Can You Play Online Poker In Pa

If you want to play online poker in Pennsylvania right now, you’ll have one option – PokerStars. So, you will need to download the PokerStars client on your laptop or mobile phone / tablet. Once your account. PA online poker deposit bonuses. Online poker is known to offer significantly better perks than the paltry benefits handed out by brick-and-mortar poker rooms. Since a player can instantly just close a window and switch to another easily accessible website, online.

1. Online Poker In Pa News
2. When Can You Play Online Poker In Pa
3. Online Poker In Pa Update
4. Online Poker Sites In Pa
5. Can You Play Online Poker For Money In Pa
6. Can You Play Online Poker In Pa

Online poker is back in Pennsylvania. Many of the biggest and best-known poker sites are now legal and licensed to run games within state lines. They include PokerStars – with partypoker and WSOP.com expected to join soon.

As a player you can take advantage of the big marketing budgets these sites will use to gain traction in the Keystone State. There are no-deposit bouses, big matched welcome offers and generous loyalty schemes available right now.

This page has everything you need to understand the games, bonuses, and software options available at the legal PA online poker sites. You’ll also find a brief explanation of how the sites work and a detailed FAQ located at the bottom of the page.

Play online poker in Pennsylvania at PokerStars

Is online poker legal in PA?

Yes. Seven casinos took up the poker license, most as part of a package deal.

Instead of $4 million per gambling vertical, several PA casinos paid $10 million for poker, online slots, and online table games licenses. Many also spent $10 million for a separate sports betting license.

It took a long time from when the gambling expansion act (H 271) of 2017 was passed for PA online poker sites to appear. License holders prioritized sports betting and casinos as these have higher revenue than poker.

Best Poker Sites in Pennsylvania

Poker sites need to reach a critical mass of players to offer a good enough choice of cash games and big guarantees for their tournaments. This naturally limits the number of successful rooms possible, and healthy market share is critical.

The biggest rooms in other regulated states are strong favorites to be the biggest and best in Pennsylvania. Here are the sites to check out:

• PokerStars: Poker players the world over agree that PokerStars has the best software. While you will not be able to play against the giant global player pool in PA, you can enjoy the huge game choice and slick platform. New players get $30 in free play with a small ($20) deposit, with the ‘Stars Rewards’ loyalty scheme keeping your bankroll topped up after that.
• Party Poker: Soon, PA players will be able to check out the software and the famously soft poker games at Party Poker with free money. Party offers NJ players $25 simply for signing up – which we expect to see on offer in PA too. Enjoy tournaments, cash games and the new Fast Forward poker format.
• WSOP.com/888: This brand is owned by Caesars Entertainment and will partner with Harrah’s Philadelphia to bring their unique platform to PA. There is more to this site than just qualifiers to the WSOP tournaments. You can play cash game, ‘Blast’ poker and a packed tournament schedule. New players get a matched welcome bonus of up to $1000 to get their bankrolls off to a flying start.
• BetMGM Poker: BetMGM Poker is, unsurprisingly, owned and operated by MGM Resorts International. It is licensed in Pennsylvania through a partnership with Penn National, which owns the Hollywood Casino and the Meadows. You can find cash games and tournaments galore onsite. New players can use promo code PLAYNJFREE when they register to receive a $25 no deposit bonus and a 100% deposit bonus worth up to $1000.

What do these PA poker apps offer?

Online Poker In Pa News

PokerStars Pennsylvania

Poker players worldwide consider the PokerStars desktop client and apps to be the best software around. This covers the speed and smoothness of the games – plus small factors like how easy it is to resize tables and the ability to upload your own pictures.

PokerStars partnered with Mount Airy Casino. They were the first online poker site to launch in Pennsylvania – and have exceeded expectations in popularity. Player pools are not shared with their New Jersey site for the time being, which will be the case for all PA online poker rooms until further notice.

There are two bonuses for new players:

• Deposit a minimum of $20 to get $30 in tournament buy-ins and cash game tickets with bonus code THIRTY.
• Alternatively, PokerStars will match your first deposit up to $600. To claim this offer, use bonus code STARS600.

Regular players will enjoy a novel loyalty program. Stars Rewards gives you chests as you play, these have prizes tailored to you – going up in value depending on the stakes you play.

Games at PokerStars include the usual mix of cash games, tournaments and sit & goes. This site has a fast-fold cash game called Zoom Poker, and a lottery sit & go format called ‘Spins’. Regular ‘PACOOP’ (Pennsylvania Championship of Online Poker) events feature big prize tournaments – the highlight of a busy tournament schedule. They also run a number of other exciting tournament series that come with hefty guarantees.

Party Poker Pennsylvania

Party Poker is the biggest rival to PokerStars. This site is owned by gambling giant Entain, which has a national deal with MGM. Valley Forge Casino will supply licenses for GVC.

Once live, PA poker players should receive $25 simply for signing up. This bonus comes in two parts:

• $10 is a cash bonus, you can use this for any type of game
• $15 is in tournament tokens

If you like what you find, then you can get a 100% matched welcome bonus on your first deposit up to $1000 max. Promotions include leaderboards, reload bonuses and a loyalty points program.

In addition to the packed list of cash games, tournaments and sit & goes, you can now play ‘Fast Forward’ poker at Party. This is a fast-fold format, where players are moved to a new hand as soon as the current hand is folded.

The partypoker software has been completely revamped since they were last available in the US. You will find smartphone apps and desktop downloads for both Windows and Mac devices. At launch, games will only be against other players from PA. In time it is hoped that the shared player pools will expand to cover Pennsylvania – allowing games against other partypoker players from other states.

WSOP Poker Pennsylvania

WSOP is short for ‘World Series of Poker’. This brand is owned by Caesars Entertainment – owners of the iconic Harrah’s Casino in PA. There are active WSOP.com poker sites in both Nevada and New Jersey – and soon, Pennsylvania.

Software for this site is powered by 888 Poker, offering both an app and a downloadable desktop version.

There are some generous bonuses for new players at WSOP Pennsylvania:

• A no deposit bonus of $10 to check out the games with zero risk. Use bonus code 10FREE to claim this
• A huge bonus of up to $1000 matched to your first deposit

You can clear your bonus by collecting points in the real money games. WSOP have satellite qualifiers to the World Series events – as well as online poker promotions. Look out for new poker formats including ‘Blast’ lottery Sit and Goes, alongside the usual mix of NL Hold’em and PLO cash games and tournaments.

BetMGM Poker

BetMGM Poker is the online poker site representing gaming titan MGM Resorts International. MGM has numerous partnerships with other gaming companies, including Entain (formerly GVC Holdings) and Penn National.

When the site finally goes live, new players can find themselves in line for a whopping $1,025 in bonus money from the site. If you use promo code PLAYNJFREE when you sign up, you will be eligible for the following bonuses:

• A $25 no deposit bonus upon registration. This money must be played through a single time, but works the same as actual cash and requires nothing on your part.
• A dollar-for-dollar deposit bonus up to $1,000. Simply make your first deposit of $10 or more and BetMGM will match every cent that you put into your account. In effect, you will double the amount of your deposit, and the offer is good all the way up to $1,000.

The bonus dollars you accumulate are convertible into cash if you play through them a certain number of times. In essence, the $25 no deposit bonus will need to be turned over a single time to release it as cash. The deposit bonus is a bit more of an ordeal – you have to earn 20 times the amount of iRewards Points in order to convert it to cash. However, the bonus will come to you in 10% chunks, so you can get a little bit at a time.

Make sure to keep an eye on your time limit, however. Any unredeemed bonus at the end of 7 days reverts to BetMGM, so be ready to play quite a bit when you make that first deposit.

How legal online poker sites in Pennsylvania work

For online casinos and sportsbooks, you’ll normally access the website to enjoy gambling. Poker sites are different. Most players prefer to download a desktop software client to access the games. This gives you all the game types, and the ability to comfortably multi-table (play more than one table at a time). It also ensures the games are stable. Avoiding the client crashing just as you get dealt pocket aces is important.

PokerStars PA launched with both an Android and an iOS app available.

When you access the PA poker rooms, you will find four main poker formats. Which are available (and have games running) will depend on the size of the player pool at each site.

Here are the main formats:

• Cash games: Your chips have a real monetary value and can be topped up to the table maximum at any time. Online poker cash games start at $2 buy-ins (micro-stakes) up to around $1,000+ buy-ins. The stakes at these tables range from $.02/$.04 to $1,000/$2,000. Tables typically have two, six, or nine players.
• Poker tournaments: A knockout format where each player starts with a stack of chips in exchange for their buy-in. The bet sizes increase steadily, and play continues until one player has all the chips. Expect 10% or so of the field to get prizes. There are many variations in speed, poker game type, and the ability to rebuy or re-enter if you bust.
• Sit & Go tournaments: Usually single table games, these kick off whenever a table is full. New variations include PokerStars’ Spin & Go. These are three-handed games with a random prize pool of up to 10,000x your buy-in.
• Fast-fold poker: This innovation dispenses with the waiting time while other players finish hands by taking you to a new hand as soon as you fold. Players sit in pools rather than individual tables. Fast fold poker is used for both cash games and tournaments but is not available in Pennsylvania yet.

At international sites, there are a lot of poker variations to enjoy. The smaller player pools in Pennsylvania will mean that only No-Limit Hold’em and some Omaha variations like PLO and PLO8 will be available. If PA joins a wider group of state sites then Stud, Draw, and mixed games could become available.

Real Money Poker vs Free Online Poker

If you have only ever enjoyed poker on free to play apps, you will need to read up on strategy before you jump into the real money games. There is a huge difference in skill level as soon as real money is on the line.

The online poker rooms in Pennsylvania have options to enjoy play-money only tables. These can help you get to know the different types of poker game and how the betting rounds work. At PokerStars, the Home Games function lets you create private tables for your friends and colleagues. You can even play them with friends outside of PA, as long as they are for play money.

You can try out real money poker games at some sites without making a deposit. Party Poker should offer $10 in cash plus $15 in tournament entry tokens just for signing up. Other sites like PokerStars give you tokens worth $30 for just a small deposit.

To get off to a solid start at the real money poker tables, it is worth starting off at smaller buy-in levels than you would play in a live setting. This will give you a chance to assess the skill levels of your opponents and make sure you can beat the games before you move up to higher buy-ins.

Pennsylvania online poker: Bonuses and promotions

The online poker sites which have the most players in PA will have a huge advantage over competitors. PokerStars got a leg up on the competition as the first to market and exceeded expectations right away, taking in nearly $2 million in rake and tournament fees in its first month back in November.

As the number of players grows, bigger tournaments, better promotions, and a wider choice of cash games become available. This has the effect of attracting more players. Currently, PokerStars PA offers a choice of two welcome bonuses, namely $30 free if deposit $20 using marketing code FREE30, or a 100%bonus match up to $600 using marketing code STARS600, not both though.

Once more online poker rooms go live in Pennsylvania, there will be fierce competition for new players. You can take advantage of this by getting your bankroll off to a great start thanks to the sites’ big marketing budgets and generous bonus offers.

Based on poker rooms in other regulated states, here is what to expect:

• No-deposit bonuses: Some poker sites will offer completely free chips, no deposit needed. This will sometimes come in the form of buy-ins to different tournaments or cash games. You’ll need to play this money through a set number of times before it can be withdrawn.
• Matched welcome bonuses: Expect your first deposit to be given a 100% (or better) match. Some sites offer up to $1,000 in bonus money this way. This is usually released in increments as you play.
• Freeroll tournaments: New players will be given access to beginners or depositors freerolls with real money prize pools. There may be additional entries based on loyalty schemes or future deposits.
• Reload bonuses: If your bankroll gets depleted, you will usually be offered an extra bonus to reload. Be advised these are usually smaller offers than the initial deposit bonus.
• Loyalty schemes: Poker sites all handle their loyalty programs differently. For PokerStars PA, expect to be awarded treasure chests, which have prizes tailored to your individual gambling preferences.

Depending on the brand, you might also be offered crossover promotions for the different gambling verticals.

Sports betting and casino games are well established in Pennsylvania, with many of the license holders for poker involved in all three industries. For example, players can now sign up for Fox Bet online sports betting and also access the PokerStars PA online poker and online casino verticals.

Depositing and withdrawing at PA online poker rooms

With poker being a skill game, more players will withdraw money than the other gambling verticals. You’ll have a lot of choices for how to get your money on board and your profits back off again.

While not all the online poker rooms will have all of the methods listed, the deposit methods below are the most commonly accepted.

• Credit / debit cards: Instant payments can be made with your regular bank cards. Visa and MasterCard are accepted by all the sites. Some sites will also allow deposits with Discover cards as well.
• Prepaid Play+ cards: Many gambling sites have branded debit cards. These add security and can be used for withdrawing your winnings. Then players can access funds via ATMs.
• Casino cage: You’ll be able to deposit and withdraw at the casino associated with each of the poker room brands.
• PayNearMe: This is another way of depositing cash, this time via 7-Eleven or CVS stores. Note that the fixed costs make this expensive for smaller deposits.
• PayPal: This is a popular online wallet system. It is used as a secure bridge between your bank and online merchants. PayPal is used for both deposits and withdrawals. However, do not be surprised if this option is not available at most online poker sites. The fees associated with PayPal, combined with the high tax rates for PA online operators mean this will be a rare option, not a common one.
• Neteller / Skrill: Owned by the same company, these wallet services work in a similar way to PayPal. They have been popular with poker players internationally for many years. Like PayPal, there is a chance these will not be available at every site because of hefty fees.
• eChecks: Also known as ACH transfers, this poker deposit method comes directly from your bank. You can get pre-verified, making your eCheck deposits and withdrawals instant.
• Bill pay: If you use a major bank, you might already pay your utility bills with Bill Pay. Paying into your poker account works in the same way. This banking option is not used for withdrawals.
• Bank wire: This is a slower way to transfer from your bank, though can still be used if you wish to securely transfer large amounts.
• Money order / paper check: Another slower banking method welcomed by many sites. If there are no alternative ‘online’ methods, you can withdraw your profits via a paper check.

Online poker partnerships in PA

For now, PA poker games are ring-fenced. This means that tables will not be shared with poker players from other regulated states like New Jersey and Nevada.

Three major international brands already partnered with Pennsylvania casinos, with only PokerStars and Mount Airy Casino live with their online poker product. More announcements are expected soon to clarify plans for online poker.

This is the full list of the PA casinos which have licenses to open online poker rooms:

Live poker in Pennsylvania

There are 10 live poker rooms in Pennsylvania. They are:

• Harrah’s Philadelphia: This poker room is branded using the World Series of Poker name. It is open 24/7 and has 28 tables featuring cash games and tournaments. Types of poker include the popular No-Limit Hold’em, Seven-Card Stud, and Omaha.
• Mohegan Sun Pocono: Located close to Wilkes-Barre, this poker room holds 18 tables. Daily tournaments include bounty events. The room also offers bad beat and royal flush jackpots for cash games.
• Parx Casino: This is one of the bigger poker rooms, hosting 48 tables including a separated three-table high-limit poker room. Parx is located at Bensalem, northeast of Philadelphia. They hold big buy-in tournament events, as well their own regular schedule of tournaments and cash games.
• Rivers Casino: Located in Pittsburgh, Rivers Casino hosts a 30-table poker room, which covers more than 8,000 square feet. Hourly high-hand bonuses keep the cash games lively, while bigger buy-in tournament events run alongside their busy weekly schedule.
• The Meadows Casino: Rather than a separate room, the 14 poker tables at The Meadows are on the main casino floor. You’ll have a view of the live racing while you play. This room is located 25 miles southwest of Pittsburgh, at Strabane Township.
• Hollywood Casino: This live poker venue is located at the Penn National Racecourse, at Grantville, PA. They have 17 tables and run cash games with a high hand promotion. Tournaments include both standard and turbo blind options.
• Mount Airy Casino: The poker parlor at the Mount Airy resort in northwest PA is a smaller live poker venue. With only nine tables, Texas Hold’em is the only variation you will find here.
• Presque Isle Casino: This is the smallest poker room in Pennsylvania, with only seven tables. While most rooms are 24/7, this one opens at 10 a.m. / 12 p.m. and continues only as long as there is substantial play. Single and multi-table tournaments are advertised, in addition to cash games.
• Sugarhouse Casino: Located in Philadelphia, Sugarhouse offers a 24/7 poker room which holds 28 tables. High hand and bad beat jackpots are run. Buy-ins for their cash games range from $60 to $3,000.
• Wind Creek Casino: This 28-table live poker room is located close to Bethlehem, PA. This was previously known as Sands Casino. With a complimentary beverage service, tableside dining, and a lot of TV’s showing sporting action, this poker room is advertised as state of the art.

In the fall of 2017, Pennsylvania became the fourth American state to legalize online poker. It took a little while but in late 2019 the first fully legal, regulated, online poker site opened for business in the state.

The state has been home to many famous poker players through the years, and with its burgeoning land-based casino market, more players than ever are flocking to the live poker rooms to play Hold’em or Omaha, cash games or tournaments…and now even tournament series. Due to the plethora of players in the state, online poker has remained popular through the years as well.

And in 2017, Pennsylvania followed New Jersey into the world of legalized and regulated online poker and casino games. The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board is currently accepting license applications from online gaming operators and partners, and the websites are expected to launch in the third or fourth quarter of 2018 and will join the other poker sites operating in PA.

Latest Updates for PA Online Poker

After online poker was legalized by the Pennsylvania legislature and governor in October 2017, there was a 60-day waiting period before regulations could be announced or implemented. After the holidays passed and the new year began, the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board began to make announcements in February and March of 2018.

The entire process took much longer than most people anticipated, much to the dismay of players anticipating the launch of Pennsylvania online poker. There were few updates throughout 2018, with the exception of some comments about the future of the industry. One of the most notable came from Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB) Director of Communications Doug Harbach, who said that the poker sites will launch individually at first. The notion of entering the multi-state online poker liquidity agreement with New Jersey, Delaware, and Nevada would be considered in the future. The other major 2018 event was the awarding of an online gaming license to PokerStars.

During a February 2019 meeting, PGCB Executive Director Kevin O’Toole noted that the gaming sites in Pennsylvania were “close” to launch, but the licensing process was nearly completed. At that time, he said sites could be running by the end of June 2019.

In April 2019, O’Toole revealed that there was a launch date of July 15 for interactive gaming sites. He said that all 10 online gaming certificate holders and three operators were informed about a coordinated live launch set for July 15.

However, as that date neared, it became clear that only a few of the internet gaming sites would launch on that date, and none of them would be poker sites. Three sites did launch – Hollywood Casino, Parx Casino, and SugarHouse Casino – with online casino games only. No poker sites launched, and little information was available as to their potential launch dates.

Finally, at the end of October, PokerStars announced that it would launch its online poker and casino product in Pennsylvania on November 4. Along with its land-based casino partner, Mount Airy Casino, the launch did happen on that day. And after only two days of limited-hour testing during the soft launch, the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board gave its final approval for full operations.

When Can You Play Online Poker In Pa

On November 6, PokerStars PA opened for 24-hour online poker action. More than 500 players were in action during the first few hours, and the numbers grew quickly to eclipse the number of players online at the PokerStars New Jersey site.

The initial cash games offered NLHE, LHE, and PLO from $0.01/$0.02 to $25/50 ($50/$100 for LHE). Players eventually began to also try out more Omaha options, some Stud and Razz, 2-7 Triple Draw, and mixed games. Initial SNGs began with $1 buy-ins and NLHE and PLO tournaments at $3. There was also a Sunday MTT schedule established for the first weekend, and nearly every tournament significantly eclipsed the set prize pool guarantees.

Within two weeks of the site’s launch, PokerStars PA had already announced its first Pennsylvania Championship of Online Poker (PACOOP) for early December. The site is drawing significant players and consistently increasing offerings to meet the customer demand.

Despite PokerStars success in the state, no other online poker operator has announced their intention to launch in Pennsylvania. There will likely be announcements to that effect in 2021 but it remains in question whether PokerStars will get any competition for the PA market.

Pennsylvania Online Poker Rooms

The online poker operators and casino partners revealed as of early 2021 are as follows:

–Parx Casino via Greenwood Gaming (poker partner: GAN/Kambi)

–Harrah’s Philadelphia Casino & Racetrack via Chester Downs (poker partner: 888poker/WSOP)

–Mount Airy Casino Resort via Mount Airy #1 (poker partner: PokerStars)

–Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course via Mountainview (poker partner: IGT)

–SugarHouse Casino via Sugarhouse HSP Gaming (poker partner: Rush Street Interactive)

–Valley Forge Casino Resort via Valley Forge (poker partner: PartyPoker)

–Sands Casino Resort Bethlehem via Sands Bethworks Gaming (poker partner: unknown)

It is likely that Mount Airy/PokerStars will be the first site to launch, though Harrah’s/888 could be preparing for an early launch as well. Valley Forge/PartyPoker is another likely candidate. However, no sites are confirming launch dates or plans as of August 2019.

Pennsylvania Online Casino Launches

The following casinos have paid for initial internet gaming licenses, though some have yet to even reveal their partners for online casino slots and table games. What is known thus far is as follows:

–Parx Casino via Greenwood Gaming (partner: GAN/Kambi) – LIVE

–Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course via Mountainview (partner: IGT) – LIVE

–SugarHouse Casino via Sugarhouse HSP Gaming (partner: Rush Street Interactive) – LIVE

–Mount Airy Casino Resort via Mount Airy #1 (partner: PokerStars/StarsCasino) – LIVE

–Harrah’s Philadelphia Casino & Racetrack via Chester Downs (partner: 888/Scientific Games)

–Sands Casino Resort Bethlehem via Sands Bethworks Gaming (partner: unknown)

–Valley Forge Casino Resort via Valley Forge (partner: IGT/GAN/GVC/PartyCasino)

–Presque Isle Downs Casino via Presque Isle Downs (partner: SBTech)

–Mohegan Sun Pocono via Downs Racing (partner: Scientific Games)

–Live! Philadelphia Casino via Stadium Casino (partner: unknown)

As noted, Parx, Hollywood, and SugarHouse casinos launched their online casino games, all on July 15, 2019.

Parx PA already offers more than 200 online slot games, along with a few table games like roulette, baccarat, and blackjack.

Hollywood Casino offers more than 60 online slots, video poker selections, and table games like blackjack, roulette, and baccarat.

SugarHouse launched the largest online casino with more than 300 slot games and a plethora of table games, such as blackjack, roulette, baccarat, and three-card poker.

Land-Based Casino – Supplier – Launch Date

• Harrah’s Phildelphia – 888 Casino, Scientific Games – July 15, 2010
• Hollywood Casino – IGT – July 15, 2019
• Mount Airy Casino – 888 Casino – Mid-Summer 2019
• Mohegan Sun Pocono – Unibet (Kindred Group, Pala) – July 15, 2019
• Parx Casino – GAN (Game Account Network) – Still Undisclosed
• SugarHouse Casino – Rush Street Interactive – July 15, 2019
• Valley Forge Casino – IGT/GAN – July 15, 2019
• Sands Bethlehem – Unknown – Sometime in 2021

Pennsylvania Online Sportsbooks

The online sportsbook partnerships known thus far are as follows:

–SugarHouse Casino via Sugarhouse HSP Gaming (partner: Kambi) – LIVE

–Valley Forge Casino Resort via Valley Forge (partner: FanDuel) – LIVE

–Rivers Casino Pittsburgh (partner: Rush Street Interactive) – LIVE

–Harrah’s Philadelphia Casino & Racetrack via Chester Downs (partner: 888)

–Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course via Mountainview (partner: William Hill)

–Mount Airy Casino Resort via Mount Airy #1 (partner: Fox Bet/BetStars)

–Mohegan Sun Pocono via Downs Racing (partner: Kindred)

–Parx Casino via Greenwood Gaming (partner: GAN)

–Sands Casino Resort Bethlehem via Sands Bethworks Gaming (partner: unknown)

The three sportsbooks listed atop the above list launched in May 2019. The online sports betting options now complement more than a handful of land-based live sportsbooks in casinos around Pennsylvania.

Land-Based Casino – Supplier – Launch Date

• Harrah’s Phildelphia – 888 Sports – Late Summer 2019
• Hollywood Casino Sportsbook – William Hill – Late Summer 2019
• Mount Airy Casino – Fox Bet (Stars Group) – Late Summer 2019
• Mohegan Sun Pocono – Unibet (Kindred Group, Pala) – Before NFL Season Begins
• Parx Casino – GAN (Game Account Network) – Could Launch Anytime
• SugarHouse Casino – Kambi Gaming – Before NFL Season Begins
• Valley Forge Casino – FanDuel Group – July 2019
• Sands Bethlehem – Unknown – 2021 or Later
• Rivers Casino – No Online Sportsbook – Note: SugarHouse is a sister site.

Pennsylvania Gambling Laws

Pennsylvania gambling laws have undergone a radical change since October 2017. Gov. Tom Wolf signed a bill into law which approved online poker, online casinos, daily fantasy sports, truck stop video lottery terminals, airport tablet computer betting, and satellite casinos. In 2018, sports betting and online bookmaker sites were approved. Here’s a full rundown of the laws.

Pennsylvania Online Poker Sites

Everyone and their mother has lists of the “best” online poker rooms for Pennsylvania, but no one wants to tell you what their lists are based on. We don’t have any problem telling you how we generated our list of Pennsylvania’s top poker sites online; the formula is a combination of the site’s reputation (including holding a legal license), the value a site offers to players (through things like deposit bonuses and VIP programs) and the game variety at the room (number of games in terms of both volume and type).

After all, isn’t that what poker players are looking for? We think so, and that’s why we used this model to construct our top-ranked poker rooms for Pennsylvania players.

Can Poker Players from Pennsylvania Play Online Poker?

Can Rocky run up the stairs of the Philadelphia Art Museum? If you’ve never seen the movie, the answer is yes. Same for aspiring online poker players from PA; you can charge right on up those stairs. In fact, it would probably take you less time (depending on what kind of shape you’re in) to get your PA online poker account set up, funded and to sit in at your first game of poker online than it would to struggle your way up the multiple flights Rocky made famous.

Real Money Poker and Pennsylvania Law

Gambling laws are complicated. Each state in America has its own language and code for gambling activities, so any questions about the legality of any particular activity should be directly addressed to a legal professional. None of us here are that person.

As far as poker and Pennsylvania law, however, we can give you a basic understanding of what is legal and not legal. And as of 2017, live and online poker are now both legal.

Progress for Pennsylvania online poker sites began to gain momentum in 2016 when a bill passed the House of Representatives to expand gambling with a number of measures, including internet poker. The estimated revenue was even put into the budget that year, but the Senate allowed the bill to die.

More momentum came in 2017, as casino operators, lottery officials, and legislators began talking as early as January. Several bills were introduced by March, though one of them – HB.271 – was the primary target. As the bill moved around through committees, State Senators wrote the details of the bill to include online lottery sales, daily fantasy sports (DFS), and online poker and casino games. Several problems impeded progress at various points, however, as tax rates were very high and controversial video gaming terminals (VGTs) were pushed by the Senate.

That bill went back and forth, from the House to the Senate and back, with VGTs remaining the most contentious part of the bill. Debates continued through the summer, and gambling expansion was again added to the state budget. This time, however, the state was in dire need of a passable budget and additional revenue. Throughout the month of September and October, a flurry of activity surrounding that legislation made it difficult to follow, but the bill ultimately passed with a compromise on VGTs in October.

On October 30, 2017, Governor Tom Wolf signed the law, making it official that Pennsylvania became the fourth state to legalize online poker.

Pennsylvania FAQ

Which companies hold online gaming licenses in Pennsylvania?

The first licenses for online gaming in Pennsylvania were awarded in August 2018, with more awarded through October 2018. The list of casinos with internet gaming licensees is:

–Parx Casino via Greenwood Gaming

–Harrah’s Philadelphia Casino & Racetrack via Chester Downs

–Mount Airy Casino Resort via Mount Airy #1

–Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course via Mountainview

–Sands Casino Resort Bethlehem via Sands Bethworks Gaming

–SugarHouse Casino via Sugarhouse HSP Gaming

–Valley Forge Casino Resort via Valley Forge

–Live! Philadelphia Casino via Stadium Casino

–Presque Isle Downs Casino via Presque Isle Downs

–Mohegan Sun Pocono via Downs Racing

While most have yet to launch online gaming sites, there is no deadline to prepare and launch their gaming platforms in Pennsylvania.

What games are available?

The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board has authorized online poker, online casino games like slots and video poker, and table games like blackjack, roulette, and baccarat. There will likely be a plethora of casino games available. As for online poker, it will be available in cash game and tournament formats, likely starting with Hold’em and Omaha games with more variants in the future.

Can I Play Online Poker in Pennsylvania?

Yes! Online poker is all kinds of legal in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The state legislature made these steps in 2017 and both live and online poker has been legal ever since. If you want more details, read above. But all you need to know is that online poker is legal and safe in Pennsylvania.

Who can Play Online Poker in Pennsylvania?

There are just a few stipulations to start playing poker in Pennsylvania. The first thing is age. You need to be 21 or over to start playing poker there. The only other stipulation is that you need to be physically located within the borders of Pennsylvania. You don’t need to own a house, be a resident or have a Pennsylvania driver’s license, all you need to do is physically be in the state. That means you can just drive in to play poker.

What are the taxes, licensing fees, etc.?

Online Poker In Pa Update

Initial applicants for online gaming licenses had the opportunity to apply for a bargain rate of $10 million, which pays for online poker, online casino and table games, and slots. The three categories of licenses cost $4 million when sold separately, but operators applying for all three licenses at the start of the process in 2018 were able to obtain a $2 million discount. Each license will be valid for five years.

Gross gaming revenue from online poker and online table games will be taxed at 14% as a state tax, plus an additional 2% local tax. The online slot games tax is much higher, though, at 54%. The high rate matches that of the land-based casinos, but operators have been lobbying to reduce the rate for online gaming providers to give the industry a better chance for growth and overall success.

All Poker and Gambling Laws by State

• The path of 888 and the WSOP.com poker site to the Pennsylvania internet gaming market has been a confusing one. And there has been no evidence of expediency whatsoever. Nearly three years after Pennsylvania legalized online gaming and nearly one year after PokerStars became the first – and still only

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• After a year of waiting and watching the Pennsylvania online gaming market come together, the pieces of the puzzle are beginning to fit. PokerStars, partnered with Mount Airy Casino in Mount Pocono, Pennsylvania, received its license to offer online poker. The awarding of the license happened at a Pennsylvania Gaming

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• November 30th, 2018

  Online poker isn’t the big selling point for internet gaming that it once was. Not only has it been showing in the New Jersey revenue numbers each month, where statistics show online casino games growing continually and poker declining nearly every month, it is becoming evident in the upcoming Pennsylvania

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• PokerStars has taken its time returning to the US market. The company painstakingly follows the gaming rules of each state, especially after its return via New Jersey to offer online poker to Americans – some of them – once again. And it plans to enter the new Pennsylvania market as

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• In the several weeks since our last Pennsylvania online poker update, several things have taken place. Some land-based casinos inked deals with online partners, while other licenses were approved by the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB). Online poker has been included in some of these plans, but five licenses remain

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• The road to Pennsylvania online gaming has been paved with some confusion, at least for the general public. In the offices of the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board, it is likely running like a well-oiled machine. There are essentially three types of licenses available for new industry participants: online poker, online

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Pennsylvania Gambling Research: Additional Resources

Online Poker Sites In Pa

AGA State Guide: Pennsylvania . Get all of the basics on Pennsylvania’s regulated gambling industry in this resource from the leading national trade group for commercial casinos.

PA Council on Compulsive Gambling Resources (in multiple languages) for helping problem gamblers, along with links to additional sites and information regarding gambling in the Keystone State.

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Sands Bethlehem. One of the more unique intersections of gambling and Pennsylvania history, the Sands Bethlehem (the only remaining casino in the US to bear the Sands name) sits on the site of former industrial powerhouse Bethlehem Steel.

Can You Play Online Poker In Pa

Sources & Citations For This Article on Pennsylvania Online Poker