Pennsylvania is the most-populated US state to offer regulated online poker. Players in PA can choose between several safe, licensed, and completely legal poker sites that offer a great variety of games, generous bonuses, and easy banking.
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Great casino offer | Poker Site | Welcome Bonus | Main Highlight |
| PokerStars PA | $150 in Bonus Play or 100% up to $600 | Best tournament series with the largest guarantees |
| WSOP PA | 100% up to $1,000 & up to $100 in free credits | Win WSOP Bracelets & WSOP Circuit rings online |
| BetMGM Poker PA | 100% up to $1,000 & up to $75 in MTT tickets | Soft games, thanks to a large sportsbook traffic |
| Borgata Poker PA | 100% up to $1,000 & up to $75 in MTT tickets | Qualify for live Borgata Poker tournaments |
In addition to state-licensed sites, players in Pennsylvania also have access to several sweepstakes poker sites. These are also completely legal and have the advantage of bringing together players from many different states.
On top of that, several offshore operators accept PA poker players, but we highly recommend you skip these altogether. Unlike the other two, these offshore sites are not legal or safe, so you should steer clear of them and stick to legal and reputable operators instead.
Top Regulated Pennsylvania Poker Sites
PA players have access to four licensed and regulated poker sites operating in the state, with each of them bringing some unique and standout features.
PokerStars Pennsylvania
PokerStars was the first site to start operating in Pennsylvania after online poker was regulated in the state.
Thanks to its solid head start, and strong brand name, PokerStars PA has managed to maintain the number-one spot in Pennsylvania in terms of player traffic, averaging around 110 active players.
The site owes much of its popularity to major tournament series such as PACOOP and PASCOOP, which allow the operator to showcase its strengths with a wide range of events featuring generous guarantees and a great mix of variations beyond Hold’em and PLO.
PokerStars PA Facts
| Welcome Bonus | $150 in Bonus Play or 100% up to $600 |
| Best tournaments | PACOOP, PASCOOP |
| Game variations | NLHE, PLO, Mixed Games (Stud, 2-7, 5 Card Draw, and more) |
| Stakes | $0.01/$0.02 – $25/$50 |
WSOP PA
WSOP PA is another core stakeholder in the PA online poker market. Although it averages around 60 active players, the site becomes quite active during major tournament series that help attract players.
WSOP PA’s biggest appeal comes from its ability to organize online tournaments that award actual gold bracelets and WSOPC rings. Every year, players have a couple of chances to compete for bracelets, and there are several WSOP Circuit Online series on offer.
Although the cash game action can be somewhat slower than at other sites, the operator compensates by offering fairly regular reload bonuses and solid rakeback promos to stay competitive.
PokerStars PA Facts
| Welcome Bonus | 100% up to $1,000 & up to $100 in free credits |
| Best tournaments | WSOP Online, WSOP Circuit Online |
| Game variations | NLHE, PLO |
| Stakes | $0.01/$0.02 – $100/$200 |
BetMGM Poker PA
BetMGM Poker PA is the third major licensed operator in the state. While it is not as well known in the poker space as the other two, it is a major brand with an impeccable reputation in the gambling world.
The site features solid player traffic that’s on par and slightly ahead of WSOP PA, but cash games here are quite a bit softer overall.
In terms of tournaments, BetMGM tends to have smaller series with somewhat more modest guarantees, but smaller fields and softer competition make these events worth playing just the same.
| Welcome Bonus | 100% up to $1,000 & up to $75 in MTT tickets |
| Best tournaments | The Pure Grind Series, BetMGM Poker Online Championships |
| Game variations | NLHE, PLO, Stud |
| Stakes | $0.01/$0.02 – $25/$50 |
Sweepstakes Poker in Pennsylvania
In addition to state-regulated sites, sweepstakes poker is readily available in Pennsylvania. These sites operate on a model that allows them to legally offer games where players can compete for real-money prizes and accept players from most US states.
To be able to do this without breaking any laws, these sites don’t allow direct deposits or withdrawals. Instead, they gift players with Sweeps Coins, which can be used to redeem cash prizes. Players can get these free coins in a variety of ways, including the purchase of Gold Coins (game tokens that can’t be redeemed).
Regulated PA Poker vs. Sweepstakes Poker Sites
| Regulated Sites | Sweepstakes Poker |
| Play only with other players in PA | Players from a majority of US states are welcome to play together |
| Direct deposits & withdrawals | Sweeps Coins can’t be bought directly & have to be redeemed before a withdrawal |
| Big deposit bonuses & other promotions | Limited promos due to the sweepstakes model |
| Tougher games with more serious players | A lot of recreational and inexperienced players |
ClubWPT Gold
ClubWPT Gold is the latest site to join the ranks of sweepstakes operators in the US. It welcomes players from Pennsylvania.
The site is owned by the World Poker Tour, one of the biggest names in the poker industry, making it a very safe and reliable choice for anyone looking to give sweepstakes poker a chance.
ClubWPT Gold is still in its early stages so it remains to be seen what the overall offering will look like, but the early ring game action is showing very positive signs.
GlobalPoker
Global Poker is the longest-standing sweepstakes poker site, catering to numerous US states, Pennsylvania included.
The operator has a strong presence in the market and a long-standing reputation, which helps it attract new players and keep existing ones loyal.
In addition to strong ring game action, Global Poker has a lot to offer to tournament players as well, with a quality weekly schedule and regular series with big guarantees and unique trophies for the winners.
Stake US Poker
Stake US Poker is another relatively new operator in the PA sweepstakes poker environment, but it has been constantly growing.
The ring game action is limited with players’ numbers, but the games that are running are by far the easiest ones to beat because of players coming from the casino section of this site. That said, you will find some games running 24/7, so it is definitely a site worth checking out.
Its tournament schedule has also been constantly improving, but compared to other alternatives, it currently lacks player traffic.
What Games You Can Find In Pennsylvania
Regardless of what your specific preferences may be, you won’t lack options when it comes to PA online poker.
The overall quality of the ring game action is decent, although player traffic isn’t all that great, which is usually the case with ring-fenced markets. Pennsylvania should be joining the MSIGA soon, however, and once that happens, we’ll see a significant boost.
The tournament action is decent, driven primarily by PokerStars PA and WSOP PA. With their regular yearly series, players have plenty of choices.
Finally, all sites in the state, sweepstakes operators included, offer a version of spin and Goes, i.e., jackpot sit and goes that tend to fill quickly and are perfect for those looking to put in a quick session.
Tournaments
The online poker tournament action in PA is driven primarily by PokerStars PA and WSOP PA. Both operators have very solid daily schedules, with weekly majors such as:
- $30,000 WSOP Sunday Major
- $5,000 WSOP Saturday PKO 8-Max
- PokerStars Red Spade Specials
BetMGM Poker PA has a somewhat more limited MTT schedule, but their Big Shot daily events offer solid guarantees, with the Sunday Big Shot Main featuring a $15,000 promise.
There is also a solid range of yearly series that PA players can count on, featuring a lot of different tournaments and boosted prize pools. The ones that stand out are:
- PokerStars PASCOOP – taking place in April – May
- PokerStars PACOOP – usually taking place in September
- WSOP PA Online Bracelets Series – running in October/November
- WSOP PA Online Circuit Series – several series running throughout the year
Although tournament guarantees are smaller than those of other regulated states that are now part of the shared player pool, Pennsylvania players still have a very solid selection of MTTs.
Cash games
When it comes to ring games, PokerStars PA is the best option in terms of player traffic. With an average of 110 – 120 active players, the operator is significantly ahead of its main competitors.
BetMGM Poker PA and WSOP PA have very similar numbers, with BetMGM slightly ahead with around 70 active users and WSOP PA hovering around 60 – 65.
WSOP PA offers the widest range of stakes, from $0.01/$0.02 on NLHE/PLO tables to $100/$200. On the other two sites, the highest stakes are $25/$50.
In terms of player quality, BetMGM Poker PA is the softest of the three, with a lot of players coming over to the poker side of things from the operator’s very popular sportsbook.
In terms of game variations, PokerStars PA is the only one to offer action in games other than Pot Limit Omaha and No-Limit Hold’em.
| PokerStars PA | BetMGM PA | WSOP PA | |
| Player Traffic | 110 – 120 | 65 – 70 | 60 – 65 |
| Stakes | $0.01/0.02 – $25/50 | $0.01/0.02 – $25/50 | $0.01/0.02 – $100/200 |
| Games | NLHE, PLO, PLO8 | NLHE, PLO, PLO8 | NLHE, PLO, PLO8, 2-7, Stud, 8-Game |
Spin and Goes
All PA poker sites offer their variations of jackpot sit-and-goes, or Spin-and-Goes, as they are better known among players. However, the range of buy-ins and the maximum win multipliers differ between the sites.
| Min buy-in | Max Buy-in | Max Multiplier | |
| Spin & Go (PokerStars PA) | $1 | $50 | 2,000x |
| Blast (WSOP PA) | $0.10 | $30 | 10,000x |
| BetMGM PA (Spins) | $1 | $50 | 2,000x |
It is worth mentioning that sweepstakes poker sites also feature variations of these tournaments, namely:
- Clubs Poker Spin & Go – buy-ins between 0.25SC and 10SC and 300x max multiplier
- Global Poker Jackpot Sit and Go – buy-ins between 0.25SC and 10SC and 200x max multiplier
Pennsylvania Payment Methods
PA poker sites offer players a wide range of payment options for deposits and withdrawals. The most important thing is that all these operators are very reputable and respect all relevant laws, which means your funds and sensitive financial information are always kept safe and protected.
It is also important to note that the range of available payment methods may differ from one operator to another, so it’s always worth checking if you have a specific payment method in mind. Generally speaking, though, these are some of the most common options:
| Method | Deposits | Withdrawals |
|---|---|---|
| Visa | Yes | No |
| MasterCard | Yes | No |
| PayPal | Yes | Yes |
| Skrill | Yes | Yes |
| Venmo | Yes | Yes |
| Bank Transfers | No | Yes |
| In-person Payments | Yes | Yes |
Poker Regulations in Pennsylvania
Online poker was regulated in Pennsylvania in 2019 and has been going strong ever since. Players can choose from several licensed operators and a few sweepstakes poker sites, all of which are perfectly legal and safe to play on.
Although there are still offshore sites that continue to accept PA players, you should know that these operators are doing so by breaking relevant gaming laws, and you should stay away. There are more than enough safe and legal options to choose from in the state!
State licenses are issued by the Pennsylvania Gaming and Control Board (PGCB), a government body that oversees all licensed operators and serves as the first point of contact in disputes.
The next big step for PA online poker is for the state to join the multi-state compact (MSIGA), which would allow it to share player pools with other members – New Jersey, Michigan, and Nevada.
The process has been ongoing for some time now, and there are no legal obstacles to it, so it should be completed soon.
| Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board | Regulatory and licensing body for online poker in PA |
| PGCB Responsible Gaming | Resources for responsible gaming |
| 1-800-GAMBLER | PA responsible gaming phone line |
| National Council on Problem Gambling | USA-wide responsible gaming resource center |
How To Register and Start Playing Online
Signing up for regulated and/or sweepstakes poker sites in Pennsylvania is quick and easy. Follow these few simple steps, and you’ll be joining the action in no time.
- Step #1. Pick one of the sites recommended on this page
- Step #2. Click on the link to visit the site
- Step #3. Find the “Sign Up” or “Join” button to start the registration process
- Step #4. Fill in the required information (name, surname, DOB, address)
- Step #5. Check your email for the verification link
- Step #6. Click the link in the email to verify your account
You are now all set to pick up your welcome bonus and start playing. It is worth noting that you’ll also need to verify your identity at some point, but most of the best online poker sites don’t require this immediately and may only ask you to do it when you make your first withdrawal.