Share 
BetRivers Poker is signaling that West Virginia remains an important part of its long-term online poker strategy, even as many rivals focus on bigger states first. According to Pokerfuse, Rush Street Interactive continues to pursue poker in smaller regulated markets, and West Virginia is one of the clearest examples: BetRivers is currently the only online poker operator live in the state.
That makes West Virginia notable not because of market size, but because of how BetRivers views poker as part of a broader online gambling business. The company told Poker Industry PRO that poker helps it acquire and retain customers across its wider casino platform.
West Virginia stands out in BetRivers’ small-market approach
BetRivers Poker is live in four states: Pennsylvania, Michigan, Delaware, and West Virginia. In both West Virginia and Delaware, it is the sole online poker operator, according to the report.
The source says West Virginia legalized online poker in 2019 and later joined the Multi-State Internet Gaming Agreement. BetRivers entered the state within months of legalization, reflecting a willingness to launch where larger operators have stayed out.
That strategy has helped BetRivers build a four-state shared-liquidity network, which the report describes as the second in the US after WSOP to link multiple regulated markets under one player pool.
Why smaller states still matter to the operator
Rush Street Interactive’s position is that poker does not have to be a standalone revenue leader to justify expansion. Instead, it can support customer acquisition, retention, and engagement across a broader online casino and sportsbook ecosystem.
In comments cited by Pokerfuse, RSI poker marketing director Jesse Wilke said the company has seen online poker help attract and retain casino customers, and said that approach is especially well suited to smaller markets.
That helps explain why BetRivers has also expressed interest in Maine, another small regulated market, and why it continues to push for a New Jersey launch. The report says New Jersey is expected to join the network once regulatory approval is secured, though no timing was provided.
What West Virginia players should watch
No new West Virginia product change was reported in this update. But the broader takeaway is that BetRivers appears committed to keeping poker active in the state rather than treating West Virginia as a secondary market.
The next development to watch is whether New Jersey receives approval to join the BetRivers network. If that happens, Pokerfuse reports BetRivers would become the first US online poker network to span five states with shared liquidity.
—
Source: As reported by Anuj Arora.
