888poker which currently powers the WSOP.com platform is aiming for a summer launch in Pennsylvania. Yaniv Sherman, SVP and Head of US at 888 Holdings opened up on the company’s plans in 2021.
888poker is looking at expanding its operations to more US states this year, with their top priority being the Pennsylvania. This means poker players in PA could finally begin taking part in the World Series of Poker (WSOP) summer festival without leaving their homes.
888Poker To Enter Pennsylvania & Michigan
888Poker’s top priority this year is to join Pennsylvania’s regulated online poker market through the upcoming launch of WSOP.com in the state, and they’re planning to do that this summer, coinciding with the official schedule of the world’s most prestigious poker festival.
The company will establish its operations in PA via an ongoing partnership with Caesars Interactive Entertainment (CIE). Both parties have been working together for years under a deal which has enabled 888 to provide software support for the WSOP.com platform.
Sherman said the main goal is to be able to go live in PA during the first half of 2021, ideally in time for the WSOP summer festival.
If things go according to plan for 888 this year, it will be able to expand its interstate online poker network in the US, which currently includes New Jersey and Nevada. The addition of Pennsylvania, and potentially Michigan will be a huge boost for the company as it aims for more growth in the US.
888 is already beginning the licensing process in the Wolverine State though Sherman said they cannot provide a timeline for the launch just yet, as everything will rely on the state’s position on shared liquidity.
Poker 8 US Rollout
Sherman said their 2021 efforts will also concentrate on the launch of their new Poker 8 platform across the US. The software update will be initially rolled out in Pennsylvania as soon as WSOP.com goes live in the state.
The innovative software upgrade includes major changes and improvements with regards to graphics and functionality, and also brings fresh features like multi-day and multi-flight tournaments.
888 Sees Huge Opportunity in Latest Wire Act Developments
Sherman said the US online poker market is showing great potential for growth in the months and years ahead, especially with the latest developments on the legal front.
In 2018, the US Department of Justice issued a revised opinion on the Wire Act, stating that the law applies to all forms of interstate gambling, not just sports betting.
If this latest opinion stands, online poker will suffer the most. Shared liquidity will become a thing of the past, and this will greatly impact 888’s operations, considering that it currently serves as the software provider for the country’s largest interstate online poker network.
Thankfully, an ongoing battle in relation to the issue has yielded positive results for the industry so far, with the most recent rulings going against the DOJ. Experts believe the case won’t likely reach the Supreme Court, which means victory is looming for the entire online poker market in the US.
This means more states will consider legalizing online poker, and those that were initially hesitant to join interstate agreements can now do so with full assurance that they’re not violating the law.
Sherman sees this as a huge opportunity for the company to expand their online poker operations, though he also admits that poker will always be the “smallest” product in the US, in comparison to the other gaming verticals like casino and sports. But this doesn’t mean online poker will remain stagnant in terms of growth, as Sherman believes it is booming right now and could well grow to become a $250 million market.
Online poker enjoyed quite a resurgence during the lockdown period in 2020 and even up to now traffic in online poker sites has remained strong. Sherman predicts that 2021 will be the year for expanded shared liquidity in the US, and 888 will want to take advantage of that going forward.