The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB) told PlayPennsylvania on Thursday that networked poker under the Multi-State Internet Gaming Agreement (MSIGA) would “launch within the next couple of weeks” and begin sharing liquidity. The final step would be an update from Gov. Josh Shapiro, PGCB Communications Director, Doug Harbach, added.
Harbach also noted that he anticipates some Pennsylvania online poker operators to start sharing liquidity immediately. Asked for clarification by PlayPennsylvania on whether he meant that some operators would be ready to go live with multistate offerings immediately, he responded in the affirmative.
However, he also cautioned that some might not be as fast.
The PGCB has remained on schedule throughout the entire timeline. The last update came a month ago, where the Board predicted to join the compact “sometime in April.”
Which operators will launch first?
Michigan joining MSIGA in 2022 is a good measuring stick to estimate what could happen in Pennsylvania, once the PGCB and Gov. Shapiro makes MSIGA official.
PokerStars launched first in the Great Lakes State, and would easily be a candidate to the same in the Keystone State. WSOP was second in Michigan, but underwent a technology upgrade to be able to include players from Delaware, Nevada and New Jersey, too. Now that it has updated software, WSOP can share liquidity relatively quickly.
BetMGM Poker, which also includes Borgata Poker, became the next operator to start networking in Michigan. It recently included New Jersey players at the end of 2024. There’s no reason to believe that it can’t start sharing Pennsylvania players, too.
BetRivers would likely be the last operator to start sharing liquidity, as it launched its first poker platform in Pennsylvania last November. It would take some time for BetRivers to work up the capabilities to start networking other states.
PGCB gets help to cross MSIGA finish line
The PGCB recently appointed former State Representative George Dunbar as a commissioner. Dunbar proposed a bill to enter the compact in March 2024.
The new commissioner saw the potential for the Keystone in joining MSIGA. The state has taken a backseat in the industry because of Michigan and New Jersey’s entrance into the compact.
Gov. Shapiro had the same vision, and instructed the PGCB to start negotiations into MSIGA in October 2024. The governor wanted to take over the poker industry again, saying in his letter to the PGCB:
“In order to remain competitive in the gambling sector, I am expressing my strong support for Pennsylvania to join the MSIGA alongside Michigan, Delaware, Nevada, New Jersey and West Virginia.
“Pennsylvania should capitalize on our status as a leader in legalized gambling, and join this compact, which would bring in additional revenue for the Commonwealth and allow players more gaming options.”
Pennsylvania joining MSIGA would increase player pools and prize money for competitors in New Jersey, Michigan, Delaware and Nevada. Because of Pennsylvania’s population base, it would also likely reclaim the No. 1 market in the poker industry.
