DraftKings recently launched a poker variation called Electric Poker in Michigan last month. While the game is expected to be a hit in the Great Lakes State, it could also be successful in Pennsylvania as well.
The game is located right in DraftKings’ online casino app in Michigan. Since the PA online casino industry is the clear market leader, a similar setup in Pennsylvania – as potential expansion is possible – would only help the Keystone State iGaming market.
What DraftKings Electric Poker looks like in Michigan
Electric Poker indicates quick and fast games in the Great Lakes State. The only variant of the game is a a three-player jackpot sit-n-go tournament, that is designed for a short period of time. Games usually last a handful of minutes.
That means players don’t have to invest the amount of time that’s usually required from large tournaments. The game has a winner-take-all format incorporating all buy-ins into a larger “jackpot” prize pool. Before each tournament, a random number generator runs a jackpot reel that will determine the overall prize pool.
There are $1, $5, $10 and $25 buy-in levels that include the following prize pool multipliers:
- 2x Multiplier: 477,800 in 1 million (~47.8% probability)
- 3x Multiplier: 359,956 in 1 million (~36% probability)
- 4x Multiplier: 111,133 in 1 million (~11.1% probability)
- 5x Multiplier: 46,000 in 1 million (4.6% probability)
- 10x Multiplier: 5,000 in 1 million (0.5% probability)
- 100x Multiplier: 100 in 1 million (0.01% probability)
- 1,000x Multiplier: 10 in 1 million (0.001% probability)
- 10,000x Multiplier: 1 in 1 million (0.0001% probability)
DraftKings Electric Poker appeals to the casual player, as evidence of the affordable buy-in levels and the length of game-times. To grow poker, especially in Pennsylvania, games such as these are important to casual players, and even novice ones.
DraftKings has become a reputable and trustworthy gambling operator not only in Pennsylvania, but the country, too. Players should have the confidence to believe they playing a quality game on a quality product.
How DraftKings Electric Poker would be a success in PA
Despite trailing Michigan and New Jersey, the Pennsylvania online poker market has generated $16.7 million in YTD revenue through July.
DraftKings has developed a unique way for customers to play poker, which is much easier and gives it a clear advantage. Electric Poker is available right in DraftKings’ online casino lobby in Michigan. A similar setup in Pennsylvania would make the game accessible in the DraftKings Casino PA app.
That immediately eliminates additional steps for customers to play poker, which otherwise would have had to register for separate accounts using the following platforms:
- PokerStars
- BetMGM
- WSOP
- Borgata
A lower barrier of entry is clearly an advantage, as DraftKings customers would not have to create a username and password, verify identification and transfer funds.
Pennsylvania has already reached nearly $1.48 billion in iGaming revenue through July. Michigan and New Jersey have produced $1.35 billion and $1.33 billion, respectively.
Giving Pennsylvanians a much easier way to play poker could certainly draw even more online casino revenue in the Keystone State.
Doug Harbach, communications director for the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board, provided PlayPennsylvania with context on the process DraftKings must go through in order to launch the game in the Keystone state.
“A soft launch for the product will occur,” Harbach said.
“We will do testing on RG limits and required poker restriction and revenue reporting. The soft launch testing is less than a full launch because we concentrate on the poker specific items.”
Electric Poker is also played with other players, otherwise known as peer-to-peer. However, the game is not connected to the Multi-State Internet Gaming Agreement (MSIGA).
PA looking to join MSIGA ‘before the end of the year’
The Keystone State is not part of MSIGA. However, to bring Electric Poker to Pennsylvania, it doesn’t need to be. Players from within the state compete against each other, which makes it a peer-to-peer game.
Joining MSIGA would open the floodgates for Pennsylvania, allowing players in the Keystone State to join games with other Michigan, West Virginia Nevada, Delaware and New Jersey players. That would also include a shared liquidity arrangement, boosting the amount of prize money players can win.
Representative George Dunbar sponsored House Bill 2078 in March, which is a bill that calls for Pennsylvania joining the MSIGA.
As of June, the bill had not moved, according to Bonus.com. However, the legislative session remains open until Nov. 30, which means there’s still time for it to pass. Dunbar said in June:
“If the bill moves during the budget process and the governor signs off on joining the multi-state compact, PA poker players can be playing against players from other states relatively fast. I’m sure before the end of the year.”
Should DraftKings bring Electric Poker to Pennsylvania, it has nothing to do with MSIGA, since the game is available in the online casino. However, the state joining the agreement would generate tons of excitement amongst the entire market.
