Pennsylvania gamblers are now permitted to try their luck in multi-state online poker games.  As of Monday, April 28, Pennsylvania has become the sixth state to join the Multi-State Internet Gaming Agreement (MSIGA) for online poker. Gov. Josh Shapiro announced last week that the move allows the state to combine its online poker player pool with those of New Jersey, Nevada, Delaware, West Virginia, and Michigan.

State officials estimate the agreement will impact approximately 150,000 online poker players in Pennsylvania and expand the overall player pool by more than 50%. Pennsylvania is now the largest state in the shared online poker market, which covers over 38 million people.

Shapiro said the agreement is a "commonsense step" that will support players, grow the state's economy, and generate more revenue for various state programs.

The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB) said it will work with online operators and other state gaming agencies to ensure fair and tested platforms for players. The expansion is expected to lead to larger prize pools without increased buy-in amounts.

According to the governor's office, poker players generally supported Pennsylvania entering the multi-state market, anticipating increased competition, larger prize pools, growth in the poker industry, support for smaller operators, and a reduction in unregulated play.

BetMGM and PA Borgata Online are expected to be among the first operators to offer these games, with others anticipated to join.

Pennsylvania's gaming sector includes 17 retail casinos and 22 associated online casino gaming sites, employing over 15,000 people. The state generates nearly $2.7 billion annually in tax revenue from legalized gambling, which is used for school property tax reductions, agricultural purchases, and grants for projects statewide.