Best Pennsylvania Online Poker Sites

Pennsylvania is known for being a great state for poker players to play recreationally or for a living. While there is plenty of action on the live felt, it also continues online at the best Pennsylvania poker sites. If you’re looking for action across all stake levels, all game variations, and all types of poker (cash, tournaments, and sit and gos), the list below has your name written all over it.

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. Best Pennsylvania Online Poker Sites. Online poker is fully legal in Pennsylvania. Both residents and visitors to Pennsylvania can create online poker accounts.

How We Select the Best Pennsylvania Online Poker Sites

• The Size of the Player Pool
• The Quality of the Player Pool
• Bonuses and VIP Perks
• Customer Service
• The Usability of the Interface

The Size of the Player Pool

One of the first things we look at when determining the best online poker rooms for Pennsylvania residents is the size of the player pool. We’re equally fans of smaller and larger-sized sites. We believe each has its own place in the industry and serves a different set of needs.
However, what we’re not fans of are ghost towns. Poker is not a game meant to be played by yourself. Even if you’re playing heads up, you need people to play against. We test each of the online PA poker sites we recommend, making sure the player pool is (at a bare minimum) big enough to support continuous action.

The Quality of the Player Pool

Not only do we want to see enough players for action, but we want to see the right types of players. If every game is nothing but grinders and professionals trying to beat each other up, that’s not an ideal game. Even if you’re the best in the world, you know that game selection is the key to maximizing your profits. Thankfully, our team knows how to figure out which Pennsylvania poker sites are shark-infested and which are filled with recreational fish just looking to have a good time.

Bonuses and VIP Perks

Being a winning real money online poker player is all about finding every little edge you can. Sometimes, these edges start before you even slide a virtual chair up to the table. The best Pennsylvania poker sites have great bonuses for new players. Additionally, the really great online rooms know that the bonuses need to continue to retain players. What about all of the real money poker sites in Pennsylvania we’ve recommended? Yup! Each site has a ton of great bonuses available for you.

Customer Service

Floor! When you’re playing live poker, it’s easy to get help by yelling the magic word. We think that you should be able to get help just as easily when playing online. The best Pennsylvania gambling sites with poker have extensive FAQ sections, extremely helpful customer service agents, and help options available 24/7/365.

The Usability of the Interface

Last, but certainly not least, the top Pennsylvania poker sites have really easy-to-use interfaces. What this means is that you can make your bets easily, quickly see the action, and don’t have to worry about mis-clicking. You’d think in a post-2020 world this wouldn’t be an issue, but there are still some sites that are clunky and difficult to use. Our list of the best Pennsylvania poker sites is a parade of poker rooms that hit a home run when it comes to user-friendliness.

Why Poker Is Becoming so Popular in Pennsylvania

Maybe it’s something in the water, or maybe it’s a result of the state’s positive attitude towards the game. While we can speculate on the source all day, one thing is for sure—people in the Keystone State love to play poker. Whether it’s online or live at brick and mortar rooms, the action is popping.

What’s really great about the action in PA is that it exists at all levels. Even if you’re a beginner that likes to play lower stakes, you can find tons of action. And if you happen to be a higher-limit player, you can find plenty of action as well.

List of Land-Based Poker Rooms in Pennsylvania

While you probably came here to find where to play poker online in Pennsylvania, that doesn’t mean you might not want to get your live fix every now and then. Here’s a quick look at the most prominent poker rooms in the state of PA.

• Harrah’s Philadelphia
• Hollywood Casino at Penn National
• Meadows Racetrack and Casino
• Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs
• Mount Airy Casino
• Parx Casino
• Presque Isle Downs
• Rivers Casino
• Sands Casino
• SugarHouse Casino

Legality of Pennsylvania Online Poker Sites

You never need to look much further than the brick and mortar poker and gambling landscape in a state to get an idea of the legislation’s view on the game. In Pennsylvania, there are tons of casinos and card rooms! That does beg the next logical question, though, what about online poker?

Currently, there are plenty of Pennsylvania poker sites available to residents. Depending on who you ask, the answer to the legality question is a gray area. Most of the laws in the US deal with the poker site operators and not you as a player. If you need a thorough answer, you should contact a gaming attorney in the state.

It’s our interpretation of the local laws that it’s completely fine to play poker online in Pennsylvania. For information on United States gambling laws, click the link below.

Best Pennsylvania Online Poker Sites No Deposit

How to Stay Safe Playing at Pennsylvania Poker Sites

• Only use reputable PA poker sites.
• Keep your computer systems and antivirus up to date.
• Keep tilt under control.
• Avoid chasing losses.
• Regularly update your password.

Use Reputable Real Money PA Poker Sites

As the great Kenny Rodgers once sang, “You got to know when to hold ‘em and know when to fold ‘em.” What can we glean from this iconic poker song? Stick to the reputable Pennsylvania online poker rooms and fold the ones you can’t 100% trust. Chasing bonuses or chasing fish at less than reputable Pennsylvania poker sites is the number one way to get yourself into trouble.

Keep Your Computer and Antivirus Systems Updated

Hackers exist in every industry in the world. 24/7, these creeps are trying to gain access to your bank accounts, credit cards, and now, your online poker accounts! One of the best ways to keep them out is to keep your computer and antivirus software up to date. If your computer recommends upgrades from the manufacturer, install them immediately.

And if you aren’t currently running an up-to-date version of antivirus software, it’s time to invest in your security.

Keep Your Tilt Under Control

Part of staying safe is making sure you’re making smart decisions on and off the felt. If you let your emotions get the best of you, it could lead to costly mistakes. Nobody likes to lose when they’re playing poker. And nobody feels great when they lose. However, if you let these feelings get you upset, it’s a formula for disaster. Learn to keep your tilt under control.

Avoid Chasing Losses

While we’re on the topic of losing and making bad decisions, it’s important that you never try and chase when you’re down. There’s nothing wrong with putting in a longer grind session to get even. However, if you find yourself chasing wild draws and bluffing like crazy, it’s time to walk away. Remember, being safe when you play real money online poker in Pennsylvania is equally about protecting yourself from external and internal threats.

Regularly Update Your Password

Updating your password every 60 to 120 days is a good practice for all of your online accounts. Yes, it can be annoying to have to remember a new password, but it can keep you safe. Set a reminder in your phone or your calendar every few months to change your online poker password to something else that’s just as strong.

Pennsylvania Poker Sites FAQ

How Many Real Money Pennsylvania Poker Sites Should I Join?

Honestly, it’s completely up to you how many Pennsylvania poker sites you should join. For some recreational players, one site is plenty. However, if you’re looking to get a really custom experience, you may need to join a couple of different sites. Here are a few examples of situations where it could be in your best interest to join a few different options.

• You want more action than one site has to offer
• A second site is running a major tournament series
• You’re looking to cash in on multiple welcome bonuses (this is legal!)

Also, it’s important to point out two things. One, it doesn’t cost you anything extra to join a second (or third) site. Two, you can play online poker in Pennsylvania for real money at multiple sites at the same time with no problems.

Are Pennsylvania Online Poker Sites Safe to Play At?

Absolutely. The top US poker sites take your safety and security seriously. Each of the sites we’ve recommended dedicates a lot of time, staff, effort, and resources to keep you and your money safe. We’re not going to recommend any PA online poker sites unless we’d be comfortable playing there ourselves.

How Long Does It Take to Get Signed up to Play Poker Online in Pennsylvania?

Getting signed up for Pennsylvania online poker websites takes no more than a few minutes. All you need to do is input some basic information about yourself, pick out a screen name, and make your first deposit. You can be in the real money action within a few minutes from right now.

Are Cashouts Fast at Pennsylvania Online Poker Sites?

The best real money poker sites in Pennsylvania pay players fast! How fast is fast? Generally, once your cashout has been approved by the cashier, you should have the money within a few hours or up to about five to seven business days. The exact time depends on a lot of factors, but you should expect to see cashouts of any size under a week.

In Conclusion – Play Poker Online in Pennsylvania!

The only thing left for you to get in the action is to get signed up! All of the real money Pennsylvania poker sites we’ve recommended are 24/7/365, which means there’s a game running right now! Additionally, many of the sites link you up with players around the country and around the world. This means that you can find action at any time of the day! If you’re ready to get the cards in the air and rake in that first big pot, what are you waiting for?

Pennsylvania has made strides to make online gamblinglegal over the last few years, and despite some bumps along the way, it becamethe fourth state to open its doors to legal online poker in 2019. This pagewill cover everything you need to know about the ever-changing online pokerlandscape and how you can find the best place to play.

History of legal Online Poker in Pennsylvania

Given its proximity to New Jersey, it is easy tounderstand why Pennsylvania moved quickly to legalize online gambling once theprecedent was set by its neighbors. The state wanted to reap the benefits oftaxing online gaming, and take advantage of the hole left in the online pokermarket after the DoJ seizure of major poker sites in 2011.

The legislation was introduced in 2017, and in October ofthat year, it passed into law, allowing all forms of online gambling to belegalized. It was in 2018 that the regulations were finalized and applicationswere being accepted. However, there wasn’t a mad rush from the 13 land-basedoperators that were given a first chance at the licenses. This was mainly dueto the cost of the application, which was $4 million per discipline (sports,casino, poker) or a combined price of $10 million for all three. Also, the taxrates for online gaming, which range from 32% to 51% depending on the game, areprohibitive to a company being profitable.

Finally, many of the casinos relented and applied forlicenses, including 7 online poker sites.

Online Poker sites in Pennsylvania

For now, this is a very short list. As of December 2019,the only site open to players from Pennsylvania is Poker Stars. There have,however, been several companies that have been given the approval to launchonline poker, including:

Harrah’s Casino Philadelphia

Best Pennsylvania Online Poker Sites Free

Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course

Parx Casino

Sands Bethlehem Casino Resort

SugarHouse Casino

Valley Forge Casino Resort

It is expected that all of these casinos, which havechosen online partners, will be live in 2020 and as they launch, we will expandthis page with reviews of each of the sites.

Poker Stars PA

Poker Stars remains the largest online poker site in theworld. While the play in Pennsylvania is currently limited only to residents ofthe state, that isn’t stopping the gaming giant from launching with many of thecompany’s great marketing and software features.

For fans of online poker tournaments, Poker Stars PA haslaunched with a great series of weekly guaranteed tournaments, featuring theirSunday Majors to make someone a big winner each week. The company is also wellknown for its Championship of Online Poker series, and Pennsylvania residentsgot their first taste of that action with the November 2019 PACOOP. You canexpect more of these special tournament events spread out across 2020 andbeyond.

Cash game experts or newbies will find something thatfits them at PokerStars PA. You can try games for free or play cash tables aslow as 1c/2c to cut your teeth. Cash games are spread across all the majorpoker disciplines, such as Omaha and Hold’em. Some of the tables are reservedfor those with larger bankrolls, but there is something for every skill levelat this site.

Online Poker Tournaments in Pennsylvania

If you love to play poker tournaments, then playingonline in Pennsylvania is something you are going to want to join! Some eventsrange in entry fees from mere pennies to hundreds of dollars, and there areeven lots of freeroll tournaments where you can build your bankroll withouthaving to make a deposit. Sit and Go Tournaments allow you to play with smallergroups of players without having to wait for a scheduled time, and with Turboand Hyper Turbo events, you can play an entire tournament in a very shortperiod. Check out the review pages for tournament overviews for each of theonline poker sites in Pennsylvania.

Online Poker Cash Games in Pennsylvania

Cash games tend to be made for much longer sessions thana tournament, and for those who are looking to play online cash games in Pennsylvania,you will find a wide range of games available. These games start atmicro-stakes and make their way all the way up to tables that will require youto sit down with thousands of dollars. The difference between cash games andtournaments is that your chip stack is not finite – if you bust at a cash gametable, you can just add more money to your account.

Payment Options in Pennsylvania

Online poker players in Pennsylvania will be thrilled toknow that there are multiple ways for you to get your money to and from thesites. This is such a relief for many players who were playing in theunregulated market, as the options are faster, safer, and much easier tonavigate. Here’s a sample of the payment methods that are available in theregulated gambling environment:

• Credit and Debit cards: This is the mostcommon form of payment at an online poker site. Some banks still reject thetransactions from online gambling companies, so your card may not work, but forthe most part, VISA and Mastercard are now approving regulated gamblingtransactions at online poker rooms.
• Land-based Casinos: Given that each ofthe online poker sites has to have a land-based partner (those are thecompanies that were awarded the licenses), you can actually head to a localfacility and make your deposits in cash. Not all the casinos will allow forwithdrawals via this method so you should doublecheck with our review pages asnew sites come online.
• Money order/check: For those of you thatare Luddites, this method is for you! It will take longer for the transactionto complete but has an excellent paper trail.
• eWallets: e-Wallet companies like PayPal,Neteller and Skrill became very popular payment methods for online gamblingsites in the 2000s. Despite being shut down by the U.S. government during thecrackdown on online poker, these are now approved methods once again in statesthat have regulated online gaming. Each site may offer one or all of these,butthey each provide a safe, efficient way to process deposits and withdrawals.
• eChecks: This is a common form of paymentwhich takes money directly from your bank account.
• Prepaid cards: If you don’t want to useyour personal accounts for online gambling, you can use one of the approvedprepaid methods to make your deposits at some of the sites.
• Bank wire: This can be a costly method ifyou are making a smaller deposit but will work well for those wanting to put alarger bankroll online.

Pennsylvania Online Poker FAQ

Why are there so few legal online poker sites in Pennsylvania?

There are several reasons why this is the case today, butit all starts with money. As mentioned earlier, the entry fee for anyonewanting an online poker license in Pennsylvania is USD 4 million, which is whymany of the land-based casinos turned down the opportunity. Add in a very hightax rate on the revenues generated from online poker and the system is set upfor many to fail. This was the case early on in New Jersey, so it seems thatoperators are taking a more conservative approach to the Pennsylvania market.

When will there be more sites open to me in this state?

This is difficult to pinpoint precisely, but it is safeto say that with the initial success of PokerStars PA, the interest inlaunching sites will increase into 2020. We will also look for more interstateagreements to share liquidity so that the pools of players are larger andtherefore easier to maintain. Check back on this page regularly as we willupdate it with any news that arises.

How old do I have to be to play online poker in Pennsylvania?

As per the rules and regulations set out by the state,all online players must be at least 21 years of age and be able to prove thatbirthdate to play online poker. It is not likely to be changed anytime soon asthis is also the minimum age for land-based gaming in the state.

Can Pennsylvania residents play sites from other countries?

Best Pennsylvania Online Poker Sites Real Money

You cannot access pools of players from other states orcountries, like Canada, for example, from Pennsylvania. There are still acouple of rogue operators that were not caught up in the Department of Justicecrackdown in 2011. However, while Americans can play at these sites, they are acontinued risk of being shut down at any time by the government. Also, becausethey are based offshore, it is increasingly difficult to get money to and fromthe site, with many of the sites opting for cryptocurrency-only transactionswhich are very volatile in nature.

Where can I learn more about online poker?

There are so many places that you can learn about onlinepoker, but if you are starting out in the game, look no further than this site!We have dedicated part of the site to giving players an overview of the mostpopular games and the basic strategy so that you feel comfortable logging onand playing some free games or micro-stakes tournaments.

Why can’t I access my account when I am traveling outside Pennsylvania?

Best Pennsylvania Online Poker Sites Online

All online poker (and other gambling) activities aregeo-fenced in the U.S. This means that if you try to log into your account fromoutside the state line, you are likely going to receive an error message. Noneed to panic, though – this is only to protect players in the state and meantto have operators live up to the letter of the law. If you are playing with asite that has an agreement with another state for shared liquidity (none yetexist in PA, but no doubt is coming soon), then you would be able to log in andplay from any of the states in the agreement.