WSOP.com and software provider 888 successfully linked player pools with sister sites in New Jersey, Nevada and Delaware, vastly increasing game selection overnight.

The move is a long time coming, and while it won’t create traffic levels anywhere near those seen in online poker’s unregulated Wild West days, it offers a breath of fresh air for an industry which has been in decline for more than a year.

But not only did grinders get to face off against newfound opponents last week, they were also treated to announcements of exciting things to come, like bigger and juicier weekly tournaments and chances to win WSOP bracelets from the comfort of home.

While all the attention and buzz has been a boon for WSOP, it represents potential doom for the state’s other online poker operators, which are likely looking on with a mix of envy and horror.