What Shared Liquidity in Pennsylvania Means for Online Poker

Aerial view of the Benjamin Franklin Bridge framed by the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania skyline.

History of Online Poker

There was a time when online poker rooms operated in a single, open market. But as online play grew in popularity and profitability, government regulation became inevitable. In the U.S., the crackdown on iGaming came swiftly, and it wasn’t until 2012 that Delaware became the first state to legalize online poker, followed shortly by Nevada.

Since then, the number of states that have legalized iGaming has grown to seven. But the challenge of maintaining a viable online poker ecosystem in smaller, localized markets has persisted.

To address this, in 2014, Delaware and Nevada signed the first Multi-State Internet Gaming Agreement, or MSIGA, allowing the states to share their player pools. The move introduced greater table variance for users and created new opportunities for interstate operators like WSOP, PokerStars and BetMGM to merge their services. The result; a wider variety of games, larger prize pools and increased revenue.

New Jersey, Michigan and West Virginia have since joined MSIGA, and now, Pennsylvania is set to follow.

Pennsylvania Deals In

Both players and lawmakers in Pennsylvania have long supported shared liquidity. In March 2024, House Bill 2078, introduced by Rep. George Dunbar, was referred to the House Gaming Oversight committee. The bill directed the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB) to request MSIGA membership. It received strong public backing and sparked the online campaign #GrowPAPoker.

Industry outlets like PokerNews and Pokerfuse.com amplified the movement and PokerStars USA, which operates in the state, even hosted a special freeroll tournament for Pennsylvanians. Despite the overwhelming public support, the bill ultimately failed to advance through the House.

Momentum returned in October 2024, when Gov. Josh Shapiro formally requested in a letter to the PGCB to initiate MSIGA negotiations. By December, PGCB Communications Director Doug Harbach confirmed Pennsylvania had been invited to join.

“We have been invited by the compact and are awaiting paperwork from them to review,” Harbach announced in an interview with Pokerfuse. “If we are in agreement and can sign off to formally join, the process will still take a bit more time as we work with the operators and assure that all tenets of the law and PGCB regulations are being met.”

In his letter, Gov. Shapiro indicated that the move was intended to keep the Pennsylvania gambling sector competitive. As online gambling participation among adults in the state has grown from 11% to 19% over the last four years, according to the 2024 Pennsylvania Interactive Gaming Assessment by Penn State. The move could also benefit the poker scene in the neighboring state of New Jersey.

Pooling Players, Raising Stakes

Under MSIGA, players in New Jersey already share tables with those in Michigan and Nevada. But Pennsylvania’s population, over 13 million, could dramatically expand the network.

Analysts estimate Pennsylvania could bring in more than 15,000 active daily players, significantly boosting prize pools, tournament offerings, and breathing new life into the poker economy across the Eastern U.S. Every state that has joined MSIGA so far has experienced a notable increase in online gambling revenue within the first year, and projections suggest operators could see revenue gains of up to 40% with Pennsylvania on board.

The PGCB previously projected Pennsylvania could join the compact by the end of Q1 2025, but as March draws to a close, there are no official updates. However, the region continues to evolve as Connecticut introduced a bill earlier this month proposing entry into the compact as well.

Phil is a poker content creator, social media strategist, and avid player who has been involved in the game since 2019. He started out playing low-stakes home games before transitioning to casino cash games and tournaments. Through his poker-focused social media brand, @philthebeast, he has built a strong following and worked with several major names in poker media. Passionate about making poker fun and accessible, Phil’s goal is to grow the game and share his love for it with a wider audience.