Pennsylvania Joins Multi-State Internet Agreement to Boost Online Poker

• Pennsylvania is gearing up to join the Multi-State Internet Agreement.
• This week, Governor Josh Shapiro gave the green light for the initiative.
• The initial online poker platforms to integrate their player pools will be Borgata Online and BetMGM.

Pennsylvania has now become the most recent state to participate in the Multi-State Internet Agreement (MSIGA), a collaborative effort across state borders designed to combine the player pools of several states that facilitate online poker.

Pennsylvania to Enhance Online Poker Participation with 150,000 Players

This strategic move, sanctioned by Governor Josh Shapiro, who has been a long-time advocate, is anticipated to enhance overall liquidity, diminish the influence of unregulated markets, and invigorate the regulated poker industry, alongside increasing tax revenues. Shapiro commented:

‘This is a commonsense step to support hundreds of thousands of Pennsylvanians, grow our economy, and bring in more revenue to support our schools, our seniors, our small businesses, and more.’

The MSIGA was initially introduced in 2014 by Delaware, which aimed to overcome its limited size and population by merging its online poker player base with others from different states. The agreement was established in collaboration with Nevada and has been actively seeking expansion ever since.

However, the initial years of growth were uneventful. It wasn’t until 2017 that New Jersey decided to join, followed by Michigan in 2022, and then West Virginia in 2023. Nonetheless, none of these states match the sheer number of players that Pennsylvania brings to the table.

The Keystone State boasts a robust online poker player base of at least 150,000 individuals, which will now merge with the existing pool, significantly advancing the US online poker landscape. This integration is crucial as it competes against long-established offshore sites known for offering continuous cash games and large tournaments.

Pennsylvania’s Online Poker Platforms Set to Launch on Monday

As more states embrace online poker, the hope is that this will reduce the momentum of unregulated markets. The rollout of MSIGA in Pennsylvania will be supervised by the state regulator, the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB).

The official launch of Pennsylvania into MSIGA is scheduled for Monday, April 28, with BetMGM and Borgata Online confirmed as the inaugural platforms to seize this new opportunity.

Pennsylvania also aims to boost tax revenues derived from online poker. By increasing the frequency of tournaments and cash games, this goal becomes increasingly attainable.