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With a new legislative initiative in Michigan state, a popular and ground-breaking development in Europe looks like it is about to be adapted in the US landscape.
The Bill
House of Reps-backed SB 991 supports the Lawful Interactive Gaming Act allowing cross-border exchange of information and gaming data.
SB 991 green-lights state gambling regulator Michigan Gaming Control Board (MGCB) to seek and negotiate shared liquidity arrangements with other states.
Liquidity Sharing Component
Though online gambling is not yet permitted in the US, the support for SB 991 would position Michigan to participate in future shared liquidity pools with other states should permissions for online gambling and specifically poker be approved in the United States.
The Vote
After passing by a decisive 85-16 majority, the Michigan House punctuated SB 991 with a new piece of legislation expanding the scope of the existing Lawful Internet Gaming Act to authorize MGCB to seek out closer ties with operators across state lines.
All that remains is the sign-off from Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer, who is not expected to oppose.
Legitimising Online Poker
By voting in SB 991, Michigan's support of the novel shared liquidity model would also constitute a strong assertion of support for the viability of online poker in the United States—where online gambling is to this point not permitted but offshore operations are well-known to be raking in hundreds of millions a month in unlicensed play.
Current Pool Participants
Michigan would join a liquidity program established by three charter member states: Nevada, New Jersey, and Delaware--with Pennsylvania considering joining already as well-- pending the outcome of a Department of Justice new re-interpretation of the Federal Wire Act which opened the door for online sports betting in America in 2018.
Current Landscape
Michigan operators would still have to introduce poker under betting guidelines at this point.
Overseas Example
In Europe, a major liquidity pool exists between France, Portugal, Spain and Italy.
Outlook
The eligibility for the poker pool means larger pools for online poker in the United States as soon as the new interpretation of the Wire act is fully fleshed out, and will most certainly pave the way to legitimise unified online gambling guidelines and permissions in the US.
