Pennsylvania has been the fourth state to regulate online poker. Since 2019, four sites have launched and there is certainly room for more. There’s plenty of action in the Keystone State but there are key differences between the sites that offer playing poker games; Our ultimate guide should help you decide which site is best for you, taking into consideration the bonuses you can claim. So, let’s find out, shall we?
Over 410 games & Live Dealer available Awesome $1,000 match deposit bonus Wide variety of slot games BetMGM online casino is without a doubt one of the best online casinos around. With a very impressive selection of games and a wide range of bonuses and promotions, it’s no wonder this casino is very popular. The customer service options are very good, as is the level of security. BetMGM NJ online casino is well worth visiting.
Licensed and legal in the USA Risk-free sports bet for new customers This Borgata Casino online casino review was a real pleasure to research. This online casino clearly knows how to please its players. With a huge selection of games and impressive withdrawal speed, Borgata Casino could be one of the best NJ casinos around. Customer service and security are very good, and players are set to enjoy spending their time online.
When was online poker legalized in Pennsylvania? | October 30, 2017 (new gaming bill signed) |
How many sites operate in the state? | 4 |
Legal sites | PokerStars, WSOP.com, BetMGM, Borgata |
What is the minimum age to play? | 21 |
Do I need residency to play in the state? | No, but you have to be inside the state to both open an account and play for real money |
What is the best PA site? | PokerStars |
Can I play against players from other states? | As of now, there is no interstate compact for online poker in the state |
This was the first operator that started operating in the state and got a solid start with no initial competition. Having a monopoly on the PA market, players could only participate in tournaments at PokerStars. The PACOOP still offers the highest prize pools of all tournaments in the state – in 2021 the prize pool was $2,000,000 and there were 69 events.
Key Facts
Main bonuses | 100% First match deposit bonus up to $600 or $50 Freeplay after playing a single hand |
Apps available | Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS |
Main tournament / best poker room | Major tournament series such as the Pennsylvania Championship of Online Poker (PACOOP) |
Main highlight | Best online MTT schedule |
Live since | 2019 |
Player pool | None |
What we liked most about PokerStars:
The first serious competition to PokerStars, BetMGM now operates a solid platform that is equally suitable for novice and seasoned punters. The site regularly hosts tournaments with good guarantees and there is plenty of cash game action around the clock. BetMGM Poker is powered by the Partypoker US Network. Punters can enjoy sports betting and other casino games at the same website.
BetMGM Key Facts
Main bonuses | 100% First match deposit bonus up to $1000 and up to $75 in MTT tickets |
Apps available | Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS |
Main tournament / best poker room | Sunday $25,000 guaranteed tournament, one Sunday a month $100,000 prize pool |
Main highlight | Earn MGM Rewards as you wager |
Live since | 2021 |
Player pool | Shared with Borgata PA |
What we liked most about BetMGM:
Borgata casino was the third licensed operator in the state to go live. Borgata and BetMGM share their player pools and offer an identical welcome bonus to PA players. Borgata is also powered by the Partypoker US Network. The operator’s Texas Hold’em and Pot-Limit Omaha games all have betting limits. Plenty of tournaments and cash games are organized around the clock.
Borgata Key Facts
Main bonuses | 100% First match deposit bonus up to $1000 and up to $75 in MTT tickets |
Apps available | Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS |
Main tournament / best poker room | Sunday $40K Guaranteed |
Main highlight | Qualify for Borgata’s The Return January 2023 event |
Live since | 2021 |
Player pool | Shared with BetMGM PA |
What we liked most about Borgata:
Playing the game online became legal in the state on October 30, 2017, when Gov. Tom Wolf signed a new gaming bill into effect. The first site (PokerStars) went live in 2019, followed by others in 2021. Any operator who would like to offer real money games must be approved and licensed by the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board.
PA online casino & poker sites must ensure the following:
Similar to New Jersey and Michigan who regulate online gambling, geolocation rules apply at PA gaming sites. You will need to allow location tracking on your mobile device, and you must not try to hide the IP address of your desktop computer. When players try to go against these rules they are not only deceiving the platforms but breaking federal laws.
Players are responsible for paying taxes – both state and federal – after their winnings. However, the poker site will withhold 25% of your winnings (over $5,000) and report it to the IRS. Read more on Pennsylvania online gambling taxes on our dedicated page on the site.
Type of tax | Rate | Comment |
Federal income tax rate | 24% | Tax is only payable if winnings are over $5,000 from poker tournaments |
Pennsylvania’s personal income tax rate | 3.07% |
If you have seen the movie Runner Runner (with Ben Affleck and Justin Timberlake) you know how dangerous offshore casinos and poker sites can be. You don’t want to put yourself in a situation where you are scammed and have no authority to turn to. Therefore, it is extremely important that you only play at PA licensed gambling sites.
You can cross-reference the licensing information found in the footer area of the home page with the information on the PGCB site.
Every legal site in the state is licensed and regulated by the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board which makes sure that the games are fair. The authority also requires platforms to adhere to the following:
You’ll have various banking options available. Withdrawing your funds is subject to security checks and may take up to 72 hours. Depositing is usually instant, and these are the most common payment methods poker sites accept:
Keep in mind that as per Pennsylvania gaming regulations, real money transfers between players are not allowed.
Sites in PA always offer generous welcome bonuses and promotions to new punters. The match deposit bonuses are pretty uniform across all states. The operator will match your first deposit up to a certain figure (e.g., $1,000). These bonuses are typically credited to your player account as you play. Wagering on games earns you reward points which can be used to release the bonus. Note, that the bonus will be released in increments.
All PA poker platforms also offer a small amount of free play money or MTT tickets when you sign up. To claim the maximum amount of the offer, you’ll need to deposit a certain amount.
Platform | Bonus | Notes |
PokerStars | 100% First match deposit bonus up to $600 or $50 Freeplay | Freeplay money is awarded within the first 5 days after playing a single hand |
BetMGM | 100% First match deposit bonus up to $1000 + up to $75 in MTT tickets | MTT tickets value depends on deposit. To get the full $75 worth of tickets one needs to deposit $1,000 |
Borgata | 100% First match deposit bonus up to $1000 + up to $75 in MTT tickets | MTT tickets value depends on the deposit. To get the full $75 worth of tickets one needs to deposit $1,000 |
You can also take advantage of reward systems. When you wager on games you earn rewards that can be redeemed for online play and even at land-based partner casinos.
At the start of the nationwide poker boom (the early 2000s) PA punters didn’t have any place to enjoy the live game legally inside the Keystone State.
That changed in 2010 when Pennsylvania casinos were given the green light to offer peer-to-peer games to punters. Today, you can play live poker at many locations scattered throughout the state. These are your options:
Casino | Main event | Prize |
Parx Casino | Big Stax | n.a. |
Wind Creek Casino Poker Room | No event scheduled | n.a. |
Rivers Casino Pittsburgh | Deepstack tournament | n.a. |
Rivers Casino Philadelphia | Mega Rush Tournament | $200,000 |
Live! Philadelphia | Multi-Flight NLH | $150,000 |
Hollywood Casino at the Meadows | No event scheduled | n.a. |
Mount Airy Casino Resort | No event scheduled | n.a. |
Hollywood Casino at Penn National | No event scheduled | n.a. |
Harrah’s Philadelphia Poker Room | WSOP Circuit | $1,000,000 |
Tournament participants can avail of plenty of action at Parx Casino in Bensalem. The casino is home to daily tournaments as well as the Big Stax series events. Harrah’s Philadelphia Poker Room is also a significant location as it hosts the WSOP Circuit every April. The same venue also hosts the Philadelphia Poker Room offering more affordable events.
We can’t stress enough how important it is to play at legal sites only. At the time of writing (January 2023) there were 4 licensed gambling sites offering poker games. You can check the current list of all licensed online gambling sites as well as brick-and-mortar casinos (from Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board’s website)
There’s plenty of cash game and tournament action in PA that only requires a small fee or rake to play. If your budget is limited, stick to these games and get plenty of play for your buck. Keep in mind that your bankroll should be at least 10X the size of your stakes.
At PokerStars, the minimum buy-in is ten times the big bet. So, in a $2 game, the minimum buy-in is $20.
Always set a limit for yourself for your gaming session and stick to it. Once you have burnt through that limit, call it a day and return another day. Never borrow money in the hope of winning your losses back – it rarely works out.
Gambling while upset or angry is not a good idea and this is especially true for this game. Seasoned people will pick up on your bad emotional state and take advantage of it. Pros hone people skills and will spot a vulnerable player easily.
The shared Profitsquad tips should help you along the way, and the insight gained on which are the best platforms should guide you to make the right choice.
So have your pick at Keystone State’s poker sites, and enjoy the range of cash games and tournaments suitable for recreational players as well as pros.
Yes, as long as you play at one of the four licensed and regulated sites, you can play legally.
At the time of writing (January 2023), there were four licensed sites in PA – they are PokerStars, BetMGM, Borgata and WSOP PA. PartyPoker and GG Poker may join the market soon. Any other site than the ones mentioned are illegal in the state.
You don’t have to be a resident, however, to open an account and to play real money games, you’ll have to be physically within PA state borders.
Yes, you can. All four sites mentioned above offer apps for Android and iOS phones and tablets.
Yes, the licensing body – Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board – tests these sites and makes sure that the games are not rigged.
Yes, operators offer several deposit and withdrawal methods including debit and credit cards, wire transfers, e-wallets, and e-checks.
As for now, you can’t. Pennsylvania poker rooms are ring-fenced at the moment; however, the state has the option to join the interstate compact with New Jersey, Nevada and Delaware and is likely to do so in the future.
Questions? Email us:
[email protected]
Copyright © Profit Squad 2022.
All Rights Reserved. | Void where prohibited.
Applicable to users over the age of 21.
If you are concerned about gambling visit:
ProfitSquad is owned and operated by Parallel Value Ltd, Reg: C101034, Malta
