Pennsylvania is in talks to join the Multi-State Internet Gaming Agreement, which would make it the sixth state in the interstate online poker consortium. Governor Josh Shapiro has instructed the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board to begin negotiations with member states such as New Jersey, Nevada, Delaware, Michigan, and West Virginia. The goal is to capitalize on Pennsylvania’s status as a leader in legalized gambling and bring in additional revenue for the state.
There is no set timetable for Pennsylvania’s entrance into MSIGA, but Rep. George Dunbar, who introduced the bill for Pennsylvania to join the agreement, believes that something could be finalized by the end of 2024. The process should not be too difficult since other states already share liquidity, paving the way for Pennsylvania to join.
Adding Pennsylvania to MSIGA would be a significant boost for the US online poker industry. Pennsylvania has a robust online poker market, and joining MSIGA would increase tournament prize pools and improve game selection. Currently, there are only two interstate online poker networks in the US – WSOP Online and PokerStars. Both WSOP.com and PokerStars operate in Pennsylvania, so expanding their network to include the state is expected.
While Delaware and West Virginia are part of MSIGA, they do not currently have online poker rooms running. Delaware used to have online poker through 888poker’s platform but switched providers in January 2024. West Virginia’s online poker market has been avoided by operators due to its small size.
Overall, Pennsylvania’s potential entry into MSIGA would be a positive development for the state’s online poker players and the US online poker industry as a whole. The addition of Pennsylvania would bring in more players, increase liquidity, and enhance the overall gaming experience for online poker enthusiasts.