Pennsylvania has officially joined the Multi-State Internet Gaming Agreement (MSIGA) for poker, making it the agreement’s sixth member state. As a result, online poker players will now be able to participate in games and tournaments featuring competitors from other MSIGA member states.
Pennsylvania Becomes MSIGA’s Largest Member
Pennsylvania joined the MSIGA on April 23 as Governor Josh Shapiro penned an agreement to make the Commonwealth the agreement’s latest member and largest member. The Keystone State’s entry into the MSIGA will expand the shared market to cover some 38 million Americans.
For reference, the agreement currently includes the following states:
- Delaware
- Michigan
- New Jersey
- Nevada
- Pennsylvania
- West Virginia
According to the official announcement, this expansion for online poker would provide approximately 150,000 online poker players in Pennsylvania with more choice and freedom. In addition to that, it will expand the pool of online poker players by more than 50%.
With the Commonwealth becoming an MSIGA member, the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB) will be able to work with its online operators and other state agencies to make sure that its online poker players are “provided with the same assurances offered through other online gaming options by using a fair and thoroughly tested platform.”
Additionally, players will be able to participate in events with larger prize pools, without organizers needing to increase the buy-in amounts.
A Commonsense Step for the Commonwealth
Pennsylvania’s ascension to the MSIGA answers to popular player demand. Poker players have long wanted the state to enter the multistate market and make competition among players even more exciting with more opponents to play against and larger prize pools.
Governor Shapiro commented on the matter, calling Pennsylvania’s membership a “commonsense step” that would support thousands of players while growing the economy and generating more tax revenue for schools, small businesses and senior citizens.
Three of our neighbors are already part of this agreement – and with this action today, we’re making sure Pennsylvania remains competitive in a rapidly growing online market.
Governor Josh Shapiro
Online poker players in Pennsylvania will be able to participate in multi-state online poker games from April 28, 2025. At first, such games will be offered by BetMGM and PA Borgata Online, with more operators expected to join at a later date.
DraftKings Faces Lawsuit in PA
In other news, Pennsylvania residents launched a federal class action lawsuit against the online gambling giant DraftKings, accusing the company of using predatory strategies that encourage people to overspend via misleading “risk-free” promotions.
Filed in the US District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania on April 18, the lawsuit claims DraftKings is actively targeting at-risk young men with enticements that imply there is minimal or no risk of losing.