The long-awaited move is finally here: Pennsylvania will officially join the Multi-State Gaming Agreement (MSIGA) in 2025, making it the next high-profile state market to become part of this groundbreaking pact that enables online poker operators to share players across state lines. The development marks a major step in the expansion of the online poker market in the U.S., which has been eagerly anticipated by poker enthusiasts and operators alike.
The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB) Communications Director, Doug Harbach, confirmed the state’s invitation to join the MSIGA, with expectations that the formal membership could be completed in the first quarter. Harbach noted that while the state awaits the necessary paperwork to review and sign, the process will take additional time to ensure all legal and regulatory requirements are met.
What to Expect
Pennsylvania’s population of 13 million will make it the largest state in the MSIGA network, adding considerable muscle to the growing market. Online poker companies like PokerStars, WSOP.com, BetMGM, and Borgata Poker will be able to merge player pools across MSIGA member states—currently Nevada, New Jersey, Delaware, Michigan, and West Virginia.
Once finalized, the state will become the sixth member of the pact that allows online poker operators to pool players across state lines. For Pennsylvania players, this means a significant increase in available tournaments, including major events like the World Series of Poker (WSOP) online bracelet tournaments.
Previously, players in Pennsylvania had access to only four bracelet events, but with shared liquidity, they could compete in up to 33 events, drastically improving their chances of scoring big. Moreover, the merging of player pools will lead to larger prize pools, with guarantees of up to $500,000—far beyond the $100,000 prize pool guarantee available to Pennsylvania players in 2024. This increased competition and larger prizes will be a game-changer for the state’s poker community, raising the stakes and enhancing the overall player experience.
But the impact does not stop there. The expansion will also open doors to high-profile satellite events for live tournaments like the PokerStars’ North American Poker Tour and BetMGM’s hybrid online-live events. By pooling players from multiple states, the network creates a more dynamic and competitive poker environment, offering players access to more action and bigger rewards than ever before.
