Pennsylvania Online Poker Shuffles Into the MSIGA — Finally

The MSIGA Deal: Who’s In, What’s Changing?

With over 150,000 online poker players and a population of more than 13 million, Pennsylvania isn’t just adding to the mix — it reshapes the pot. Its entry boosts the MSIGA player pool by around 50%, expanding the total shared base to roughly 38 million Americans across six states.

This expansion doesn’t just mean more opponents at the tables — it means fewer lobbies sitting empty, bigger guaranteed prize pools, and tournaments that actually feel like, well, tournaments.

The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board has already made clear it’s working closely with operators to ensure a smooth and secure transition. The goal? Fair play, fast action, and a unified experience across state lines. No legalese required — just more hands dealt and more chips in play.

Big news for Pennsylvania online poker players! Governor Josh Shapiro has officially signed the agreement for the state to join the Multi-State Internet Gaming Agreement (MSIGA).

Starting April 28th, online poker operators will begin integrating their platforms, allowing… pic.twitter.com/aPz8EPhk7E

— Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (@PAGamingControl) April 23, 2025

Shapiro’s “Common Sense” Move

Speaking to Poker Hall of Famer Mori Eskandani in a seven-minute call for PokerGO, Governor Shapiro didn’t mince words. “I think it’s common sense,” he said, when asked about joining the interstate pact.

Shapiro framed the move not as a pro-gambling push, but as a win for personal freedom. And he’s not wrong—interstate liquidity has long been seen as essential to bringing U.S. online poker closer to its global counterparts.

Oh, and about that friendly game inside PokerGO Studio that Eskandani pitched? Shapiro didn’t fold. “That would be cool,” he said. “We should do that.”

BetMGM First to Shuffle Up in the Shared Pool

While this news is literally hot off the presses, one operator isn’t waiting around. BetMGM Poker announced it will go live with the new shared player pool — including Pennsylvania — on Monday, April 28 at 9 a.m. local time. That means Pennsylvanians will soon be battling it out on the virtual felt against players from New Jersey and Michigan.

According to BetMGM VP of Gaming Angus Nisbet, “Pennsylvania represents the largest state to join the shared player pool and turbocharges our poker platform.” Bigger games, more tournaments, and deeper fields are expected right out of the gate.

BetMGM ambassador and WPT champ Darren Elias — who, fittingly, once called Pennsylvania home — added: “I can’t wait to log in and get in the mix.”

What About WSOP.com and PokerStars?

While BetMGM is first out of the gate, other major platforms haven’t confirmed their launch dates just yet. WSOP PA and PokerStars PA are expected to join the MSIGA fold, but both are staying quiet on timelines for now.

Given the competitive edge shared liquidity brings — bigger games, better guarantees — it seems likely it’s just a matter of time before they ante up.

What Pennsylvania Online Poker Means for the Bigger Picture

Pennsylvania’s move might not be the final piece, but it’s a big one. It signals real momentum toward a more unified U.S. online poker scene — one where players aren’t limited by state borders, and operators can finally offer the kind of schedules and prize pools that make players take notice.

It’s also a call to action for other states still on the sidelines. As Shapiro put it, this isn’t about pushing people to play — it’s about making it easy and safe if they choose to.

And if the Pennsylvania online poker numbers are anything to go by — $2.7 billion annually from legal gambling — the incentive for others to join MSIGA just got a whole lot clearer.