Pennsylvania has begun negotiations with member states to join the Multi-State Internet Gaming Agreement. [Image: Shutterstock.com]

Governor tells regulator to get going

It looks as if Pennsylvania poker players may get an exciting gift this holiday season. Late last week, the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB) began negotiations to join the Multi-State Internet Gaming Agreement (MSIGA). It would become the sixth state in the interstate online poker consortium.

According to PlayPennsylvania, Governor Josh Shapiro specifically instructed the PGCB to begin talking to the MSIGA members: New Jersey, Nevada, Delaware, Michigan, and West Virginia. West Virginia was the most recent state to join the group, doing so in November 2023.

Pennsylvania should capitalize on our status as a leader in legalized gambling, and join this compact”

In a letter to the PGCB, Governor Shapiro said: “Pennsylvania should capitalize on our status as a leader in legalized gambling, and join this compact, which would bring in additional revenue for the Commonwealth and allow players more gaming options.”

Target is by end of the year

There is no set timetable or deadline for Pennsylvania’s entrance into MSIGA. Rep. George Dunbar, the man who introduced the bill to allow Pennsylvania to join MSIGA, told PlayPennsylvania in June that he thought something could get done by the end of 2024.

He did tell the site, though, that despite his best guess, there is no set timeline. He believes that since other states already share liquidity, the process shouldn’t be too difficult. The road has already been paved.

our hope is to use those and get PA operational as soon as viable”

“Certainly, since there are ‘roadmaps’ from other jurisdictions already operating within the compact, our hope is to use those and get PA operational as soon as viable,” Dunbar said. “At the same time, every jurisdiction is different, so it is not possible at this early stage to predict the expediency of the complete launch process.”

Pennsylvania would be a huge addition

Adding Pennsylvania to the Multi-State Internet Gaming Agreement would certainly benefit the health of the US online poker industry. Pennsylvania is the largest state with legal, regulated online poker and already has a robust internet poker market.

When the Keystone State joins MSIGA, the additional players will drive up tournament prize pools and improve game selection. While players don’t need other players when it comes to online casino games, poker players need as many people as possible at the tables and in the lobby to make the poker experience an enjoyable one.

Right now, there are just two interstate online poker networks in the United States. WSOP Online covers Michigan, Nevada, and New Jersey, while PokerStars links sites in Michigan and New Jersey. Both WSOP.com and PokerStars operate in Pennsylvania, so one would expect the sites to grow their network as soon as they can.

Though they are part of MSIGA, Delaware and West Virginia do not currently have online poker rooms up and running. Delaware used to – its three racinos used 888poker’s platform and shared liquidity with WSOP.com in Nevada and New Jersey. In January 2024, however, the Delaware Lottery changed its iGaming provider to Rush Street Interactive, leaving the sites without an online poker engine.

Operators have avoided entering the West Virginia online poker market because of its small size.