Delaware-Nevada to Launch Interstate Online Poker by April

Online poker in the regulated states of Nevada and Delaware will soon be getting a boost due to shared liquidity that is being readied for launch in a matter of weeks.

The two states entered into a Multi State Internet Gaming Agreement (MSIGA) one year ago that has yet to be put into play on the virtual felt. Technical glitches were behind the delay, according to comments made by Nevada Governor Brian Sandoval to that state's top newspaper, the Las Vegas Review-Journal.

Sandoval and his counterpart in Delaware, Gov. Jack Markell, brokered the MSIGA last year with hopes of launching and also enticing other states to join. Neither has happened as of yet. Talks involving New Jersey and Gov. Chris Christie have been initiated, but no progress has been reported.

Intrastate online poker in Delaware is hindered by a small population of under a million. Cash game player traffic reaches peaks equivalent to three full tables or so, according to PokerScout.com. The First State could really benefit from combining its few players with that of Nevada.

The Silver State boasts ring game player traffic average of 170 at WSOP.com, while Nevada's only other operational poker site, Real Gaming, has yet to make a dent in the market.

The future of regulated Internet poker in the U.S. is likely dependent upon sharing player pools, at least for the smaller states. One other state currently considering online poker regulation, California, is large enough to go solo. That's if the gaming interests involved in the Golden State can ever reach an agreement on legislation.