who might not otherwise play poker to “test drive” the product. The FOX Sports player pool allowed the company to hit the ground running.

“As far as engaging new audiences,” he says, “we are able to activate and cross-sell through an existing pool of Super 6 players in Michigan and are working closely with our partners at FOX to continue to engage and entertain their audiences.

“Not only are we the first operator of online poker in Michigan, PokerStars is the largest and most popular online poker product in the world. PokerStars rounds out a powerful trifecta to supercharge the sports, poker, and online betting experience in Michigan as the only operator to offer all three options with the same account and wallet.”

Some long term plans in the state

Expanded player pools offer a great opportunity for the US online poker industry. More states linked together means larger player and prize pools.

That could also help smaller populated states like West Virginia. These states may not support a ringed-in poker environment made of players only within the state.

Combining PokerStars three current states means a population of 31.7 million. By comparison, Nevada, New Jersey, and Delaware only total 13 million for WSOP.com’s current network.

Beyond virtual poker, PokerStars hopes to one day to bring major live tournament series back to the US. PokerStars Live has run events in the past in New Jersey.

The company is now considering a return when the pandemic is under control. That could also include Michigan.

“We are of course monitoring casino re-openings with an eye toward this in the future in accordance with public safety protocols,” Levin says.

“We have terrific partners in Michigan in the Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa along with great partners in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and of course FOX who are interested in exploring the possibility of holding live events whenever it is safe to do so.”

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How is PokerStars performing so far in Michigan?

A quick look at the numbers shows that Michigan players have embraced the opportunity to get in the action. According to PokerScout’s online traffic report, the platform has a seven-day average of about 425 players.

That has reached as high as a 967 for a 24-hour peak as of Tuesday. At the tournament tables, the Sunday majors continue to score well and top guarantees.

The $30 Sunday Warmup comes with a $5,000 guarantee and attracted 205 entries. That created a prize pool of $5,597.

The $100 Sunday Special guarantees $20,000 and brought in 301 entries for a $27,632 prize pool. In the $100 Nightly Stars, there were 184 entries for a $16,891 prize pool. That easily topped the $12,500 guarantee.

However, the $250 High Roller featured a layover after a big first Sunday. That event guaranteed $7,500 and almost doubled that on the first weekend.

The second version came with a $10,000 guarantee but only garnered 36 entries to create a $9,000 prize pool. Players were treated to a $1,000 overlay.

Despite that, players seem to be pleased with an online poker option. PokerStars seems pleased to be that option.

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The post What’s Ahead for PokerStars in Michigan? Company CEO Kip Levin Offers Some Insight appeared first on .

Slow Play: WSOP.com Poker Launch in PA Targeted for May or Sooner

In late September 2020, the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB) approved the application of Caesars‘ online poker partner 888 Holdings for an interactive gaming manufacturer license.

That news appeared to herald the imminent launch of WSOP.com Pennsylvania. However, more than four months later poker players in the Keystone State are still waiting.

Now it appears the wait will continue for at least a few more months, perhaps until May or later. That’s what 888 Holdings Senior Vice President Yaniv Sherman indicated in an interview with Pokerfuse late last week.

888 hopes for WSOP.com PA launch before 2021 WSOP

Asked about when WSOP.com PA might launch, Sherman, the Head of U.S. Operations for 888, said the company is “working hard to go live the first half of the year, hopefully sooner.”

He then alluded to the potential return of the World Series of Poker to Las Vegas this summer as potentially meaningful for the WSOP.com PA timeline.

Last year the COVID-19 pandemic forced the WSOP to move its in-person tournament summer series online before ending the year with an ersatz Main Event. Sherman explained the company hopes to launch WSOP.com PA before the 2021 WSOP. The series typically runs from late May to mid-July.

If the site were to launch by then, players in Pennsylvania could conceivably start competing for WSOP online bracelets.

Sherman referenced last month’s ruling by the First Circuit Court of Appeals invalidating the US Department of Justice‘s opinion of the Wire Act of 1961 as a favorable development for incorporating Pennsylvania (and potentially other states) into multi-state agreements.

“Any way that Caesars would want to schedule [the WSOP], typically in mid-year, they want to run the [online] tournaments,” he said. “So we are trying to meet that timeline.”

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Looking ahead to new platform rollout, other states

Sherman discussed other 2021 plans for 888 as well. However he maintained the launch of WSOP.com PA remains a top priority.

Other goals for the near future include continuing to pursue the licensing process in Michigan. Both online gambling and online poker finally launched in MI in January. West Virginia, another state that has legalized online gambling, could be on the horizon as well.

Sherman also discussed 888’s plan soon to debut a new platform called Poker 8. The platform will significantly update both the desktop and mobile versions of the client.

It sounds as though the company hopes to be able to launch WSOP.com PA on the new platform. In fact, Poker 8 will likely debut with the new Pennsylvania site before being introduced elsewhere.

PA players’ wait continues despite hints of impending launch

When Pennsylvania regulators approved 888 Holdings’ interactive gaming manufacturer license last fall, it appeared initially as though WSOP.com PA could launch before the end of the year.

However a Caesars representative confirmed to PlayPennsylvania in October that there would be no launch until 2021 at the earliest.

Players had been hoping the site would go live at the start of 2021. Their optimism had been stoked in part by promotional emails and sightings of the Harrah’s Philadelphia logo on the WSOP.com website.

Another hint that WSOP.com PA could arrive soon came in early January when the WSOP announced its 2021 WSOP Online Circuit Series.

The yearlong series consists of 12 separate tournament series happening once per month throughout 2021. Players on WSOP.com Nevada and WSOP.com New Jersey can take part in the tournaments which award WSOP Circuit rings to winners.

The announcement noted the WSOP might add a 13th tournament series to the schedule “pending launch of the WSOP.COM service in a newly regulated market.”

Clearly Pennsylvania is the market being referenced in the announcement. However it appears PA players are going to have wait a bit longer before WSOP.com goes live in their state.

PokerStars PA launched in November 2019 and remains the only online poker site in Pennsylvania.

The post Slow Play: WSOP.com Poker Launch in PA Targeted for May or Sooner appeared first on Play Pennsylvania.

WSOP.com Hosts $1M Planet Hollywood Circuit; $1.5 Million Winter Championships

The World Series of Poker Circuit events have transitioned online this year at WSOP.com.The site is running a monthly Online Circuit Series in 2021 and the next virtual stop is Planet Hollywood.

The series runs Feb. 17-28 with 12 gold rings up for grabs and more than $1 million guaranteed. If that weren’t enough the site is also hosting the Winter Online Championships in February with $1.5 million guaranteed.

Both series are available to players in the New Jersey and Nevada markets.

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