Multi-state online poker is set to become legal in Pennsylvania as soon as April, though the roll-out won’t be immediate. The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB) told PlayPennsylvania that it expects to join the Multi-State Internet Gaming Agreement (MSIGA) next month, paving the way for Pennsylvania online poker sites to begin seating players with their peers in New Jersey, Michigan, and even Nevada.
PGCB Communications Director, Doug Harbach, told PlayPennsylvania on Wednesday:
“We continue to work internally and with online poker operators to get the shared liquidity market up sometime in April. The agreement would, of course, be a signed prior to that launch.”
The PGCB accepted an invitation to enter the compact in January. At that time, Harbach predicted an “early second-quarter, 2025 launch.” It appears as if negotiations are right on schedule for Pennsylvania.
Pennsylvania poker players shouldn’t expect to join the multi-state pool immediately, however. The process is technologically complicated for the operators, and the experience in other states has been that it can take many months for multi-state poker to go from being a legal possibility to a concrete reality. Still, the odds seem good for at least some sites to be networked before the end of the year.
Path to multi-state poker began in October
Pennsylvania has been trailing its peers in the area of multi-state poker, with Michigan and New Jersey already part of the agreement. The Keystone State would also Delaware, Nevada and West Virginia in the compact.
PlayPennsylvania broke the news of the state joining MSIGA last October. The PGCB began negotiating into the agreement under the instructions of Gov. Josh Shapiro. In a letter to the PGCB, Gov. Shapiro said:
“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.”
The PGCB officially accepted the invitation to join MSIGA in January. According to Harbach, the agreement is close to being signed.
Poker industry would grow in PA
Pennsylvania joining MSIGA is not only good for players in the Keystone State, it benefits everyone that is in the compact. Players from Michigan, New Jersey, Nevada and Delaware would be able to play against Pennsylvania players.
The stakes would be heightened for players in those markets. Player pools and prize money would easily increase with the addition of the Keystone State.
Since New Jersey and Pennsylvania are neighboring states, both markets gain the most. Players would be able to travel from across state lines during a tournament, and be able to compete. No other state can say the same.
Pennsylvania has five poker operators, with BetRivers becoming the newest after launching last November. PokerStars, BetMGM Poker, WSOP Poker and Borgata Poker each pool players in multiple states. It wouldn’t take too long to start including Pennsylvania players.
Pennsylvania is on the doorstep of reclaiming the market lead for poker once again.
