Many had hoped that the inevitable spread of sports betting would also allow online poker to piggyback on that success, with states passing legislation that allowed for internet gambling in addition to sportsbooks.
So far, however, that hasn’t panned out in most cases. Sure, Pennsylvania will allow for online poker, but that was already in play before the PASPA (Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act) repeal. And the new customers that are being brought in by sports wagering don’t seem to be taking much of an interest in poker.
In New Jersey, poker sites haven’t been a part of that bonanza. In New Jersey, while online slots and table games saw a 64 percent increase in year-over-year revenues in April, online poker was actually down just over five percent when compared to the same month in 2018.
There are external factors that are a part of the problem. Most notably, the recent Wire Act reinterpretation could mean the end of intrastate online poker networks, which will be a big blow to an already struggling sector. But even considering that, it’s clear that while PASPA has been a boon for sports betting and the gaming industry as a whole, poker hasn’t come along for the ride.
