by Mario Alfonsi | Published on Feb 2, 2022 | Updated on Feb 2, 2022
Summary
- PokerStars MI celebrates its first anniversary in the Wolverine State
- The operator has stayed at the top since its launch back in January 2021
- It might face tougher competition this year with the entry of WSOP MI
On January 29, 2021, PokerStars MI became the first regulated online poker site to go live in Michigan. Its first year of operating in the Wolverine State has been a success, mainly because it has remained uncontested, with its only competitor in the state, BetMGM Poker, lagging far behind.
While that is the case, it’s hard to figure out just how much of a success PokerStars MI has achieved over the past 12 months. The Michigan Gaming Control Board (MGCB) includes poker revenue in the overall casino revenue, meaning we cannot determine the exact revenue coming from poker.
PokerStars MI’s 2021 Milestones
PokerStars MI attracted more than 400 concurrent players just a week after launching – that was the highest traffic throughout the US during that time.
Less than a month after its launch, PokerStars MI hosted the inaugural MICOOP, the Michigan version of the operator’s flagship Championship of Online Poker (COOP) series. MICOOP kicked off on February 20 and the following day traffic at the site peaked at 540 concurrent cash game players. The first MICOOP was a massive success, exceeding all expectations.
On March 22, BetMGM Poker went live in the state, bringing PokerStars MI’s two-month online poker monopoly to an end. But the operator continued to perform well – just a couple of weeks after BetMGM Poker launched in the state, PokerStars MI hosted the biggest tournament in the state, the Michigan Classic, which featured a massive $500,000 guarantee. It took place on April 4.
The operator hosted another massive series on May 8, MISCOOP, paying out $2.3 million in total prizes, smashing its $2 million guarantee.
On September 10, MI players competed for over $1.5 million in total prize pool during the second edition of MICOOP. It was PokerStars MI’s third series to surpass the $1.5 million mark in just 8 months.
PokerStars MI To Face Stiff Competition in 2022
According to the latest figures, PokerStars’ ring game numbers sit at around 200 concurrent players. Numbers dropped to this level in the middle of June 2021 and the stats have since remained steady.
PokerStars MI continues to dominate the market, with BetMGM Poker recording 66 concurrent players. However, the operator might face tougher competition this year with the potential launch of WSOP MI.
