The state hasn’t seen the online poker participation it previously forecast
Online poker providers in Pennsylvania recently reported their lowest monthly revenue in nearly four years. This comes just after West Virginia entered the Multi-State Internet Gaming agreement, allowing online poker pools to be shared between states.
Michigan’s admission into the group this year has supposedly increased the number of players significantly in that state and New Jersey after PokerStars combined its player pools, which are currently the biggest in the MSIGA.
It seems as if iPoker operators would profit from having an even bigger state, Pennsylvania, join the compact, and how it would help some of the 12.9 million Pennsylvania residents play their favorite game against others from Michigan, New Jersey, Delaware, Nevada and West Virginia.
However, an agreement appears no closer than when PokerStars launched in Pennsylvania in November 2019. The state currently has four operators, PokerStars, BetMGM, Borgata and WSOP, who generated $2.35 million in revenue in October 2023, the lowest since February 2020.
Joining the MSIGA could expand iPoker in the state by creating more expansive player pools, allowing a broader range of cash games and more tournaments with bigger prize pools.
Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board spokesperson Doug Harbach says iGaming operators have inquired about the state’s interest in joining the MSIGA, which the agency doesn’t decide. However, they would have involvement in any future discussions.
For now, Pennsylvania online poker players have four choices, with PokerStars responsible for over 60% of total monthly revenue, which is no more than what PokerStars made when it was the only operator in the state in 2020-21.
While Pennsylvania’s entry into the MSIGA wouldn’t match the surge in revenue enjoyed during the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic, it would increase play and revenue. But the question remains if poker providers and players will ever find out.
Editor at the Big Blind, is a rising star in gambling journalism with a decade of experience, focusing on clear and accessible communication for a diverse audience.
