Online Poker Sites In Pa

PA Online Poker Room Advantages. Despite the fact that online poker accounts for less than online slots and table games of New Jersey’s total online gambling revenue, online poker rooms in Pennsylvania will have a distinct advantage because of the far lower tax rate of 16%.

Ever since the first stand-alone casino and legal real money poker licenses were issued in 2006, the gambling industry in Pennsylvania has boomed – so much so that it’s caused severe headaches for nearby gaming commissions in both New Jersey and Delaware. To date, 12 land-based casinos and real cash poker betting venues have opened their doors to the public of the Keystone State, with more to come in the near future.

But whereas brick and mortar casinos and lawful real money poker rooms have thrived in the Keystone State, prior attempts to enact online poker website legislation into law have stumbled. And while residents of the state of PA are more than able to play online poker and Internet poker games like Texas Hold’em poker at one of many top-ranking online poker websites, Pennslyvania’s burgeoning gambling and real cash poker betting community will likely have to wait at least a bit longer for state operated online poker websites to be legalized.

1. As of today, PokerStars PA is the only legal online poker site in Pennsylvania. While we wait for the market to attract more operators, this world-famous poker site is your top (and only) choice to.
2. 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.

The Keystone State is surely ahead, in a liberal sense, when it comes to online gambling. Signing up for a real money US poker site account will be no problem.

Prior Attempt To Legalize Online Poker Stalls, But Study Results Offer New Hope

Quick Jump

• 4 Is Online Poker Legal In Pennsylvania?
• 5 The Facts

An online poker bill for legal Internet poker introduced in April by PA Rep. Tina Pickett, the Chairman of the House Committee on Gaming Oversight, appeared to be gaining some headway in the gambling committee ^[1], but Pickett herself said that she did not expect the lawful real money poker websites bill to move forward before its session expired at the end of 2014. Her pessimism was confirmed when a top ranking committee member stated that Pickett would prefer to stall the Internet poker bill until 2015.

To date, Pennsylvania has taken a “wait and see” approach to online gambling and real cash Internet poker. But now that neighboring New Jersey has at least mostly proven the viability of a regulated real money Internet poker iGaming market, the Keystone State appears poised to move full-steam ahead with its legal poker websites. The recent results of a gaming study should only facilitate the process.

In December 2013, Pennsylvania lawmakers commissioned Econsult Solutions to study the state’s gambling and poker betting industry. As part of its research, Econsult was tasked with measuring the fiscal implications and potential cannibalization effect of a state regulated iGaming Internet poker market. After four months of research, the report was presented to the Pennsylvania Legislation Budget and Finance Committee.

To sum up, the report indicated that a PA-based iGaming Internet poker betting industry would nicely complement its land-based casino and real money live poker room business. Econsult states that PA operators could reap over $300 million in yearly gross revenue from an iGaming Internet poker foray – approximately $50 million more in real cash betting profits than what is forecasted in New Jersey. Furthermore, a legal real money poker website iGaming market would potentially bolster brick and mortar casino and live lawful poker room revenue by upwards of $92 million.

The findings of the report were cause for optimism, illustrated by the PA State Senator’s positional shift regarding Internet poker gambling from neutral to positive.

Latest Pennsylvania Poker News

Can Players From Pennsylvania Play Online Poker?

Whether you’re from the tough streets of Philadelphia or Amish country, you can play online Internet poker games like Texas Hold’em poker for real money on poker websites in the state of Pennsylvania – as long as you have an Internet connection of course. Although no lawful Internet poker legislation has been passed that allows the state to regulate and operate Internet gambling or legit poker websites, players in PA are free to sign up with one of many US-facing, real-money online poker websites available to residents of the Keystone State.

• U. S. Poker Site
• Compatibillity
• Editor Rating
• Deposit Bonus

• Very player friendly
• Generous cashback
• Great mobile play

Is Online Poker Legal In Pennsylvania?

While we cannot claim to be an authority on the subject of real money Internet poker in Pennsylvania, we have dug up several points of interest regarding the legality of online poker and betting on poker websites as well as other forms of gambling in Pennsylvania:

• Online poker and Internet poker websites are not regulated by the state of Pennsylvania.
• In fact, online poker and Internet poker gambling for real cash are not mentioned at all in Pennsylvania gambling law.
• State regulated lotteries are offered by the state of PA. However, bingo can only be played for charitable or civic purposes.
• Pennsylvania is not exempt from federal laws that prohibit real money sports betting.
• Playing in social gambling circles like real money poker games at home does not appear to be illegal. However, hosting such a game does seem illegal, especially if the house takes a rake from the betting happening. As stated by Section 5513(2), anyone who allows persons to collect and assemble for the purpose of unlawful gambling or betting at any place under his control, can be charged with a misdemeanour in PA.
• Pennsylvania gambling and betting law is not very specific in regards to what is and is not considered unlawful gambling or poker betting. For instance, it is never explicitly states that playing real money poker is a form of gambling. Additionally, playing cards used in real cash poker betting are excluded from the state’s list of unlawful gambling devices.

So whereas other states explicitly state that running an underground home game where the house takes a rake is illegal, its legality within Pennsylvania’s borders resides in a decidedly grey area. And since online poker and playing Internet poker is never mentioned, it’s impossible to make a conclusion one way or the other about how legal poker websites are in PA. All we know for sure is that online gambling and real money betting hasn’t been formally legalized.

Those more interested in Pennsylvanian gambling and poker betting laws are encouraged to visit the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board’s website ^[2].

House Bill 1235

House Bill 1235 ^[3] is the name of the gambling bill introduced by PARep. Pickett in April, 2013. It calls for the legalization of most forms of Internet gaming, including Internet poker, slots and casino-style table games. Bingo, the state lottery, keno and other lesser known card games were left out of the real cash Internet poker bill.

Under the bill, real money poker website licensees would be required to pay a one-time, non-refundable licensing fee of $5 million – down from $16.5 million. A renewal fee of $500,000 would be charged every three years. Licensees would pay a 28% of gross real cash betting revenue in taxes – down from the staggering 45% originally proposed by Pickett.

The Facts

The History of Gambling in Pennsylvania

As early as the Colonial period, George Washington would attend local races held by the Philadelphia Jockey Club where lawful real cash betting would take place. In the early 1800s, Hunting Park would become one of the most prestigious horseracing gambling tracks in the country. And although horseracing would be outlawed by the state in 1820, that didn’t deter local organizations and emerging forces from hosting local real cash betting events.

During the Great Depression of the 1930s, Pennsylvania sought ways to revitalize its struggling economy. One of these ways was to lift the long-standing ban on harness and thoroughbred racing gambling. Other states, including neighboring Delaware, would also legalize horseracing around the same time, causing the nation’s horseracing real money betting industry to boom.

But it wasn’t until 1971 that the state would entertain the full gambling debate. That year, Pennsylvania legalized the state’s first regulated lottery. Shortly thereafter, amiss rumors of alleged scandal, real cash lottery gambling regulations were strengthened. In 1981, bingo was legalized, in so long as the real money betting proceeds were donated to charitable institutions.

In 1982, around the same time Atlantic City was beginning to thrive, the state of PA took on the issue of land-based casinos and real money poker rooms. Several gambling and betting bills were proposed – all of them failed.

The casino and live legit poker debate would wage on for over twenty years, until finally in 2004 the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board was founded. This led to the first brick and mortar casino, Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs [4], opening in November, 2006. Several other slots casinos, including Mount Airy Casino, would follow suit. But it wasn’t until 2010 that the popularity of physical real money gambling casinos exploded. It was then that table games like blackjack, roulette, craps, and of course legal real money poker were introduced. Since that time, table games have been pulling in approximately $55 million in real cash betting revenue per month ^[5].

As of the time of this writing, Sands Bethlehem ^[6] is the biggest and most profitable casino and live lawful poker betting venue in Pennsylvania. It’s also the one casino that may serve as a deterrent to the online poker and Internet poker betting legalization process, as its owned by Las Vegas casino mogul and staunch opponent of online gambling and legal real money poker websites, Sheldon Adelson.

Online poker is not yet legal in Pennsylvania, but it should be fairly soon as the Keystone State has seen land-based gaming thrive during the past decade.

Regulated Gambling Options in Pennsylvania

To date, 12 land-based casinos and real money poker rooms are regulated by the state of Pennsylvania. Six of these casinos also operate horseracing tracks. The Keystone State is also home to a plethora of racinos.

Overall, the amount of regulated gambling and legit betting facilities in Pennsylvania is expected to rise dramatically over the next several years.

The Future of Regulated Online Gambling in Pennsylvania

Right now, no form of online gambling, including Internet poker is regulated by the state of Pennsylvania. However, it appears that lawmakers will reintroduce a new iGaming legal poker websites bill during 2015. Thanks to a wealth of literature and data that supports the sustainability of an iGaming real cash Internet poker market in the Keystone State, any new bill introduced stands a significantly better chance of passage than the one prior.

The Bottom Line

Will we eventually see online gambling and lawful Internet poker websites in Pennsylvania? Almost definitely, and probably fairly soon. Representatives of the state of PA have been keeping a close eye on states that have already legalized online gambling and Internet poker betting for quite some time now, both in an attempt to learn from their mistakes and to determine if creating real cash poker websites is a profitable undertaking.

To conclude, it is quite likely that residents of Pennsylvania will be check-raising donkeys on the virtual felt at legal real money Internet poker websites in PA by sometime in 2015.

References

[1] ↑Pennsylvania Online Gaming Bill Moves to Committee

[2] ↑Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board

[3] ↑House Bill 1235

[4] ↑Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs

[5] ↑Gaming Revenue Report 2012-13

[6] ↑Sands Bethlehem

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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. […]

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

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.

Best Online Poker Sites In Pa

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.

Legal Online Poker Sites In Pa

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.

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.

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.

Online Poker Sites For Us Players

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.