Best Pa Online Poker Sites
With several types of online gambling available in Pennsylvania, picking a site can seem overwhelming. If you’re feeling unsure about where to go, you’ve come to the right place.
- In this post we help you decide which is best. Our top recommended PA online casino is Unibet PA (get $10 free right here). They offer the most robust selection of online slots, a modern app, and a range of table games and video poker. It’s the best overall online casino in Pennsylvania.
- 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 and will be joining PokerStars in PA soon, but no launch dates are available yet.
- For now, though, PokerStars PA is still the only legit online poker PA site that offers real money games here. Yet, it makes Pennsylvania the fourth state with legal online poker and the third with online casinos. Other online poker providers like Intertops, for example, are offshore regulated but they do accept players from PA.
- 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.
Below, you will find reviews for the best online casino and online sportsbook in Pennsylvania. We have carefully studied each site to determine what the strong suits are and, conversely, what things they need to improve.
Pennsylvania online poker can be found at a number of poker rooms. Online poker and online gambling in casinos has been legal in the state since October of 2017. Similar to other states, Pennsylvania was slow to approve the first online poker rooms.
We also discuss some of the challenges Pennsylvania’s online gambling market is facing.
With things changing almost daily, it can be challenging to keep up with online gambling news in the Keystone State. Hopefully, by reading through our information below, you can determine which sites best fit your online betting needs. Most importantly, you must be comfortable with the site and aren’t worried about anything beyond winning.
Best PA online gambling sites for 2020
Our best casino bonuses and offers
Online casinos offer bonuses to their patrons to promote loyalty for the site. This practice is especially true for new players; every online casino has an offer for those who register for the site.
Several online casinos are active in Pennsylvania. Here’s a rundown of what bonuses are available on the best sites right now:
Unibet Casino
Unibet online casino in PA is one of the top options in the state, with $10 free just for signing up and a 100% match of your deposit up to $500.
For the free money, use promo code UBCASINO10. For the deposit bonus, use promo code UBCASINO500.
The trusted brand from Europe is hoping to make a big splash in PA with the biggest library of games in the state.
Read ourUnibet PA online casino review
SugarHouse Casino
SugarHouse Casino offers new players a 100% deposit match on their first deposit. In other words, the site will match the player’s initial deposit dollar-for-dollar.
This bonus is good for up to $250. Best of all, PlaySugarHouse only requires a 1x playthrough on its bonus, so the money is quite easy to release. SugarHouse is the best PA casino when it comes to bonus offers.
All a new player needs to do is use promo code 250MATCH when he or she makes a deposit. This deposit bonus is likely the best available in Pennsylvania right now.
Read our Sugarhouse PA Casino review
Hollywood Casino
At first glance, Hollywood online casino’s bonus seems rather meager in comparison to the other two casinos. After all, $25 is not much compared to hundreds of dollars. However, this $25 does not require a deposit. It’s absolutely free.
All new players must do is register on the site. There’s no need to enter any promo code or other activity. As a result, the registrant will find $25 waiting for them.
Best of all, there’s only a 1x playthrough requirement. So, wager through the $25 once, and it’s ready for withdrawals.
Read our Hollywood Casino review
PA online casinos partnership tracker
The table below shows the Pennsylvania casinos that have applied for licenses. You can see their expected technology partners, and whether they have an additional online sports betting license.
| Casino | Online partners | Online Casino launch projection |
|---|---|---|
| Hollywood (Penn National) | N/A | Launched July 2019 |
| Parx | GAN | Launched July 2019 |
| Rivers Philadelphia | Rush Street Interactive / Kambi | Launched July 2019 (PlaySugarHouse) |
| PokerStars Casino | 888 / PokerStars | Launched Nov. 2019 |
| Unibet | Kindred | Launched Nov. 2019 |
| FanDuel Casino | IGT / GAN | Launched Jan. 2020 |
| Presque Isle Downs | BetAmerica | Launched Jan. 2020 |
| Rivers Philadelphia | Rush Street Interactive / Kambi | Launched Jan. 2020 (BetRivers) |
| Harrah's | Scientific Games / 888 (Caesars) | Launched April 2020 |
| Wind Creek Casino | Pala Interactive | Launched July 2020 |
| Live! Casino | GAN | Launched Aug. 2020 |
| Barstool Casino | Penn National | 2020 |
| Hollywood (Penn National) | BetMGM | Launched Dec. 2020 |
| Golden Nugget NJ | NYX | Application pending |
Best sportsbook bonuses and offers
Here’s a look at our welcome bonuses offers:
SugarHouse Sportsbook
SugarHouse Sportsbook was the first online sportsbook to open its doors in Pennsylvania. So, fittingly, the book has a great dollar-for-dollar welcome bonus.
New players at SugarHouse will receive a 100% match on their first deposit. All they have to do is enter promo code 250MATCH when entering their banking details.
Best of all, this match is good for deposits of up to $250. There’s only a 1x playthrough requirement, so it’s quite simple to release. Few bonuses are as good as this one in Pennsylvania right now.
Read our Sugarhouse Sportsbook review
BetRivers Sportsbook
BetRivers’ online sportsbook does have a bonus that rivals SugarHouse’s deposit match. In fact, it’s the same.
Thanks to its shared corporate ownership, BetRivers and SugarHouse are sister sites. So, the two books are going to function as mirrors in many cases, including bonus offers.
Naturally, that means that BetRivers players can also receive a 100% match on their first deposits. This match extends up to $250.
New players must use the promo code 250MATCH to activate the bonus when they make that first investment. The 1x playthrough requirement is about as minimal as those restrictions get, so it should be no problem to recover a significant portion of free money from BetRivers.
Read our BetRivers Sportsbook review
FanDuel Sportsbook
To casual fans, FanDuel might seem like a strange addition to the sports betting landscape. However, the daily fantasy sports giant has become quite a force in online sports betting in the past few years.
So, Pennsylvanians can get a taste of what all the fuss is. New accounts at FanDuel online sportsbook will receive a risk-free bet of up to $500.
New FanDuel players don’t need a promo code to activate this deal. They simply must join FanDuel here and make their first wager.
There is a 1x playthrough requirement on the bonus, which means players must make another bet of equal size to release the funds.
Essentially, players are receiving two bets for the price of one. Still, that’s a great deal for most, mainly if one of them happens to win.
As an added bonus, there is also a FanDuel Casino integrated within the PA FanDuel sports betting app.
Read our Fanduel PA Sportsbook review
Full list of sportsbooks and partnerships
| Online sportsbook | Casino | Retail sportsbook launch | Online sportsbook launch |
|---|---|---|---|
| PlaySugarHouse | Rivers Casino Philadelphia | Dec. 15, 2018 | Launched May 2019 |
| BetRivers | Rivers Casino Pittsburgh | Dec. 15, 2018 | Launched June 2019 |
| Parx | Parx Casino Sportsbook | Jan. 10, 2019 | Launched June 2019 |
| FanDuel | Valley Forge Casino | March 13, 2019 | Launched July 2019 |
| Kambi/Hollywood | Hollywood Casino at Penn National | Nov. 17, 2018 | 2020 (Barstool Sportsbook) |
| Caesars Sportsbook | Harrah's Philadelphia | Jan. 24, 2019 | Launched March, 20020 |
| BetAmerica | Presque Isle Downs Casino | July 26, 2019 | Launched Dec. 2019 |
| Fox Bet | Mount Airy | Sept. 12, 2019 | Launched Sept. 2019 |
| Unibet | Mohegan Sun Pocono | Sept. 24, 2019 | Launched Nov. 2019 |
| DraftKings | The Meadows | Oct. 7, 2019 | Launched Nov. 2019 |
| N/A | Oaks Race & Sportsbook (Now Closed) | March 14, 2019 (permanently closed in July, 2020) | N/A |
| N/A | South Philadelphia Turf Club | Jan. 17, 2019 | N/A |
| N/A | The Downs at Lehigh Valley | Jan. 2020 (Unibet Sportbook) | N/A |
| Betfred Sportsbook | Wind Creek Casino | 2020 | 2020 |
| Live! Sportsbook | Live! Casino Philadelphia (2021) | 2021 | 2020 |
Many of these online sports betting offerings will eventually be tied to a PA online casino site. For example, Harrah’s will likely roll everything into its single Caesars Online Casino product. PlaySugarHouse offers a shared account between casino and sports betting as well.
The lone exception is if you are an iPhone user. Changes to the Apple app store guidelines make these shared apps difficult, so you might see a sports betting app before you get a real-money online casino app in the lineup. And there is a chance they will remain separate.
What’s legal and illegal for online sports betting?
Few newly legalized activities come without rules and exceptions to their legality. Pennsylvania’s online sports betting is no different.
The good news is that Pennsylvania residents and visitors can wager on any professional, collegiate or international sporting events. The only requirements are:
- Be at least 21 years or older
- Be physically within Pennsylvania state lines
- Wager on an approved, regulated Pennsylvania site
However, the betting must occur on sporting events.
So, non-sports events, such as the Academy Awards or political elections, are not permitted for betting.
Finally, people who are intrinsically involved with a particular sport cannot wager upon it. So, players, officials, coaches, and other sports personnel cannot place bets on their own sports.
Concerning online casinos, most people can play without any restriction. Adults who are at least 21 years old are more than welcome to take part.
However, there is absolutely no online casino play allowed across state lines. The sites use geolocation software to monitor every player’s physical location. You must enable this function on your mobile device or you won’t be allowed to play.
The other exception is people who have placed themselves on the self-exclusion list. There is a separate self-exclusion list in Pennsylvania specifically for online play. Unfortunately, gambling addiction is a real problem, and online casinos are careful not to exacerbate the issue for people who are in recovery.
PA casino apps
With Pennsylvania moving into the online casino space, there are a few points about using these programs that bear mention.
First and foremost, it’s important to know that each casino app will figure out what device you’re using automatically. So, whether you use a laptop or a mobile device, the app will size the casino to fit your screen.
For the most part, every online casino has a browser version that will always work on desktops and some phones.
With that said, many casinos have a dedicated app specific to mobile use. If you are a mobile user, you may find the app to provide a smoother experience.
The mobile apps may also have greater functionality than the browser version. However, the game selection on the app can be smaller because some games don’t translate to mobile.
Finally, no matter which platform you use, you will have to go through some steps for the app to work.
Apple users should be aware all PA casinos or sportsbooks have a native iOS app.
Android users can play on all of the casinos in Pennsylvania but they will need to download the app from the casino website. The Google Play store does not support the distribution of gambling apps.
What online casino games are available in PA casinos?
Online casinos feature many of the same games that one might find in a land-based casino. Here are some of the types of games you may find at your favorite site.
Because of the laws requiring Pennsylvania-specific servers for any game providers to PA online casinos, the selection may not be what you are used to if you’ve ever played on a New Jersey online casino, for example.
Slots
The bread and butter for land-based casinos, slots, are the main focus for most online casinos too. An online slot is technically not a machine, but it functions identically otherwise.
A slot game will usually feature several rotating reels with various symbols drawn on them. The reels stop, and the player wins (or doesn’t) based upon the patterns the reels come to rest.
Many slots also feature bonus games or features that provide extra chances for players to win. Bonuses tend to be mini-games and have a higher chance of success than the slot game at large.
Each online casino in Pennsylvania offers a selection of games. That variety depends mostly on the deals each casino has with the game publishers.
So, the following is a list of the most popular slot developers and their games that are playable at the best PA online casinos:
NetEnt: At this time, all games on SugarHouse Casino are produced by NetEnt Games. NetEnt became an industry leader in the world of online slots by providing players with realistic games that replicated those in a Vegas casino. The list of games below includes the top games you will find at Pennsylvania online casinos.
- Blood Suckers II
- Dead or Alive
- Divine Fortune
- Drive: Multiplier Mayhem
- Gonzo’s Quest
Konami: Konami is a household name in the online casino industry. As of the time of writing, this slot developer is only available at select casinos and with only a handful of Konami slot games. Here is a list of games available at select PA casinos:
- African Diamond
- Ancient Dragon
- China Shores
- Full Moon Diamond
- Solstice Celebration
IGT: IGT is a massive global brand with more than 1,000 styles of slot machines in brick-and-mortar casinos and hundreds available online. But there is a limited number of IGT slots in Pennsylvania. This list includes the top games you’ll be able to find online.
- The Big Easy
- Cleopatra
- Crown of Egypt
- King of Atlantis
- Pixies of the Forest
Other game developers entering the Pennsylvania market include Incredible Technologies, Everi Gaming, GAN, H5G, and Slot Symphony.
Video poker
Video poker games are often lumped together with slots. The main difference is that players retain a certain measure of control over the way the game proceeds.
Video poker creates a virtual simulation of a typical five-card draw poker hand. The player receives five cards, can choose to hold as many as they like and then redraws.
The goal is to make a five-card hand that qualifies as a winner. Exactly which rank of hand is required to win varies from game to game.
Table games
Players who prefer a more tactile experience tend to stick to table games. These are games that use a virtual simulation of activities that involve playing cards, dice, balls, or prize wheels.
Blackjack
The most common table game is blackjack. This card game is a competition between the player and the dealer to see whose combination of cards can get closest to 21 in value.
The catch is that the player must act before the dealer and rely on incomplete information to do so. As a result, the casino retains a slight mathematical edge.
However, players can mitigate this edge by using basic strategy. Basic strategy is a widely published set of behaviors designed to play blackjack optimally.
Roulette
The second-most common table game is roulette.
This French version of the game is found in almost any casino with table games. In fact, PlaySugarHouse elected to launch three variants of roulette in its PA online casino before publishing any versions of blackjack.
Basically, roulette involves a randomly released ball falling into a spinning wheel with numbered slots. Players wager based upon which numbers they believe the ball will fall into.
When playing roulette, you will choose between European and American roulette. European roulette features only a single zero on the wheel and boasts better odds for the players. American roulette, on the other hand, features a 0 and a 00, worsening the odds for players.
There are a variety of choices and combinations of numbers that players can choose to bet. Roulette is a staple for casinos due to its pace of play and chance at incredible winnings. A correct bet on a single number will pay 35:1.
Craps
Craps seems to be a bit less likely to appear in PA online casinos. The game itself, which plays with dice rolls, a large tub-like pit, and myriad ways to wager, is likely a challenge for programmers to realize in a virtual setting.
Nonetheless, craps is a dice-based game, which involves players attempting to roll certain numbers on a pair of dice. Players wager based upon the likelihood of various combinations appearing on the dice.
The probability of those combinations often determines the prescribed payout for various wagers on the board. The casinos generate their profit margin by ensuring that the payout odds are worse than the event odds.
For example, a particular number may only have one chance in three of occurring, but a successful wager will only payout 2:1.
Other table games
Several table games are available from time to time at online casinos. These games are less common and, frankly, have a bigger house edge to them.
Nevertheless, they can be a fun option for someone looking for a change of pace. Some other table games include:
- Casino Hold ’em
- Caribbean Stud
- EZ Baccarat
- Let It Ride
- Pai Gow Poker
- Three-card poker
- Ultimate Texas Hold ’em
Live dealer games at PA casinos
People often speak about the “next big thing.” For online gambling in the US, live dealer games are that thing.
This style of online casino game has been nothing short of a revolution. It has propelled casinos in New Jersey to great heights. Live dealer games will come to a Pennsylvania online casinos as soon as the operators can get it off the ground.
Essentially, live dealer games are games dealt in real-time and broadcast live across the site. Real dealers run the games in an interactive studio located in or near the actual land-based casino itself. In fact, there are a few games conducted on the casino floor itself.
Players can place their bets, interact with the dealers, or even interact with one another. Some versions of live dealer games have even expanded to allow players to have multiple views of the game in action.
So far, the following games are available in a live dealer setting in New Jersey. Hopefully, they will appear in Pennsylvania soon:
- Baccarat
- Blackjack
- Casino Hold ’em
- Roulette
- Three-card poker
- Ultimate Texas Hold ’em
Stay on top of things with your favorite online site. Live dealer games are not something to miss.
More about PA’s legal online gambling industry
Online poker, online casino table games, and slots became legal in Pennsylvania as a part of a comprehensive gambling expansionpackagepassed by state legislators in October 2017.
The PGCB is providing regulatory oversight for the local online gambling industry. Casinos could get all three types of interactive gaming licenses at once for a $10 million licensing fee. The cost was $4 million each individually for slots, table games, and peer-to-peer games like poker.
There is no limit on the number of skins, or alternatively branded online gambling operations, that can operate under each licensee. However, regulations designed by the board stipulate branding for the skins must clearly identify the licensee. Plus, players can only create one account per licensee, not per skin.
Potential PA online casinos
According to the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB), there are 10 stand-alone and racetrack casinos and two smaller resort casinos operating inside the state. Plus, a 13th casino, Live! Philadelphia, is coming to the South Philadelphia Sports Complex area, home of Philadelphia’s professional sports teams.
All of these PA casino operations could have applied for online gambling operator licenses in the state beginning April 16, 2018. The properties had until July 16 to turn in applications for a $10 million comprehensive interactive gaming license. With this license, casinos can offer online poker, online slots, and online table games.
There were nine casinos which applied:
- Harrah’s Philadelphia
- Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course
- Mount Airy Casino Resort
- Parx Casino
- Rivers Casino Pittsburgh
- Wind Creek (formerly Sands Casino Resort Bethlehem)
- Rivers Philadelphia (formerly SugarHouse Casino)
- Valley Forge Resort Casino
- Live! Philadelphia Casino (under development)
After applying, Rivers Casino Pittsburg eventually rescinded its application, electing to punt on online gambling. Stadium Casino, now called Live! Philadelphia, did something similar, opting to forgo an online poker license.
Meanwhile, both Presque Isle Downs and Mohegan Sun Pocono applied for a la carte licenses. Presque Isle opted to skip poker. Mohegan surprisingly signed up for all three at a cost of $2 million more than its competitors. However, like Rivers and Live!, it too abandoned its online poker plans.
That left 12 unclaimed interactive licenses. PGCB opened up a process for qualified gambling entities (QGE) from outside of Pennsylvania to claim them.
Only two groups applied. MGM Resorts has preliminary approval for all three categories of license. Golden Nugget Atlantic City can offer table games and slots, but no online poker.
These two major US gaming players will be among the last to launch online casino and sports betting products in PA. They will also be the only sites without a PA land-based casino partner.
Potential PA online poker sites
The first online poker site to go live in the state was PokerStars PA when it fully launched on Nov. 6, 2019. The global poker brand is offered in conjunction with its land-based counterpart Mount Airy Casino Resort.
Today, 10 of 12 Pennsylvania casinos have poker rooms. Lady Luck Casino Nemacolin and Valley Forge Casino Resort are the only casinos in the state that do not have poker rooms.
More than 220 live poker tables are operating across the state with the 10 rooms pulling in an average of $4 million in revenue every month.
Plans for Live! in the South Philadelphia Sports Complex area include opening a poker room when the facility opens its doors in early 2021.
In addition to Mount Airy, six more PA casinos plan to offer an online poker counterpart. Those that will launch an online poker room in Pennsylvania (MGM is applying as an out-of-state entity) include:
- Harrah’s Philadelphia
- Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course
- Parx Casino
- Wind Creek Casino
- Rivers Casino Philadelphia
- Valley Forge Resort Casino
- MGM Resorts (QGE – no land-based partner)
Best Pa Online Poker Sites For Real
PA online gambling site safety
PGCB will regulate all online gaming sites in the state. This is the same branch of the state government that regulates all land-based PA casinos.
Other important points regarding PA online gambling security
The regulations designed by PGCB will include several security measures specifically designed to:
- Ensure player balances are held in a separate account from operating funds
- Force sites to implement a rigorous player verification process
- Prevents minors from gaining access
- Deal with problem gamblers
- Force sites to implement geolocation software making sure all players are within the state
- All deposits and withdrawals are processed securely
The state of Pennsylvania is set to offer online poker, casino and slots games to players within the state by the end of 2018. It is a very exciting time as online gaming operators fall over themselves to make partnerships with land based casinos so that they can bring their products to market.
Online poker is expected to come online in the State of Pennsylvania by the end of 2018. We will keep you updated as to if this changes, but if progress continues at its current rate, it is a reasonable estimation to expect the state to come online before New Years Eve.
It is hoped that the player pool will be shared with the existing Multi-State Internet Gaming Agreement (MSIGA), meaning operators in Pennsylvania will be able to connect their player pools with existing operations in New Jersey, Nevada and Delaware. This would mean that, for the likes of PokerStars, WSOP, 888, partypoker and Borgata, they would already be able to to offer a compelling online poker product.
Online Poker in Pennsylvania: What’s Happened So Far
Back in October 2017 legislation to legalize Pennsylvania online poker in the state passed. The new law also sees the legalization of online casino games and slots, daily fantasy sports, and online lottery sales. Sports betting is expected to be allowed as and when it is permitted by federal law.
In February 2018 The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB) announced it would allow manufacturers and suppliers to apply for an online gaming license through their website as of April 2018.
On April 4 2018, it was announced by the PGCB that they were allowing multiple websites or “skins” for each license. The reasoning behind this decision was to enable a “competitive” market for online gaming.
In May 2018, fantasy sports contests were regulated and taxed in the state of Pennsylvania thanks to approval from the the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB).
Best Pa Online Poker Sites 2019
Players in Pennsylvania can now play on the main DFS sites such as FanDuel and DraftKings along with a host of smaller fantasy sports contest providers such as Boom Fantasy and Fastpick.
Applications from land-based casinos have been accepted and online gaming providers started applying for their licenses on June 4, 2018.
In August 2018 parent company of PokerStars, The Stars Group, announced it has signed a deal with Pennsylvania casino Mount Airy Casino Resort to offer a full complement of online gaming products to players within the state.
People in Pennsylvania can expect to see the PokerStars branded online poker room and casino games along with sports betting under the BetStars brand.
Mount Airy Casino, based in Mount Pocono, penned a deal with 888 ahead of online gaming legislation being passed in the state back in 2015. 888 currently provides play money casino game titles, and Mount Airy promotes real money 888casino games in neighboring New Jersey.
Legislation states that license holders in Pennsylvania are allowed to support an unlimited number of skins, so we might see Mount Airy offer both 888 and PokerStars casino offerings. However, only one sports betting skin is allowed under the law, which will solely be run by the BetStars brand.
September 2018 saw the approval of interactive gaming certificates to two more casinos. SugarHouse Casino and Hollywood Casino are the latest to move forward with bringing online gaming to the state of Pennsylvania.
In addition the PGCB has announced it will allow out-of-state operators to apply for left over interactive gaming certificates called Qualified Gaming Entities, or QGEs.
Between October 15 and October 31, QGEs will be able to petition the PGCB for a license. All petitioners deemed “qualified” by the PGCB will go into a box to be picked at random.
November 2018 saw The Stars Group and Eldorado Resorts announce a twenty year partnership that will see the duo bring sports, casino and poker to eleven US states—not including PA as ties with Mount Airy to bring sports, poker and casino products to market at still underway.
November also saw the first sports bets taken from Hollywood Casino and was followed by Sugarhouse Casino in December both offering land based sports wagers for the first time.
Following this, in early December 2018 the PGCBapproved PokerStars and Mount Airy Casino to offer online poker, slots and table games—a necessary hurdle that needed to be cleared for the pair to bring their online portfolio to life.
In first days of the new year, 888 announced it was buying out the All American Poker Network for $28 million. The transaction would strengthen its hold and growth position in the burgeoning regulated market in the US—helping the company roll out its product and technology within the US regulated markets without the need for partner approval.
January 2019 saw the Kindred Group and the Mohegan Sun Pocono casino in Pennsylvania announce their plans to work together to bring online sports betting and casino games to players in PA.
However a roadblock to proceeding is the reversal of the Wire Act that was announced in late January 2019.
Online sports betting, daily fantasy sports, poker, casino games and other forms of online gaming whose data and communications cross state lines may be at risk under the recent Department of Justice (DOJ) U-turn. This will have huge implications on the recent 888 buy out of the All American Poker Network, PokerStar’s partnership with Eldorado and the individual casinos within each US state.
The DOJ has given current operators a grace period of 90 days to bring their processes in line with the new interpretation of the act. The PGCB has asked its licensees to report back to them within 30 days to propose how they will bring their operations in line with the new ruling.
Will Pennsylvania Online Poker join the US Shared Player Pool?
With the new development of the Wire Act reversal, shared liquidity for Pennsylvania is now unlikely—despite the best way of ensuring buoyancy in the market.
As it stands today, New Jersey, Nevada and Delaware all share player pools. It is understood that the PGCB was in talks with the New Jersey regulator to join the US player pool—meaning that last year it looked hopeful that PA’s inclusion into the tri-state player pool from the off was looking likely.
Back in September 2018 the PGCBstated that it cannot predict the likelihood that Pennsylvanian online poker operators will be able to combine their player pools with those in New Jersey, Nevada and Delaware.
However as sharing player pools would mean that Pennsylvania’s online gaming servers would have to be housed in Atlantic City, New Jersey thanks to New Jersey law, it is unlikely that this will be compliant with the Wire Act, as the DOJ seeks to keep gambling strictly within state lines.
Pennsylvania has around 12.8 million residents. New Jersey has around 9 million residents, Delaware under 1 million and Nevada has 2.9 million—so although not everyone in the state is eligible to gamble online, the sheer size of the market will essentially double the shared player pool, as it currently stands if they were able to find a loop-hole in the DOJ’s ruling.
Pennsylvania Casinos: Everything You Need To Know
As online poker in the state will be associated with a land-based casino, here we take a look at some of the top casinos currently operating in Pennsylvania.
Harrah’s Philadelphia
The iconic Harrah’s Casino and Racetrack is based in Chester, Philadelphia and run by Caesears Entertainment. It has slots, all the casino table games you would expect such as Poker, Roulette and Blackjack along with a horse racetrack.
The Poker Room at Harrah’s is the only WSOP poker room in whole of the state. It has 28 tables and is open 24 hours a day 7 days a week. Poker variants include Texas Hold’em, Seven Card Stud and Omaha with limit stakes starting at $2-4-6 and no limit stakes starting from $1-2. Monthly promotions and tournaments run in the poker room a bad beat sweeter for anyone who has been unlucky at the tables.
Like the low, mid and high stakes games you can play in the casino, restaurants at Harrah’s include options ranging from “Quick Bites, Casual and Upscale” with everything from a Krispy Kreme franchise to a Steakhouse and Raw Bar. Live entertainment also reigns supreme at Harrah’s with a range of shows from music, adult to family friendly offerings.
Harrah’s works with the WSOP.com to bring special promotions to its customers, & considering the WSOP.com are already working in the trial-state shared player pool as a leading operator it would not be surprising if they work with Harrah’s to bring online poker to Pennsylvania residents.
Mount Airy Casino
Based in Mount Pocono, Mount Airy Casino is out of town and offers a range of outdoor activities such a Hiking, Fishing, Horse Back Riding when looking to get a break from the tables. But that’s not to say there isn’t plenty to keep you occupied inside the casino.
There are all the casino games you would want such as poker, craps, roulette, Pai Gow and a top notch entertainment scene perfect for everyone There is also a wide choice of restaurants to choose from.
The poker room dubbed the Poker Palour is open 24 hours a day 7 days a week. There are nine tables where player can play at least two poker variants. Players can try their hand at: Texas Hold’em or Mississippi Stud that is a five card hand unlike Texas Hold’ems two.
Since 2015 Mount Airy Casino worked with 888poker to bring players an online casino experience so we can expect to see 888poker to enter the Pennsylvania online poker market due to it already having a strong foothold in the US market in the tri-state shared player pool.
Due to the partnership announcement with PokerStars to offer a full suite of poker, casino and sports betting, the PokerStars offering is expected to take front and center on the Mount Airy site or at least appear as a sub domain of the site.
The Meadows Racetrack and Casino
This is more of a no frills options for people looking to just hit the casino floor. There are all the game you would expect along with a dedicated poker room with 14 tables. Texas Hold’em and Omaha Hi and Omaha hi/low are the variants played in the room that overlooks the race track.
There is plenty of dining options with a food court, carvery and more. For those looking to make a flutter on the race track there is a horse and dog racetrack with plenty of promotional offers to get you going.
Bowling and a nightclub are available for those looking to let their hair down after a long day at the tables.
Mohegan Sun Pocono
Mohegan Sun Pocono is location near main stays of New York, Philadelphia New Jersey and Delaware in 400 acres of hillsides of Plains, Pennsylvania.
There is a 238 room hotel with on site spa and the casino has more than 90 table games and 2,300 slot machines.
There are daily poker tournaments with a mix of No Limit Hold’em and Bounty tournaments in the Poker Room along with Bad Beat Jackpots, for cash and tournament play. A special “Progressive Royals” promotion runs where $25 is added to the royal flush each day until the royal flush is hit.
Lady Luck Casino Nemacolin
Lady Luck Casino Nemacolin located in the Nemacolin Woodlands Resort in Farmington, Pennsylvania and again is an outdoorsy option for those looking for a casino experience. The casino has 600 slot machines and 28 table games. Within the poker room variants include: Three Card Poker, Mississippi Stud, Criss Cross Poker and Texas Hold’em.
Casual dining options in the restaurant and lounge are available. There is not hotel on site but the Lady Luck Casino has partnered with Nemacolin Woodlands Resort, which is only a mile away from the casino to offer overnight accommodation. Due to its rural setting there is plenty to do to keep outdoor enthusiasts occupied.
Sands Casino
The Sands Casino in Bethlehem boasts 3,000 slot machines and over 200 table games. There is also a 30 table poker room.
Its official website is down at the time of writing.
Presque Isle Downs and Casino
Located in Eire, Pennsylvania the Presque Isle Downs and Casino is near Cleveland and 2 hours from Pittsburg. It has a casino, racecourse and poker room with all the food and entertainment amenities you would expect.
Each month a slate of promotions and tournaments are released in the Poker Room with everything from Happy Hours where free pizza is served to $15K Sunday Tournaments and $200 a day giveaways. Daily mini Sit n Go” tournaments are also run in the casino riffing of the popular poker variant seen heavily in the online poker arena.
Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course
Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course in Grantville, Pennsylvania is a casino where you can play poker, table games and slots along with hitting the race course for a flutter on the horses.
The Poker Room has 17 tables and is open all year. The casino release monthly promotions such as a “High Hand” promotion that was running in May that saw $500 being won every 30 minutes for the highest ranked hand. Other promotions that can be expected is a Bad Beat Jackpot where a loosing hand may result in a jackpot payout or Rake in Cash—where the more games you play the more cash bonuses you are rewarded. A monthly tournament schedule is also released on the website which shows a full slate of tournament events.
Rivers Casino
Rivers Casino in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania has over 90 table games and a 30 table poker room, not to mention over 2,000 slot machines.
River’s Poker Room features 24 hour food service so that players can get fully immersed in the experience of poker. Poker variants played in the room include Limit and No Limit Texas Hold’em along with Omaha Hi-Low and Pot Limit Omaha games.
No Limit Hold’em tournaments are run throughout the month on a daily basis, and a calendar of these events is uploaded online so that you can plan your trip in advance. Poker promotions also run throughout the months such as high hand promotions and special freeroll tournaments. A guest rewards program is also in place in the Poker Room.
Entertainment such as trivia nights and free concerts run throughout the year and there is a choice of eating establishments on site ranging from a steakhouse to cafes and a bar and grill.
Parx Casino
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Located just outside Philadelphia, ParX Casino hosts a whooping 3,330 slot machines. There are 180 table games, racecourse and poker room.
48 poker tables sit within the Poker Room at ParX Casino with 3 VIP poker table specially designed for high stakes action. Tournaments run daily in addition to promotions such as a Bad Beat Jackpot. Game variants include the classic No Limit and Limit Texas Hold’em games along with Pot Limit Omaha and Mixed Games to spice the action up.
Parx Casino also run there very own tournament series. April/May 2018 saw Big Stax XXV run with unlimited re-entries and late registration.
Sugar House Casino
Poker is a big deal at the Sugar House Casino, Philadelphia and is billed as the only Poker Room in Philadelphia. The Poker Room is home to Poker Night in America that is aired on the CBS Sports Network every Monday night.
Monthly tournament schedules for the Poker Room can be found online that feature a mix of No Limit Hold’em and DeepStacks games. Monthly promotions such as a High Hand Giveaway are also on offer.
The Poker Room is made up of 28 tables and has 24/7 “in-seat text-to-order” food service. Another perk is that complimentary alcoholic drinks for all active players on all games are provided.
Sugar House Casino has all other casino games you would expect such as slots, Pay Gow and Blackjack.
Dining options are plentiful along with a full suite of entertainment.
Valley Forge Casino
The Valley Forge Casino has 600 slot machines and 50 table games and is based near Philadelphia. Entertainment is king at the Valley Forge Casino with an extensive live music and entertainment scene.
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Although there is no dedicated poker room, Valley Forge Casino offers Three-Card poker and Texas Hold’em games as part of the table games on offer in the casino. A Valley Club members club is optional to incentivize players.
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