Pennsylvania Joins Multi-State Internet Agreement

Summary

• Pennsylvania Prepares to Join Multi-State Internet Agreement
• This week, Governor Josh Shapiro authorized the action.
• Borgata Online and BetMGM are the first poker sites to combine their player pools.

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Pennsylvania is the newest state to join the Multi-State Internet Gaming Agreement (MSIGA), a collaborative pact that combines the player pools from various states offering online poker.

Pennsylvania to boost online poker headcount with 150,000 players

The initiative has received approval from Governor Josh Shapiro, a long-time advocate, because it is anticipated to improve overall liquidity, reduce the black market's impact, enhance the regulated poker industry, and increase tax revenue. Governor Shapiro stated:

The Multi-State Internet Gaming Agreement (MSIGA) was introduced in 2014 by Delaware, which, due to its small size and population, decided to pool its online poker players across state lines. This agreement was initially formed with Nevada and has sought to expand ever since. Unfortunately, the initial years saw little growth. In 2017, New Jersey joined the compact, followed by Michigan in 2022 and most recently, West Virginia in 2023. However, the player bases in these states do not match the potential numbers. Pennsylvania, with an active online poker community of at least 150,000 players, will significantly contribute to the existing player base, helping to develop the U.S. online poker scene. This expansion competes against established offshore websites that have been in operation for decades, offering benefits such as constant cash games and large tournaments.

Pennsylvania’s online poker platforms go live on Monday

With more states adopting online poker, the expectation is that momentum will slow. The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB) will oversee the launch of the MSIGA. Pennsylvania's entry into MSIGA will officially commence on Monday, April 28, with BetMGM and Borgata Online confirmed as the first platforms to participate in this new opportunity. Pennsylvania also aims to increase tax revenue from online poker. Boosting the frequency of tournaments and cash games is a practical way to achieve this goal.