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West Virginia signs up to multistate poker compact

Online poker has been given a fresh lease of life after West Virginia announced it has signed up to the Multi-State Internet Gaming Agreement (MSIGA).
The move will see West Virginia become the fifth state to agree to the terms of MISGA, and that will enable players to compete against players from other member states.
Before West Virginiaâs intervention, Michigan, Nevada, New Jersey, and Delaware signed up to the compact created in 2014. The premise of the original agreement was to ensure liquidity could be shared with other states for online gaming.
Joining the MSIGA is seen as a precursor to offering real money poker, and those igaming providers interested in supplying multi-state poker will have to submit a letter of intent to the Lottery. After that, they will have to gain the requisite approval from West Virginia and other member jurisdictions before they can go live.
Indeed, by throwing themselves into the MSIGA framework, West Virginia players could now have a more lucrative gambling experience. Seemingly, players will have access to larger prize pools, and with that, the added advantage of a greater selection of poker games to pick from.
It is also hoped that West Virginiaâs entry into the MISGA may also provide impetus for other states that have already given the green light to online poker. Among them is Connecticut which legalized online poker in 2022, but so far, no online poker operators have set up shop in the state.
Meanwhile, Pennsylvania is another state that could take inspiration from West Virginiaâs move, and the Keystone State legalized online poker six years ago. Were Pennsylvania or Connecticut to follow West Virginiaâs lead, then it would supposedly provide a better environment for operators and players alike.
Interestingly, the USA repealed a federal ban on sports betting in 2018. Subsequently, legalizing online poker was forced to take a backseat, as it wasnât originally considered a priority.
However, the US online poker market appears to be thriving and it has a bright future ahead of itself. Yes, being a part of the MISGA framework is perceived as being a precursor to real money online poker in West Virginia.
In many respects, West Virginia is deemed to be a small online poker market, but it could now bring its near 1.8 million residents into the player pool. While state-approved poker operator options may be limited at the moment, all is not lost as there is another avenue that can be explored, namely offshore sites. You wonât have too much trouble locating a minimum deposit poker site that will accept all US players. For example, BetOnline and Bovada have a proven track record of hosting high-stakes cash tournaments. Usually, players will only need to make a minimum deposit of $10 to play poker, but both sites come with an array of unique features to attract players of all abilities.
As things stand, PokerStars appears to be the most likely operator to bring online poker to West Virginia despite not having unfettered access to the market.
To overcome this barrier, they would need to partner with one of the stateâs five land-based casinos, but it is thought they stand a good chance of receiving regulatory clearance. Meanwhile, WSOP faces a similar issue to PokerStars, and they will be on tenterhooks to see if they pass the gaming checks.
The first online casino launched in West Virginia in 2020. While it could be several months before West Virginia formally launches online poker, signing up to MSIGA represents a significant step, and it will be deemed a watershed moment for the proponents of online poker who wish to spread and grow the game throughout the US. This could well be the start of a thrilling ride for poker fans in West Virginia.
by Charles Perrin
Canada
Online casino with a Nordic twist enters yet another market as it continues to deploy its ambitious international expansion plans

Winlandia.com, the online casino brand with a distinctly Nordic feel, has made its debut in Canada as it continues to expand its reach into international markets.
Winlandia is celebrating ten years of Nordic excellence and is now available for Canadian players, with its website available in both English and French.
Canadian players will get a real sense of Finnish Sisu when they sign up to Winlandia for the first time with a generous welcome bonus that is up for grabs.
When it comes to depositing, Winlandia has a well-stocked cashier including Visa, Mastercard, MuchBetter, Paysafecard, Payz, AstroPay and of course, Interac.
Players can expect instant deposits and fast withdrawals, so they get their winnings without delay.
The cool Nordic vibes extend to the online casino lobby where players can explore a vast portfolio of more than 9,000 slot, table, instant win, bingo, Slingo, arcade and live dealer titles.
Just some of the providers available include Pragmatic Play, NetEnt, Microgaming, Red Tiger, Playân GO, Blueprint Gaming, IGT, Scientific Games, Nolimit City and Evolution Gaming.
Winlandia players will be able to benefit from its Personalization Platform that was implemented at the beginning of last year. This means players will get individual game recommendations based on real-time data, a bit like Netflix but for casino games, not movies.
Canadian players can also enjoy some of the most generous promotions in the market, including Daily Picks which sees free spins and other bonuses added to their account each day.
They can also take part in thrilling slot tournaments and go head-to-head with other players and where if they place high on the leaderboard, there are big prizes to be won.
Winlandia is powered by SkillOnNet and has quickly emerged as a top online casino brand in competitive markets such as Finland, Denmark and the UK.
The team behind the site is confident that Canadian players will be drawn to its comprehensive offering and unique Nordic flavour.
Winlandia has extended its collaboration with its premium affiliate partner, Gambling.com, as their exclusive launch partner for the Canadian market. Via their site assets like Gambling.com/ca, players will get an exclusive offer of 100% up to $5,000 + 150 Free spins on Big Bass Bonanza.
Christoffer Grönlund, Head of Acquisitions & PR at Winlandia, said: âPlayers in Canada can now enjoy an authentic Nordic online casino experience that includes thousands of casino games from the biggest providers offered alongside generous bonuses and promotions.Â
âDespite being an international brand, localisation is very important to us and thatâs why we implemented the payment method Interac to our cashier and ensure we have the most popular game providers for the Canadian market in our game lobby.Â
âCanada is a big market and one that we are incredibly excited to enter this market together with our Premium Affiliate Partner Gambling.com/ca. We truly believe that their high volume of quality traffic of players will enjoy what we have to offer at Winlandia.âÂ
Gary Connelly, Senior Key Account Manager at Gambling.com Group, added: “I’m excited to welcome Winlandia Casino  as they prepare for their Canadian launch.Â
âWith 10 years of Nordic excellence and trust, a standout design, and an impressive portfolio of over 9,000+ games, Winlandia is well-positioned for success in this market. Following strong results in the UK, I look forward to a successful partnership in Canada, where their fresh player base offers great conversion potential.”
Compliance Updates
4ThePlayer Games Secures Certification for the Brazilian Market!

4ThePlayer has officially received game certification for the Brazilian iGaming market, reinforcing its commitment to regulated markets worldwide. This milestone enables the company to bring its acclaimed player-first gaming experiences to a brand-new audience.
Approved by Gaming Associates and eCogra, these certifications allow licensed operators in Brazil, to offer 4ThePlayerâs high-quality, player-centric games through their existing platform integrations with Relax Gaming and Yggdrasil.
Certified game titles include 4 Fantastic Fish, 4K Ultra Gold, and 5 Wild Buffalo as well as their innovative and unique table games 100 Bit Dice and 1000x Busta, all top-performing, player-favorite releases. Moving forward, all 4ThePlayer games will be certified for Brazil from day one.
Beyond its existing portfolio, 4ThePlayer is committed to delivering region-tailored content, leveraging its local team in Brazil to develop engaging, culturally relevant gaming experiences set to launch later this year. The first one of these titles is 4 Fantastic Fish Amazon Adventure, the latest in their player favourite 4 Fantastic series, coming via Yggdrasil in April.
Henry McLean, Co-Founder, Commercial & Marketing Director at 4ThePlayer, expressed his enthusiasm: “We are thrilled to bring our unique, player-centric games to Brazil, a market full of energy and potential. These game certifications are a major milestone, reinforcing our dedication to regulated markets and delivering best-in-class entertainment. We look forward to collaborating with operators and creating unforgettable gaming experiences for Brazilian players.”
With this certification, 4ThePlayer continues its mission of providing exceptional, player-focused gaming worldwide, ensuring its engaging and innovative titles reach new markets and audiences.
Asia
UFC Names Parimatch as Official Sportsbook and Betting Partner in Asia
UFC, the worldâs premier mixed martial arts organization, and international iGaming brand Parimatch announced a new marketing partnership that establishes Parimatch as UFCâs Official Sportsbook and Betting Partner in Asia.
Parimatch will strategically activate its brand within a selection of UFC events, leveraging UFCâs wide-reaching promotional assets. Highlighted integrations include Parimatch branding in the world-famous Octagon and collaborations with UFC to creatively engage fans through original content that will be distributed via UFCâs popular digital and social channels in Asia that reach more than 17.5 million users.
âParimatch has been a trusted partner and we are thrilled to extend this collaboration to Asia. Their support is instrumental in our efforts to give local athletes the opportunity to compete in the Road to UFC tournament and ultimately help them realize their dreams of making it to UFC. Together, we are driving the growth of our sport and delivering world-class experiences to fans across the region,â said Kevin Chang, Senior Vice President and Head of Asia for UFC.
âToday we start off a new era in the Parimatch partnership with UFC, built on the same strong values we share in serving UFC fans worldwide and delivering unforgettable moments. Weâre excited to be back, ready to create even greater experiences for fans with the opportunities that lie ahead of us,â said Parimatch owner Sergei Portnov.
This new agreement builds upon an earlier relationship between UFC and Parimatch in which Parimatch served as UFCâs Official Sportsbook Partner across several regions worldwide.
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