Governor Josh Shapiro has officially signed Pennsylvania into the Multi-State Internet Gaming Agreement (MSIGA), opening the door for the state’s estimated 150,000 online poker players to compete in a shared market with players from five other U.S. states. Pennsylvania becomes the sixth and largest state to join MSIGA, a network that now spans more than 38 million players nationwide.

Larger player pools, bigger opportunities:

This move allows the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB) to work alongside gaming authorities in New Jersey, Nevada, Delaware, West Virginia, and Michigan to ensure that Pennsylvania players are offered the same protections and standards as others in the regulated market. The entry of Pennsylvania is expected to expand the shared player pool by over 50%, boosting competition and tournament prize pools without requiring larger buy-in amounts.

Starting April 28, 2025, Pennsylvania online poker players will have access to multi-state games. Operators set to launch first include BetMGM and PA Borgata Online, with more expected to join the shared network soon. Players in the state will be able to participate in bigger tournaments with more substantial prize pools, a change widely anticipated by the Pennsylvania poker community.

Governor Shapiro emphasized the broad benefits of Pennsylvania’s entry into MSIGA, saying in the regulator’s press release, “This is a commonsense step to support hundreds of thousands of Pennsylvanians, grow our economy, and bring in more revenue to support our schools, our seniors, our small businesses, and more. 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.”

The agreement is expected to bolster the gaming sector’s contribution to Pennsylvania’s economy. With 17 land-based casinos and 22 licensed online gaming sites, the industry already employs over 15,000 people across the state. Legalized gambling generates nearly $2.7 billion annually in tax revenue, which supports public projects, agricultural communities, and property tax reductions across all 67 counties.

A major boost for online poker in Pennsylvania:

Poker players had long advocated for Pennsylvania to join the multi-state market, highlighting benefits such as greater competition, increased prize pools, stronger support for smaller operators, and a reduction in unregulated online play. Now, with the inclusion of Pennsylvania, players can expect more vibrant gaming options that will support the growth and sustainability of the regulated online poker market.

The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board stated that participation in MSIGA would ensure players benefit from a fair and thoroughly tested online platform, aligning with the consumer protections already established in other participating states.

With Pennsylvania now on board, MSIGA strengthens its position as a major force in the U.S. online poker landscape, bringing more opportunities to players while reinforcing state revenues and regulatory oversight.