Online Poker In Pa Sites
It took until the end of November 2019 for online poker in PA to get formally legalized. This made the Keystone State the fourth US state where players can play poker games online legally. More importantly, it marked the start of an era of safe and regulated PA poker sites.
American Poker Sites Real Money
In this article, we will take a look at the present landscape of Pennsylvania online poker. We will also see which poker websites have set up shop since the bill was introduced and what they have to offer.
Online poker is back in Pennsylvania. Many of the biggest and best-known poker sites are now legal and licensed to run games within state lines. They include PokerStars – with partypoker and WSOP.com expected to join soon. As a player you can take advantage of the big marketing budgets these sites will use to gain traction in the Keystone State. Online poker is officially live in Pennsylvania! After a two-day soft launch for testing, PokerStars PA (in partnership with Mount Airy Casino) went live to the public on Nov. Early returns were impressive with peak 24-hour traffic of 895 players and a seven-day average of almost 500 players.
Is Online Poker Legal in PA?
As we’ve said in the beginning, online poker in PA has been legal since late 2019. This means that poker pundits who reside within the state can play real-money poker at licensed online poker sites. Since the launch, the number of sites and tournaments has steadily been increasing.
However, the road to this point hit its fair share of bumps. The move to regulate online gambling began back in 2013. This is when the gaming regulatory officials first started to look into legal and regulatory requirements. Following years of discussions, studies, and delays, it took until 2017 for the legislation to move forward.
Finally, after another two-year delay, the governor of Pennsylvania, Tom Wolf, signed the Bill H 271 on November 4, 2019. Apart from PA online poker, the bill also legalized interactive casino games, daily fantasy sports, and sports betting, making history in the process.
How Legal Online Poker Sites Work in Pennsylvania
In order to start offering online poker in PA, software providers must enter a partnership with an established land-based casino. At this time, the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board approved seven land-based casinos to begin offering online poker in PA. In order to apply for a license to offer casino and poker games online, casino operators must pay $10 million.
When it comes to accessing poker games online, players usually have to download a desktop client in or a mobile app. This provides a more stable playing experience and also gives players the possibility to play at more than one table at the same time. There are four main poker formats you will find at the best online poker sites:
- Poker tournaments – Although they often come with variations, in general, poker tournaments have a knockout format. Each player starts off with their own stack of chips and the gameplay continues until there is only one player left. Naturally, the winner takes the entire pot.
- Cash games – These types of games usually have two, six, or nine players. The chips have a monetary value and can be refilled up to a predetermined maximum, throughout the game.
- Sit & Go tournaments – They come with a predetermined number of players which can go up to 120. Participants buy their way in and sometimes also pay the tournament fee. The tournament is played at multiple tables and the prizes are handed out according to the tournament’s prize pool structure.
PA Online Poker: Welcome Offers and Promotions
It did not take long since the launch for Pennsylvania online poker market to become extremely competitive. But, as it often does, the competition brought players a number of benefits. Operators consistently try to one-up each other and reel in new users with promotional offers, bigger tournaments and a better choice of poker games online. Some of the promotional offers you will commonly see are the following:
- Matched welcome bonuses – This is the most commonly offered type of a welcome bonus. The operator matches your first deposit, usually 100%, essentially doubling your initial playing credit.
- No-deposit bonuses – Sometimes, poker sites offer free chips or buy-ins, without the need for a deposit. However, these types of bonuses usually come with heavy wagering requirements, before any winnings can be withdrawn.
- Reload bonuses – Operators might also offer bonuses for reloading your account down the line. However, as these bonuses are meant for existing customers, they are usually lower than welcome bonuses.
- Loyalty programs – Some operators have loyalty programs that offer tiered bonuses players unlock by being active on the website.
Depositing and Withdrawal at PA Online Poker Sites
Making online poker in PA legal made it much less risky for players to deposit and withdraw funds. Generally, the exact list of payment options varies with operators. However, these are the most common payment options you will have in the best online poker sites:
Credit / Debit cards – Making deposits with Visa and MasterCard is supported by all PA poker sites. Some also accept Discover cards.</li>
Prepaid Play+ cards – Some operators offer branded prepaid cards, which you can use to deposit and withdraw funds.
PayPal – It’s the most popular online wallet in the US. It acts as an intermediary between your bank account and the online casino, keeping your sensitive information hidden. For many PA poker players, it is the most convenient option for deposits and withdrawals.
Neteller / Skrill – Both of the services work in a similar way to PayPal and have been popular payment options in iGaming for years. Like PayPal, they have quick processing times but come with hefty fees.
eChecks – eChecks or ACH transfers are a way to transfer money directly to and from your bank account. Online operators usually allow you to pre-verify your banking information which significantly speeds up the process.
Bank Wire – Although slower than eChecks, Bank Wires are another way to transfer money directly from your bank. It’s mostly used to transfer larger amounts.
Money order / Paper Check – Although it comes with the longest processing times, most operators allow you to withdraw funds via paper checks.
Casino cage – Each Pennsylvania online poker operator gives you the option to make deposits and withdraw funds at their partnered land-based casino.
PayNearMe – Some operators allow you to make a deposit to your account through 7-Eleven and CVS stores.
PA Online Poker Partnerships
As we’ve said, online poker in PA is offered through partnerships between brick and mortar casinos and iGaming software providers. It’s important to emphasize that, for the time being, PA poker sites are ring-fenced. This means that PA players can only play with other players within the state.
In the next section, we will take a closer look at some of the best online poker sites currently active in the US.
Mount Airy Casino & PokerStars
PokerStars officially became the first one PA poker provider to launch, having entered a partnership with Mount Airy Casino Resort, back in August 2018. The casino launched as soon as Pennsylvania online poker became legal, on November 4, 2019.
PokerStars is known for its well-designed platform with many considering it to be one of the best online poker sites. It is also the largest operator in the world, offering weekly tournaments, frequent promotions, and plenty of game variations.
Valley Forge Casino and GVC / PartyPoker
Owned by GVC holdings, PartyPoker is one of the oldest poker-related brands in the US. The operator has been a hugely popular option with poker players New Jersey. The operator offers an excellent mobile platform that allows players to participate in up to 4 games. It is likely we will see it operating in Pennsylvania in the coming months.
Harrah’s Casino and 888 / WSOP.com
Free Poker Sites
Through its partnership with Harrah’s Casino and 888, WSOP.com currently has the largest player base in the business. Recent WSOP.com tournaments have generated massive attention, drawing crowds of new users. The website offers six-hand and nine-hand cash games, and Sit & Go tournaments. There are also games like Pot Limit Omaha, Omaha 8 or Better, and No Limit Holden tables.
Live Poker in PA
In total, there are currently ten live poker rooms in PA. Here is the full list:
- Harrah’s Philadelphia
- The Meadows Casino
- Wind Creek Casino
- Presque Isle Casino
The legal online poker market in Pennsylvania is one of the largest in the United States. And that’s despite the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board blocking PA online poker operators from accepting players from out of state.
The states of Nevada, Delaware, and New Jersey allow player pools, also referred to as liquidity-sharing. That means players in all three states can play online poker against each other. Pennsylvania is currently not among them.
However, the state of PA has as many residents as NV, DE, and NJ combined. So the ring-fenced local market still has a comparable number of potential players. Even with these restrictions, the PA online poker industry is promising and will offer a lot for players in the state.
PA Online Poker Sites 2021
| PA Poker App | Free-Play Bonus | Deposit Bonus |
|---|---|---|
| PokerStars | Deposit $20, get $30 in Free-Play | 100% up to $600 |
PokerStars Pennsylvania
PokerStars (in partnership with Mount Airy Casino Resort of the Poconos) is the only legally licensed, live online poker site in PA.
PokerStars PA is a download-only online poker room available on Apple and Windows computers as well as Android and iOS devices.
This brand launched in November 2019. It remains the only option for online poker players in the state, as of early 2021.
What Other Legal Online Poker Sites Are Coming To Pennsylvania?
The only two online poker platforms that will go live in Pennsylvania are WSOP in partnership with 888 and Partypoker, which is currently live in New Jersey. While there is no definitive timeline on when these will go live, we’ve listed our best guess on launch below.
| Online Poker Platform | Launch Estimation | Land-Based Partner |
|---|---|---|
| WSOP PA in partnership with 888 | Late 2020 | Harrah’s Philadelphia |
| PartyPoker PA | Mid 2021 | Valley Forge Casino |
WSOP PA
Even people who have never played poker know about the WSOP, or the World Series of Poker. WSOP.com is currently live in Delaware, Nevada, and New Jersey. They also have a partnership with Harrah’s Philadelphia.
Further, the 888 platform, which will launch WSOP PA, is ready for launch. All they’re waiting on is approval from the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board.
PartyPoker PA
PartyPoker’s parent company, GVC Holdings, signed a 50/50 joint venture with MGM to release a wide range of gambling products. A PartyPoker PA release in partnership with Valley Forge Casino Resort is one of them.
While the timeline on their release is even more uncertain than WSOP, it’s a near-certainty that PartyPoker PA will be released sometime before the end of 2021.
What Online Poker Bonuses Are Available In Pennsylvania?
The PokerStars PA online casino is the only legal online poker site currently live in Pennsylvania. And despite the lack of competition, PokerStars PA, in partnership with Mt Airy Casino, offers some enticing bonuses.
Deposit-Match Bonus
The deposit-match bonus will get you the most free money in the long-term.
At PokerStars Pennsylvania, you can claim a 100% deposit bonus up to $600. You have three deposits over 60 days to take advantage of the full amount.
The free money is credited in increments $10, or 140 redemption points. Every $1 you pay in either tournament fees or rake (AKA the platform’s commission fees) earns 5 redemption points.
PokerStars PA limits new players to either the Deposit-Match Bonus or the Free Play Bonus. You cannot take advantage of both.
Free Play Bonus
Rather than wait for your rewards, you can receive $30 upfront with a first deposit of at least $20.
Within 36 hours of your deposit, you’ll receive $10 in free money. Within seven days, you’ll receive another $10. And the rest of the money is credited through tournament tickets (three $1, one $2, and one $5 buy-ins).
This deposit also counts toward the Depositor Freeroll tournament, which takes place on the last Sunday of each month.
Freeroll Tournaments
Freeroll tournaments allow players to compete for real-money prizes without buying a ticket.
On the last Sunday of every month, PokerStars PA will host a variety of freeroll tournaments for members.
They will likely offer more once other online poker sites launch in PA. More competition always means more promotions, including freeroll tourneys.
Rewards Program
The Stars Rewards points don’t just unlock the deposit-match bonus. All players earn them as they play for real money. You can cash in earned points for rewards chests that unlock personalized prizes, such as bonus cash or prize entries.
Does Pennsylvania Share Online Poker Player Pools With Any Other States?
No. And the lack of shared-liquidity is the biggest downside to the Pennsylvania online poker market.
The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB) requires localized servers for igaming operators in the state. That is specifically to prevent any chance of interstate online gambling of any kind. But that also means the online poker market will, for the foreseeable future, be much slower to grow than PA sports betting and online casino sites.
As mentioned above, the state of Pennsylvania has as many residents than Delaware, New Jersey, and Nevada combined, which do share a player pool. However, that also means PA joining the other three states would double both markets. The more players, the larger the tournaments and variety of challengers. Learn more about NJ online poker and how player pools work.
This also may affect the ability of Pennsylvania players to qualify for the World Series of Poker online. Of course, the brick-and-mortar casinos will offer satellite tournaments. And if WSOP PA launches as soon as expected, you’ll be able to qualify through that site.
Both players and online poker operators are wholly at the mercy of the PGCB. So, until new develops arise, only time will tell.
Do Pennsylvania’s Online Poker Sites Offer Mobile Apps?
Yes. The only way to play on the PokerStars PA platform is by downloading it. That applies to the desktop version as well as mobile. That means everything expressed in this overview of PA online poker applies to mobile apps.
To find the PokerStars PA app for Android, you need to visit pokerstarsmtairycasino.com/mobile and download it directly. You cannot find it in the Google Play Store, which blocks gambling apps.
Pennsylvania Poker
You can find the iOS PokerStars PA app the same way. Or you can search for it directly in the Apple App Store, which does not block gambling apps.
If you do search for it in the App Store, be sure you’re downloading the PA version. In the icon, it will have the word “Pennsylvania” beneath the red spade logo. Look for the exact name: “PokerStars Poker Real Money PA.”
The size of the PokerStars mobile app is 105.7 MB. At the time of writing this review, the average rating in the App Store was 4.6 stars out of over 7,200 ratings. If this were a sportsbook or casino app, it’d be one of the top-rated options in the state.
The PokerStars PA app is optimized for phones, tablets, and desktop screens.
There is no notable difference between the PokerStars PA desktop app and its mobile app. Likely, this will come down to the performance of the device. The only difference is the screen size.
Pennsylvania Online Poker FAQ
You need to be 21 or older to enter a land-based casino or sportsbook in PA. The same is true for the legal online casino, sportsbook, and poker rooms. You also need to be physically located in the state. You do not need to be a legal PA resident.
No. DraftKings does not currently offer online poker in Pennsylvania. And it probably never will. However, DraftKings PA has one of the highest-quality sportsbooks and online casinos in the state. On the online casino site, you can play both digital and live dealer casino poker. They also have a nice selection of video poker games.
Yes. PokerStars Mount Airy Casino is the only legal and live online poker site in Pennsylvania.
PokerStars PA is download-only, meaning you can’t play poker in PA through a web browser. However, it is available on both desktop and mobile devices.
New members can take advantage of lucrative welcome offers. Established members can cash in rewards points for bonus cash.
Your PokerStars PA account will also give you access to the PokerStars Casino as well as the FOX Bet sportsbook.
All legal online poker sites in Pennsylvania will have easy and common payment methods for deposits. These include:
- E-wallets like Skrill and PayPal.
- Credit and debit cards like Visa and MasterCard.
- Pay-in-Person Locations like PayNearMe and Vanilla Direct.
- Direct bank transfer
- Instant eChecks
These are the same deposit methods as PokerStars PA companion products: the PokerStars Casino and the FOX Bet sportsbook. As such, you can use your deposited funds at PokerStars for casino games and sports betting too.
Legal Poker Sites In Pa
10 Best Free Poker Sites
While all withdrawal methods are available for deposit, not all deposit methods are available for withdrawal. These are the cashout options currently available at PokerStars PA:
- Skrill (e-wallet)
- PayPal (e-wallet)
- Instant eChecks
Online Poker Sites In Pa
Those withdrawal options also apply to the PokerStars Casino and FOX Bet sportsbook. You can not currently withdraw in cash at the Mount Airy Casino cage. However, that may change.