1. Pennsylvania Online Poker Sites
2. Pennsylvania Online Poker Launch Dates
3. Pennsylvania Online Poker Launch

Oct 30, 2019 PlayPennsylvania reported Wednesday afternoon that PokerStars Pennsylvania will be first to market with a Nov. 'We have staff prepared to initiate and oversee a test launch this Monday of. Two (or Three) Pennsylvania Online Casinos Prepared for Monday Launch Online poker players in Pennsylvania have been eyeing next Monday on the calendar since the spring when the state's regulators. THUMBS UP: Partypoker/Roar Digital Approved in PA, No Launch Date Announced. Sean Chaffin October 28, 2020. After some stops and starts, Pennsylvania online poker players received good news on Wednesday. The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB) approved an interactive gaming license for BetMGM /Roar Digital. On Monday, July 15, regulated online gaming launched in the state by way of a law that was passed in October 2017. And though online poker was a part of that gaming expansion and is now legal in Pennsylvania, no online poker sites were a part of that launch. According to state officials, poker operators were not ready for the launch. Nov 05, 2019 Pennsylvania online poker was speculated to arrive in early September, but delays and extensive testing slowed initial implementation. Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB) spokesperson Douglas Harbach announced last week, Mount Airy Casino would be testing a “casino-type game,” and it appears that game is online poker.

It’s happening.

The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board and PokerStars both confirmed to different sources this week that the latter will be launching its online poker and casino games products for players in Pennsylvania next week. The testing phase will begin on Monday, November 4.

PokerStars’ land-based casino partner in Pennsylvania is Mount Airy Casino.

The testing phase does not necessarily indicate that a launch date is imminent or when it will happen.

However, PokerStars did this in New Jersey and has experience in various markets around the world, launching under a variety of circumstances, restrictions, and regulatory environments. Suffice it to say that PokerStars won’t likely require a long testing period or encounter many bugs.

Pennsylvania online poker players could be able to log in and play real-money poker very soon.

PGCB Confirmed

The first encouraging piece of news this week came from Play Pennsylvania.

During the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB) meeting on Wednesday, PGCB Communications Director Doug Harbach said, “We have staff prepared to initiate and oversee a test launch this Monday (November 4) of another online casino gaming site, this one licensed under Mount Airy Casino and their suite of casino-type games. At this juncture, it would include the testing of a poker game.”

Out of pure caution, Harbach issued a stipulation: “The caveat is always that if issues come up, then the beginning of the testing could slide.”

BREAKING/EXCLUSIVE: If all goes according to plan, PokerStars soft launches online poker in Pennsylvania on Monday, PA regulators confirm to PlayPA. Story by @kkohler1129 –> https://t.co/iBpHxeuZvb

— PlayPennsylvania (@PlayPANews) October 30, 2019

PokerStars Confirmed

Pennsylvania Online Poker Sites

Since Pokerfuse always has an inside source at PokerStars, it made sense that Pokerfuse obtained confirmation about the Pennsylvania launch.

A PokerStars spokesperson said, “We are very excited to be bringing our most popular brands to Pennsylvania in the next week, subject to regulatory approval. Stay tuned for more details!”

Launch Speculations

As mentioned, PokerStars has launched in numerous markets around the world, but gives information that should indicate how the Pennsylvania action will move along.

On Wednesday, March 16, 2016, PokerStars began its soft launch in New Jersey, the testing period for the site and regulator – along with the help of some players – to ensure everything worked properly. Up to 500 players could log on and play, understanding that there might be bugs and glitches to be worked out.

Problems were detected and fixed. The New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement then approved PokerStars New Jersey for full operation.

And on Monday, March 21, 2016, the site launched for real-money poker to any players located within the borders of New Jersey. It was PokerStars first entry back into the United States after Black Friday in 2011, and it marked a historic day for US online poker.

The Pennsylvania process is likely to similarly take several days in soft launch mode to eradicate bugs and allow the PGCB to conduct all pertinent tests.

It is highly unlikely that the process will take more than a week.

Pokerfuse speculates that low-stakes games – cash games, SNGs, and tournaments – will be available during the test period. As bugs are fixed and games are approved, more will be added until the PGCB is satisfied and tests all necessary games.

Just some of the Qs we answer in the latest PA article.

How Long Will The Testing Period Last?

What Games Will Be Available During The Soft-launch?

Are Online Casino Games Also Legal in PA?

Which Other Online Poker Rooms Are Expected To Launch In PA?https://t.co/7vxj5PUXqR

— pokerfuse (@pokerfuse) October 31, 2019

Cautious Players

Poker fans in Pennsylvania have endured their share of heartache along the way to this legalized poker market. It’s only fair that many of them are waiting to see it before they believe it.

Exactly two years ago on October 30, Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf signed the gambling expansion bill that included legalized online poker and casino games. That came after years of wrangling bills and proposals through offices and committees and both houses of the legislature.

Within a year, the PGCB opened the licensing application process. PokerStars announced its partnership with Mount Airy in August 2018, and the application was approved three months later.

It wasn’t until April 2019 that a launch date was provided for Pennsylvania’s online poker and casino sites. The PGCB said a coordinated launch would take place on July 15.

As it turned out, only a few online casino sites launched on that date, but poker sites were left out in the cold with no more information provided. Even in September of this year, there were hints that PokerStars was preparing for its launch, but no confirmation was available. Even as Pokerfuse began to find evidence of PokerStars site-building in Pennsylvania, there were no answers.

Even as the latest information this week seems rock-solid, it is understandable that many players are still cautious with their excitement. After two years of waiting, they reserve and deserve the right to see it to believe it.

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It's been more than two years since legislation cleared the way for regulated online poker to return to Pennsylvania, but nary a hand has been dealt at the virtual felt. Poker players anxiously awaiting the chance to get dealt digital cards will finally have their appetites sated soon, though, according to reports.

PlayPennsylvania reported Wednesday afternoon that PokerStars Pennsylvaniawill be first to market with a Nov. 4 launch.

'We have staff prepared to initiate and oversee a test launch this Monday of another online casino gaming site, this one licensed under Mount Airy Casino and their suite of casino-type games,' said a state gaming rep. 'At this juncture, it would include the testing of a poker game.'

Mount Airy is PokerStars' land-based casino partner, so the name drop is a dead giveaway that PokerStars is the online poker room launching.

A PokerStars spokesperson confirmed the news:

“We are very excited to be bringing our most popular brands to Pennsylvania in the next week, subject to regulatory approval. Stay tuned for more details!”

Several Months Coming

While online gaming has been approved since October 2017, the first product launch didn't take place until July of this year.

Online poker was originally expected to follow the same timeline, but a lengthy regulatory process, slow development, or other reasons kept it on ice while casino products launched as expected.

Questions have lingered about the market's viability for poker considering the lukewarm climate in New Jersey and the fact that Pennsylvania hasn't committed to joining the Multi-State Internet Gaming Association. However, the state gaming rep quoted by PlayPennsylvania shared no such fears.

“There is no doubt there is a market out there for Pennsylvania poker players,” he said. “There is an excitement about it getting unveiled but, at this point, we are still waiting for the operators to be in a position to launch the poker games.”

Rumored Product Details

Pennsylvania Online Poker Launch Dates

Evidently, the position will be reached on Nov. 4, when PokerStars will unveil its second U.S. product. What will that product entail?

According to an Oct. 1 report from PokerFuse, customers can expect to experience a product that's a little watered down compared to the international dot-com client.

Cash games on PokerStars PA will be spread in no-limit hold'em and Omaha, with some mixed games also available on the software. Live cash games in the state are hugely popular, with rooms like Parx supporting 40-plus tables of action, so players looking to play online will find familiar products available.

“There is no doubt there is a market out there for Pennsylvania poker players.”

What they won't find is any Zoom or heads-up action. While the latter has been largely phased out of most online poker clients in 2019, the former has gained in popularity over the past several years. Whether due to a regulatory roadblock or PokerStars being unsure the market can support the product, the fast-fold Zoom game isn't expected to be offered initially.

Tournament players will get a more comprehensive list of options, closely reflecting the ones available on most online poker clients nowadays. For instance, they'll have progressive knockouts, hyper-turbos, a full slate of sit-n-go options with buy-ins up to $500, and plenty of five-figure tournament guarantees. Sunday majors with buy-ins of $250 and $100 appear to be on the docket.

Pennsylvania Online Poker Launch

However, spin & gos may not be available from jump street, if PokerFuse's early October reporting remains current. They reported that spin & gos, once thought to be available up to $25 buy-in, have likely not been cleared by the Gaming Control Board as there was no corresponding tab in the early leaked screenshots.

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