Pennsylvania is set to become the sixth state to join the multi-state poker agreement, a regional compact that facilitates online poker across multiple states.The compact was originally between New Jersey, Nevada, and Delaware, but has since grown to include West Virginia and Michigan as well.

The official name for this pact is the Multi-State Internet Gaming Agreement, or MSIGA. After years of unsuccessful attempts, the push for Pennsylvania’s inclusion gained momentum last Thursday when Governor Josh Shapiro formally requested the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board to initiate the process of joining the agreement.

In a letter dated October 10, Shapiro expressed his strong support for the move to multi-state poker, noting its potential to enhance the state’s competitive edge in the growing legalized gambling sector. Joining MSIGA would enable Pennsylvania operators to pool their player bases with those in the other participating states, creating larger prize pools, increasing competition, and providing a more exciting online poker experience for players.

“To remain competitive in the legalized gambling market, I strongly support Pennsylvania joining MSIGA, alongside Michigan, Delaware, Nevada, New Jersey, and West Virginia,” Shapiro wrote. “By joining this compact, Pennsylvania can capitalize on its leadership in legalized gambling, boost state revenue, and offer players more gaming options.”

Looking to the near future, other states are considering the regulation of online poker, and MSIGA could help. Smaller states need larger player pools to regulate online poker successfully, and the multi-state poker agreement could be the key. In addition to Pennsylvania, the state of Connecticut is looking into the pact as their population is just over 3.6 million.