Legal Poker For Pennsylvania Residents
Pennsylvania is home to a well-regulated gambling industry, and there are plenty of licensed and regulated live poker options for poker players in the state. However, the state is yet to legalize intrastate online gambling which is unfortunate because they are leaving a lot of money out there on the table.
On this page, we have shown how Pennsylvania is one of the most friendly US states for poker and will explain to residents how they can legally play real money poker at offshore online poker rooms. We are also going to present a list of well-researched online poker rooms for the benefit of anyone living in Pennsylvania that meets the minimum age to play poker.
Pennsylvania Poker Laws & Statutes
A gambling friendly state with hundreds of licensed casinos, Pennsylvania does not tolerate any form of unregulated and unlicensed poker rooms within its borders. Operators running unlicensed gambling businesses, and players taking part in illegal games, are violating the state’s gambling laws and will be penalized.
Although it fails to define “gambling,” Pennsylvania is quite clear about what it means by an act of gambling. While the state lets off individual players caught taking part in illegal activities, it is very strict with operators of illegal gambling outfits, especially those online, doing business in the state. Operators of an illegal gambling outfit could be charged with misdemeanor, racketeering, and conspiracy to go along with a whole bunch of fines that would make your knees buckle.
The state’s laws do not permit home poker games, but hardly cracks down on anybody running or taking part in a private poker game.
Is it Legal to Play Online Poker in Pennsylvania?
Pennsylvania’s gambling laws make no mention of the legality of playing online poker for real money. This means that the state cannot penalize its residents for playing real money poker at offshore online poker sites because it has no laws.
However, players must remember that the state’s existing laws could likely apply to online poker too. Even if they did apply, players do not have to worry because the existing laws are designed to eliminate illegal gambling outfits from the state, not penalize the users that are playing there. Since the online poker rooms accepting Pennsylvania residents listed on this page are not based in the state of Pennsylvania, citizens need not have to worry about the law while playing poker for real money on these sites.
Can I Get into Trouble for Playing Online Poker Pennsylvania?
Players will not get into trouble just for playing real money poker games online in Pennsylvania for two major reasons. First, online poker sites accepting Pennsylvania players are based in foreign countries far away and are governed by the gambling laws of jurisdictions offshore. The state of Pennsylvania has absolutely no power over them. Second, Pennsylvania does not have any online poker law that specifically prohibits residents from signing up at poker sites and playing online poker games for real money.
The only people who can get into trouble in Pennsylvania are operators of unlicensed gambling outfits. Pennsylvania laws require operators to first get a state license before operating gambling businesses. Besides, it does not license or authorize anybody to run online poker sites. Players who sign up at unlicensed online poker rooms based in Pennsylvania can get into trouble, but not those who play for real money at any of the offshore online poker rooms we have listed on this page.
Legal Poker Sites That Accept Pennsylvania Players
For US citizens who live in Pennsylvania, legal online poker can feel like a forbidden fruit that hangs just out of reach. With reliable endorsements and information for good poker sites difficult to find, many Pennsylvania residents give up on ever playing in a legal online poker room after searching in vain. Fortunately, it’s not necessary. Pennsylvania residents may join the millions of American citizens who log in and use the superior legal poker sites listed below
Bovada Poker - Most Trusted Online Poker Room For Pennsylvania
Whether in Pittsburgh, Philadelphia or stranded deep in Amish country, Pennsylvania residents will always be welcome at one of the world’s most prominent legal online poker sites in Bovada. After more than 20 years of service to people in Pennsylvania, Bovada has learned the value in catering to an American clientele even though they are based in Canada. Through this wonderful online poker room accepting residents of Pennsylvania, players may gain access not only to dozens of tournaments for cash on a weekly basis, but they may earn money in real time as they play by hand in any of Bovada’s easy-to-use virtual tables.
The service offered by this great poker network does not end when the game is over. Bovada shows a commitment to all of its players by providing all the tools and resources needed to help them turn into the absolute best poker players they can be. With tools like the “rabbit cam” and a saved and archived history of every hand a player has ever been dealt, poker enthusiasts of all skill levels may analyze their game and help to maximize their own winnings by taking advantage of all the features Bovada poker room offers to be the absolute best player that they can be.
SportsBetting Poker - All Pennsylvania Players 18+ Welcome Here
If you live in Pennsylvania and have an interest on poker, whether you consider yourself an avid pro or are just starting out, players of any skill level will be sure to find a comfortable home with the fastest growing legal poker room open to Pennsylvania residents at SportsBetting. With the newest and most innovative poker software on the market, US citizens are merely a free download away from sitting at some of the sleekest poker tables available on the web so that they may play any style poker of their choosing, from low stakes cash tournaments to hands with $100 blinds, it’s all within reach at SportsBetting.
To further entice Pennsylvania residents to their poker room, SportsBetting currently boasts one of the best deals around. For every new account opened in the SportsBetting poker room, once money is put into that account, the account is instantly eligible to receive 200% of that money back in the form of bonus money. The only catch? The account must be active in poker games, which should be why the account was opened in the first place. Not many businesses offer free money simply for using their product, but this one does.
Legal Pennsylvania Poker Sites | Welcome Bonus | What To Play | Site Rating |
---|---|---|---|
Bovada Poker Play / Sign Up | $1,000 FREE - 100% Match | Hold'em - Omaha Hi/Lo - Stud Hi/Lo | |
BetOnline Poker Play / Sign Up | Maximum $1K: 200% Rate | Texas Hold'em - Omaha Hi/Lo | |
SportsBetting Play / Sign Up | 200% Match / $1,000 Max | Texas Hold'em - Omaha Hi/Lo | |
5Dimes Poker Play / Sign Up | Vary Weekly - Check Website | Texas Hold'em - Omaha Hi/Lo |
Does Pennsylvania Have Legal Land-Based Poker?
There are a number of ways for poker players to legally get a game of real money poker in Pennsylvania. As previously mentioned, the state is home to hundreds of licensed gambling facilities that offer poker cash games and tournaments.
Playing home poker games is a bit risky since the laws related to poker home games are not that clear. But players should be on the safe side as long as they ensure that nobody makes a profit out of home poker games.
Legal Land-Based Poker Rooms For Pennsylvania Players
There are plenty of licensed and regulated gambling facilities for Pennsylvania residents to play poker for real money. In fact, Pennsylvania is home to hundreds of licensed casinos, which attract players from neighboring states such as West Virginia. Some of the best casinos in Pennsylvania are Mount Airy, Meadows Casino, Harrah’s Philadelphia, Mohegan Sun Pocono Downs, Parx Casino, Rivers Casino, and Sands Casino Resort. Players can take part in real money cash games and tournaments held in the poker rooms of these casinos.
Pennsylvania players can also sign up for real money poker play at any of the offshore online poker sites we have listed on this page. Since these online poker sites are based in offshore countries, they have nothing to do with Pennsylvania laws. All the online poker rooms we have listed here are licensed and regulated and implement the latest encryption technologies to protect their customers.
Future of Poker/Online Poker in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania seems to be waiting and watching to see if legalized online poker is going to be successful in states such as Nevada, New Jersey, and Delaware. Right now, the state does not appear to be in a hurry to legalize online gambling. However, the state might legalize online poker if the above-mentioned states show that they can successfully generate online poker revenue. The fact that Pennsylvania is gambling friendly and has recently expanded its gambling industry indicates that it might be open to legalizing intrastate online poker too.
On the brighter side, Representative Tina Davis recently announced plans to propose a bill to legalize intrastate online poker and other online casino games. According to the plans, the state would charge $16.7 for an online gambling license and would permit its existing operators to monitor online gambling.