Three US states signed shared online poker liquidity compact

Online gambling has been illegal in the United States since the implementation of the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006. Under the law, it is up to each individual state to determine whether igaming services should be legalized within its borders. Multiple states have considered the move, but it has been only New Jersey, Nevada, and Delaware to have eventually adopted legal frameworks that allowed Internet gambling operations.

Online gaming websites were launched in the three states at approximately the same time in 2013. However, online poker in particular has failed to grab a significant market share in the three jurisdictions. In 2015, Nevada and Delaware entered a shared liquidity agreement in a bid to enlarge their online poker markets and give players from each state increased gaming opportunities.

Reports emerged earlier this year that officials from New Jersey and the other two states have been discussing the possibility to sign a shared liquidity compact. David Rebuck, Director of the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement, confirmed in July that there have been such talks.

While the terms of the agreement between the three states may have been negotiated and signed on, it will probably take months before operators are able to merge their player pools. Gambling officials from Nevada, New Jersey, and Delaware pointed out that the technical specifications first need to be sorted out.

WSOP said last week that it will certainly take advantage of the opportunities the agreement has opened, but will begin sharing liquidity only after receiving approval from regulators from all three states.