PA Multi-State Poker Remains On Hold As US Presidential Election Approaches

Summary:

• Pennsylvania won’t launch multi-state poker anytime soon as Gov. Shapiro focuses on bigger priorities
• The Governor could be busy preparing for the start of the presidential campaign
• He will try to make sure President Biden secures the majority of votes in PA

Online poker players in Pennsylvania will have to wait longer before they can see any progress regarding shared liquidity, as the state’s leader remains uninterested in getting the process off the ground.

It’s been more than a year since Governor Josh Shapiro took office but his administration has remained tightlipped on plans for multi-state poker. The reasons are unclear but we can only speculate that the Governor may have bigger issues to attend to at the moment.

Multi-State Poker Not A Priority

The Multi-State Internet Gaming Agreement (MSIGA), the only multi-state gaming compact in the US, currently has five members – New Jersey, Nevada, Delaware, Michigan, and West Virginia. All eyes are now on Pennsylvania and when it will finally decide to jump aboard.

As it currently stands, it looks like multi-state poker won’t happen anytime soon in the Keystone State. Industry experts believe Gov. Shapiro may have been discouraged by the fact that online poker does not contribute that much in terms of tax revenue. But tax revenue generated from online poker, no matter how big or small, will still help the state. Thus, joining MSIGA is a win-win situation.

Others are saying Gov. Shapiro may still have some reservations as to the legal status of multi-state poker. This was clarified already in September 2022 when a Rhode Island District Court ruled that the federal Wire Act applies only to sports betting and not online poker.

One thing is certain – multi-state poker is not a top priority for Gov. Shapiro for now. He is currently focused on the “bigger things”, one of which is ensuring President Joe Biden keeps his seat.

Pulling Out All the Stops for a Biden Victory

Gov. Shapiro is a member of the Democratic Party and is expected to give his support to President Biden in his re-election bid this November. Biden could face Donald Trump for a second time, and the latter is still considered a strong contender for US Presidency.

Given its huge population, Pennsylvania is one of the key battleground states that could make or break the political career of any presidential candidate.

Shapiro will likely be present in Gov. Biden’s campaign stops across Pennsylvania to make sure he gets the most votes in the state. For this reason, launching multi-state poker in the Keystone State will remain on the back burner for the time being.