Online poker players in Pennsylvania could soon have access to multi-state play

In the United States, Pennsylvania is the only operator that offers online poker without being a member of the Multi-State Internet Gaming Agreement (MSIGA). Governor Josh Shapiro called on the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PCGB) to begin negotiations with the MSIGA. The MSIGA allows online poker networks to share players across state lines.

This increases player liquidity and the overall action they see in the Pennsylvania online poker market. Pennsylvania is currently the only online poker operator in the US that is not part of the MSIGA. MSIGA members include: Delaware, Michigan, Nevada, New Jersey and West Virginia. On October 10, Governor Shapiro made his request in a letter to the PCGB.

He noted that Pennsylvania is interested in joining MSIGA. This isn’t the first time we’ve heard about this in 2024. Earlier this year, state lawmakers were made aware of House Bill 2078. HB 2078l stated that the PCGB was required to sign an agreement to join MSIGA within 30 days of passage. This bill still hasn’t passed, but Governor Shapiro won’t be giving in anytime soon.

What is the timeline for MSIGA to add a new state?

Rep. George Dunbar is the sponsor of House Bill 2078. In June, he predicted that Pennsylvania could join the MSIGA. He mentioned that the state could introduce multi-state poker before the end of the year. Despite his efforts, Dog Harbach, the PCGB’s communications director, was not so optimistic.

Harbach noted that multi-state betting may not be an option for Pennsylvania until the end of 2024. He also confirmed that Governor Shapiro has contacted the PCGB to negotiate their entry into MSIGA. Shapiro isn’t sure how long that process would take, saying they are in the “early stages” of the process.

Multi-state poker will help Pennsylvania’s online sports betting market continue to thrive. Recently, the state has experienced several expansions of its gambling market. These include the launch of bet365 and user interface improvements through an agreement with Playtech. In September 2024, White Hat Studios partnered with Fanatics Casino to launch new games.