The Curtain Closes on 888casino and 888poker in New Jersey

After a two-week delay from the initially announced shutdown date of June 3rd, 888casino and 888poker bid adieu to the New Jersey market. While new deposits were no longer accepted from 30 days prior to the closure, players were still able to use their remaining account balances to place bets until the final closure.

The closure of 888casino and 888poker in New Jersey is part of a broader series of organizational shifts at evoke plc, the parent company of the 888 brands. In March, evoke announced its new name as part of a strategic review, signalling a significant transition for the company.

As part of this strategic realignment, evoke plc recently sold its US operations to Hard Rock Digital. This move has resulted in the 888casino and 888poker websites now referring players to sign up with Hard Rock Bet. Additionally, the company’s Sports Illustrated (SI) Casino and Sportsbook are also expected to close within the next 18 months, further streamlining evoke’s presence in the US market.

Despite the shutdowns of 888casino and 888poker in New Jersey, evoke plc is still backing its other US poker product, Poker 8. The Poker 8 platform is currently available in Pennsylvania and Michigan, and it recently launched in New Jersey on May 31st, just before the planned closure of 888poker and 888casino.

The Poker 8 platform allows players to join game tables and play online against fellow poker players from Michigan and Pennsylvania. This cross-state expansion of the player pool enables Poker 8 to offer more cash games, tournaments, and larger prize pools, ultimately enhancing the gameplay experience for its users.

Jeffrey Haas, evoke’s chief growth officer, has expressed optimism about the Poker 8 platform’s potential. In a statement, he said, “The latest poker platform upgrade in America will deliver superior gameplay experiences for players in Michigan, New Jersey and Nevada. Poker is a game of liquidity and network effects, and our Poker 8 upgrade will be a catalyst for expansion.”