State lawmakers are now discussing a bill that could further iGaming in the US
Pennsylvania is one of the most lucrative gambling states in the US but has been operating without a crucial aspect in one market. Poker players in the state are one step closer to joining the Multi-State Internet Gaming Agreement (MSIGA) under House Bill 2078, which was sponsored by Representative George Dunbar earlier this week.
Pennsylvania currently offers online sports betting, online casinos, online poker, and Video Game Terminals (VGTs). However, HB 2078 gives players a position in the MSIGA, which looks to be coming sooner than expected. The bill reads:
“Within 30 days of the effective date of this subparagraph, request membership in the Multi-State Internet Gaming Association with New Jersey, Delaware, Nevada and any other states that join or have joined the Multi-State Internet Gaming Association. The board shall enter into the interactive agreement on behalf of the Commonwealth.”
If passed, Pennsylvania would join Nevada, Delaware, Michigan, New Jersey and West Virginia in the MSIGA, allowing shared liquidity to permit merged player pools. The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB) would regulate the state’s participation in the MSIGA.
Pennsylvania is the country’s top iGaming market, with over $2.1 billion in revenue last year. Multi-state play would undoubtedly put the state at the top of the poker industry. Four poker platforms, WSOP, PokerStars, BetMGM and Borgata, currently operate in the state, and generated over $30 million in revenue in 2023. That’s slightly more than the $29 million earned in New Jersey.
Michigan poker player Dan Schill is excited that his state entered the MSIGA in 2022. He says that multiple tournaments have seen players take home over $20,000 since the merger, which wasn’t possible when fewer events were offered.
It’s apparent that revenue, player pools and prizes are larger within the MSIGA, and players in Pennsylvania hope they can soon benefit.
