Pennsylvania Moves Toward Online Poker Expansion by Joining Multi-State Compact

Pennsylvania Joining Multi State Compact 47133.htm Pokernews 🕒 2 🗒️ 363

After a failed bill, social media campaign and months of advocacy from players, Pennsylvania is set to enter the Multi-State Internet Gaming Agreement (MSIGA). That means The Keystone State will soon join a shared playing pool with others states in the compact, including Nevada, Delaware, Michigan and New Jersey.

Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro last week directed the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB) to begin negotiating the state into MSIGA, PlayPennsylvania first reported.

In a letter to the gaming board, Shapiro, a Democrat, requested that the gaming board “begin the process of negotiating the Commonwealth’s entrance into the Multi-State Internet Gaming Agreement” in an effort “to remain competitive in the gambling sector.”

Long Road to Joining MSIGA

Online poker advocates have long sought to get Pennsylvania, the fifth most populated state in the country with almost 13 million residents, to join the multi-state compact.

State lawmakers pushed a bill earlier this year that would’ve initiated the process to join MSIGA, but it failed to pass through the legislative body.

The legal push included a #GrowPAPoker campaign on social media to raise awareness about the benefits of shared liquidity. Several outlets, including PokerNews and Pokerfuse, joined forces to push the campaign.

Pennsylvania State Poker Championship

What’s Next?

Though the process for joining MSIGA is underway, it could be months or longer before shared liquidity reaches Pennsylvania.

West Virginia became the fifth state to join MSIGA in November 2023 but has yet to launch online poker. Unlike in West Virginia, however, several ring-fenced poker sites are already live in Pennsylvania, including PokerStars PA, WSOP PA, BetMGM Poker PA and Borgata Poker PA.

There have been other recent developments to the US online poker landscape. Delaware’s three online poker sites went offline in December 2023 as it was rumored that Phil Galfond’s Run It Once (RIO) was approaching a US launch. The launch, under the name BetRivers Poker, is expected later this year.

For more on poker in Pennsylvania, tune into regular updates from PokerNews’ own Keith Becker.

Connor Richards is an Editor & Live Reporter for PokerNews and host of the Life Outside Poker podcast. Connor has been nominated for two Global Poker Awards for his writing.

FAQ

Are there deposit or withdrawal fees?

Are there deposit or withdrawal fees? No, WPT Global does not charge fees for depositing or withdrawing.

What is the best WPT Global bonus code?

What is the best World Poker Tour bonus code? Use the WPT Global bonus code WPT777 when registering to get a 100% deposit bonus up to $1200 plus a $100 No Deposit poker bonus.

Is Chinese poker the same as poker?

Is Chinese poker the same as poker? Chinese poker is a card game in the poker family that plays quite differently from traditional game variants that most poker players are familiar with (like Texas Hold’em). Each player gets 13 cards in a game of Chinese poker, and is tasked with making two five-card hands and a three-card hand.

How do I install WPT Global?

How do I install WPT Global? Windows - minimum system requirements: Windows 7, min 500MB disk space, 3 GB RAM (4 GB recommended) 1. Press the button to start the download 2. Once the app has downloaded to your computer, open the file (check your “Download” folder) to launch the installer 3. Follow the installer’s instructions Mac - minimum system requirements: macOS 10.14, min 500MB disk space, 3 GB RAM (4 GB recommended)

What is TP in WPT poker?

What is TP in WPT poker? Tournament Points (TPs) are used to buy into VIP tournaments on ClubWPT. All players start with a fixed amount of TPs (500) upon opening a VIP account. They cannot be reloaded, but will be automatically “topped up” once per day.