Pennsylvania is one of the 37 states in the US that regulate online poker. The state has a comprehensive regulatory scheme that includes licensing, registration, and recordkeeping requirements for operators of online gambling establishments.
In order to operate an online poker website in Pennsylvania, a company must obtain a license from the Pennsylvaniaambling Control Board (PBCB).
In May 2011, the PBCB issued nine licenses to online poker operators. These licenses are contingent upon various conditions being met, including the installation of anti-money laundering and anti-terrorism software.
In December 2011, the PBCB revoked the licenses of two online poker operators – Absolute Poker and PokerStars – after finding that they had failed to comply with numerous regulatory requirements.
In March 2012, the PBCB announced that it had received applications from two new online poker operators – Full Tilt Poker and Absolute Poker 2.0 – and that it had issued preliminary licenses to both companies.
The PBCB has since held hearings on these applications, and is expected to make a final decision on their approval sometime in 2013.
While it is legal for individuals in Pennsylvania to play online poker, there is no state-sponsored or licensed casino system in Pennsylvania. This means that players must rely on third-party websites or mobile apps to play poker online.
Due to this limitation, Pennsylvania may not be the best state for serious online poker players who are looking for a high-volume playing environment.
