The Pennsylvania online poker scene is heating up as the number of online and land-based tournaments continues to increase. Much has happened since PokerStars first came online in 2019, as the first poker site since the State legalized online casinos.
In the following guide, we’ve looked at some of the best land-based and online poker sites in PA that you can join right now. We’ve also explained popular bonuses that you can claim just as soon as you’ve signed up.
BetMGM Poker
Get a 100% match of up to $1,000 + up to $75 in freeroll tickets
Borgata Poker
WSOP Poker
Get a 100% match of up to $1,000 + up to $100 in free play + up to$700 in freeroll tickets
Pokerstars
Get a 100% match of up to $600
Best Casinos for Online Poker in Pennsylvania Pennsylvania poker online laws require platforms to partner with licensed land-based establishments. As a result, while there aren’t many sites, the ones that are available are backed or operated by some of the biggest and best brands in the industry. BetMGM – The Best Site for Online Poker in PA in 2023 Borgata – Provides Plenty of Daily, Weekly, and Monthly Tournaments WSOP – Offers an Excellent Variety of Welcome and Ongoing Poker Bonuses PokerStars – The Top Platform for Overall User Experience
Pennsylvania poker online laws require platforms to partner with licensed land-based establishments. As a result, while there aren’t many sites, the ones that are available are backed or operated by some of the biggest and best brands in the industry.
Legal online poker in PA started to become a reality in 2017, however, residents had to wait almost two years before the first online site became available. In the following section, we’ve taken a closer look at some of the most recent and significant events in the world of online poker in Pennsylvania.
Discover all the great offerings, tournaments, and bonus features that are available at the four casinos offering legal online poker in PA. To access these sites you must be physically in the State and you will need to register an account before playing with real money.
Poker site facts:
BetMGM Poker is one of the best-known brands of online and live poker in the US. Known for delivering a luxurious user experience that’s enhanced with the BetMGM Rewards Program, this online platform has plenty to offer new and experienced players.
No matter your poker-playing experience, BetMGM will provide you with free resources and demo tables to help you improve your skills. Once you’re ready to switch to real money games, you’ll find a large collection of cash games and tournaments across multiple variants.
Texas Hold’em is the most popular version played at BetMGM. In addition to classic formats, this online poker site offers Fast Forward, a fast-fold style NLH cash game that eliminates waiting time. You can also play Omaha or Omaha Hi-Lo games with both limit and no-limit pots available.
BetMGM supports a variety of safe and convenient banking options with a minimum deposit limit of $10. Cards, such as Visa and Mastercard, are the most popular payment option, however, this site also accepts PayPal, bank transfers, and other methods. Most withdrawals are also subject to a $10 limit and maximum limits are set at $25,000.
You can contact a BetMGM Poker customer care team member 24/7 even before you’ve registered your account. Waiting times are usually very short, but if you prefer not to wait, you can send the team an email instead.
As soon as you sign-up to this PA poker site, you’ll be able to claim a generous welcome bonus that includes freeroll tickets. Existing players can also get plenty of rewards by participating in ongoing promotions and entering valid BetMGM PA bonus codes. These promotions include cashback and reload bonuses that are valid for loyal players.
BetMGM online poker bonuses & promos:
Many Pennsylvania players are likely familiar with the Borgata thanks to the popular casinos located in Atlantic City. The land-based facility plays host to some of the biggest live poker tournaments in the country, and while the online competitions are not as large, they are still just as thrilling.
The Borgata Poker site operator has joined forces with Rivers Philadelphia to fulfill the State’s legal requirements. Moreover, this platform gives its players access to the BetMGM Poker pool, thus exposing them to different players and playing styles.
The Borgata Poker Room is eager to recreate the magic of its tournaments online. As such, you’ll find plenty of options, including fast-fold, sit-and-go’s, and knockouts. There are also plenty of cash games with low stakes, some as low as $0.01. Some Borgata Poker rooms also feature high stakes, including $500/$1,000 tables.
The Borgata and the BetMGM share many similarities, including very similar payment options. You can deposit and withdraw a minimum of $10 using cards, eWallets, and various other options. This online poker site also lets you place cash deposits by visiting its resort.
Email and a telephone number are the two primary ways to get in touch with the Borgata Poker support team. Unfortunately, this site does not appear to offer any live chat option, but it does provide instant answers through its FAQ page.
Many of this poker site’s bonuses and offers mirror the ones offered by BetMGM. As a result, you will be able to claim Borgata PA bonuses that offer matched bonuses, cashback, and freeroll tournament tickets. In most cases, these offers are subject to a $10 minimum deposit and other reasonable terms.
Borgata online poker bonuses & promos:
If you’re a big fan of online casinos, you might have thought that Caesars was missing from our list. However, it is actually on this list of the top PA poker sites through one of its brands, the World Series of Poker (WSOP).
Powered by 888Poker, the WSOP offers a variety of cash games and tournaments. Moreover, this online platform gives its best users the opportunity to participate in its in-person tournaments through dedicated promotions.
The collection of poker cash games and tournaments at the WSOP includes several unique games, including Blast Poker. This jackpot poker game gives you the chance to win up to 10,000x your buy-in. Texas Hold’em is the main game featured on this site, but you can also play Omaha and Stud cash games.
You can deposit and withdraw a minimum of $10 or more, depending on the banking option used. While the WSOP accepts debit/credit cards and PayNearMe for deposits, you cannot use these options for withdrawals. Instead, you can use PayPal, eCheck, and Play+.
The WSOP offers registered players support through email, telephone, and live chat. Live chat is only available between 3 pm and 11 pm daily, so if you need assistance outside of these hours you should send the team an email or look for answers in the FAQ page.
Placing your first deposit at the WSOP will make you eligible for a variety of exciting bonuses. Once you’ve used your rewards, you can continue claiming generous rewards by participating in ongoing promotions. As a registered user, you’ll be able to unlock reload bonuses, freeroll tickets, and participate in prize draws, among other rewards.
WSOP online poker bonuses & promos:
PokerStars is available in Pennsylvania thanks to its partnership with the Mount Airy Casino. This was the first site launched in the State and introduced a new era of online gambling. Unfortunately, the site does not share its NJ player pool with PA, so this has meant that it features a comparatively smaller user base.
The overall PokerStars platform user experience is second to none. No matter your online gambling experience level, you’re likely to find what you need quickly, even on mobile. Moreover, the site offers plenty of customization options, such as editing table sizes and changing card designs.
Just like the previous three PA poker sites on this list, PokerStars offers plenty of choice among cash games and tournaments. Zoom Poker is used to describe its fast-fold cash game while Spins is its jackpot sit & go. The site is also home to the Pennsylvania Champions of Online Poker events that include enticing and guaranteed prize pools.
Once you register your PokerStars account, you’ll be able to deposit $10 or more using a variety of safe and convenient banking options. Cards and eWallets are the most popular options available, but you can also use instant bank transfers or Instant eChecks if you prefer.
As long as you’ve registered your PokerStars account, you’ll be able to speak to the customer care team 24/7 using live chat. Unregistered users, however, won’t have access to chat and must instead use email or look for answers in the help center.
PokerStars is home to a popular loyalty program that offers increasingly enticing rewards to active players. This PA poker site also offers a choice of welcome bonuses depending on what you would prefer.
PokerStars online poker bonuses & promos:
To register an account with a site offering legal online poker in PA, you must be 21 years or over and be in the State. However, the law does not require you to be a resident of Pennsylvania.
Yes, online poker sites in Pennsylvania became legal following the successful passing of a bill in 2017. The Pennsylvania Gambling Control Board has the responsibility of overseeing the sector and can only license online poker sites and casinos that are linked to an existing land-based facility.
Yes, you can play online poker in Pennsylvania on legal sites as long as you’re 21 years or older and located in the State. There are currently four online casinos that offer dedicated poker platforms where you can play against other players.
Yes, you can play online poker using the PokerStars platform in PA. This online gambling site was the first one to offer online poker games following the passing of a bill in 2017.
Legal online poker in PA was introduced in 2017 following the signing of Bill 271. Since then, four poker platforms have launched, with the most recent one being the WSOP in 2021.
All four online poker sites in PA offer an enticing collection of player bonuses, poker tournaments, and support options. In the following table, we’ve compared some of the most important characteristics to help you identify the sites that best suit your preferences.
Yes, online poker in Pennsylvania has been legal since Gov. Tom Wolf signed H271 into law in October 2017. The bill also assigned the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board to supervise the industry and ensure compliance with the law.
Pennsylvania is one of the most progressive states in terms of gambling legislation. Below, we’ve outlined the most important poker laws that you should be aware of.
Yes, unfortunately, PA online poker is ring-fenced, so players can only play against others who are in the State. Ring-fencing is a common feature of legal poker rooms in the US, but most other states that have legalized the game have joined compacts. Unfortunately, PA, just like Michigan, has yet to join an interstate poker compact and there are currently no timelines for when this might change.
You can access an online poker platform directly from your desktop or mobile browser, however, most players prefer to download an app instead. Both desktop and mobile apps are available from the featured PA online poker sites and these are preferred as they provide better stability and the opportunity to play at more than one table at a time.
PA online poker sites typically offer one or more of the following formats. The availability of different formats depends on the number of active players.
These are the most basic type of online poker games where your chips have a direct equivalent value in USD. Between two and nine players can sit at the table, though different limits may apply to certain tables. Most poker cash games feature $2 buy-ins, but different tables can have high buy-ins. VIP poker tables, for example, normally have buy-ins in the region of $1,000. Similarly, stakes at tables with low buy-ins normally range between $0.02 and $0.04 while those at high-roller tables can be as high as $2,000.
These poker tournaments are the most popular event at PA online poker rooms. Enticed by sizeable prize pools that are oftentimes guaranteed, these types of poker competitions attract hundreds of players every time they are organized. Most Multi-Table Tournaments, or MTTs, feature No-Limit Hold’em with either unlimited or limited re-entries. However, you will also find other poker variants in play, such as Omaha or Stud.
This type of MTT features a bounty that is formed by half of the players’ buy-ins. If you knock out a player, you’ll collect half of his or her bounty, and the remaining half is added to your own head. Many PA online poker sites hold Progressive Knockout Tournaments regularly as they are probably the most popular type of competition.
This online poker format helps to eliminate the waiting time that’s associated with poker. Once you’ve played your hand, you’ll be taken immediately to a new hand to continue playing without any delays. With this fast-paced format, players aren’t grouped on tables, but rather, form part of a pool.
Unlike the larger poker tournaments, Sit & Go’s begin just as soon as enough players join them. These tournaments are smaller and played on a single table. As the tournament progresses, players are eliminated when their bankroll has run out. By the end, the top two or three players get a different percentage of the pot.
This twist on the standard Sit & Go tournament features a jackpot prize that can be as high as 10,000x the game’s buy-in. Prize pools are randomly assigned before the game, and this makes this tournament especially exciting and exhilarating.
Since the State only legalized online poker a few years ago, all the current platforms can be considered new. However, all of these platforms are operated by high profiled companies with extensive experience running both online and land-based gambling facilities. As a result, you can be sure of receiving a professional, secure, and entertaining experience when you join any of them.
PokerStars was the first poker site to launch in Pennsylvania in 2019. A year later, BetMGM opened its virtual doors and in 2021, the Borgata and the WSOP took off. The latter remains the newest poker site in PA.
The list of new poker sites in the PA is likely to increase as there are currently three unused licenses that are available. It’s likely that Party Poker may eventually open its own platform to residents, though its poker software is already being used by Borgata and BetMGM.
The State levies a 3.07% tax rate on all winnings derived from land-based and online poker in PA. This tax also applies to other forms of gambling winnings, including slots and sports bets. Moreover, the federal tax also applies to winnings that pass one of the set thresholds. You would, for example, be liable to pay the 24% tax on winnings of $5,000 or more that come as a result of a poker tournament once you’ve deducted your buy-in.
Poker is a fun card game that many players enjoy playing for free. Using apps or mobile sites, you can access a wide variety of variants and play using credits or another sort of free currency. However, if you decide to make the switch to real money poker, you should keep the following considerations in mind:
Before you can start playing with real money, you must register an account with a site offering legal online poker in PA. This process can be completed through a few simple steps, and below, we’ve outlined the process of how to play poker online at BetMGM.
Visit the BetMGM website and select ‘Pennsylvania’ to be taken to the local page. Click on ‘Register’ to start signing up to this poker site.
Start by entering your email address and clicking on ‘Continue’ or use one of the alternative sign-up options, such as logging into your BetMGM Rewards credentials. Enter the personal information as requested on-screen to complete your registration.
Click on ‘Deposit’ and select your preferred payment method. Enter the amount that you wish to deposit and follow the on-screen prompts to complete your first payment. Include a promo code if applicable and confirm the payment details before completing your deposit.
With funds in your account, you’ll be able to join cash games or poker tournaments. Use the navigation menu to browse through the available tables and select the one that you wish to join.
You will generally find two versions of real money regular poker when you join any of the listed PA online poker rooms.
This is the most popular type of regular poker and is available throughout the day at all casinos. You can play either Limit or No-Limit Hold’em against between one and seven or eight other players. This game gives each player two hole cards and can feature up to five community cards. In addition to being a popular game among casual players, Texas Hold’em is also commonly played by professional gamblers in the US and around the world.
Omaha Poker is the second-most popular version of the game where players play against each other. In this version, players get four hole cards each, but can only ultimately use two of them to create their winning hand. Just like Hold’em, Omaha also features up to five community cards, and usually is available in pot limit and limit format.
By joining any of the featured online poker sites in Pennsylvania, you’ll benefit from a generous sign-up bonus followed by several ongoing offers. While some poker bonuses are identical to rewards provided at online casinos, other promotions are exclusively available to this game. Below, we’ve outlined the main types of bonuses available and the site that offers the best example of each.
In the following table, we’ve outlined the most popular welcome bonuses offered by all the featured PA poker online sites. We strongly recommend that you claim a welcome bonus before unlocking any other offer as you will only be eligible for this new player bonus once.
The casinos for legal online poker in PA offer a wide variety of safe and convenient payment methods. In the following table, we’ve highlighted the main pros and cons of different banking options that you can use to deposit or withdraw.
from these platforms.
In the following table, we’ve outlined some of the most popular deposit options that you can use at our featured online poker sites in PA.
Below, you can view the main withdrawal options available at our featured PA poker sites.
All platforms offering legal online poker in PA provide downloadable Android and iOS apps for supported mobile devices. By using an app rather than a mobile site, these platforms provide a much smoother user experience and are less likely to get interrupted. In addition, you can download an app to play poker on your desktop computer or laptop. These apps are designed to work on Windows and Mac devices.
Here are some important tips to help you enjoy a better experience whilst playing online poker in PA:
If you live in or close to the State, you’re fortunate enough to have a great choice of land-based and online poker options. Nevertheless, there are a few advantages that make playing online poker in PA better than playing in person.
Playing online does not require you to travel any distance or wait for an establishment’s opening hours. You can play instantly using your desktop computer or mobile device and can use a wider selection of instant payment methods to fund your account.
As you play poker online in PA, you can keep cheat sheets, strategy guides, and any other helpful resource close by. You also don’t need to worry about developing a convincing poker face to fool your opponents. This makes playing online a much more enticing option for newbies or players that are not very confident.
There are currently 14 licensed land-based casinos in Pennsylvania, many of which offer one or more poker tables. The majority of these establishments are based in either Philadelphia or Pittsburg, but there are also a few scattered across the rest of the State. Below, we’ve listed the top three land-based casinos that offer real-money poker in PA.
The Parx Casino and Racing facility offers almost 50 poker tables with a wide variety of variants available. In addition to Texas Hold’em, you’ll be able to play Pai Gow, Let It Ride, and 4-Card Poker, as well as several other variants. Tournaments are also held frequently and there are several low-stakes cash games available.
The Wind Creek Bethlehem Casino is spread across 183,000 square feet, but only a small portion of this is dedicated to poker. This facility has around 30 tables and holds both Limit and No-Limit Hold’em tournaments each month. There are also several other variants available as cash games, including Tri Card and Caribbean Stud.
The Rivers Casino Pittsburgh offers about 30 poker tables and several tournaments each month. Visitors can join Hold’em and Omaha competitions or play various cash games, including Pai Gow, Let It Ride, and Ultimate Texas Hold’em.
There are several successful poker players that were either born, raised, or living in Pennsylvania. Here are three of the most famous ones.
BetMGM is currently the best online poker in PA platform that you can join. This reputable and legal platform offers an appealing combination of cash games, tournaments, and promotions to satisfy the majority of all players. Moreover, its stakes are able to accommodate both casual players and high rollers and its banking options are similarly well-suited for a wide audience.
Join BetMGM Poker today to benefit from a generous welcome bonus worth up to $1,000. You can also unlock freeroll tickets worth up to $75 with your first payment. If you have any questions, you can contact the customer support team 24/7 using live chat.
