WSOP.com and the other online poker sites in New Jersey, Nevada, and Delaware powered by 888 Poker software announced this week they will launch interstate play beginning May 1.
New Jersey announced it had entered into an interstate compact with Nevada and Delaware this past October. Nevada and Delaware sites have shared player pools under the agreement since 2015. State regulators invited interested sites to apply to share player pools immediately after New Jersey signed on.
Now, players logging on to WSOP.com in Nevada, WSOP.com or 888 Poker in New Jersey, or the 888 Network’s Delaware Park, Dover Downs and Harrington Raceway sites in Delaware will begin competing against each other starting next month.
More players, bigger prize pools, larger guarantees
According to WSOP.com, allowing players in these regulated markets to compete against each other will attract even more players. In turn, that will mean bigger prize pools and larger tournament guarantees.
It also means players located in New Jersey and Delaware will be able to play in online bracelet events. Four online WSOP bracelet events are scheduled to take place during the upcoming 2018 World Series of Poker.
The four online bracelet events include:
- $365 WSOP.com ONLINE No-Limit Hold’em June 3
- $565 WSOP.com ONLINE Pot-Limit Omaha 6-Handed June 22
- $1,000 WSOP.com ONLINE No-Limit Hold’em Championship June 29
- $3,200 WSOP.com ONLINE No-Limit Hold’em High Roller June 30
Updated software and new client required
WSOP.com players in Nevada and Delaware players will be required to download a new client with updated software.
Additionally, those players must create a new WSOP.com account in order to continue to play on the site. Players will still be able to log in to the cashier and withdraw any remaining funds from their old WSOP.com account until July 31. New Jersey players with an active account will be able to immediately start playing come May 1.
After interstate play launches, WSOP.com is also promising:
- $100,000 Sunday Tournaments
- BLAST Poker allowing players to compete for up to 10,000-times the buy-in
- A new and improved player loyalty program
- Bigger guarantees than ever before
Online poker growth
WSOP.com’s head of online poker Bill Rini praised the efforts of state regulators in helping grow online poker across the US:
“This has been a huge collaborative effort from all involved and it is important to thank the elected leadership and regulatory authorities in Delaware, Nevada and New Jersey for their dedication and diligence to help move online poker forward. Everyone has had the end user in mind throughout this process, and as a result, we believe the United States, for the first time in a regulated environment, will have a large-scale multi-state offering that will propel the industry forward as soon as next month.”
Pennsylvania lawmakers voted in favor of a comprehensive gambling expansion package this past October. It included the authorization of online poker operations. The first sites are expected to get up and running in PA by the end of the year. That market will be the next target for the further expansion of interstate play.
888 senior vice president Yaniv Sherman is looking forward to this and other opportunities for online poker across the US:
“Pooling poker players from three states will be a significant regulatory step in the U.S., and is very exciting for our players and partners. If approved, we anticipate that this will open up further opportunities in other states.”