Pennsylvania Poker Joins MSIGA: Player Pooling Set for 2025

Pennsylvania’s Long Road to MSIGA Membership

This milestone has been a long time coming – to say the least. It comes after years of advocacy, jumping over legislative hurdles, and serious administrative efforts to bring Pennsylvania into the MSIGA fold. Doug Harbach, Communications Director for the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB), confirmed the state’s acceptance of the invitation issued collectively by current MSIGA members: Delaware, New Jersey, Nevada, Michigan, and West Virginia.

Sharing the news, Harbach added that the state is now awaiting the final bulk paperwork, which will then be signed and returned to Delaware. Once the ink is dry, Pennsylvania’s nearly 13 million residents will join a shared poker ecosystem, connecting them to players across the country.

The journey to this poker point wasn’t easy. Late last year, Governor Josh Shapiro took a more direct approach to the matter, issuing a directive for the PGCB to begin negotiations, following what seemed like years of failed legislative efforts. This lead the PGCB to then formally approved the motion in October, leading to the invitation that Pennsylvania has now officially accepted.

April 2025: A Target Date for Player Pooling

While Pennsylvania’s entry into MSIGA is locked in, the exact date for player pooling is still up in the air. According to Harbach, the state is aiming for early Q2 2025, with April looking like the most realistic launch window. That said, the timeline largely hinges on how quickly operators can wrap up technical testing and clear regulatory hurdles.

Big names like WSOP.com, PokerStars US, and BetMGM Poker are in a good spot for the transition since they already operate in other MSIGA states. With the infrastructure and experience they’ve built, bringing Pennsylvania players into the fold should be relatively straightforward. On the other hand, newer players in the state’s poker scene, like BetRivers Poker and Borgata Poker, might have a tougher time getting their platforms ready for multi-state play.

Harbach’s cautious outlook comes from lessons learned during Michigan’s MSIGA integration in 2024. Back then, delays in final approvals forced WSOP.com to stick with a single-state WSOP Online series, frustrating players who were hoping for a bigger, multi-state experience. Pennsylvania could face similar setbacks, which might mean one last standalone WSOP Online series for its players if testing or regulatory steps hit snags.

For WSOP.com, the pressure is on. Pennsylvania’s large player base has the potential to significantly boost tournament fields and prize pools, making its inclusion a game-changer. A smooth and timely integration is crucial to syncing up with the WSOP Online 2025 schedule.