PA Online Poker Sites
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Pennsylvania online poker is thriving with the best-known poker sites now offering tournaments and cash games for Keystone State players. PokerStars, BetMGM, WSOP.com and Borgata Poker are all legal and licensed in PA.
There’s always another PA online poker tournament series around the corner, with WSOP Online Circuit and WSOP Bracelet events, PokerStars COOP and SCOOP series and everything in between.
You can take advantage of new poker player offers including no deposit poker bonuses and deposit match welcome offers here. This page has everything you need to get started at legal PA online poker sites.
Play online poker in Pennsylvania
Best Poker Sites in Pennsylvania
Success of online poker sites depends on a critical mass of players to offer a good range of options for cash games and tournaments. PA poker rooms have been able to grow their player bases with big tournament guarantees, which in return keeps players coming back.
PA is one of the most healthy legal online poker markets in the US, thanks to the biggest poker brands delivering to their players in Pennsylvania. Here are the sites to check out:
- PokerStars: Poker players the world over agree that PokerStars PA has the best software. While you can not play against the giant global player pool in PA, you can enjoy the huge game choice and slick platform. Play 1 cash hand or bet $1 on casino, get $100 in bonus play or up to 100% up to $600 on deposit.
- BetMGM Poker: BetMGM Poker is owned and operated by MGM Resorts International. It is licensed in Pennsylvania through a partnership with Penn National through Hollywood Casino in Grantville. You can find cash games and tournaments galore onsite. New players can use promo code PLAYNJFREE when they register to receive up to $75 in tournament tickets, plus a 100% match up to $1,000 when you make your first deposit.
- WSOP.com/888: This brand is owned by Caesars Entertainment and partnered with Harrah’s Philadelphia to bring its unique platform to PA. There is more to this site than just WSOP online circuit and online bracelet events. You can play cash games, ‘Blast’ poker and there’s a packed tournament schedule. New players to sign up to WSOP can get $1,100 overall. The platform is providing 100% up to $1,000 Deposit Match + up to $100 in Bonus Play on deposit.
- Borgata Poker: Borgata Poker PA launched in April 2021. Pennsylvania is the second state for Borgata. The poker room provides daily guarantees, bounty tournaments and cash games. New users can get up to $75 in tournament tickets, plus 100% match up to $1,000 using promo code PLAYNJ and making your first deposit.
New poker sites in PA
After more than a year with just one poker option (PokerStars PA), the state now has four sites and room for more. The newest PA online poker site is WSOP.com, a welcome addition that brings with it their popular Online Circuit and WSOP Online Bracelet tournament series.
BetMGM and Borgata poker apps round out the first four. Additional poker sites will make their way to Pennsylvania in the future, though just three PA casinos hold unused online poker licenses (Valley Forge, Parx and Wind Creek). Among the potential poker brands yet to launch are GG Poker, 888 poker, Run It Once poker and partypoker.
The Partypoker network already has a presence in PA as both the Borgata and BetMGM poker sites operate on Party’s software. Unlike in NJ, there is no site under the Party Poker brand name in PA, but that could change. If it does, we would expect an offer like the one in the Garden State: $25 just for signing up.
What do 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:
- Play 1 cash hand or bet $1 on Casino, get $100 in bonus play or up to 100% up to $600 on deposit.
Regular players will enjoy a novel loyalty program with rewards starting at 15% and going up to 33%. PokerStars Rewards awards chests based on play, each with prizes tailored the player – going up in value depending on the stakes and amount you play.
Games at PokerStars include the usual mix of cash games, tournaments and sit & go’s. 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.
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.
It arrived in PA in April 2021. In addition to the regular offerings of cash games and daily tournaments, BetMGM also has Fast Forward (a fast-fold style NLH cash game) and regular tournament series. For now, you’ll mostly find no-limit hold’em games with some PLO and PLO8 sprinkled in.
New players can find themselves in line for a whopping $1,075 in bonus money from the site. If you use promo code PLAYNJFREE when you sign up, and make a deposit you will be eligible for the following bonuses:
- Up to $75 in tournament tickets for free play depending on the amount of your first deposit.
- 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 $75 in tournament tickets. 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.
WSOP Poker Pennsylvania
The World Series of Poker brand is owned by Caesars Entertainment – owners of the iconic Harrah’s Casino in PA. WSOP.com is now live in Nevada, New Jersey, Michigan and Pennsylvania.
The software is powered by 888 Poker, offering both an app and a downloadable desktop version. The Poker 8 software is a more sleek and modern edition of 888’s proprietary online poker platform, providing a more streamlined and user-friendly player experience.
There are some generous bonuses for new players at WSOP Pennsylvania:
- 100% up to $1,000 Deposit Match
- Up to $100 in Bonus Play on Deposit
Use bonus code 25FREE to claim this.
You can clear your bonus by collecting points in the real money games. WSOP has satellite qualifiers to the World Series events, as well as online poker promotions. Look out for new poker formats including ‘Blast’ lottery Sit and Go’s, alongside the usual mix of NL Hold’em and PLO cash games and tournaments.
Borgata Poker PA
Players in PA are familiar with the Borgata brand from the land-based Atlantic City casino that boasts some of the biggest live tournaments in the region. Now, Pennsylvania poker players can also play Borgata poker online.
The Borgata Poker brand partnered with Rivers Philadelphia to bring its online poker product to PA, and it shares its player pool with BetMGM Poker. It also means you’ll find the same selection of cash games, tournaments and welcome bonuses at both sites. New players are eligible to claim:
- Up to $75 in tournament tickets on deposit, plus
- 100% deposit match bonus up to $1,000 using Bonus Code PLAYNJ
Cash games are no-limit hold’em 6-max and 8-max and range from $.01/$.02 micro stakes up to high stakes games of $5/$10, $10/$20 and $25/$50. Borgata also offers Fast Forward (quick fold) games at low stakes of $.05/$.10 and $.25/$.50. There are a wide range of sit & go’s and jackpot-style spin n go’s call ‘Spins’, but their availability is sometimes limited due to low player volume.
Borgata also offers a schedule of frequent low- to mid-stakes multi-table tournaments with decent guarantees, making it an ideal site for those looking to dip their toes into online poker. Along with BetMGM, the site also runs bigger tournament series like the partypoker US Online Poker Series, the Bounty Blitz (all PKOs), Cheap Stakes Series, End Boss Series and more.
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. Many players will agree that avoiding the client crashing just as you get dealt pocket aces is important.
Each site also has a poker app available for free download on Android and Apple (iOS).
When you access the PA poker rooms, you will find four main poker formats. The games that are currently available (and have games running) will depend on the number of active players 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: Every PA online poker app offers multi-table tournaments (MTTs) which attract large numbers of players and often come with handsome prize pool guarantees. Most of these are no-limit hold ’em with some PLO and PLO 8 events mixed in and most allow unlimited or a set number of re-entries. Some sites also offer mixed games, STUD and other formats during longer tournament series. Expect 10% or so of the field to be in the money.
- Progressive knockout (PKO): A knockout (bounty) tournament format where half of the player’s buy-in goes towards the bounty. When you knock a player out, you collect half of their bounty while the other half is added to your own head. Most PA poker sites offer weekly PKO tournaments and some also dedicate entire tournament series to this kind of popular MTT format.
- Sit & Go tournaments: Usually single table tournaments, these kick off whenever a table is full with usually the top two or three players getting paid out.
- Jackpot Sit & Go’s: All the PA poker sites offer a jackpot-style sit ‘n’ go variety. They feature short-handed (single table) quick-paced tournaments called Spin & Go at PokerStars, Blast Poker at WSOP.com and Spins at BetMGM and Borgata. Prize pools are randomly assigned ahead of play and can be up to 10,000x the 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 a cash game variant, known as Zoom at PokerStars and Fast Forward at BetMGM and Borgata.
At international sites, players have a wider game selection to choose from. The smaller player pools in Pennsylvania mean you will mostly find No-Limit Hold’em and some Omaha variations like PLO and PLO8. You will also find some additional varieties like STUD or mixed games during special tournament series. When PA joins player pools with a wider group of states, 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 $100 when you play 1 cash hand.
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.
As player pools expand, 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 play 1 cash hand or bet $1 on casino, get $100 in bonus play, or a 100% bonus match up to $600 using bonus code STARS600.
With the online poker scene still growing in Pennsylvania, there is 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.
Here is a sample of what PA players can find:
- 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. PokerStars PA, for example, awards treasure chests, which have prizes tailored to your individual gambling preferences.
Depending on the brand, you will also find 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 offering all three gambling options. For example, players can easily switch between PokerStars, Stars Casino PA and FOX Bet online sportsbook right on the poker client, app or desktop site.
Depositing and withdrawing at PA online poker rooms
With poker being a skill game, more players will likely withdraw money more often than with 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.
The deposit methods below are the most commonly accepted and most poker sites in PA offer most or all of them.
- 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.
Live poker rooms in Pennsylvania
There are 9 live poker rooms currently open in Pennsylvania. They are:
- Rivers Casino Philadelphia: Located in Philadelphia, Rivers offers a 24/7 poker room which holds 28 tables. The room runs regular high hand promotions and has a bad beat jackpot. There are also weekly and monthly tournaments with good prize pool guarantees.
- Rivers Casino Pittsburgh: 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 sometimes run alongside their busy weekly schedule.
- 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.
- Hollywood Casino at the Meadows: 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, in Strabane Township.
- 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.
- 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.
- Live! Philadelphia Casino: This luxurious 29-table room offers daily and monthly tournaments and high hand promotions. They spread no-limit hold ’em and Omaha cash games, and mixed games on occasion.
- Live! Pittsburgh Casino: This 7-table poker room opened in late 2021 and now offers weekly and monthly deepstack tournaments in addition to high hand bonus promotions. It operates 24/7.
- Wind Creek Casino: The casino features a new 20-table live poker room and is located close to Bethlehem, PA. With a complimentary beverage service, table-side massage, dedicated cage cashier and upgraded lounge for those waiting, this poker room is advertised as state of the art.
- Now closed: Harrah’s Philadelphia poker room, Hollywood Casino at Penn National Racecourse, Presque Isle Downs
Pennsylvania online poker FAQ
Yes, online poker became legal as part of the gambling expansion act of 2017. Sites are licensed under existing B&M casinos. They are under the jurisdiction of the Pennsylvania Gambling Control Board.
You need to be 21 or over, and inside state lines to play online poker in Pennsylvania. Note that there is no requirement to be a permanent resident of the Keystone State.
Yes. PokerStars PA was the first online poker site to launch in Pennsylvania and any player above 21 and within state lines can play there.
No, the player pools at PA poker rooms are ring-fenced. You will only play against others from inside state lines. The state has the option to apply to join the interstate compact with other states like New Jersey, Nevada and Delaware and likely will do so eventually.
No, geolocation technology will only allow you to play if you are inside state lines. If there is any doubt, or location masking technology (for example a VPN) is detected, you will not be able to play. If caught, you stand the chance of having funds confiscated and your account banned.
Cash games, tournaments, and Sit & Gos are all available. Other formats like fast-fold poker are available at some sites as well. Texas Hold’em and Pot-Limit Omaha are the main game formats but the number of mixed games on offer is growing.
Yes. All sites will need to demonstrate the integrity of their random number generator (RNG) software, which controls the shuffle of cards. Despite many rumors to the contrary, there has never been any mathematical evidence that the deal at major sites are rigged. They are overseen by PGCB and subject to rigid testing and regulations to ensure the product is nothing but fair.