Pennsylvania was the fourth US state to officially legalize online poker. Real money online poker arrived in 2019 when PokerStars officially soft launched its PA online poker site on Nov. Since that launch. Online poker in Pennsylvania is played strictly on licensed sites, and owners paid huge application fee to offer these games to public. Participating is safe for both sides - casino and player. Fast and guaranteed payments via different methods are distinctive features of online poker. PA poker card rooms. Parx poker room. In 2018, Parx underwent a $50 million expansion, which included a 48-table, state-of-the-art poker room on the property. Wind Creek Bethlehem poker room. Rivers Casino Philadelphia poker room. Rivers Casino Pittsburgh poker room. Harrah’s Philadelphia poker. PokerStars PA is the best online poker site to offer real money games in Pennsylvania. You can play legal real money online poker games in Pennsylvania from November 4, 2019. Best PA Online Poker Sites. For now, PokerStars sits alone as the only live online poker room available, but will hopefully not be alone for long. PartyPoker, betMGM and WSOP.com are all live in New Jersey.

Online poker is back in Pennsylvania. Many of the biggest and best-known poker sites are now legal and licensed to run games within state lines. They include PokerStars – with partypoker and WSOP.com expected to join soon.

As a player you can take advantage of the big marketing budgets these sites will use to gain traction in the Keystone State. There are no-deposit bouses, big matched welcome offers and generous loyalty schemes available right now.

This page has everything you need to understand the games, bonuses, and software options available at the legal PA online poker sites. You’ll also find a brief explanation of how the sites work and a detailed FAQ located at the bottom of the page.

Play online poker in Pennsylvania at PokerStars

Is online poker legal in PA?

Yes. Seven casinos took up the poker license, most as part of a package deal.

Instead of $4 million per gambling vertical, several PA casinos paid $10 million for poker, online slots, and online table games licenses. Many also spent $10 million for a separate sports betting license.

It took a long time from when the gambling expansion act (H 271) of 2017 was passed for PA online poker sites to appear. License holders prioritized sports betting and casinos as these have higher revenue than poker.

Best Poker Sites in Pennsylvania

Poker sites need to reach a critical mass of players to offer a good enough choice of cash games and big guarantees for their tournaments. This naturally limits the number of successful rooms possible, and healthy market share is critical.

The biggest rooms in other regulated states are strong favorites to be the biggest and best in Pennsylvania. Here are the sites to check out:

• PokerStars: Poker players the world over agree that PokerStars has the best software. While you will not be able to play against the giant global player pool in PA, you can enjoy the huge game choice and slick platform. New players get $30 in free play with a small ($20) deposit, with the ‘Stars Rewards’ loyalty scheme keeping your bankroll topped up after that.
• Party Poker: Soon, PA players will be able to check out the software and the famously soft poker games at Party Poker with free money. Party offers NJ players $25 simply for signing up – which we expect to see on offer in PA too. Enjoy tournaments, cash games and the new Fast Forward poker format.
• WSOP.com/888: This brand is owned by Caesars Entertainment and will partner with Harrah’s Philadelphia to bring their unique platform to PA. There is more to this site than just qualifiers to the WSOP tournaments. You can play cash game, ‘Blast’ poker and a packed tournament schedule. New players get a matched welcome bonus of up to $1000 to get their bankrolls off to a flying start.
• BetMGM Poker: BetMGM Poker is, unsurprisingly, owned and operated by MGM Resorts International. It is licensed in Pennsylvania through a partnership with Penn National, which owns the Hollywood Casino and the Meadows. You can find cash games and tournaments galore onsite. New players can use promo code PLAYNJFREE when they register to receive a $25 no deposit bonus and a 100% deposit bonus worth up to $1000.

What do these PA poker apps offer?

PokerStars Pennsylvania

Poker players worldwide consider the PokerStars desktop client and apps to be the best software around. This covers the speed and smoothness of the games – plus small factors like how easy it is to resize tables and the ability to upload your own pictures.

PokerStars partnered with Mount Airy Casino. They were the first online poker site to launch in Pennsylvania – and have exceeded expectations in popularity. Player pools are not shared with their New Jersey site for the time being, which will be the case for all PA online poker rooms until further notice.

There are two bonuses for new players:

• Deposit a minimum of $20 to get $30 in tournament buy-ins and cash game tickets with bonus code THIRTY.
• Alternatively, PokerStars will match your first deposit up to $600. To claim this offer, use bonus code STARS600.

Regular players will enjoy a novel loyalty program. Stars Rewards gives you chests as you play, these have prizes tailored to you – going up in value depending on the stakes you play.

Games at PokerStars include the usual mix of cash games, tournaments and sit & goes. This site has a fast-fold cash game called Zoom Poker, and a lottery sit & go format called ‘Spins’. Regular ‘PACOOP’ (Pennsylvania Championship of Online Poker) events feature big prize tournaments – the highlight of a busy tournament schedule. They also run a number of other exciting tournament series that come with hefty guarantees.

Party Poker Pennsylvania

Party Poker is the biggest rival to PokerStars. This site is owned by gambling giant Entain, which has a national deal with MGM. Valley Forge Casino will supply licenses for GVC.

Once live, PA poker players should receive $25 simply for signing up. This bonus comes in two parts:

• $10 is a cash bonus, you can use this for any type of game
• $15 is in tournament tokens

If you like what you find, then you can get a 100% matched welcome bonus on your first deposit up to $1000 max. Promotions include leaderboards, reload bonuses and a loyalty points program.

In addition to the packed list of cash games, tournaments and sit & goes, you can now play ‘Fast Forward’ poker at Party. This is a fast-fold format, where players are moved to a new hand as soon as the current hand is folded.

The partypoker software has been completely revamped since they were last available in the US. You will find smartphone apps and desktop downloads for both Windows and Mac devices. At launch, games will only be against other players from PA. In time it is hoped that the shared player pools will expand to cover Pennsylvania – allowing games against other partypoker players from other states.

WSOP Poker Pennsylvania

WSOP is short for ‘World Series of Poker’. This brand is owned by Caesars Entertainment – owners of the iconic Harrah’s Casino in PA. There are active WSOP.com poker sites in both Nevada and New Jersey – and soon, Pennsylvania.

Software for this site is powered by 888 Poker, offering both an app and a downloadable desktop version.

There are some generous bonuses for new players at WSOP Pennsylvania:

• A no deposit bonus of $10 to check out the games with zero risk. Use bonus code 10FREE to claim this
• A huge bonus of up to $1000 matched to your first deposit

You can clear your bonus by collecting points in the real money games. WSOP have satellite qualifiers to the World Series events – as well as online poker promotions. Look out for new poker formats including ‘Blast’ lottery Sit and Goes, alongside the usual mix of NL Hold’em and PLO cash games and tournaments.

BetMGM Poker

BetMGM Poker is the online poker site representing gaming titan MGM Resorts International. MGM has numerous partnerships with other gaming companies, including Entain (formerly GVC Holdings) and Penn National.

When the site finally goes live, new players can find themselves in line for a whopping $1,025 in bonus money from the site. If you use promo code PLAYNJFREE when you sign up, you will be eligible for the following bonuses:

• A $25 no deposit bonus upon registration. This money must be played through a single time, but works the same as actual cash and requires nothing on your part.
• A dollar-for-dollar deposit bonus up to $1,000. Simply make your first deposit of $10 or more and BetMGM will match every cent that you put into your account. In effect, you will double the amount of your deposit, and the offer is good all the way up to $1,000.

The bonus dollars you accumulate are convertible into cash if you play through them a certain number of times. In essence, the $25 no deposit bonus will need to be turned over a single time to release it as cash. The deposit bonus is a bit more of an ordeal – you have to earn 20 times the amount of iRewards Points in order to convert it to cash. However, the bonus will come to you in 10% chunks, so you can get a little bit at a time.

Make sure to keep an eye on your time limit, however. Any unredeemed bonus at the end of 7 days reverts to BetMGM, so be ready to play quite a bit when you make that first deposit.

How legal online poker sites in Pennsylvania work

For online casinos and sportsbooks, you’ll normally access the website to enjoy gambling. Poker sites are different. Most players prefer to download a desktop software client to access the games. This gives you all the game types, and the ability to comfortably multi-table (play more than one table at a time). It also ensures the games are stable. Avoiding the client crashing just as you get dealt pocket aces is important.

PokerStars PA launched with both an Android and an iOS app available.

When you access the PA poker rooms, you will find four main poker formats. Which are available (and have games running) will depend on the size of the player pool at each site.

Here are the main formats:

• Cash games: Your chips have a real monetary value and can be topped up to the table maximum at any time. Online poker cash games start at $2 buy-ins (micro-stakes) up to around $1,000+ buy-ins. The stakes at these tables range from $.02/$.04 to $1,000/$2,000. Tables typically have two, six, or nine players.
• Poker tournaments: A knockout format where each player starts with a stack of chips in exchange for their buy-in. The bet sizes increase steadily, and play continues until one player has all the chips. Expect 10% or so of the field to get prizes. There are many variations in speed, poker game type, and the ability to rebuy or re-enter if you bust.
• Sit & Go tournaments: Usually single table games, these kick off whenever a table is full. New variations include PokerStars’ Spin & Go. These are three-handed games with a random prize pool of up to 10,000x your buy-in.
• Fast-fold poker: This innovation dispenses with the waiting time while other players finish hands by taking you to a new hand as soon as you fold. Players sit in pools rather than individual tables. Fast fold poker is used for both cash games and tournaments but is not available in Pennsylvania yet.

At international sites, there are a lot of poker variations to enjoy. The smaller player pools in Pennsylvania will mean that only No-Limit Hold’em and some Omaha variations like PLO and PLO8 will be available. If PA joins a wider group of state sites then Stud, Draw, and mixed games could become available.

Real Money Poker vs Free Online Poker

If you have only ever enjoyed poker on free to play apps, you will need to read up on strategy before you jump into the real money games. There is a huge difference in skill level as soon as real money is on the line.

The online poker rooms in Pennsylvania have options to enjoy play-money only tables. These can help you get to know the different types of poker game and how the betting rounds work. At PokerStars, the Home Games function lets you create private tables for your friends and colleagues. You can even play them with friends outside of PA, as long as they are for play money.

You can try out real money poker games at some sites without making a deposit. Party Poker should offer $10 in cash plus $15 in tournament entry tokens just for signing up. Other sites like PokerStars give you tokens worth $30 for just a small deposit.

To get off to a solid start at the real money poker tables, it is worth starting off at smaller buy-in levels than you would play in a live setting. This will give you a chance to assess the skill levels of your opponents and make sure you can beat the games before you move up to higher buy-ins.

Pennsylvania online poker: Bonuses and promotions

The online poker sites which have the most players in PA will have a huge advantage over competitors. PokerStars got a leg up on the competition as the first to market and exceeded expectations right away, taking in nearly $2 million in rake and tournament fees in its first month back in November.

As the number of players grows, bigger tournaments, better promotions, and a wider choice of cash games become available. This has the effect of attracting more players. Currently, PokerStars PA offers a choice of two welcome bonuses, namely $30 free if deposit $20 using marketing code FREE30, or a 100%bonus match up to $600 using marketing code STARS600, not both though.

Once more online poker rooms go live in Pennsylvania, there will be fierce competition for new players. You can take advantage of this by getting your bankroll off to a great start thanks to the sites’ big marketing budgets and generous bonus offers.

Based on poker rooms in other regulated states, here is what to expect:

• No-deposit bonuses: Some poker sites will offer completely free chips, no deposit needed. This will sometimes come in the form of buy-ins to different tournaments or cash games. You’ll need to play this money through a set number of times before it can be withdrawn.
• Matched welcome bonuses: Expect your first deposit to be given a 100% (or better) match. Some sites offer up to $1,000 in bonus money this way. This is usually released in increments as you play.
• Freeroll tournaments: New players will be given access to beginners or depositors freerolls with real money prize pools. There may be additional entries based on loyalty schemes or future deposits.
• Reload bonuses: If your bankroll gets depleted, you will usually be offered an extra bonus to reload. Be advised these are usually smaller offers than the initial deposit bonus.
• Loyalty schemes: Poker sites all handle their loyalty programs differently. For PokerStars PA, expect to be awarded treasure chests, which have prizes tailored to your individual gambling preferences.

Depending on the brand, you might also be offered crossover promotions for the different gambling verticals.

Sports betting and casino games are well established in Pennsylvania, with many of the license holders for poker involved in all three industries. For example, players can now sign up for Fox Bet online sports betting and also access the PokerStars PA online poker and online casino verticals.

Depositing and withdrawing at PA online poker rooms

With poker being a skill game, more players will withdraw money than the other gambling verticals. You’ll have a lot of choices for how to get your money on board and your profits back off again.

While not all the online poker rooms will have all of the methods listed, the deposit methods below are the most commonly accepted.

• Credit / debit cards: Instant payments can be made with your regular bank cards. Visa and MasterCard are accepted by all the sites. Some sites will also allow deposits with Discover cards as well.
• Prepaid Play+ cards: Many gambling sites have branded debit cards. These add security and can be used for withdrawing your winnings. Then players can access funds via ATMs.
• Casino cage: You’ll be able to deposit and withdraw at the casino associated with each of the poker room brands.
• PayNearMe: This is another way of depositing cash, this time via 7-Eleven or CVS stores. Note that the fixed costs make this expensive for smaller deposits.
• PayPal: This is a popular online wallet system. It is used as a secure bridge between your bank and online merchants. PayPal is used for both deposits and withdrawals. However, do not be surprised if this option is not available at most online poker sites. The fees associated with PayPal, combined with the high tax rates for PA online operators mean this will be a rare option, not a common one.
• Neteller / Skrill: Owned by the same company, these wallet services work in a similar way to PayPal. They have been popular with poker players internationally for many years. Like PayPal, there is a chance these will not be available at every site because of hefty fees.
• eChecks: Also known as ACH transfers, this poker deposit method comes directly from your bank. You can get pre-verified, making your eCheck deposits and withdrawals instant.
• Bill pay: If you use a major bank, you might already pay your utility bills with Bill Pay. Paying into your poker account works in the same way. This banking option is not used for withdrawals.
• Bank wire: This is a slower way to transfer from your bank, though can still be used if you wish to securely transfer large amounts.
• Money order / paper check: Another slower banking method welcomed by many sites. If there are no alternative ‘online’ methods, you can withdraw your profits via a paper check.

Online poker partnerships in PA

For now, PA poker games are ring-fenced. This means that tables will not be shared with poker players from other regulated states like New Jersey and Nevada.

Three major international brands already partnered with Pennsylvania casinos, with only PokerStars and Mount Airy Casino live with their online poker product. More announcements are expected soon to clarify plans for online poker.

This is the full list of the PA casinos which have licenses to open online poker rooms:

Live poker in Pennsylvania

There are 10 live poker rooms in Pennsylvania. They are:

• Harrah’s Philadelphia: This poker room is branded using the World Series of Poker name. It is open 24/7 and has 28 tables featuring cash games and tournaments. Types of poker include the popular No-Limit Hold’em, Seven-Card Stud, and Omaha.
• Mohegan Sun Pocono: Located close to Wilkes-Barre, this poker room holds 18 tables. Daily tournaments include bounty events. The room also offers bad beat and royal flush jackpots for cash games.
• Parx Casino: This is one of the bigger poker rooms, hosting 48 tables including a separated three-table high-limit poker room. Parx is located at Bensalem, northeast of Philadelphia. They hold big buy-in tournament events, as well their own regular schedule of tournaments and cash games.
• Rivers Casino: Located in Pittsburgh, Rivers Casino hosts a 30-table poker room, which covers more than 8,000 square feet. Hourly high-hand bonuses keep the cash games lively, while bigger buy-in tournament events run alongside their busy weekly schedule.
• The Meadows Casino: Rather than a separate room, the 14 poker tables at The Meadows are on the main casino floor. You’ll have a view of the live racing while you play. This room is located 25 miles southwest of Pittsburgh, at Strabane Township.
• Hollywood Casino: This live poker venue is located at the Penn National Racecourse, at Grantville, PA. They have 17 tables and run cash games with a high hand promotion. Tournaments include both standard and turbo blind options.
• Mount Airy Casino: The poker parlor at the Mount Airy resort in northwest PA is a smaller live poker venue. With only nine tables, Texas Hold’em is the only variation you will find here.
• Presque Isle Casino: This is the smallest poker room in Pennsylvania, with only seven tables. While most rooms are 24/7, this one opens at 10 a.m. / 12 p.m. and continues only as long as there is substantial play. Single and multi-table tournaments are advertised, in addition to cash games.
• Sugarhouse Casino: Located in Philadelphia, Sugarhouse offers a 24/7 poker room which holds 28 tables. High hand and bad beat jackpots are run. Buy-ins for their cash games range from $60 to $3,000.
• Wind Creek Casino: This 28-table live poker room is located close to Bethlehem, PA. This was previously known as Sands Casino. With a complimentary beverage service, tableside dining, and a lot of TV’s showing sporting action, this poker room is advertised as state of the art.

When it comes to playing online poker with real money, there are plenty of great sites that Pennsylvanian players can access. Offering up a safe, secure and fun gaming experience, these online poker rooms have been licensed by the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board to keep you in good hands while you enjoy thrilling poker games.

At real money poker sites, you have the ability to earn impressive prizes and brush up on your skills. You’ll be able to compete with thousands of players for the cash to cash in on amazing prize pools, and claim some fantastic bonuses that give you bankroll a significant boost.

Claiming Bonuses and Promotions

When you play at real money online poker rooms, you’ll be able to take advantage of some great perks and promotions that provide you with a little – or, a lot of – extra cash in your bankroll. These are some of the most common bonuses that you’ll be able to claim at online casinos.

No Deposit Bonuses
A no deposit bonus allows you to claim a small amount of cash for free without having to spend any money. This bonus is normally offered as soon as you’ve finished registering for the site and verifying your account. The amount is usually never more than $10 but it makes for a great start to any online poker career.

Welcome Bonuses
Once you’ve claimed your no deposit bonus, a welcome bonus is available – which is provided when you make your first deposit. This usually comes in the form of a match bonus that is a 100% match of your deposit, and sometimes they can be as much as 200%. Operators will often bundle your welcome bonus with freeroll tickets.

Reload Bonuses
When you play online poker with real money, you can get little boosts throughout your membership. Reload bonuses are available to existing players, allowing them to claim extra money on top of their deposits. These tend to range from 25% matches to 50% but VIP players sometimes get more. Check the Promotions page of your chosen online casino to find out when reload bonuses are available.

VIP Programs
Even though they’re called VIP programs, they’re not exclusively available to high rollers. In fact, at most online poker sites, everyone can join the VIP (or loyalty) program. Every time you take part in games, you’ll be provided with a number of points that you’ll eventually be able to redeem for cash and tournament tickets.

You can climb the ranks of the VIP program by depositing more over time. As you move up the levels, you’ll be able to claim better perks such as larger reload bonuses and entry into exclusive tournaments.

Freeroll Tournaments
These are tournaments that you don’t have to pay a cent to enter into. They are often provided to new players and as part of special promotions. You can even cash in your VIP points for the chance to play in freerolls. While the prizes are not as large as they are in paid tournaments, it’s worth playing in freerolls because there is no financial commitment whatsoever.

Exciting Real Money Poker Games

There are plenty of exciting activities that you can take part when you play online poker with real money. Not only do you have access to a wide range of cash game variants; you can also take part in all sorts of exciting tournaments that provide you with the chance to win big.

Cash Game Variants

How To Play Online Poker In Pennsylvania

In Pennsylvania, you’ll find Texas Hold’em and Omaha Poker. Razz and Stud games are not often available at regulated online poker, but you’ll still be able to take part in the most popular online poker games that draw plenty of players and lots of competition.

Fast fold poker is another fun online poker variant. This type of poker moves you to a new table every time you fold or win a hand. You get a new hand right away, so you get to play many more hands per hour and rake in those big bucks.

Types of Online Poker Tournaments

The tournament selection at real money poker sites is also very impressive. There are all sorts of exciting competitions that you can take part in, each offering its own unique spin on classic poker.

• Sit n Gos: In this type of tournament, the competition begins as soon as a certain number of players sit at the table. The player pool is quite small, so sit n gos make a great place to practice.
• Turbos and Hypers: In turbo tournaments, the blinds increase every five minutes or so. This speeds up the gameplay, and makes things more exciting.
• Satellites: Rather than playing for cash prizes, you’ll be playing for the chance to win entry into other tournaments with larger prize pools.
• Freerolls: There is no entry fee into this type of tournament. As a result, the prize pools are smaller than in standard tournaments.
• Heads Up Tournaments: These are tournaments in which you play against one other player at a time, rather than six-handed or nine-handed.
• Rebuys: Normally, when you’re eliminated from a tournament, that’s it. However, in rebuy tournaments, you can pay a fee to re-enter after you’ve busted.
• Bounty Tournaments: Each player has a bounty on their head and, when you eliminate someone, you receive their bounty and your bounty increases.

Online poker rooms are always thinking up innovative ways to engage players in tournaments. So, always be on the lookout for new types of competitions that you can take part in.

Is it Safe Playing Real Money Poker?

Now that online poker has been legalized in Pennsylvania, it is perfect safe for you to gamble at licensed sites. While there are still offshore poker sites that offer their services to local players, it’s always better for you to register and play with a site that has been licensed by the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board.

This authority thoroughly vets all licensees to ensure that they are committed to providing players with a safe and secure online gaming experience. They must have fair gaming standards in place and provide a high level of security that ensures your personal information cannot be accessed by third parties.

When it comes to playing at offshore sites, the majority of these destinations are licensed by gaming authorities in places like Gibraltar, the United Kingdom and Malta – so, they have many of the same safeguards in place. However, since they are technically not legally licensed to operate in the United States, there is always the chance that they could exit the market at any time and refuse to accept American players in the future. This ends up being quite an inconvenience for US-based players, and it can sometimes be difficult for them to access their accounts and withdraw money.

So, as a Pennsylvania, it’s best that you stick with playing online poker with real money at PGCB-licensed gaming sites. You can always rest assured that you’re in good hands and that your gaming experience will be a safe one.

Banking at Real Money Online Poker Sites

If you’re playing online poker in Pennsylvania, you’ll have a wide range of options to choose from when it comes to making deposits and withdrawals to your account. There are many safe and secure options that allow you to fund your account easily with convenient and secure banking methods.

Can You Play Online Poker In Pennsylvania

By playing at a licensed online poker site in Pennsylvania, you’ll be able to use credit cards, bank transfers and trustworthy e-wallets to make deposits and withdrawals. Each method offers safe transactions which ensure that your banking details will not be accessed by anyone outside of the casino operator.

Legal Poker Sites In Pa

It’s important to remember that you’ll have to submit documents before you can make a withdrawal at a poker site. Your ID (a passport or driver’s license) and a document that shows your home address are usually the documents that the poker room operator will request. If you’re unable to provide these documents, then your withdrawal will not be processed.

How To Play Online Poker In Pa

There are plenty of places to play online poker with real money in Pennsylvania. So, take advantage of all of the great opportunities available to you, where you can access exciting games, fun tournaments, generous promotions and safe banking.