Pa Online Poker Sites

• PA Online Poker Sites 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.
• Online poker sites operating in Pennsylvania must be licensed by state regulators and must go through a licensing process similar to that of brick and mortar casinos. They will also have to segregate player funds from casino operating funds in order to guarantee that players can be paid.

1. Pa Online Poker Sites
2. Best Pa Online Poker Sites

Ever since the first stand-alone casino and legal real money poker licenses were issued in 2006, the gambling industry in Pennsylvania has boomed – so much so that it’s caused severe headaches for nearby gaming commissions in both New Jersey and Delaware. To date, 12 land-based casinos and real cash poker betting venues have opened their doors to the public of the Keystone State, with more to come in the near future.

Pennsylvania has a large selection of poker rooms for Texas holdem players of every skill level. While Texas holdem was exploding in popularity in the 2000’s the availability of games increased in PA just like in most states in the country. Use this handy Texas holdem poker rooms guide to find a great place. An online poker bill for legal Internet poker introduced in April by PA Rep. Tina Pickett, the Chairman of the House Committee on Gaming Oversight, appeared to be gaining some headway in the gambling committee, but Pickett herself said that she did not expect the lawful real money poker websites bill to move forward before its session expired at the end of 2014. Pennsylvania’s Online Poker Venues The PGCB has managed to sell almost all of its available licenses, with a handful still gathering dust. The majority of license holders are already teamed up with a software company that will help the land-based brands expand online.

But whereas brick and mortar casinos and lawful real money poker rooms have thrived in the Keystone State, prior attempts to enact online poker website legislation into law have stumbled. And while residents of the state of PA are more than able to play online poker and Internet poker games like Texas Hold’em poker at one of many top-ranking online poker websites, Pennslyvania’s burgeoning gambling and real cash poker betting community will likely have to wait at least a bit longer for state operated online poker websites to be legalized.

The Keystone State is surely ahead, in a liberal sense, when it comes to online gambling. Signing up for a real money US poker site account will be no problem.

Prior Attempt To Legalize Online Poker Stalls, But Study Results Offer New Hope

Quick Jump

• 4 Is Online Poker Legal In Pennsylvania?
• 5 The Facts

An online poker bill for legal Internet poker introduced in April by PA Rep. Tina Pickett, the Chairman of the House Committee on Gaming Oversight, appeared to be gaining some headway in the gambling committee ^[1], but Pickett herself said that she did not expect the lawful real money poker websites bill to move forward before its session expired at the end of 2014. Her pessimism was confirmed when a top ranking committee member stated that Pickett would prefer to stall the Internet poker bill until 2015.

To date, Pennsylvania has taken a “wait and see” approach to online gambling and real cash Internet poker. But now that neighboring New Jersey has at least mostly proven the viability of a regulated real money Internet poker iGaming market, the Keystone State appears poised to move full-steam ahead with its legal poker websites. The recent results of a gaming study should only facilitate the process.

In December 2013, Pennsylvania lawmakers commissioned Econsult Solutions to study the state’s gambling and poker betting industry. As part of its research, Econsult was tasked with measuring the fiscal implications and potential cannibalization effect of a state regulated iGaming Internet poker market. After four months of research, the report was presented to the Pennsylvania Legislation Budget and Finance Committee.

To sum up, the report indicated that a PA-based iGaming Internet poker betting industry would nicely complement its land-based casino and real money live poker room business. Econsult states that PA operators could reap over $300 million in yearly gross revenue from an iGaming Internet poker foray – approximately $50 million more in real cash betting profits than what is forecasted in New Jersey. Furthermore, a legal real money poker website iGaming market would potentially bolster brick and mortar casino and live lawful poker room revenue by upwards of $92 million.

The findings of the report were cause for optimism, illustrated by the PA State Senator’s positional shift regarding Internet poker gambling from neutral to positive.

Pa Online Poker Sites

Latest Pennsylvania Poker News

Can Players From Pennsylvania Play Online Poker?

Whether you’re from the tough streets of Philadelphia or Amish country, you can play online Internet poker games like Texas Hold’em poker for real money on poker websites in the state of Pennsylvania – as long as you have an Internet connection of course. Although no lawful Internet poker legislation has been passed that allows the state to regulate and operate Internet gambling or legit poker websites, players in PA are free to sign up with one of many US-facing, real-money online poker websites available to residents of the Keystone State.

• U. S. Poker Site
• Compatibillity
• Editor Rating
• Deposit Bonus

• Very player friendly
• Generous cashback
• Great mobile play

Is Online Poker Legal In Pennsylvania?

While we cannot claim to be an authority on the subject of real money Internet poker in Pennsylvania, we have dug up several points of interest regarding the legality of online poker and betting on poker websites as well as other forms of gambling in Pennsylvania:

• Online poker and Internet poker websites are not regulated by the state of Pennsylvania.
• In fact, online poker and Internet poker gambling for real cash are not mentioned at all in Pennsylvania gambling law.
• State regulated lotteries are offered by the state of PA. However, bingo can only be played for charitable or civic purposes.
• Pennsylvania is not exempt from federal laws that prohibit real money sports betting.
• Playing in social gambling circles like real money poker games at home does not appear to be illegal. However, hosting such a game does seem illegal, especially if the house takes a rake from the betting happening. As stated by Section 5513(2), anyone who allows persons to collect and assemble for the purpose of unlawful gambling or betting at any place under his control, can be charged with a misdemeanour in PA.
• Pennsylvania gambling and betting law is not very specific in regards to what is and is not considered unlawful gambling or poker betting. For instance, it is never explicitly states that playing real money poker is a form of gambling. Additionally, playing cards used in real cash poker betting are excluded from the state’s list of unlawful gambling devices.

So whereas other states explicitly state that running an underground home game where the house takes a rake is illegal, its legality within Pennsylvania’s borders resides in a decidedly grey area. And since online poker and playing Internet poker is never mentioned, it’s impossible to make a conclusion one way or the other about how legal poker websites are in PA. All we know for sure is that online gambling and real money betting hasn’t been formally legalized.

Those more interested in Pennsylvanian gambling and poker betting laws are encouraged to visit the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board’s website ^[2].

House Bill 1235

House Bill 1235 ^[3] is the name of the gambling bill introduced by PARep. Pickett in April, 2013. It calls for the legalization of most forms of Internet gaming, including Internet poker, slots and casino-style table games. Bingo, the state lottery, keno and other lesser known card games were left out of the real cash Internet poker bill.

Under the bill, real money poker website licensees would be required to pay a one-time, non-refundable licensing fee of $5 million – down from $16.5 million. A renewal fee of $500,000 would be charged every three years. Licensees would pay a 28% of gross real cash betting revenue in taxes – down from the staggering 45% originally proposed by Pickett.

The Facts

The History of Gambling in Pennsylvania

As early as the Colonial period, George Washington would attend local races held by the Philadelphia Jockey Club where lawful real cash betting would take place. In the early 1800s, Hunting Park would become one of the most prestigious horseracing gambling tracks in the country. And although horseracing would be outlawed by the state in 1820, that didn’t deter local organizations and emerging forces from hosting local real cash betting events.

During the Great Depression of the 1930s, Pennsylvania sought ways to revitalize its struggling economy. One of these ways was to lift the long-standing ban on harness and thoroughbred racing gambling. Other states, including neighboring Delaware, would also legalize horseracing around the same time, causing the nation’s horseracing real money betting industry to boom.

But it wasn’t until 1971 that the state would entertain the full gambling debate. That year, Pennsylvania legalized the state’s first regulated lottery. Shortly thereafter, amiss rumors of alleged scandal, real cash lottery gambling regulations were strengthened. In 1981, bingo was legalized, in so long as the real money betting proceeds were donated to charitable institutions.

In 1982, around the same time Atlantic City was beginning to thrive, the state of PA took on the issue of land-based casinos and real money poker rooms. Several gambling and betting bills were proposed – all of them failed.

The casino and live legit poker debate would wage on for over twenty years, until finally in 2004 the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board was founded. This led to the first brick and mortar casino, Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs [4], opening in November, 2006. Several other slots casinos, including Mount Airy Casino, would follow suit. But it wasn’t until 2010 that the popularity of physical real money gambling casinos exploded. It was then that table games like blackjack, roulette, craps, and of course legal real money poker were introduced. Since that time, table games have been pulling in approximately $55 million in real cash betting revenue per month ^[5].

As of the time of this writing, Sands Bethlehem ^[6] is the biggest and most profitable casino and live lawful poker betting venue in Pennsylvania. It’s also the one casino that may serve as a deterrent to the online poker and Internet poker betting legalization process, as its owned by Las Vegas casino mogul and staunch opponent of online gambling and legal real money poker websites, Sheldon Adelson.

Online poker is not yet legal in Pennsylvania, but it should be fairly soon as the Keystone State has seen land-based gaming thrive during the past decade.

Regulated Gambling Options in Pennsylvania

To date, 12 land-based casinos and real money poker rooms are regulated by the state of Pennsylvania. Six of these casinos also operate horseracing tracks. The Keystone State is also home to a plethora of racinos.

Overall, the amount of regulated gambling and legit betting facilities in Pennsylvania is expected to rise dramatically over the next several years.

The Future of Regulated Online Gambling in Pennsylvania

Right now, no form of online gambling, including Internet poker is regulated by the state of Pennsylvania. However, it appears that lawmakers will reintroduce a new iGaming legal poker websites bill during 2015. Thanks to a wealth of literature and data that supports the sustainability of an iGaming real cash Internet poker market in the Keystone State, any new bill introduced stands a significantly better chance of passage than the one prior.

The Bottom Line

Will we eventually see online gambling and lawful Internet poker websites in Pennsylvania? Almost definitely, and probably fairly soon. Representatives of the state of PA have been keeping a close eye on states that have already legalized online gambling and Internet poker betting for quite some time now, both in an attempt to learn from their mistakes and to determine if creating real cash poker websites is a profitable undertaking.

To conclude, it is quite likely that residents of Pennsylvania will be check-raising donkeys on the virtual felt at legal real money Internet poker websites in PA by sometime in 2015.

References

[1] ↑Pennsylvania Online Gaming Bill Moves to Committee

[2] ↑Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board

[3] ↑House Bill 1235

[4] ↑Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs

[5] ↑Gaming Revenue Report 2012-13

[6] ↑Sands Bethlehem

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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.

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.

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.

Best Pa Online Poker Sites

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

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