Governor Josh Shapiro Speaks Out on Poker Issues Following Membership in the Multistate Internet Gaming Agreement (MSIGA)
Hey there! I'm Keith Becker, PokerNews Ambassador and proud Pennsylvanian, here with a PA poker update for March 2025. Buckle up folks, it's an exhilarating time for the poker world, and I'm thrilled to be your guide every month!
What's got everyone talking these days? Let's dive in!
The can't-miss story this month is that Pennsylvania officially hopped onto the Multi-State Internet Gaming Agreement (MSIGA) bandwagon. Now, this means Pennsylvania poker enthusiasts can compete with online players from states like New Jersey, Nevada, Michigan, Delaware, and West Virginia. The perks are undeniable: more extensive player pools, high-energy tournaments, and enormous prize pool bonanzas!
Governor Josh Shapiro also shared his excitement over this move, emphasizing how it'll propel competition, fuel economic growth, and support essential state programs. For years, I've been crusading for this multi-state action, rallying folks to join the cause, and now the dream has become a reality!
Governor Shapiro even took time out for a sit-down with PokerGO's Mori Eskandani, a legendary Poker Hall of Famer. Give it a watch right here:
With the MSIGA now rocking and rolling, BetMGM didn't hesitate to launch its combined player pool across Pennsylvania, Michigan, and New Jersey on the very first day. Oh, and what did they do to celebrate the occasion? They hosted a $30,000 freeroll! Player "bigbootyboy" nabbed the grand prize of over $4,400 and a $5K Aria package - that's nearly a $10K prize for free! Talk about multi-state poker, right? BetMGM also announced its biggest tournament series ever, the BetMGM May Millions, running from May 8-11. If you've been holding back, now might be the ideal time to jump in.
Switching gears to the World Series of Poker front, Pennsylvania players have a sweet treat waiting for them: Caesars Entertainment also connected Pennsylvania to its WSOP Online network on the debut day. Since WSOP currently dominates the Nevada online poker scene, this collaboration means players across four states can now participate in the inaugural four-state shared liquidity network and prepare for the 2025 WSOP Online Bracelet series, commencing on May 31.
Now, here's the sizzling twist: the series features some online-live hybrid events with live final tables in Vegas! The WSOP astonished players by quick-stepping into the shared pool, as the operator's history in Pennsylvania has been fairly lethargic and unresponsive. But the multistate poker wave seems to have lifted even the slowest boats.
Now, let's chat about live poker for a minute. The PokerStars Philadelphia Open at Live! Casino and Hotel concluded with a bang. Edward Leonard bagged the $1,100 Main Event victory, outlasting a herd of 1,154 entries and pocketing $147,806 after a grueling 18-hour final day performance. Leonard credited his stamina and mental focus for the impressive win.
Speaking of PokerStars, they've held a firm grip on the PA online poker scene since their 2019 market debut. However, many players are scratching their heads as to why PokerStars hasn't grabbed the MSIGA opportunity by the horns just yet. Joining the shared player pool would certainly turbocharge tournament traffic and prize pools, offering even more thrilling chances for PA players. So, does PokerStars have a particular reason or incentive NOT to link up with the MSIGA right away? Are they cooking something MASSIVE for when they finally do join? For now, no word from Stars' PR or marketing team, so... let's keep our fingers crossed and wait for some info.
Last but not least, BetRivers has proudly announced its plans to launch a multi-state online poker network, potentially generating the country's first ever five-state shared liquidity pool. Rush Street Interactive is actively working to merge player pools in states like New Jersey and Michigan, and if everything goes according to plan, PA, Delaware, and West Virginia will join theparty too.
BetRivers has already built a devoted following in Pennsylvania, thanks to its "Rakeback Revolution," regular software updates, and ambassador campaigns featuring poker greats Phil Hellmuth and Phil Galfond. If all goes well, BetRivers could quickly emerge as a major player in the multi-state poker market by the end of this year.
Poker is on the rise in America, and I'm honored to be your Pennsylvania guide through this epic adventure. For more details, check out our PokerNews Pennsylvania page here, and don't forget to follow me on social media to stay in the loop. I'll be back next month with another update!
Keith Becker is a passionate American poker player hailing from Pennsylvania. After a stint in PokerStars Team Pro Online, Keith is now a PokerNews Ambassador and Streamer. Keith has been live-streaming poker on Twitch since Day 1 of regulated poker in Pennsylvania and has been the driving force behind a grassroots movement for PA to join the Multi-State Internet Gaming Agreement.
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- Keith Becker, excited about the multi-state poker landscape in America, encourages Pennsylvania poker enthusiasts to explore casino-games like poker and casino-and-gambling online with players from states such as New Jersey, Nevada, Michigan, Delaware, and West Virginia, as Pennsylvania has officially joined the Multi-State Internet Gaming Agreement (MSIGA).
- In the latest news, BetRivers has unveiled plans to launch a five-state shared liquidity pool for online poker, including states like Pennsylvania, Delaware, West Virginia, and potentially New Jersey and Michigan, promising to be a significant player in the multi-state poker market by the end of the year.
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