During the first half of 2021, WSOP.com will go live in Pennsylvania and Michigan, which are the two latest states to launch a regulated online poker market in the US.
The upcoming launch was confirmed earlier this month by 888 Holdings PLC during a call with investors. 888 Holdings PLC is the parent company of 888poker which powers the WSOP.com platform. 888 has a long-running partnership with Caesars Interactive Entertainment, the owner of the WSOP brand, and both companies will continue their alliance for a further five years, as they aim to expand their operations across the US.
Poker 8 Software – Update & New Features
News of WSOP.com’s expansion to Pennsylvania and Michigan is already generating excitement among online poker players and fans in both states, especially as the launch will be accompanied by the US rollout of Poker 8, 888poker’s latest innovative software update.
The new platform has debuted in other 888poker clients across the globe over the past 18 months, but players based in the US have yet to try it. That will change this year as 888poker intends to introduce the new software across the US market, starting with Pennsylvania and Michigan.
WSOP.com will operate in both states via the Poker 8 software, and players will be in for an improved online poker experience.
Among the major upgrades incorporated into the new Poker 8 client is the addition of a new portrait layout for mobile users. The vertical orientation makes it possible for players to play one-handed, leaving the other hand free. 888poker joins the likes of PokerStars, partypoker, and GGPoker in introducing the new feature.
The new Poker 8 software also now supports multi-tabling, allowing players to play a maximum of four tables at the same time.
Apart from these newly added features, players can also look forward to a redesigned lobby, both for tournaments and cash games. For tournament players, they can now easily find their favorite games by using the filter bar at the top. They can also sort the columns in the list so they can quickly go to their preferred game.
Cash game fans can also customize their lobby as they wish. They can search games in terms of table size, stakes, and game type, and there’s even a “Beginners” space for those new to the game.
The new platform sports a cleaner, modern look, with high definition backgrounds and enhanced graphics and animation. Players can also expect faster response times, allowing them to switch between games and tables in a more efficient manner.
The old 888poker client is still active in New Jersey, but it will be replaced by the new Poker 8 platform following WSOP.com’s launch in PA and MI.
U.S Expansion
WSOP.com and 888poker have fallen behind their two major competitors, PokerStars and partypoker, in terms of expanding to other states in the U.S, but both sites are currently benefiting from the existing interstate online poker deal between New Jersey, Nevada, and Delaware. Players from the three states can play games and compete with each other under a combined pool, and it is currently the only interstate online poker network running in the country.
WSOP.com operates sites in both New Jersey and Nevada, while 888poker also provides the software for operators offering online poker in Delaware. WSOP.com and 888poker will cater to a much bigger player pool soon with the addition of Pennsylvania and Michigan. Both states are expected to join New Jersey, Nevada, and Delaware, creating a larger interstate online poker network.
This will be a major milestone in WSOP.com and 888poker’s US expansion efforts, and will also greatly benefit the players in general. One of the most exciting developments to come out of this is that those in PA and MI will be able to participate in WSOP online tournaments. While this is an unlikely prospect for this year, it should happen in the near future.
