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Governor Josh Shapiro signed an agreement at the end of April that finally includes Pennsylvania as a member of the Multi-State Internet Gaming Agreement (MSIGA) for online poker. This means that players in the state will be able to legally play poker against opponents in other member states, which include Michigan, New Jersey, Nevada, West Virginia, and Delaware.
According to the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board, the agreement will be launched within a few weeks of signing. The board is currently working alongside online operators to set up the shared liquidity market. This is big news for dedicated poker players in the state, as it potentially means bigger prize pools and more player engagement.
Pennsylvania has a thriving iGaming industry as it is one of the seven states in the country where online gambling is legalized and regulated. Local gamblers can access several regulated gambling platforms that promise secure and fast payouts and offer a wide variety of fraud-free games. Poker players can visit Casino Beats for additional information on some of the best, fastest-paying sites available to Pennsylvanians.
The iGaming sector in the state generated over $2.1 billion in revenue in 2024, which was a significant increase from the $1.7 billion generated in 2023. These numbers are similar to other iGaming states, like Michigan and New Jersey, which reported $2.2 billion and $2.4 billion in 2024 respectively. The first quarter of 2025 already saw the iGaming market generate $1.58 billion, with poker's contribution totalling $7.6 million.
There are currently five online poker operators in the state: WSOP.com, BetMGM, Borgata, BetRivers, and Pokerstars. With the inclusion of Pennsylvania in the multi-state poker network, the state is likely to see an economic boost.
Gov. Shapiro has long been a supporter of the MSIGA, mainly due to the financial benefits that would come from joining. "Pennsylvania should capitalize on our status as a leader in legalized gaming and join this compact, which would bring additional revenue for the Commonwealth and allow players more gaming options. My administration is prepared to do our part to help Pennsylvania compete in the igaming sector and continue to build a strong economy that works for everyone," he said.
Before joining MSIGA, poker players in Pennsylvania could only take on other local players. The new network will expand the number of opponents, and likely also increase the prize pools that Pennsylvanians can win. The inclusion will also support smaller casino operators, reduce the reliance on offshore poker platforms, and expand the iGaming industry in the state.
The promise of larger prize pools, without the need for higher buy-ins, will likely draw more players to the poker platforms. Operators offering these multi-state games include PA Borgata Online and BetMGM, with other operators expected to join in the coming weeks.
"Three of our neighbors are already part of this agreement, and with this action, we're making sure Pennsylvania remains competitive in a rapidly growing online market," Gov. Shapiro said. Pennsylvania is going to bring around 150,000 online poker players to the shared market, which will increase the player pool to almost 38 million players across the MGISA members.
Apart from revenue growth for the state, joining the multi-state network will also benefit players. According to the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board, online poker players were pushing to enter the multi-state market. Tournaments will be more exciting as players from various states join, there will be more competition, poker platforms will be more accessible, and there will be additional safeguards for regulated poker sites.
Pennsylvania's casino industry includes 17 brick-and-mortar casinos and 22 online sites. The sector employs more than 15,000 people, making it an important employer in the state. The $2.7 billion generated in tax revenue is put back into the community to offer grants to the state's counties, fund community projects, education, and public infrastructure. According to Gov. Shapiro, "This is a common-sense step to support hundreds of thousands of Pennsylvanians, grow our economy, bring more revenue to support our schools, our seniors, our small businesses, and more."
Pennsylvania is the largest state in the multi-state market, and the state has become a major driver for growth and innovation in the iGaming and casino industries. With the inclusion in the network, many other states are keeping an eye on Pennsylvania to set new standards for the future success of the multi-state agreement.