Governor Josh Shapiro is reportedly considering having his state join the compact, too, but one year after winning the gubernatorial election in 2022, he has yet to make a decision. It could also encourage additional US states and perhaps some Canadian provinces (e.g., Indiana, New York, Québec) to consider launching the vertical.Īll eyes will likely turn to the Pennsylvania online poker market, - the biggest state with legal poker that is not a member of MSIGA. The fact that West Virginia has decided to join the compact is a positive sign that US online poker, more than a dozen years after the events of Black Friday, is a growing market with a bright future. Membership in a gaming compact like MSIGA has long been seen as a necessary precursor to launching real money online poker in WV. It allows operators to combine player pools across multiple states, creating shared liquidity to support larger tournaments with bigger prizes.Īs mentioned earlier, online poker operators have declined to set up shop in West Virginia up until now because the state is such a small market (only 1.8 million residents). MSIGA is a multi-state gaming compact that includes five states - Delaware, Michigan, Nevada, New Jersey, and West Virginia. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem and wants help, call 1-800 GAMBLER.
