PA Online Poker Sites

PA online poker is thriving with the best-known poker sites now offering tournaments and cash games for Pennsylvania players. PokerStars, BetMGM, WSOP.com and Borgata Poker are all legal and licensed in PA. If you’re over 21 can take advantage of new poker player offers including no deposit poker bonuses and deposit match welcome offers here. This page has everything you need to get started at legal PA online poker sites.

Play online poker in PA

How legal online poker sites in Pennsylvania work

For PA online casinos and sportsbooks, you’ll normally access the website to enjoy gambling. Poker sites are different. Most players prefer to download a desktop software client to access the games. This gives you all the game types, and the ability to comfortably multi-table (play more than one table at a time). It also ensures the games are stable. Many players will agree that avoiding the client crashing just as you get dealt pocket aces is important.

Each site also has a poker app available for free download on Android and Apple (iOS). The smaller screen size when playing on your phone or tablet can reduce functionality a bit, but the games are optimized for mobile and thus for the most part run as smoothly as they do when you play on your computer.

Available formats and games at PA poker sites

When it comes to online poker Pennsylvania players generally will find more ways to play than are available when playing in person. At the PA online poker rooms, you will find four main poker formats. The games that are currently available (and have games running) will depend on the number of active players at each site. Here are the main formats:

• Cash games: Your chips have a real monetary value and can be topped up to the table maximum at any time. Online poker cash games start at $2 buy-ins (micro-stakes) up to around $1,000+ buy-ins. The stakes at these tables range from $.02/$.04 to $1,000/$2,000. Tables typically have two, six, or nine players.
• Poker tournaments: Every PA online poker app offers multi-table tournaments (MTTs) which attract large numbers of players and often come with handsome prize pool guarantees. Many of the tourneys allow unlimited or a set number of re-entries. Expect 10-15% or so of the field to be in the money.
• Progressive knockout (PKO): A knockout (bounty) tournament format where half of the player’s buy-in goes towards the bounty. When you knock a player out, you collect half of their bounty while the other half is added to your own head. Most PA poker sites offer weekly PKO tournaments and some also dedicate entire tournament series to this kind of popular MTT format.
• Sit & Go tournaments: These are usually single-table tournaments that kick off whenever a table is full. The top two or three players are usually paid out.
• Jackpot Sit & Go’s: All the PA poker sites offer a jackpot-style sit ‘n’ go variety. They feature short-handed (single table) quick-paced tournaments called Spin & Go at PokerStars, Blast Poker at WSOP.com and Spins at BetMGM and Borgata. Prize pools are randomly assigned ahead of play and can be up to 10,000x the buy-in.
• Fast-fold poker: This innovation dispenses with the waiting time while other players finish hands by taking you to a new hand as soon as you fold. Players sit in pools rather than individual tables. Fast fold poker is a cash game variant, known as Zoom at PokerStars and Fast Forward at BetMGM and Borgata.

The great majority of the games described above are played as no-limit hold’em, although you will find pot-limit Omaha (and PLO-8) represented at each of the sites as well. Only PokerStars has other variants like seven-card stud (high only and hi-lo), razz, five-card draw, 2-7 triple draw, and Badugi. That said, those other variants tend to attract fewer players and so generally there are only a few tables running, if any.

‘Ring-fenced’ vs. multi-state shared player pools

Currently the player pools at PA poker rooms are ring-fenced. This means that right now when you play online poker in Pennsylvania, you will only play against others from inside state lines. There is good news to report, however — in October 2024, Pennsylvania officials announced the state plans to join the Multi-State Internet Gaming Agreement (MSIGA) in which several other states currently participate. Currently regulators are targeting spring 2025 for PA sites to start allowing players to play against those in other states.

When that happens, those playing online poker in Pennsylvania will be able to participate in shared player pools with players in other states like New Jersey, Michigan, and Nevada. The result will be more cash games running and larger fields and prize pools in tournaments. No timeline has been announced, but the new shared players pools should start to appear at different sites in the near future.

Stay tuned to PlayPennsylvania for further developments regarding PA joining the MSIGA.

Real money poker vs. free online poker

If you have only ever enjoyed poker on free to play apps, you will need to read up on strategy before you jump into the real money games. You’ll notice as soon as you start to play online poker in PA real money games tend to play differently. There is a huge difference in skill level as soon as real money is on the line.

The online poker rooms in Pennsylvania have options to enjoy play-money only tables. These can help you get to know the different types of poker game and how the betting rounds work. At PokerStars, the Home Games function lets you create private tables for your friends and colleagues. You can even play them with friends outside of PA, as long as they are for play money.

You can try out real money poker games at some sites without making a deposit. Party Poker should offer $10 in cash plus $15 in tournament entry tokens just for signing up. Other sites like PokerStars give you tokens worth $150 when you play 1 cash hand.

To get off to a solid start at the real money poker tables, it is worth starting off at smaller buy-in levels than you would play in a live setting. This will give you a chance to assess the skill levels of your opponents and make sure you can beat the games before you move up to higher buy-ins.

Best poker sites in Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania has managed to attract the very best and most established online poker sites currently operating in the US. That means that for those looking for the best online poker PA is a good place to be. The sites available in Pennsylvania feature state-of-the-art software that reflects years of development designed to improve the playing experience. PA poker rooms have also been able to grow their player bases with big tournament guarantees, which keeps players coming back.

PA is one of the most healthy legal online poker markets in the US, thanks to the biggest poker brands delivering to their players in Pennsylvania. Here are the sites to check out:

• PokerStars: Poker players the world over agree that PokerStars PA has the best software. While you can not play against the giant global player pool in PA, you can enjoy the huge game choice and slick platform. Sign up with our links, play just one cash hand and get $150 in bonus play, or receive a 100% deposit match worth up to $600.
• BetMGM Poker: BetMGM Poker is licensed in Pennsylvania through a partnership with Penn National through Hollywood Casino in Grantville. You can find cash games and tournaments galore onsite. New players can use promo code PLAYPACHIP when registering to receive up to $75 in tournament tickets, plus a 100% match up to $1,000 when you make your first deposit.
• WSOP.com: This world-renowned poker entity WSOP.com partnered with Harrah’s Philadelphia to bring its unique platform to PA. There is more to this site than just WSOP online circuit and online bracelet events. You can play cash games, “Blast” poker, sit-n-go’s, and there’s a packed tournament schedule. New sign-ups at WSOP.com PA who use bonus code PAWSOP can receive a 100% Deposit Match worth up to $1,000 plus another $100 in Bonus Play depending on the size of that first deposit.
• Borgata Poker: Borgata Poker PA provides daily guarantees, bounty tournaments and cash games. New users who enter promo code PLAYPACHIPS can get up to $75 in tournament tickets, plus a 100% match up to $1,000 when making your first deposit.
• BetRivers Poker: Pennsylvania’s newest online poker site went live on Halloween 2024. BetRivers Poker is the newly branded version of the site formerly operated by poker pro Phil Galfond as Run It Once Poker. The site offers cash games, tournaments, sit-n-go’s, and special Cub3d Sit and Go Tournaments (like spin-n-go’s) that offer a chance to win 1,500x your buy-in. Low rake and the chance to participate in the same iRush Rewards loyalty program enjoyed by BetRivers Casino players are other positives of this new site.

Another option for online poker players in the state is the sweepstakes poker site, Global Poker.

New poker sites in PA

As mentioned, Pennsylvania now has a fifth real money online poker site with the introduction of BetRivers Poker in late October 2024. The launch followed several weeks of testing by parent company Rush Interactive as well as a soft launch before finally going live.

Poker players are excited about BetRivers Poker thanks to its backstory. The site is a new version of the previous Run It Once Poker site founded by respected poker pro Phil Galfond, and early reviews of the site’s lower rake structure and other features have been positive. Galfond now serves as the new site’s ambassador.

Additional poker sites could make their way to Pennsylvania in the future, though at present just three PA casinos hold unused online poker licenses (Valley Forge, Parx, and Wind Creek). Among the potential poker brands yet to launch are GG Poker, 888 poker, and Party Poker, although the PartyPoker network does already have a presence in PA as both the Borgata and BetMGM poker sites operate on Party’s software.

What do PA poker apps offer?

PokerStars PA

Poker players worldwide consider the PokerStars desktop client and apps to be the best software around. This covers the speed and smoothness of the games as well as small factors like how easy it is to resize tables and the ability to upload your own pictures.

PokerStars partnered with Mount Airy Casino. They were the first online poker site to launch in Pennsylvania and have exceeded expectations in popularity. Player pools are not shared with their New Jersey site for the time being, but as noted above that could change in the near future.

Right now there is a choice between two bonuses for new players: Play 1 cash hand or bet $1 on Casino and get $150 in bonus play or receive a 100% deposit match worth up to $600.

Regular players will enjoy a novel loyalty program with rewards starting at 15% and going up to 33%. PokerStars Rewards awards chests based on play, each with prizes tailored to the player going up in value depending on the stakes and amount you play.

Games at PokerStars include the usual mix of cash games, tournaments and sit & go’s. This site has a fast-fold cash game called Zoom Poker, and a lottery sit & go format called “Spins.” Regular PACOOP (Pennsylvania Championship of Online Poker) events feature big prize tournaments, the highlight of an already busy tournament schedule. They also run a number of other exciting tournament series that come with hefty guarantees.

BetMGM Poker PA

BetMGM Poker is the online poker site representing gaming titan MGM Resorts International. MGM has numerous partnerships with other gaming companies, including Entain (formerly GVC Holdings) and Penn National.

It arrived in PA in April 2021. In addition to the regular offerings of cash games and daily tournaments, BetMGM also has Fast Forward (a fast-fold style NLH cash game) and regular tournament series. For now, you’ll mostly find no-limit hold’em games with some PLO and PLO8 sprinkled in.

New players can find themselves in line for a whopping $1,075 in bonus money from the site. If you use promo code PLAYPACHIP when you sign up, and make a deposit you will be eligible for the following bonuses:

• Up to $75 in tournament tickets for bonus play depending on the amount of your first deposit.
• A dollar-for-dollar deposit bonus up to $1,000. Simply make your first deposit of $10 or more and BetMGM will match every cent that you put into your account. In effect, you will double the amount of your deposit, and the offer is good all the way up to $1,000.

The bonus dollars you accumulate are convertible into cash if you play through them a certain number of times. In essence, the $75 in tournament tickets.  The deposit bonus is a bit more of an ordeal as you have to earn 20 times the amount of iRewards Points in order to convert it to cash. However, the bonus will come to you in 10% chunks, so you can get a little bit at a time.

Make sure to keep an eye on your time limit, however. Any unredeemed bonus at the end of 7 days reverts to BetMGM, so be ready to play quite a bit when you make that first deposit.

WSOP Poker PA

The World Series of Poker brand was sold by Caesars Enteratainment to NSUS Group. While Caesars will continue to host the live WSOP tournaments in Las Vegas, NSUS, owners of GG Poker, will take the app in new directions.

The software is now powered by GG Poker, offering both an app and a downloadable desktop version. GG Poker’s platform looks to compete with PartyPoker and has proven to be one of the most innovative platforms in the world. For PA poker players, this is good news.

As noted above, new players at WSOP Pennsylvania receive a couple of different welcome offers in one: (1) 100% up to $1,000 Deposit Match; (2) up to $100 in Bonus Play on making a first deposit.

Be sure to use bonus code PAWSOP to claim your WSOP PA welcome offer.

You can clear your bonus by collecting points in the real money games. WSOP has satellite qualifiers to the World Series events, as well as online poker promotions. Look out for new poker formats including “Blast” lottery Sit and Go’s, alongside the usual mix of NL Hold’em and PLO cash games and tournaments.

Borgata Poker PA

Players in PA are familiar with the Borgata brand from the land-based Atlantic City casino that boasts some of the biggest live tournaments in the region. Now, Pennsylvania poker players can also play Borgata poker online.

The Borgata Poker brand partnered with Rivers Philadelphia to bring its online poker product to PA, and it shares its player pool with BetMGM Poker. It also means you’ll find the same selection of cash games, tournaments and welcome bonuses at both sites. New PA online casino poker players are eligible to claim:

• Up to $75 in tournament tickets on deposit, plus
• 100% deposit match bonus up to $1,000 using Bonus Code PLAYPACHIPS

Cash games are no-limit hold’em 6-max and 8-max and range from $.01/$.02 micro stakes up to high stakes games of $5/$10, $10/$20 and $25/$50. Borgata also offers Fast Forward (quick fold) games at low stakes of $.05/$.10 and $.25/$.50. There are a wide range of sit & go’s and jackpot-style spin n go’s call ‘Spins’, but their availability is sometimes limited due to low player volume.

Borgata also offers a schedule of frequent low- to mid-stakes multi-table tournaments with decent guarantees, making it an ideal site for those looking to dip their toes into online poker. Along with BetMGM, the site also runs bigger tournament series like the partypoker US Online Poker Series, the Bounty Blitz (all PKOs), Cheap Stakes Series, End Boss Series and more.

BetRivers Poker PA

BetRivers Poker recently became the fifth online poker site in PA. The poker site is linked to the BetRivers Casino and BetRivers Sportsbook in PA, with quick links enabling players to move back and forth between the different products.

One big selling point out of the gate for BetRivers Poker is its lower rake on cash games and lower fees for tournaments and sit-n-go’s (relative to other sites). There are other fun features at BetRivers Poker like adjustable table window layout options, dynamic avatars that feature expressions linked to players’ styles of play, a built-in HUD (heads-up display) called HeroIQ.

BetRivers Poker has a deposit match offer for new sign-ups. Players also get to join the iRush Rewards program and earn loyalty points every time they play that they can later redeem for various rewards.

Pennsylvania online poker: Bonuses and promotions

The online poker sites which have the most players in PA will have a huge advantage over competitors. PokerStars got a leg up on the competition as the first to market and exceeded expectations right away, taking in nearly $2 million in rake and tournament fees in its first month.

As player pools expand, bigger tournaments, better promotions, and a wider choice of cash games become available. With the online poker scene still growing in Pennsylvania, there is fierce competition for new players. You can take advantage of this by getting your bankroll off to a great start thanks to the sites’ big marketing budgets and generous poker and casino bonus offers in PA.

Here is a sample of what PA players can find:

• No-deposit bonuses: Some poker sites will offer completely free chips, no deposit needed. This will sometimes come in the form of buy-ins to different tournaments or cash games. You’ll need to play this money through a set number of times before it can be withdrawn.
• Matched welcome bonuses: Expect your first deposit to be given a 100% (or better) match. Some sites offer up to $1,000 in bonus money this way. This is usually released in increments as you play.
• Freeroll tournaments: New players will be given access to beginners or depositors freerolls with real money prize pools. There may be additional entries based on loyalty schemes or future deposits.
• Reload bonuses: If your bankroll gets depleted, you will usually be offered an extra bonus to reload. Be advised these are usually smaller offers than the initial deposit bonus.
• Loyalty schemes: Poker sites all handle their loyalty programs differently. PokerStars PA, for example, awards treasure chests, which have prizes tailored to your individual gambling preferences.

Depending on the brand, you will also find crossover promotions for the different gambling verticals. For example, as described above the PokerStars welcome offer includes a way to receive a bonus either by playing a hand at the poker site or by wagering a dollar at Stars Casino PA.

Depositing and withdrawing at PA online poker rooms

With poker being a skill game, more players will likely withdraw money more often than with the other gambling verticals. You’ll have a lot of choices for how to get your money on board and your profits back off again.

The deposit methods below are the most commonly accepted and most poker sites in PA offer most or all of them.

• Credit / debit cards: Instant payments can be made with your regular bank cards. Visa and MasterCard are accepted by all the sites. Some sites will also allow deposits with Discover cards as well.
• Prepaid Play+ cards: Many gambling sites have branded debit cards. These add security and can be used for withdrawing your winnings. Then players can access funds via ATMs.
• Casino cage: You’ll be able to deposit and withdraw at the casino associated with each of the poker room brands.
• PayNearMe: This is another way of depositing cash, this time via 7-Eleven or CVS stores. Note that the fixed costs make this expensive for smaller deposits.
• PayPal: This is a popular online wallet system. It is used as a secure bridge between your bank and online merchants. PayPal is used for both deposits and withdrawals. However, do not be surprised if this option is not available at most online poker sites. The fees associated with PayPal, combined with the high tax rates for PA online operators mean this will be a rare option, not a common one.
• Neteller / Skrill: Owned by the same company, these wallet services work in a similar way to PayPal. They have been popular with poker players internationally for many years. Like PayPal, there is a chance these will not be available at every site because of hefty fees.
• eChecks: Also known as ACH transfers, this poker deposit method comes directly from your bank. You can get pre-verified, making your eCheck deposits and withdrawals instant.
• Bill pay: If you use a major bank, you might already pay your utility bills with Bill Pay. Paying into your poker account works in the same way. This banking option is not used for withdrawals.
• Bank wire: This is a slower way to transfer from your bank, though can still be used if you wish to securely transfer large amounts.
• Money order / paper check: Another slower banking method welcomed by many sites. If there are no alternative ‘online’ methods, you can withdraw your profits via a paper check.

Live poker rooms in Pennsylvania

There are 11 live poker rooms currently open in Pennsylvania. They are:

• Rivers Casino Philadelphia: Located in Philadelphia, Rivers offers a 24/7 poker room which holds 28 tables. The room runs regular high hand promotions and has a bad beat jackpot. There are also weekly and monthly tournaments with good prize pool guarantees.
• Rivers Casino Pittsburgh: Located in Pittsburgh, Rivers Casino hosts a 30-table poker room which covers more than 8,000 square feet. Hourly high-hand bonuses keep the cash games lively, while bigger buy-in tournament events sometimes run alongside their busy weekly schedule.
• Mohegan Sun Pocono: Located close to Wilkes-Barre, this poker room has recently been trimmed back to nine tables. Daily tournaments have included bounty events. The room also offers bad beat and royal flush jackpots for cash games.
• Hollywood Casino at the Meadows: Rather than a separate room, the 14 poker tables at The Meadows are on the main casino floor. You’ll have a view of the live racing while you play. This room is located 25 miles southwest of Pittsburgh, in Strabane Township.
• Hollywood Casino at Penn National: Here you’ll find 11 poker tables available close to the Racetrack and Eatery. Penn National hosts no regular tournaments, but does offer cash games every Wednesday through Sunday.
• Hollywood Casino Morgantown: This is a small 4-table room right outside the sportsbook. Open Thursday through Monday, you won’t find any tournaments at this room, but there are always no-limit hold’em cash games and PLO (both high and hi-lo) as well when there’s demand.
• Mount Airy Casino: The poker parlor at the Mount Airy resort in northwest PA is a smaller live poker venue though it does operate 24/7. With 12 tables, Texas Hold’em is the only variation you will find here.
• Parx Casino: This is one of the bigger poker rooms, hosting 48 tables including a separated three-table high-limit poker room. Parx is located at Bensalem, northeast of Philadelphia. They hold big buy-in tournament events, as well their own regular schedule of tournaments and cash games.
• Live! Philadelphia Casino: This luxurious 29-table room offers daily and monthly tournaments and high hand promotions. They spread no-limit hold ’em and Omaha cash games, and mixed games on occasion.
• Live! Pittsburgh Casino: This seven-table poker room offers weekly and monthly deepstack tournaments in addition to high-hand bonus promotions. It operates 24/7.
• Wind Creek Bethlehem Casino: The casino features a 20-table live poker room and is located close to Bethlehem, PA. Games run 24/7 with daily and weekly tournaments as well. Features complimentary beverage service, table-side massage, dedicated cage cashier and upgraded lounge for those waiting.

Harrah’s Philadelphia has had a poker room in the past, but it has been closed for some time.

Final thoughts on PA online poker

Poker is a growing and changing industry in PA. In short time, the state could enter into the MSIGA, allowing for bigger player pools and pot sizes. We could also see new PA poker sites jump into the market with exciting new poker products that players will definitely love.

Check back in with this page as we continue to follow the growth and development of PA online poker sites.