Shared Liquidity Initiative Expansion:
Ready, set, play with the big leagues!
It's finally happening, folks! Pennsylvania, the biggest regulated online poker state in the US, has officially joined the Multi-State Internet Gaming Agreement (MSIGA), marking a massive shift in the online poker scene.
.pdf's Galore!Governor Josh Shapiro put his John Hancock on the agreement today, making Pennsylvania the sixth state to join the compact, alongside Delaware, Nevada, New Jersey, Michigan, and West Virginia.
Pool Party Starting April 28, player pools from BetMGM Poker and Borgata Poker will merge, with the duo being the first operators to link up across states.
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That's right! Players on BetMGM Poker PA and Borgata Poker PA will soon be battling it out with players from Michigan and New Jersey, a significant milestone for both the platforms and the players.
Coming Soon: Other operators, such as PokerStars PA and WSOP PA, are expected to follow suit, although an exact timeline hasn't been divulged by the regulators yet.
The Shapiro administration believes this move is a no-brainer, stating it supports players, bolsters the state's gaming industry, and strengthens the economy.
"This is a smart move to support a bajillion Pennsylvanians, pump up our economy, and bring in more dough to fund our schools, our elders, our small businesses, and more," said Governor Shapiro in the press release.
Years in the Making
This milestone has been a long-time coming for Pennsylvania poker, home to an estimated 150,000 online poker players. With Pennsylvania's entry, the combined player pool grows by over 50%, paving the way for bigger prize pools, greater game variety, and a more robust online poker ecosystem.
The timeline for this MSIGA rollout is impressive, with Pennsylvania landing as the largest state to join the shared liquidity network. For comparison, it took Michigan several months to launch its first shared liquidity network after joining the compact in 2022.
The road to interstate online poker membership has been a bumpy one. Pennsylvania legalized online poker in 2017, but progress stalled due to legal uncertainty stemming from a reinterpreted opinion of the Wire Act. That uncertainty persisted until 2021, when courts confirmed that the Wire Act applied only to sports betting. Other states moved ahead with MSIGA membership, but Pennsylvania held off until October 2024, when Governor Shapiro instructed the PGCB to begin the process of joining MSIGA.
With the agreement now in place, Pennsylvania regulators will coordinate with other MSIGA member states and in-state operators to complete the integration process. The PGCB has set April 28 as the official launch date.
PokerStars and WSOP are also expected to follow closely behind. PokerStars previously merged its Michigan and New Jersey player pools just six months after Michigan joined the compact. WSOP, meanwhile, already has the software tech ready between its PA, NJ, and NV platforms, positioning itself well for a smooth rollout.
BetRivers Poker, which is gearing up to launch in several other MSIGA states, may also join the shared liquidity network later this year.
- The integration of BetMGM Poker and Borgata Poker player pools across Pennsylvania, Michigan, and New Jersey will lead to an increased competition among players.
- The government's focus on responsible gambling is evident with the terms and conditions for rewards that emphasize help for gambling problems and the age requirement for players.
- The integration of casino-games like poker into online platforms is not only expanding the gaming industry but also boosting the economy, according to Governor Shapiro.
- Sports betting and lotteries are also part of the gambling trends that the Multi-State Internet Gaming Agreement aims to embrace and regulate, as reflected in Pennsylvania's decision to join the agreement.
- Prior to the MSIGA membership, Pennsylvania had been facing legal uncertainty concerning the Wire Act, which affected the progress of online poker.
- The gambling landscape is experiencing significant changes as other operators, such as PokerStars, WSOP, and BetRivers Poker, have plans to launch or integrate their platforms into the shared liquidity network soon.
