It’s an exciting time for poker players in Pennsylvania. Governor Josh Shapiro has signed the state into a Multi-State Internet Gaming Agreement (MSIGA). This means that online poker players in Pennsylvania are now able to compete with players in five other states.
The other states that are already part of the agreement are New Jersey, Michigan, Delaware, West Virginia, and Nevada. Delaware and Nevada were set up by the MSIGA. In 2017, New Jersey was the third state to join. Michigan was next, and in 2023, West Virginia became the fifth member.
More opportunities
In the U.S., online poker is regulated at the state level. Players can only play against other players physically located in the same state. The MSIGA changes this as it allows players from a few different states to play against each other. The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB) will work with gaming authorities in the five other states.
The opportunity to use mobile apps and play poker on mobile devices offers poker players more convenient play than ever before. Now they will also be able to play against a much wider pool of players using Pennsylvania’s poker apps. With the addition of Pennsylvania players, the shared player pool is expected to expand by more than 50%. There will be more competition and larger prize pools without needing larger buy-in amounts.
A boost for the economy
Governor Shapiro emphasized that entering into the agreement will grow the economy. It will bring in more revenue to support schools, small businesses, seniors, and more. It will help to ensure that Pennsylvania stays competitive in a rapidly expanding online market. Legalized gambling already generates almost $2.7 billion in tax revenue every year for Pennsylvania.
Pennsylvania – a force in poker
PA players have been able to legally play online poker for a while now. The first online poker provider in the state came online in November 2019. In the following years, many other regulated online poker sites emerged. With more sites came more competition and greater opportunities for players. Whether they prefer cash games or tournaments with ever-increasing blinds, they can find them.
No-limit Hold’em cash games are often the most popular. Some sites regularly run No-Limit Hold’em multi-table tournaments across a range of buy-ins. People with high IQ can think strategically, which can be beneficial when playing in poker tournaments, but EQ and the ability to read other players are just as important.
Playing at regulated online poker sites in Pennsylvania
It is easy to sign up for one of the regulated sites in Pennsylvania, make a deposit, and start playing. Players will find cash games at various stakes and tournaments in different formats. Bonuses and promotions are available for both new and returning players. They also have rewards programs where players can move up tiers and earn rewards.
A priority of regulated sites that offer real money online poker is ensuring the online safety of poker players. The regulations ensure that games are fair, and that the private and financial information of players is safe.
Benefits of the MSIGA
The MSIGA will help to strengthen Pennsylvania’s position as a major force in U.S. poker. It will bring more opportunities to players and more support for smaller online operators. These operators get more player traffic, which helps to improve the game experience. They can hold larger guaranteed tournaments and much more.
The economy of Pennsylvania will benefit, and it could also mean less unregulated online play. Pennsylvania joining the MSIGA is a significant development that will help to increase player liquidity across the network.