WSOP have finally confirmed that it will join its existing Nevada/New Jersey player pool with its separate Michigan online poker site. The change will occur in just two days’ time — May 27 — just in time for the start of the summer series.
It ends weeks of speculation and delays, ever since pokerfuse exclusively reported that this three-state network was in the works earlier this month.
The site has announced a new brand, WSOP Online, to replace the existing WSOP.com name. And, as previously reported by pokerfuse, the site will upgrade the software platform in Nevada and New Jersey with the more modern software already in operation in Michigan.
Players in these states need to create new accounts. They can do so now by pre-registering on the new software and creating a new username. Their existing balances, tournament tickets, and rewards points will then be transferred over.
Those who pre-register will gain free entry to the Main Event Seat Freeroll Entry on June 20, 2024.
“This platform upgrade is long overdue and is a big win for our players,” said Danielle Barille, Vice President of Online Poker at Caesars Digital. “The best is yet to come for WSOP Online tournaments, and we’re thrilled to bring Michigan players into the fold with Nevada and New Jersey, resulting in a better experience, more value, and the biggest prize pools of the year.”
In a press release issued today, the company called it a history-making move as “the first poker operator to pool liquidity across three U.S. jurisdictions.” Notably, however, their network did partially share liquidity with Delaware until last year.
The move has been almost exactly two years in the making, when Michigan joined the multi-state igaming agreement permitting operators to plug Michigan into existing US networks. PokerStars took advantage of this in January 2023, connecting its Michigan and NJ player pools together.
It has taken almost 18 months for WSOP to do the same, but it has the advantage of holding a de facto monopoly in Nevada. Never have these three states been connected together for form a single network. We expect the new WSOP Online network to easily be the largest US online poker network from day 1.
As we first revealed on Friday, WSOP has also announced a 30-event bracelet schedule that will start on June 1 for players on the new network. Players in Pennsylvania will have a separate 7-event schedule.
The upgraded software brings with it some much-needed improvements to the online poker experience, particularly on mobile. It also adds many popular tournament formats, included PKOs and Mystery Bounty. WSOP Online will be wasting no time take advantage of these new features, will online bracelets of each on the schedule.