Online Philadelphia Poker Rooms in PA

Philadelphia is hailed as a top poker destination in the US, and it lives up to its reputation.

In “The City of Brotherly Love”, fans of the most popular card game will find elite poker rooms with $200+ GTDs and massive bad beat jackpots.

Furthermore, since Pennsylvania is one of few states with legalized online poker, Philly residents and visitors can access some of the world’s most venerable poker sites, such as Pokerstars and WSOP.

During your stay in Philadelphia, you shouldn’t disregard offshore poker sites, as they also offer high-quality poker action and even bigger bonuses than state-regulated ones. Risk-averse players may find social poker sites a good learning platform for brushing up on their poker skills.

Whether you want to play poker in-person or online, you’ll be spoiled for choice in Philly.

The following article provides a detailed overview of the Philadelphia online poker market, including the laws, the best options, and a proven method to evaluate poker sites.

Best Online Poker Sites in Philadelphia

Philadelphia’s poker scene is robust to the point that picking a site to play at can be overwhelming for casual players. It is a constant race for market share between the WSOP, PokerStars, and a wealth of offshore poker rooms.

As they compete for your undivided attention, these sites offer massive bonuses, promotions, and other player incentives as part of their marketing efforts. As a way to stand out, they often provide a variety of cash games at various stake levels and a rich lineup of tournaments.

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# 1  Poker Site

5

5.0 / 5.0

100% up to $1000

18+. T&Cs Apply

Regulated by

• 100% First deposit bonus
• Top 3 in US player traffic
• Great selection of games
• Banking through cryptocurrencies

Payout speed 1-3 days

Deposit options

+10

Exclusive bonus

100% up to $1000

18+. T&Cs Apply

Visit Site Read Review

# 2

5

5.0 / 5.0

100% upto $3000

18+. T&Cs Apply

Regulated by

• Increased Poker Crypto Bonus $1500
• Exclusively for US players
• Many Payment Options
• Rich Player Traffic

Payout speed 1-3 days

Deposit options

+4

Exclusive bonus

100% upto $3000

18+. T&Cs Apply

Visit Site Read Review

# 3

4

4.0 / 5.0

200% upto $1000

18+. T&Cs Apply

Regulated by

• Recreational Player Traffic
• Get a 200% Match on Your Initial Deposit
• Wide Tournament Selection
• High-Quality Games

Payout speed 1 - 5 days

Deposit options

+9

Exclusive bonus

200% upto $1000

18+. T&Cs Apply

Visit Site Read Review

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Our point here is that it can be challenging to choose from so many great options, especially for the untrained eye. To save you time and effort, we have screened out only the top-performing poker sites for you. All the sites listed here excel in the most important categories — games, traffic, bonuses, UX, banking and support.

Is Online Poker Legal in Philadelphia?

Online gambling became legal in Pennsylvania in 2017 with the passing of the Expanded Gaming Act (Bill HB271). The Commonwealth thus became the fourth state in the US with a legal online poker market, joining Nevada, Delaware and New Jersey. Governor Tom Wolf signed the bill in October of that year, kicking off the gaming reform process.

The PA legislature took two full years to finalize the new iGaming framework. The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board is responsible for regulatory oversight, issuing licenses, and supervising license holders.

The iGaming market in PA got off the ground in July 2019. Parx Online Casino, SugarHouse Online Casino, and Hollywood were the first operators to go live.

As far as online poker is concerned, PokerStars blazed the trail in early November 2019. It has since been joined by many other poker sites, including some of the biggest names in the industry.

Many local poker fans in Philly mistakenly believe that just because Pennsylvania launched a state-regulated online poker market, offshore sites were suddenly off-limits. However, nothing in the PA statutes forbids offshore poker play. The new regulations only provide provisions for the interstate licensing process and the operation of gambling brands, not penalties for offshore play.

Philadelphia, PA Poker Laws

Online poker in Pennsylvania is regulated primarily by the Expanded Gaming Act passed in 2017.

If you want to get the complete picture of the legal situation in the poker market, you should also review a few other pieces of legislation:

• Title 4 of the Consolidated Statutes of Pennsylvania
• HB 271
• UIGEA

How to Choose the Right Philadelphia Online Poker Room

It can be challenging to choose a poker room since there are so many to choose from, and the distinction between operators isn’t always clear-cut. It takes an experienced eye to discern those subtle differences and determine which option is best.

Our 5-step review process will help you narrow down the lengthy list of online poker sites in Philadelphia to one. Our industry experts have battle-tested this method time and time again, so you can rest assured that it is effective.

License

A license from an iGaming regulator is one of the most reliable identifiers of a trustworthy online poker site. There’s a widespread misconception that offshore jurisdictions provide little oversight over their licensees, but the reality suggests otherwise. As far as player protection is concerned, regulatory agencies located outside of the US are just as stringent as their American counterparts.

If the poker site you select has the seal of approval from a certified regulatory body, it’s probably safe. The same rules apply whether the regulator is located in the US, Latin America, or Europe.

Reputation

An official license is a good indicator of a safe poker site, but it’s equally important to look into its reputation to get a complete picture of how it treats its members. It is not unheard of for licensed operators to mistreat their players, either through unreasonable terms and conditions or by delaying payouts.

Game Variety

In terms of game variety, the first thing to consider is the variety of poker formats available. While every poker site offers Hold’em, only the cream of the crop provides PLO, Stud, and Razz to complement it. If there’s a niche variation like Horse, better still. The odds are you’ll end up at a Hold’em table anyway, but it’s always nice to have multiple options at your disposal.

Second, check out the site’s tournament lineup, both in terms of depth and size. Each day should feature various events, and a large flagship tournament should cap off the weekend. Every type of player should find something to their liking, be it MTTs, PKOs, SNGs, or jackpot tournaments.

The fast-fold poker format, which is especially popular with players nowadays, should also be in the mix. Cash games and tournaments should have buy-ins and stake levels that fit any budget.

Traffic

Traffic is a vital metric to consider when choosing an online poker site in Philadelphia. There is a direct correlation between traffic and the brand’s reputation, which is why larger operators of online casinos typically have a more robust user base.

You’ll have an easier time finding open seats at a wide variety of tables when you play on a poker site with substantial traffic. Furthermore, it ensures versatility skill-wise, so beginners and experts can find their match anytime.

Bonuses

In their ongoing effort to acquire new customers, poker sites dish out large welcome bonuses but impose unfriendly terms (high wagering requirements) to offset the financial risk. Hence, you should look past the size of the intro promo and examine the attached stipulations to determine how difficult it will be to clear the offer. There is no point in getting a big bonus if the terms are impossible to meet.

Moreover, many top poker rooms offer incentives to entice newcomers toward staying, such as rakeback deals, loyalty programs, and bad beat jackpots.

Banking

You should choose an online poker room in Philadelphia that supports various payment methods, such as credit/debit cards, e-wallets, cryptocurrencies, and checks. These banking options have different limits and are suited to different types of players.

Fees and payout speed should also be considered. It shouldn’t cost you a fortune to withdraw money or take an eternity to get your earnings.

Desktop and Mobile Compatibility

Mobile optimization, user-friendly layout, and responsive design all contribute to an enjoyable user experience. It may be a good idea for beginners to choose an online poker site that allows HUDs so they can keep track of their opponents’ actions and performance.

Support

As most online poker rooms offer multiple support channels, you should evaluate operators based on their support efficiency. This refers to the speed at which the support team diagnoses and resolves issues, regardless of their complexity.

Benefits of Playing Online Poker in Philadelphia

• During rush hour (and generally), Philly can be a nightmare to drive through. It is time-and cost-saving to play online.
• Online poker rooms in Philadelphia are open around-the-clock, unlike live poker rooms.
• Poker sites provide significantly larger welcome bonuses and promotions than their retail counterparts.
• You’ll have a broader range of payment methods available at online poker sites than in live poker rooms.
• Online poker rooms offer game variations that aren’t available at land-based venues.

Famous Poker Players From Philadelphia, PA

Philly is the birthplace of one of the best poker players of all time, John Hennigan. “Johnny World“, as he is affectionately known, has won six WSOP bracelets and a World Poker Tour title.

Both Gavin Smith and Daniel Negreanu have stated that Hennigan is the best poker player they’ve ever encountered, which speaks volumes.

Best Land-Based Poker Rooms in Philadelphia, PA

Three world-famous poker rooms are located in Philadelphia. The following are their game selections, along with their respective addresses:

FAQ

Adrian Sterne

Editor

  Contact Me

Hi, I am the Chief Editor of top10pokersites.net, this site is dedicated to all thing poker. I have been working around the poker industry for the last 15 years, with different brands. The main purpose of this site is to keep you uptodate with the industry and offer you the best deals around.