Pennsylvania Online Poker Sites
The online poker landscape in Pennsylvania is a fast changing one, with PokerStars being the first to launch their online poker platform and other sites set to launch soon. We can expect more competition in the coming months, but at this time PokerStars offers the best experience.
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- There’s no shortage of real money online poker action for Pennsylvania players. You can play your favorite poker games, formats, variants, and stakes right now. All you need to get started is an account with one of the best Pennsylvania poker sites online and some money in your account.
- The state of PA online poker With the launch of PokerStars PA in early November 2019, Pennsylvania became the fourth state in the U.S. Where players can play poker online, joining Delaware, Nevada, and New Jersey.
Ever since the first stand-alone casino and legal real money poker licenses were issued in 2006, the gambling industry in Pennsylvania has boomed – so much so that it’s caused severe headaches for nearby gaming commissions in both New Jersey and Delaware. To date, 12 land-based casinos and real cash poker betting venues have opened their doors to the public of the Keystone State, with more to come in the near future.
But whereas brick and mortar casinos and lawful real money poker rooms have thrived in the Keystone State, prior attempts to enact online poker website legislation into law have stumbled. And while residents of the state of PA are more than able to play online poker and Internet poker games like Texas Hold’em poker at one of many top-ranking online poker websites, Pennslyvania’s burgeoning gambling and real cash poker betting community will likely have to wait at least a bit longer for state operated online poker websites to be legalized.
The Keystone State is surely ahead, in a liberal sense, when it comes to online gambling. Signing up for a real money US poker site account will be no problem.
Prior Attempt To Legalize Online Poker Stalls, But Study Results Offer New Hope
Quick Jump
- 4 Is Online Poker Legal In Pennsylvania?
- 5 The Facts
To date, Pennsylvania has taken a “wait and see” approach to online gambling and real cash Internet poker. But now that neighboring New Jersey has at least mostly proven the viability of a regulated real money Internet poker iGaming market, the Keystone State appears poised to move full-steam ahead with its legal poker websites. The recent results of a gaming study should only facilitate the process.
In December 2013, Pennsylvania lawmakers commissioned Econsult Solutions to study the state’s gambling and poker betting industry. As part of its research, Econsult was tasked with measuring the fiscal implications and potential cannibalization effect of a state regulated iGaming Internet poker market. After four months of research, the report was presented to the Pennsylvania Legislation Budget and Finance Committee.
To sum up, the report indicated that a PA-based iGaming Internet poker betting industry would nicely complement its land-based casino and real money live poker room business. Econsult states that PA operators could reap over $300 million in yearly gross revenue from an iGaming Internet poker foray – approximately $50 million more in real cash betting profits than what is forecasted in New Jersey. Furthermore, a legal real money poker website iGaming market would potentially bolster brick and mortar casino and live lawful poker room revenue by upwards of $92 million.
The findings of the report were cause for optimism, illustrated by the PA State Senator’s positional shift regarding Internet poker gambling from neutral to positive.
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Can Players From Pennsylvania Play Online Poker?
Whether you’re from the tough streets of Philadelphia or Amish country, you can play online Internet poker games like Texas Hold’em poker for real money on poker websites in the state of Pennsylvania – as long as you have an Internet connection of course. Although no lawful Internet poker legislation has been passed that allows the state to regulate and operate Internet gambling or legit poker websites, players in PA are free to sign up with one of many US-facing, real-money online poker websites available to residents of the Keystone State.
- U. S. Poker Site
- Compatibillity
- Editor Rating
- Deposit Bonus
- Very player friendly
- Generous cashback
- Great mobile play
Is Online Poker Legal In Pennsylvania?
While we cannot claim to be an authority on the subject of real money Internet poker in Pennsylvania, we have dug up several points of interest regarding the legality of online poker and betting on poker websites as well as other forms of gambling in Pennsylvania:
- Online poker and Internet poker websites are not regulated by the state of Pennsylvania.
- In fact, online poker and Internet poker gambling for real cash are not mentioned at all in Pennsylvania gambling law.
- State regulated lotteries are offered by the state of PA. However, bingo can only be played for charitable or civic purposes.
- Pennsylvania is not exempt from federal laws that prohibit real money sports betting.
- Playing in social gambling circles like real money poker games at home does not appear to be illegal. However, hosting such a game does seem illegal, especially if the house takes a rake from the betting happening. As stated by Section 5513(2), anyone who allows persons to collect and assemble for the purpose of unlawful gambling or betting at any place under his control, can be charged with a misdemeanour in PA.
- Pennsylvania gambling and betting law is not very specific in regards to what is and is not considered unlawful gambling or poker betting. For instance, it is never explicitly states that playing real money poker is a form of gambling. Additionally, playing cards used in real cash poker betting are excluded from the state’s list of unlawful gambling devices.
So whereas other states explicitly state that running an underground home game where the house takes a rake is illegal, its legality within Pennsylvania’s borders resides in a decidedly grey area. And since online poker and playing Internet poker is never mentioned, it’s impossible to make a conclusion one way or the other about how legal poker websites are in PA. All we know for sure is that online gambling and real money betting hasn’t been formally legalized.
Those more interested in Pennsylvanian gambling and poker betting laws are encouraged to visit the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board’s website [2].
House Bill 1235
House Bill 1235 [3] is the name of the gambling bill introduced by PARep. Pickett in April, 2013. It calls for the legalization of most forms of Internet gaming, including Internet poker, slots and casino-style table games. Bingo, the state lottery, keno and other lesser known card games were left out of the real cash Internet poker bill.
Under the bill, real money poker website licensees would be required to pay a one-time, non-refundable licensing fee of $5 million – down from $16.5 million. A renewal fee of $500,000 would be charged every three years. Licensees would pay a 28% of gross real cash betting revenue in taxes – down from the staggering 45% originally proposed by Pickett.
The Facts
The History of Gambling in Pennsylvania
As early as the Colonial period, George Washington would attend local races held by the Philadelphia Jockey Club where lawful real cash betting would take place. In the early 1800s, Hunting Park would become one of the most prestigious horseracing gambling tracks in the country. And although horseracing would be outlawed by the state in 1820, that didn’t deter local organizations and emerging forces from hosting local real cash betting events.
During the Great Depression of the 1930s, Pennsylvania sought ways to revitalize its struggling economy. One of these ways was to lift the long-standing ban on harness and thoroughbred racing gambling. Other states, including neighboring Delaware, would also legalize horseracing around the same time, causing the nation’s horseracing real money betting industry to boom.
But it wasn’t until 1971 that the state would entertain the full gambling debate. That year, Pennsylvania legalized the state’s first regulated lottery. Shortly thereafter, amiss rumors of alleged scandal, real cash lottery gambling regulations were strengthened. In 1981, bingo was legalized, in so long as the real money betting proceeds were donated to charitable institutions.
In 1982, around the same time Atlantic City was beginning to thrive, the state of PA took on the issue of land-based casinos and real money poker rooms. Several gambling and betting bills were proposed – all of them failed.
The casino and live legit poker debate would wage on for over twenty years, until finally in 2004 the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board was founded. This led to the first brick and mortar casino, Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs [4], opening in November, 2006. Several other slots casinos, including Mount Airy Casino, would follow suit. But it wasn’t until 2010 that the popularity of physical real money gambling casinos exploded. It was then that table games like blackjack, roulette, craps, and of course legal real money poker were introduced. Since that time, table games have been pulling in approximately $55 million in real cash betting revenue per month [5].
As of the time of this writing, Sands Bethlehem [6] is the biggest and most profitable casino and live lawful poker betting venue in Pennsylvania. It’s also the one casino that may serve as a deterrent to the online poker and Internet poker betting legalization process, as its owned by Las Vegas casino mogul and staunch opponent of online gambling and legal real money poker websites, Sheldon Adelson.
Online poker is not yet legal in Pennsylvania, but it should be fairly soon as the Keystone State has seen land-based gaming thrive during the past decade.
Regulated Gambling Options in Pennsylvania
To date, 12 land-based casinos and real money poker rooms are regulated by the state of Pennsylvania. Six of these casinos also operate horseracing tracks. The Keystone State is also home to a plethora of racinos.
Overall, the amount of regulated gambling and legit betting facilities in Pennsylvania is expected to rise dramatically over the next several years.
The Future of Regulated Online Gambling in Pennsylvania
Right now, no form of online gambling, including Internet poker is regulated by the state of Pennsylvania. However, it appears that lawmakers will reintroduce a new iGaming legal poker websites bill during 2015. Thanks to a wealth of literature and data that supports the sustainability of an iGaming real cash Internet poker market in the Keystone State, any new bill introduced stands a significantly better chance of passage than the one prior.
The Bottom Line
Will we eventually see online gambling and lawful Internet poker websites in Pennsylvania? Almost definitely, and probably fairly soon. Representatives of the state of PA have been keeping a close eye on states that have already legalized online gambling and Internet poker betting for quite some time now, both in an attempt to learn from their mistakes and to determine if creating real cash poker websites is a profitable undertaking.
To conclude, it is quite likely that residents of Pennsylvania will be check-raising donkeys on the virtual felt at legal real money Internet poker websites in PA by sometime in 2015.
References
[1] ↑Pennsylvania Online Gaming Bill Moves to Committee
[2] ↑Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board
[3] ↑House Bill 1235
[4] ↑Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs
[5] ↑Gaming Revenue Report 2012-13
[6] ↑Sands Bethlehem
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The legal online poker market in Pennsylvania is one of the largest in the United States. And that’s despite the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board blocking PA online poker operators from accepting players from out of state.
The states of Nevada, Delaware, and New Jersey allow player pools, also referred to as liquidity-sharing. That means players in all three states can play online poker against each other. Pennsylvania is currently not among them.
However, the state of PA has as many residents as NV, DE, and NJ combined. So the ring-fenced local market still has a comparable number of potential players. Even with these restrictions, the PA online poker industry is promising and will offer a lot for players in the state.
PA Online Poker Sites 2020
| PA Poker App | Free-Play Bonus | Deposit Bonus |
|---|---|---|
| PokerStars | Deposit $20, get $30 in Free-Play | 100% up to $600 |
PokerStars Pennsylvania
PokerStars (in partnership with Mount Airy Casino Resort of the Poconos) is the only legally licensed, live online poker site in PA.
PokerStars PA is a download-only online poker room available on Apple and Windows computers as well as Android and iOS devices.
This brand launched in November 2019. It remains the only option for online poker players in the state for the better part of 2020 and beyond.
What Other Legal Online Poker Sites Are Coming To Pennsylvania?
The only two online poker platforms that will go live in Pennsylvania are WSOP in partnership with 888 and Partypoker, which is currently live in New Jersey. While there is no definitive timeline on when these will go live, we’ve listed our best guess on launch below.
| Online Poker Platform | Launch Estimation | Land-Based Partner |
|---|---|---|
| WSOP PA in partnership with 888 | Late 2020 | Harrah’s Philadelphia |
| PartyPoker PA | Mid 2021 | Valley Forge Casino |
WSOP PA
Even people who have never played poker know about the WSOP, or the World Series of Poker. WSOP.com is currently live in Delaware, Nevada, and New Jersey. They also have a partnership with Harrah’s Philadelphia.
Further, the 888 platform, which will launch WSOP PA, is ready for launch. All they’re waiting on is approval from the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board.
PartyPoker PA
PartyPoker’s parent company, GVC Holdings, signed a 50/50 joint venture with MGM to release a wide range of gambling products. A PartyPoker PA release in partnership with Valley Forge Casino Resort is one of them.
While the timeline on their release is even more uncertain than WSOP, it’s a near-certainty that PartyPoker PA will be released sometime before the end of 2021.
What Online Poker Bonuses Are Available In Pennsylvania?
The PokerStars PA online casino is the only legal online poker site currently live in Pennsylvania. And despite the lack of competition, PokerStars PA, in partnership with Mt Airy Casino, offers some enticing bonuses.
Deposit-Match Bonus
The deposit-match bonus will get you the most free money in the long-term.
At PokerStars Pennsylvania, you can claim a 100% deposit bonus up to $600. You have three deposits over 60 days to take advantage of the full amount.
The free money is credited in increments $10, or 140 redemption points. Every $1 you pay in either tournament fees or rake (AKA the platform’s commission fees) earns 5 redemption points.
PokerStars PA limits new players to either the Deposit-Match Bonus or the Free Play Bonus. You cannot take advantage of both.
Free Play Bonus
Rather than wait for your rewards, you can receive $30 upfront with a first deposit of at least $20.
Within 36 hours of your deposit, you’ll receive $10 in free money. Within seven days, you’ll receive another $10. And the rest of the money is credited through tournament tickets (three $1, one $2, and one $5 buy-ins).
This deposit also counts toward the Depositor Freeroll tournament, which takes place on the last Sunday of each month.
Freeroll Tournaments
Freeroll tournaments allow players to compete for real-money prizes without buying a ticket.
On the last Sunday of every month, PokerStars PA will host a variety of freeroll tournaments for members.
They will likely offer more once other online poker sites launch in PA. More competition always means more promotions, including freeroll tourneys.
Rewards Program
The Stars Rewards points don’t just unlock the deposit-match bonus. All players earn them as they play for real money. You can cash in earned points for rewards chests that unlock personalized prizes, such as bonus cash or prize entries.
Does Pennsylvania Share Online Poker Player Pools With Any Other States?
No. And the lack of shared-liquidity is the biggest downside to the Pennsylvania online poker market.
The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB) requires localized servers for igaming operators in the state. That is specifically to prevent any chance of interstate online gambling of any kind. But that also means the online poker market will, for the foreseeable future, be much slower to grow than PA sports betting and online casino sites.
As mentioned above, the state of Pennsylvania has as many residents than Delaware, New Jersey, and Nevada combined, which do share a player pool. However, that also means PA joining the other three states would double both markets. The more players, the larger the tournaments and variety of challengers. Learn more about NJ online poker and how player pools work.
This also may affect the ability of Pennsylvania players to qualify for the World Series of Poker online. Of course, the brick-and-mortar casinos will offer satellite tournaments. And if WSOP PA launches as soon as expected, you’ll be able to qualify through that site.
Both players and online poker operators are wholly at the mercy of the PGCB. So, until new develops arise, only time will tell.
Do Pennsylvania’s Online Poker Sites Offer Mobile Apps?
Yes. The only way to play on the PokerStars PA platform is by downloading it. That applies to the desktop version as well as mobile. That means everything expressed in this overview of PA online poker applies to mobile apps.
To find the PokerStars PA app for Android, you need to visit pokerstarsmtairycasino.com/mobile and download it directly. You cannot find it in the Google Play Store, which blocks gambling apps.
You can find the iOS PokerStars PA app the same way. Or you can search for it directly in the Apple App Store, which does not block gambling apps.
If you do search for it in the App Store, be sure you’re downloading the PA version. In the icon, it will have the word “Pennsylvania” beneath the red spade logo. Look for the exact name: “PokerStars Poker Real Money PA.”
The size of the PokerStars mobile app is 105.7 MB. At the time of writing this review, the average rating in the App Store was 4.6 stars out of over 7,200 ratings. If this were a sportsbook or casino app, it’d be one of the top-rated options in the state.
The PokerStars PA app is optimized for phones, tablets, and desktop screens.
There is no notable difference between the PokerStars PA desktop app and its mobile app. Likely, this will come down to the performance of the device. The only difference is the screen size.
Pennsylvania Online Poker FAQ
You need to be 21 or older to enter a land-based casino or sportsbook in PA. The same is true for the legal online casino, sportsbook, and poker rooms. You also need to be physically located in the state. You do not need to be a legal PA resident.
No. DraftKings does not currently offer online poker in Pennsylvania. And it probably never will. However, DraftKings PA has one of the highest-quality sportsbooks and online casinos in the state. On the online casino site, you can play both digital and live dealer casino poker. They also have a nice selection of video poker games.
Yes. PokerStars Mount Airy Casino is the only legal and live online poker site in Pennsylvania.
PokerStars PA is download-only, meaning you can’t play poker in PA through a web browser. However, it is available on both desktop and mobile devices.
New members can take advantage of lucrative welcome offers. Established members can cash in rewards points for bonus cash.
Your PokerStars PA account will also give you access to the PokerStars Casino as well as the FOX Bet sportsbook.
All legal online poker sites in Pennsylvania will have easy and common payment methods for deposits. These include:
- E-wallets like Skrill and PayPal.
- Credit and debit cards like Visa and MasterCard.
- Pay-in-Person Locations like PayNearMe and Vanilla Direct.
- Direct bank transfer
- Instant eChecks
Pennsylvania Online Poker Sites Deuces Wild
These are the same deposit methods as PokerStars PA companion products: the PokerStars Casino and the FOX Bet sportsbook. As such, you can use your deposited funds at PokerStars for casino games and sports betting too.
While all withdrawal methods are available for deposit, not all deposit methods are available for withdrawal. These are the cashout options currently available at PokerStars PA:
Pennsylvania Online Poker Sites Real Money
- Skrill (e-wallet)
- PayPal (e-wallet)
- Instant eChecks
Pennsylvania Online Poker Sites Websites
Those withdrawal options also apply to the PokerStars Casino and FOX Bet sportsbook. You can not currently withdraw in cash at the Mount Airy Casino cage. However, that may change.