Run It Once Poker Emerges from the Ashes as BetRivers Poker

Phil Galfond, one of the true poker savants of our time, decided to run his poker platform, and he succeeded – briefly. In 2022, the iconic Run It Once poker website, loved by many, and lauded by friends and foes, came to a grinding halt.

Run It Once Poker Returns under BetRivers’ Aegis

Galfond’s iconic status and interest among poker elites were not sufficient to sustain the platform, which ultimately could not eke out a sustainable business model. Now, the venerated project was relaunched under the BetRivers Poker brand in Pennsylvania last week.

Folding one of the biggest hands of his life, Galfond’s platform was acquired by Rush Street Interactive, which owns BetRivers, that same year for $5.8 million in 2022, stacking its chips in the poker vertical, which continues to trail sports betting and iCasino in the United States, but is nevertheless an important part of the multi-pronged approach regulated gambling companies choose to pursue in the country.

Galfond himself was ebullient about the opportunity to see the Run It Once project revived from the ashes, sharing an effusive personal note in the press release that accompanied the rollout.

“From the amateur playing their very firsthand to the sophisticated pro, everyone was kept in mind as we focused on fairness, excitement, and generous rewards that truly benefit the player. I’ve been heavily involved in the game design, promotions, and policy decisions, and, more importantly, in building an incredible team that sees online poker the way I do,” Galfond added.

Essentially, Galfond is still at the helm. His previous troubles of turning the business into a sustainable platform are understandable, given the fairly slow growth of online poker in the United States, and the difficulty of attracting dedicated players. Poker is, after all, a game of skill and has a much higher entry bar than, say, slots and sports betting.

Rush Street Interactive’s decision to buy the poker brand was not by chance either. Companies are increasingly looking to consolidate their presence in multiple verticals and establish themselves as leaders in each.

Pennsylvania Joins MSIGA to Spearhead Poker

BetRivers Poker launching in Pennsylvania is important for another reason. Pennsylvania has just joined the Multi-State Internet Gaming Agreement, which means that multiple states can pool poker operations, providing they operate the same brand or network of brands.

In other words, BetRivers Pokers from across the MSIGA states will form a single pool of players, pushing the prizes and availability. BetRivers, though, is only available in Pennsylvania for the time beginning, and it may yet seek to expand to New Jersey, Michigan, and Nevada, all of which are signatories of the MSIGA.