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. ' PGCB staff have been working closely with Roar to launch the Party Poker and BetMGM apps, which will include interactive slots, table games and poker,' said Doug Harbach, Director of Communications for the PGCB, in an exclusive statement to pokerfuse. 'This includes testing of ROAR's interactive gaming platform and games. There is a mystery in Pennsylvania. On Monday, July 15, regulated online gaming launched in the state by way of a law that was passed in October 2017. And though online poker was a part of that gaming expansion and is now legal in Pennsylvania, no online poker sites were a part of that launch.
- Pennsylvania Online Poker Launch Dates Schedule Today
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- Pennsylvania Online Poker Launch Date
- Pennsylvania Online Poker Launch
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- On September 30, the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB) approved global online gaming company 888 Holdings to offer its services in the state. However, there has been no indication that a launch of online poker is imminent.
- Nov 08, 2019 Following a two-day soft launch period which began on November 4, the PokerStars online poker platform is officially open for business in Pennsylvania. Players physically located within state lines can now log on to PokerStarsMtAiryCasino.com to compete in real money cash games, multi-table tournaments, and one-table 'sit and go' tournaments.
After some stops and starts, Pennsylvania online poker players received good news on Wednesday. The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB) approved an interactive gaming license for BetMGM/Roar Digital.
The two companies partner in the US to offer the partypoker US Network in the US. Pennsylvania would make the platform's second state offering online poker.
However, a potential launch date hasn't been announced and Roar officials had no comment.
Getting the online poker party started in PA?
A new poker site in PA would give players at least another option. Under PGCB regulations, the MGM/Roar is recognized as a Qualified Gaming Entity (QGE). That means it operates as a stand-alone entity and doesn't need a land-based partner.
The PGCB also approved the company for sports betting (although it would need a land-based partner) and other real money online casino gaming. Party's possible entry into the market comes after some hiccups along the way.
The company was expected to be approved in August. PGCB chief enforcement counsel Cyrus Pitre spoke on the subject at the group's July 8 meeting.
However, that timeline was delayed and apparently shifted to October. Players will now be awaiting to see when the platform might launch.
In Pennsylvania, players would find another 'ringed-in' online poker option. That means users can only play others within the state. PokerStars already operates in this manner.
WSOP.com operates the only shared liquidity pact among Nevada, New Jersey, and with 888poker in Delaware. The future of interstate compacts remains unknown until the legal challenges regarding the Wire Act play out.
What to expect from a partypoker launch
Partypoker remains one of the best known online poker sites in the world. The company offers a nice software experience and has made major improvements to its mobile app in recent months.
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In New Jersey, the platform also includes the BetMGM and BorgataPoker.com skins. It's unknown if there will be additional skins in PA.
In recent months, party has ramped up some of its offerings in New Jersey. The company partners with the World Poker Tour for live and online events internationally.
That has also carried over to two recent events in New Jersey. The WPT Online Borgata Series in September featured 11 events and an overall guarantee of $275,000. The series proved a hit and ultimately paid out $912,000.
Pennsylvania offers a nice opportunity for even more events like this if the platform launches. With a population of almost 13 million, the state is the largest with legalized online poker. That's about 4 million more than in the Garden State.
Partypoker could help grow PA market
PokerStars launched in the Keystone State in November 2019 and has had a poker monopoly for almost a full year. The company has seen nice revenue in the state to coincide with other operators in New Jersey, Nevada, and Delaware.
While revenue numbers have declined in recent months, those are still at historically high levels. In September, PokerStars achieved online poker revenue of $2.4 million after an August total of $2.7 million.
The site has brought major series like the PA Championship of Online Poker (PACOOP) and major events like Pennsyl-MANIA to the state.
The partypoker approval could bring a second player in the market. The company has been bullish in recent years on expansion and that includes the US.
More PA live poker rooms reopen
Beyond online poker, many players have been happy to see live poker return in the Keystone State. Mount Airy was the first to return on Oct. 16. Others that have returned recently include:
- Meadows Racetrack and Casino
- Mohegan Sun Pocono
- Rivers Philadelphia
PA casinos began reopening in June under added safety protocols. However, poker rooms haven't been a part of that until now. As gamblers head back to casinos, PGCB officials expect the poker re-openings to spur table game revenues up further.
In September, table games accounted for $59.2 million in casino revenue. That's down from August's $65.1 million and $70.6 million in September 2019.
'The reopening of poker rooms will add to the positive performance of table games,' PGCB executive director Kevin O'Toole noted in Wednesday's meeting about the recent reopening of live poker rooms.
Many Pennsylvania players are also hoping a new online poker room heads their way soon as well. USPoker will continue to update this story as more details emerge.
Pennsylvania Online Poker Launch Dates Schedule Today
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* Updating an earlier version of this story.
After 888poker was recently approved by the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB), a WSOP.com launch in the Keystone State seemed close. That now appears to be delayed until 2021 USPoker has learned.
Despite the recent launch of several online pages related to WSOP.com Pennsylvania, a launch appears to be on hold.
WSOP.com partners with 888poker for its software in the US. The recent PA online additions included co-branding with WSOP's partner casino in the state – Harrah's Philadelphia.
Many players in the state have been eagerly awaiting another poker option and that now appears delayed.
PokerStars entered the state in November 2019, but players should have an alternative.
While early reports had launch set soon, new information now points to a 2021 launch. USPoker is tracking more news surrounding this issue.
What to expect from WSOP.com PA when there is a launch
Unlike players in New Jersey and Nevada, players in the Keystone State will welcome in a 'ringed-in' WSOP poker market. That means players will only battle against others within the state when the platform finally arrives,
The state hasn't approved interstate compacts yet because of the issues surrounding the Wire Act.
The Department of Justice has argued the act applies to other forms of online gaming outside sports. The DOJ has lost the first round in court, but the issue remains in appeals court.
PokerStars has been operating in the same environment and found some success. The addition of WSOP.com adds some momentum to the US online poker. While revenue has declined in recent months, 2020 numbers are way up year over year.
Andrew Langston is a 27-year-old recreational player living in York, PA. He is active in PA poker Facebook groups and is a regular online player.
He believes many players in his home state will be excited for a second online poker option. Langston hopes his home state can be a real leader in regulated US online poker.
'I honestly think it will be great,' Langston says. 'While PokerStarsPA has overall been a great addition to poker In the state, it does have its flaws. I think a little competition in the Pennsylvania market will only be good for the players.
'I haven't done any research yet, but I would hope we will be able to compete with New Jersey and Nevada and be eligible for WSOP events in the future.'
Pa Online Gambling Launch
Some competition in the state should make all sites better, Langston believes.
'I think players were excited when PokerStars came to the state but have had some growing pains with them,' he says. 'I think a fresh start with WSOP will help give us options and force PokerStars to listen to the players or lose them to a rival site.'
Some details on WSOP.com
WSOP.com is the online arm of the World Series of Poker and operated by Caesars Interactive Entertainment. While no launch date has been announced yet, Caesars received approval from the PGCB earlier this year.
The company already operates online casino gaming in PA. Now with 888 also receiving approval, an evenutual poker launch seems inevitable.
In its new online branding, WSOP.com detailed the legalese surrounding the new PA site. The operator has also launched some bonus and information pages, but that appears to have been removed.
WSOP.com remains the US market leader because of its presence in three states, known as the All American Poker Network.
In New Jersey, 888 also operates its own online poker platform. That site as well 888's Delaware online poker platform, shares player pools with Nevada and New Jersey.
It remains unknown if 888 will also run its own poker skin in PA. WSOP officials would offer no information on when to expect a launch.
WSOP executive director Ty Stewart had no comment but noted that, 'it is the goal to be able to have shared liquidity for all states including PA and Michigan.'
WSOP.com adds the cachet of the annual poker series that debuted in Las Vegas in 1970. Players in NJ and Nevada have the opportunity to win WSOP Circuit championship rings as well as online gold bracelets as at the live series.
No plans have been announced in this regard, but PA players should expect some interesting tournament options. WSOP/888 offer players a more narrow number of game variations – Texas Hold'em and Omaha.
Many rounders in the state will simply be pleased to have another option.
Expanding the market, gaining some online poker momentum
PA would make a nice addition to the All American network – doubling the number of players available. The four states with legalized online online poker have populations of:
- Pennsylvania –12.8 million
- New Jersey – 8.9 million
- Nevada – 3.1 million
- Delaware – 974,000
A future PA addition to the network would bring the All American Poker Network to cover almost 26 million people. Michigan and West Virginia have also legalized online poker but are still in the licensing and regulation stages.
A positive ruling in the Wire Act case could offer even more opportunities for the slowly growing US online market. The Michigan Senateapproved a bill legalizing interstate compacts on Sept. 30. The House was expected to do the same.
A future PA addition to the network would bring the All American Poker Network to cover almost 26 million people. Michigan and West Virginia have also legalized online poker but are still in the licensing and regulation stages.
A positive ruling in the Wire Act case could offer even more opportunities for the slowly growing US online market. The Michigan Senateapproved a bill legalizing interstate compacts on Sept. 30. The House was expected to do the same.
Pennsylvania Online Poker Launch In Pa
An interstate compact would also be ideal for West Virginia, a rural state that would struggle as its own market.
A federal appeals court heard arguments in the Wire Act case in June. A ruling is expected soon and could have major ramifications on iGaming beyond poker.
If things continue to go in the gaming industry's direction, this could offer a shot at major growth in online poker. Adding Pennsylvania to interstate compacts could offer even bigger player and prize pools.
Pennsylvania Online Poker Launch Date
PokerStars also offers online poker in PA and New Jersey. A positive ruling could allow the company to eventually combine those two player pools as well.
USPoker will monitor the Pennsylvania situation as more information becomes available.
Pennsylvania Online Poker Launch
Anthony Cicali III contributed to this report.
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