US Online Poker: The Latest State-by-State Updates

Pennsylvania: MSIGA Membership is Official

It’s been a long time coming, but Pennsylvania is now officially part of MSIGA, meaning players from the Key Stone State will soon be able to compete in a shared player pool with other regulated states. The process wasn’t simple though — Governor Josh Shapiro had to step in last year to push things forward after years of stalled efforts. But the final hurdle’s been cleared, and Pennsylvania’s nearly 13 million residents will have access to a much larger US online poker scene.

The timeline for player pooling is still up in the air, but early 2025 — likely April — is the target. Now, it’s up to operators like WSOP.com, PokerStars, and BetMGM Poker to complete technical testing and regulatory requirements to make it happen. If things go smoothly, Pennsylvania players could be competing in multi-state tournaments just in time for WSOP Online 2025.

New York: Another Push for Online Poker

New York has flirted with online poker legislation for years, and 2025 is shaping up to be another big push. Senator Gary Pretlow has reintroduced Senate Bill 2614, aiming to legalize online poker as part of a broader online casino package. The bill is already sitting with the Senate Racing, Gaming, and Wagering Committee, which Pretlow chairs — so it’s got strong initial backing.

One major issue? The bill doesn’t mention MSIGA or shared player pools. That’s a big miss, considering how much it would boost the state’s poker scene. On the one hand, this could be a strategic move to make the bill more appealing to lawmakers hesitant about online gambling expansion. But if New York does legalize poker without MSIGA, it could end up like Pennsylvania and Michigan in their early years — operating as a standalone market before eventually joining a multi-state network.

Meanwhile, Senator Joseph Addabbo is pushing a separate bill for broader iGaming regulation, including measures targeting unregulated sweepstakes casinos. You can read the details regarding both bills here.

New Jersey: Regulating Sweepstakes Casinos?

New Jersey already has a well-established US online poker scene, but a new bill could shake things up this year. Assemblyman Clinton Calabrese introduced Assembly Bill 5196 not long ago, aiming to regulate sweepstakes online casinos. For those out of the loop, these platforms use a dual-currency system to operate in a legal gray area and have become more and more popular across the US. While traditional casino operators aren’t thrilled about the competition, Calabrese argues that regulation is the best approach.

The bill has already gained support from the Social and Promotional Games Association (SPGA), a group representing sweepstakes poker operators. However, the bill will likely face resistance from New Jersey’s existing gambling industry at some point. After all, if passed, this bill would mark the first real attempt to bring sweepstakes gaming under state regulation — a move that could set a precedent for other states.

Wyoming: A Surprising iGaming Proposal

Wyoming might not be the first place that comes to mind when you think of US online poker, but a new bill—House Bill 162—aims to change that. Unlike New York’s proposal, this bill explicitly includes a provision for player pooling with other states, making it a much more promising prospect for online poker.

With fewer than 600,000 residents, Wyoming would struggle to sustain a poker market on its own, so linking up with other states is essential. The bill also includes online casino games and pari-mutuel wagering, meaning it covers a broad range of online gambling options. If passed, Wyoming could become an interesting addition to the US online poker scene.

Indiana: Picking Up Where It Left Off

Indiana was once a frontrunner for US online poker legalization, but a corruption scandal in 2023 put everything on hold. Now, State Rep. Ethan Manning is leading a new push with House Bill 1432. The bill covers a wide range of gambling topics, including online poker and casino games.

Indiana already has a strong online sports betting market, so adding online poker seems like a logical next step. But given the state’s recent history, lawmakers may still be hesitant. The bill has been assigned to the House Committee on Public Policy, which Manning chairs, so it has a good chance of at least making it to a vote this time around.

Massachusetts: Twin Bills for Online Poker

Massachusetts is another state revisiting online poker in 2025, with two separate bills — HD 4084 in the House and SD 2240 in the Senate. Both bills explicitly include online poker, making them some of the most straightforward proposals in recent years.

One unique aspect of the bills is that operators would be allowed a second, separately branded online poker platform in addition to their main casino site. The idea is to create a dedicated online poker space rather than lumping it in with online casino games.

While Massachusetts has made progress with sports betting, its lawmakers haven’t shown much interest in online poker until now. Whether these bills gain traction remains to be seen, but having legislation on the table is at least a step in the right direction.

Where Do Things Stand for US Online Poker in 2025?

If it wasn’t clear before, there are a lot of moving parts when it comes to US online poker at the moment. Right now, Pennsylvania is set to become the latest state to offer multi-state online poker, with player pooling likely by April 2025. New York, Indiana, and Massachusetts are making new pushes to legalize online poker, while Wyoming’s bill explicitly supports player pooling from the start. Meanwhile, New Jersey is tackling sweepstakes casinos, a growing part of the online gaming world.

For poker players, the key takeaway is that change is happening. Some states are moving quickly, while others are still in the early stages of debate. If even one or two of these new bills pass in 2025, the landscape for US online poker could look very different a year from now.