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Pennsylvania online casinos offer exclusive bonus deals to first-time players. These offers include both a no-deposit bonus and a deposit bonus. Each of these offers come with a promo code players use to activate the offer.

No-deposit bonuses are especially intriguing because you don’t need to make a real-money deposit to receive this reward. All you must do to claim it is create an account.

A deposit bonus requires you to fund your account with the minimum deposit amount. The advantage to these deals is that they’re worth more than free play, with some bonuses offering up to $1,000 or more.

Pennsylvania online casinos are expected mid-2019, but it is safe to assume at least some of the operators will offer industry-standard bonuses of both the deposit and no-deposit variety.

Keep in mind, though, that PA online casinos aren’t handing you “free” cash once they start offering bonuses. Instead, you will earn the money by satisfying terms and conditions.

We discuss these terms in our Pennsylvania online casino reviews. You can find exact bonus terms and conditions on the casinos’ websites. The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB) requires that every internet gaming operator list terms for bonuses and promotions.

Pennsylvania online lottery bonuses

Now, PA online casinos have not launched yet. But there is one promo you can take advantage of right now.

In June of 2018, the Pennsylvania Lottery launched its first wave of online lottery instant win games. These games work like scratch-off tickets. However, instead of using a coin, you can just click your mouse. The games are available on desktop and do not require any downloads.

If you want though, there is PA Lottery app which also offers the games. The app, which is available for both Apple and Android also includes features like a ticket scanner, the latest Keno numbers, and more. Apple users can find the app in the iTunes store. Android users will need to download the app from the PA Lottery website.

Currently, the PA online lottery is offering a free $5 when new players sign up for an account. The process is very easy. You can be online and ready to go in a matter of minutes.

How Pennsylvania no-deposit bonuses work

Earning free-play bonuses at PA internet casinos begins with creating an account. This is a simple process that will likely involve entering your:

• Name
• Home address
• Email
• Username
• Password
• Relevant promo code

Once you’ve filled out the required fields, the casino will verify your account through automation. Key qualifications include being within Pennsylvania state borders and not enrolled in the state’s gambling self-exclusion program.

You’ll receive your no-deposit bonus once your account is verified. You can then use it to play the casino’s real-money games.

Why do PA online casinos offer no-deposit bonuses?

Because no-deposit bonuses seem like free money, some players wonder why online casinos offer them. The reason is that online gambling is a competitive space. As such, casinos are in constant battle for attracting the attention of gamblers. No-deposit bonuses are the ultimate weapon.

Additionally, online casinos use no-deposit offers as an opportunity to obtain players’ email addresses. Collecting emails increases a casino’s reach when they send out promotional offers.

Many players are willing to give casinos their email in exchange for free money. If you don’t want to continue receiving offers, you can always unsubscribe.

What’s the catch in a no-deposit bonus?

Players don’t assume any financial risk when signing up for a no-deposit bonus. The only cost is the few moments that it requires to create an account and await verification.

The catch, though, is that you must satisfy terms and conditions before the money becomes yours to withdraw. Online casinos don’t just hand out $20 to new customers with no strings attached. You must earn the money by meeting the stated terms.

The following terms are generally the same across the board:

• New players — No-deposit offers are only open to new customers at each casino.
• Wagering requirements (a.k.a. playthrough) — You must wager a specified amount before withdrawing the bonus.
• Claim the bonus — After creating your account, you must visit the bonus section or contact support staff to claim the bonus. However, this is not always required.
• Timeframe — You have to claim your bonus within the stated amount of time (e.g. three days).
• Expiration date — Once claimed, your bonus must be used within a certain number of days (e.g. seven).
• Game restrictions — Some no-deposit bonuses can only be used on specific games.

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Earning your no-deposit bonus

Here’s an example to illustrate the process of unlocking a no-deposit bonus:

• You sign up at a PA online casino and use the appropriate bonus code.
• The casino emails you confirming that your account has been validated.
• You’re eligible for a $20 no-deposit bonus.
• Log into your account, visit the bonus section, and claim your free play.
• Wager the $20 bonus five times on slots before withdrawing it.
• You have seven days after claiming the bonus to meet the playthrough requirement.

No-deposit bonuses are usually significantly smaller than first deposit bonuses.

Free play bonuses

Free play bonuses are a subtype of no-deposit bonuses. The difference between the two is that free play bonuses cannot be withdrawn and can only be used to try out the casino’s real-money games for free. However, should the gambler win any money in the course of wagering their free play, those winnings may be eligible for withdrawal after meeting certain wagering requirements.

How PA online casino deposit bonuses work

Most Pennsylvania casino sites offer match deposit bonuses. These deals give you a match percentage based on the size of your first deposit

Here’s an example:

• A casino is offering a 50 percent match bonus up to $400.
• This means that the maximum bonus you can receive is $400.
• You deposit $200, which makes you eligible for a $100 bonus.

“Eligible” is the key word here, because the deposit bonus isn’t technically yours until you earn it. Casinos put the money into a bonus balance until you’ve satisfied specific terms and conditions. Once you earn the money, you can either withdraw it or use it to keep playing.

Meeting wagering requirements on PA deposit bonuses

Playthrough requirements on Pennsylvania online casino deposit bonuses will probably be expressed through one of two ways:

• Multiple of the bonus
• Multiple of the bonus plus deposit amount

The multiple of the bonus allows you to do the math slightly quicker.

Here’s an example on calculating wagering requirements with a multiple of the bonus:

• You’re eligible for a $100 bonus
• Wagering requirements are 20x the bonus
• 100 x 20 = $2,000 must be wagered

Here’s an example on calculating a multiple of the bonus plus deposit:

• You’re eligible for a $50 bonus
• Wagering requirements are 10x the bonus plus deposit
• (50 + 50) x 10 = $1,000 must be wagered

Again, the method used to express online bonus wager terms doesn’t, in and of itself, affect the attractiveness of the offer. What matters more is the overall value of the bonus, which depends on its maximum size and the total playthrough requirement.

Here’s a comparison between two casinos that differ in terms of expressing playthrough requirements:

• You’re eligible for a $100 bonus at two different internet casinos
• The first casino features a playthrough of 10x the bonus.
• 100 x 10 = $1,000 must be wagered
• The second casino features wagering requirements of 20x the bonus
• 100 x 20 = $2,000 must be wagered
• The first gaming site offers the better deal

Keep in mind that it was the total wagering requirement that determined which deal was the better one, not the calculation method.

Pay attention to how many days you have to earn a deposit bonus

Most online casinos give you more time to earn deposit bonuses than they do to earn no deposit bonuses. The reason why is because the wagering requirements on the former are higher. But you should still pay close attention to how long you have to unlock your bonus.

The general time frame is anywhere between 30 and 90 days. Casinos that allow 90 days sometimes do this to make up for having higher playthrough requirements than competitors.

This leaves you deciding what’s more valuable: lower betting requirements or more time to release the bonus.

If you’re conflicted, run the math to decide if earning a bonus in 30 days is realistic. Here’s an example:

• You must wager $5,000 to unlock your bonus
• You have one month to do so
• 5,000 / 30 = 167.67
• Bet an average of $167.67 per day to meet the requirements
• Make slots spins worth $0.25 apiece
• Complete 500 spins per hour
• 500 x 0.25 = $125 wagered per hour
• 167.67 / 125 = 1.34 hours
• You need to play slots for an average of 1.34 hours per day to reach the requirements.

If playing slots for this long each day doesn’t fit into your schedule, then consider a bonus deal that offers a longer time frame. Another option includes making a smaller deposit so that the wagering requirements are easier to reach.

Check stipulations on games for each promo code

Another important aspect of terms and conditions is game stipulations. Internet casinos weigh games differently in regard to wagering requirements. The house edge is the main determinant in deciding this.

Online slots, Keno, and scratch cards give casinos the biggest advantage. Therefore, these games have the lowest playthrough requirements.

Video poker and table games such as Baccarat, Blackjack, Craps, and Roulette have a lower house edge. The trade-off is that they also feature higher playthrough.

Don’t let high wagering requirements scare you, though, because this doesn’t always indicate a worse deal. The following example shows that slots and table games are comparable when unlocking deposit bonuses:

• You’re deciding whether to play slots or blackjack to earn a $50 bonus
• Slots carry 20x the bonus wagering requirements.
• 50 x 20 = $1,000 must be wagered
• You play a slot with 95 percent payback
• 1,000 x 0.05 = $50 theoretical loss
• Blackjack features 100x the bonus wagering requirements
• 50 x 100 = $5,000 must be wagered
• You’re playing a Blackjack game with a 0.5 percent house edge (w/ perfect strategy)
• 5,000 x 0.005 = $25 theoretical loss

Despite having wagering requirements that are five times as high, Blackjack helps you keep more bonus money in this example. This is why it’s important to compare playthrough between different games to determine which is the best approach mathematically.

Also, note that the exact games you choose have a big impact on your bonus earnings. Baccarat (as low as 1.06% house edge) and European Roulette (2.70%) have the same playthrough requirements at many online casinos. But Baccarat’s lower house advantage gives you a stronger chance to collect bonus profits.

What are good wagering requirements for PA online casino deposit bonuses?

The standard for slots playthrough is 20x the bonus amount. This is a fair deal that sees you theoretically break-even on slots with 95-percent payback and profit with anything above this amount.

You’ll find casinos that deviate from the norm by offering 5x or 30x requirements. The former is an exceptional offer and gives you a great chance to profit on slots with a return of 95 percent or higher. Meanwhile, 30x playthrough is as bad as it gets.

Here’s an example on how varying slots wagering requirements affect bonus winnings:

• You’re eligible for a $100 bonus at two PA internet casinos
• You play a slot with 96 percent payback at both sites
• One casino has 10x playthrough
• 100 x 10 = $1,000 must be wagered
• 1,000 x 0.04 = $40 theoretical loss
• The other casino has 30x playthrough
• 100 x 30 = $3,000 must be wagered
• 3,000 x 0.04 = $120 theoretical loss

The first casino sees you walk away with a $60 theoretical profit. The second casino sees you lose $20.

You should aim for table game playthrough of at least 100x the bonus. A 100x requirement on a one-percent house edge game offers the same chance to earn bonus profits as a slot with 95-percent payback and a 20x turnover.

The worst playthrough on the international online casino market is 200x. Here’s a comparison between this and the 100x requirements:

• You’re eligible for a $200 bonus at two casinos
• You play Baccarat (1.06% house edge) at both sites
• The first casino has 100x wagering requirements
• 200 x 100 = $20,000 must be wagered
• 20,000 x 0.0106 = $212 theoretical loss
• $200 – $212 = -$12 net losses

• The other casino has 200x wagering requirements
• 200 x 200 = $40,000 must be wagered
• 40,000 x 0.0106 = $424 theoretical loss
• $200 – $424 = -$224 net losses

You’ll theoretically end up losing in both cases. But the first casino sees you lose $12. Meanwhile, the second casino leaves you with $224 in theoretical losses.

How to evaluate PA online casino promo codes

Great bonuses are a general theme in the regulated US online gaming market. This is true in states such as Delaware and New Jersey.

You can really see the separation when comparing regulated sites to offshore casinos. An offshore casino operates in unregulated markets, which cover most of the US. These operations are usually housed in Caribbean countries that have lax standards regarding internet gaming.

Their bonus deals are designed to guarantee the casino a profit over the average player. Standard wagering requirements on offshore bonuses are typically 40x, which is worse than anything seen in regulated states.

Here’s a comparison between playing for a $100 bonus at an offshore and a regulated casino:

• An offshore casino’s wagering requirements are 40x the bonus
• 40 x 100 = $4,000 must be wagered
• A Pennsylvania casino’s wagering requirements are 20x the bonus.
• 20 x 100 = $2,000 must be wagered
• A player pursues both bonuses on a slot with 95-percent payback
• 4,000 x 0.05 = $200 theoretical loss at the offshore casino
• 2,000 x 0.05 = $100 theoretical loss at the PA casino

When accounting for the bonus, you’d theoretically break-even in this scenario at a US online casino. Meanwhile, you’d lose $100 when going for the same bonus at the offshore casino.

Bonus codes vs. promo codes

You’ll see the terms bonus codes and promo codes used throughout internet gaming. This can lead players to wonder if there’s a big difference between the two.

For the most part, bonus and promo codes are used interchangeably to describe welcome bonuses. One casino may mention how you must use a bonus code to get their welcome bonus package, while another casino will describe it as a promo code. The two are the same in that you must enter them upon signing up to get the deal.

However, one key distinction is when promo codes are used to describe a temporary promotion. For example, a PA casino might email you about a 100-percent deposit bonus for existing members. And they’ll state that you must use a specific promo code when depositing. In this context, a promo code applies only to short-term promotions.

However, in most cases, the only thing you need to worry about is ensuring that you enter the correct code during registration or in the cashier.

Overview of Pennsylvania’s casino market

Pennsylvania is one of the largest regulated gaming markets in the US. The state has over 12.8 million residents and 12 land-based gambling venues that can offer internet gaming.

10 of these casinos are resorts or racinos, while the other two are small slots parlors. Pennsylvania will feature another casino in 2020 when the South Philadelphia Sports Complex is scheduled to complete their gaming venue.

Here’s the current list of PA land-based casinos:

• Harrah’s Philadelphia in Chester (racino)
• Hollywood Casino Grantville in Dauphin (racino)
• Meadows Racetrack and Casino in North Strabane Township (racino)
• Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs in Plains Township (racino)
• Mount Airy Casino Resort in Mount Pocono (casino resort)
• Nemacolin Woodlands Resort in Farmington (resort casino)
• Parx Casino and Racing in Bensalem (racino)
• Presque Isle Downs in Erie (racino)
• BetRivers Casino in Pittsburgh (stand-alone casino)
• Sands Casino Resort in Bethlehem (casino resort)
• South Philadelphia Sports Complex (scheduled for 2020)
• SugarHouse Casino in Philadelphia (casino resort)
• Valley Forge Casino Resort in Upper Merion Township (resort casino)

Casinos must hold separate licensing to offer online slots, table games, and poker. Individual licenses cost $4 million, while a casino can purchase all three internet gaming licenses for $10 million. Considering these relatively high expenses, some smaller casinos are still pondering their entry into the market.

Given the large number of eligible casinos, competition is fierce in PA’s new internet gaming market.

• by Sean ChaffinJanuary 31, 2021
• by Sean ChaffinJanuary 29, 2021
• by Bart ShirleyJanuary 26, 2021

Legal Online Poker Sites in the US

Where is online poker legal in the US?

The following six states have now officially signed legislation to offer legal US online poker:

1. New Jersey
2. Delaware
3. Nevada
4. Pennsylvania
5. West Virginia (Not live yet)
6. Michigan (Not live yet)

Four currently have open and operating legal online poker sites. And there are some differences between each of the regulated online poker states.

• Nevada only permits online poker.
• New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Delaware also spread casino games banked by the house (More about NJ online casino and Pennsylvania online casinos).
• Nevada, New Jersey and Pennsylvania allow the state’s brick-and-mortar casinos to operate online sites. In Delaware, the state lottery is the sole operator.
• Nevada, New Jersey and Delaware have entered into an interstate online poker agreement. If you play in those three states you can compete against each other only on WSOP.com.

Where can I play online poker in the US right now?

NJ online poker

New Jersey is currently home to the most online poker sites. Those sites are spread across four distinct networks and operate through three different licensees. Here are your options:

New Jersey online poker sites

• PartyPoker NJ (Borgata Poker, BetMGM Poker)
• Pala Poker

WSOP NJ is the second biggest site after Borgata/partypoker. It used 888 software, but was a standalone room. 888 operated its own platform, but began to share player pools with WSOP.com in January 2015.

PokerStars NJ launched in New Jersey on March 21, 2016.

The site opened at around the same size of WSOP.com and Borgata. Since launch, PokerStars has been the top site in the Garden State for much of its tenure.

In April 2018, New Jersey joined the multi-state compact with Nevada and Delaware. The agreement allows the three states to share their player pools across state lines.

Background

The New Jersey legislature legalized online poker and casino games in the state in December 2012. After some back-and-forth between Gov. Chris Christie and the lawmakers, the governor finally signed the bill into law.

As a result, New Jersey online poker and casino games launched on November 21, 2013. Borgata and its partner Party Poker dominated the New Jersey online poker world at the time after launch.

Pennsylvania online poker

Pennsylvania became the fourth state to legalize and regulate online poker and online casino play in the U.S. when Governor Tom Wolf signed bill H 271 on Oct. 30, 2017.

Online poker was expected to launch by July of 2019. However, that date was pushed back until PokerStars officially launched on Nov. 4, 2019. It was the first online poker site in Pennsylvania.

The site is now fully operational with the excellent software, cash games, and tournaments that players have come to expect. PokerStars has promised much more for players in the state and received a nice reception from many in the state.

There are eight casino or operators attempting to launch online poker in Pennsylvania right now. One of them is MGM Resorts, which applied for a license as a qualified gaming entity through its Borgata property in New Jersey.

Pennsylvania casinos which have both applied for and been approved to offer online poker are:

• Mount Airy Casino (now live through its partnership with PokerStars)
• Harrah’s Philadelphia
• Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course
• Parx Casino
• Sands Bethlehem
• SugarHouse Casino
• Valley Forge Casino

Nevada online poker

Nevada was the first state to launch regulated online poker. In December 2011, the Nevada Gaming Control Board adopted regulations pertaining to Nevada online poker sites.

The regulations required affirmation through the Nevada legislature. Nevada lawmakers meet on a biennium. The state passed the regulations governing Nevada online poker in February 2013.

On April 30, 2013, Ultimate Poker launched as the first regulated online poker room in the US. The launch was flawed due to poor software and unproven geolocation services. Ultimate Poker attracted about 300 peak players and the same number of players participated in sit and gos and tournaments.

WSOP.com launched on September 17, 2013. WSOP.com enjoyed massive brand awareness and dominated the market within two months.

Ultimate Poker succumbed to the small intrastate poker player pool in Nevada. It left the Nevada market on November 17, 2014. This leaves onlyWSOP.com and Real Gaming in the Nevada online poker market.

On March 24, 2015, a liquidity sharing agreement between Delaware and Nevada went live. New Jersey joined the compact in April 2018. So, players from three states can now sit at the same table.

Technically, there is a second active poker site in Nevada. Real Gaming, backed by South Point Casino, launched in February 2014. However, the site never has gained more than 1 percent of the market at any time. Currently, its influence in the market is small enough that WSOP more or less enjoys a monopoly in the market.

Nevada online poker sites

Delaware online poker

Delaware was the second state to legalize and regulate online gambling. It was legalized through the state legislature in June 2013. Online casino games went live on October 31, 2013. The Delaware online poker network opened on November 8, 2013.

Delaware offers online poker and casino games through its state lottery. Interactive gaming is marketed through its three video lottery racinos.

888supplies the platform all three sites. The online poker room shares liquidity between all sites. Delaware and Nevada started sharing online poker player pools on March 24, 2015. New Jersey joined the pool in April 2018.

Delaware online poker sites

• Doverdowns.com
• Delawarepark.com
• Harringtonraceway.com

West Virginia online poker and casino

West Virginia joined the online gambling party on March 27, 2019. Gov. Jim Justice allowed H 2934, the West Virginia Lottery Interactive Wagering Act, to become law without his signature.

The law allows the five land-based casinos to apply for interactive licenses. Each license initially costs $250,000 and must be renewed for $100,000 every five years. Casinos will pay 15 percent of revenue in taxes.

The five properties which will develop online casino sites in West Virginia are:

• The Casino Club at Greenbrier Resort
• Hollywood Casino Charles Town
• Mardi Gras Casino
• The Mountaineer Hotel, Casino & Resort
• Wheeling Island Hotel-Casino-Racetrack

Legalization is terrific news, but active online gambling in West Virginia is still somewhat in the future. The state’s officials will have to create a set of regulations. The best estimate from various sources is that the first online casino with online poker in West Virginia won’t appear until 2020.

Can I play at a legal online poker site while not in that state?

No. Legal online poker sites use geolocation software to ensure that players are located in the state at the time of action.

This takes into account the IP address of the player, location of a related cell phone, and nearby wireless access points. It is impossible to play at legal online poker sites when located outside state lines.

You do not have to be a resident of that state to play online poker there, however. If you visit any legal US online poker state you can download and create an account from your home state, claim any no deposit poker bonus, make any additional deposits and then play online poker when you arrive as long as you are within state borders.

Why should I choose legal poker sites?

One of the biggest advantages to playing online poker at regulated US sites is that all player funds are just as safe as they would be at a licensed real money online casino in any of those states.

The very same gaming regulations that apply to live and online casinos are also valid for regulated US online poker sites. All deposits are held in separate accounts from cash used for operations.

There are also ample deposit and withdrawal methods that are safe and secure. Legal poker sites in the US accept deposits by:

• Visa
• MasterCard
• Electronic checks
• Neteller
• Skrill
• PayNearMe (7-Eleven)
• Cash at associated casinos in Atlantic City, Las Vegas, etc

How do I withdraw from legal poker sites in the United States?

Legal poker sites pay winnings by:

• Electronic check
• Check by mail
• Bank wire
• Neteller
• Skrill
• PayPal
• Cash at associated casinos in Atlantic City,Las Vegas, etc

Regulated online poker sites also undergo rigorous checks to ensure that games are fair and secure.

When will online poker be legal in my state?

The situation regarding online poker bills is always changing. There are several states that are considering legal online poker currently. They are:

• Connecticut
  • S 17 would legalize online gambling and sports betting
• Kentucky
  • H 175 would legalize online poker, sports betting, and daily fantasy sports
• New York
  • A 4924 would certify online poker as a game of skill under New York law
• Tennessee
  • SJR 165 would legalize all forms of online gambling
• Virginia
  • HB 2321 seeks to study online gambling expansion of all types

Two more states, Illinois and Massachusetts, are also interested in online poker.

History of legal online poker in the US

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Legal US online poker sites debuted on April 30, 2013.

Ultimate Poker was the site that made history. Nevada was the first state to host fully legal online poker. Texas Hold ’em was the only game spread at Ultimate Poker during its first six months in business.

WSOP.com joined the Nevada online poker market on Sept. 17, 2013. The World Series of Poker’s online site brought the first games of Omaha, Omaha High/Low, Seven Card Stud and Seven Card Stud High/Low to Nevada.

WSOP.com now controls 99 percent of the Nevada market. This near-monopoly was caused by the shuttering of Ultimate Poker in November 2014.

Delaware online poker was the second state to launch. There is one network powered by 888. The state’s three racinos – Delaware Park, Dover Downs and Harrington Raceway – are skins on the Delaware poker network. Nevada and Delaware began pooling poker players in April 2015.

WSOP.com and 888 were the sites responsible for creating the first legal interstate online poker pool.

New Jersey online poker came next on Nov. 21, 2013. There are currently three poker networks in New Jersey. One hosts Borgata and partypoker, the other has WSOP.com and 888 on it, and the third is made up solely of PokerStars NJ. All networks are about equal in overall size at any given point in time.

There were three additional poker platforms in New Jersey when the state launched regulated poker sites. 888 was originally a standalone site before it merged player pools with WSOP.com. Ultimate Poker was unable to gain more than 3 percent of the market share.

The Ultimate Poker site was shuttered on Oct. 5, 2014. The associated UCasino was also closed at that time. Betfair failed to attract any players and closed its poker site on Dec. 1, 2014. Betfair still operates an online casino in New Jersey.

After a long legislative battle, Gov. Tom Wolf signed a bill into law that legalized and regulated online gambling in the state of Pennsylvania on Oct. 30, 2017, making it the fourth state to legalize online gaming. The bill legalized online poker, online casino table games, online slots and daily fantasy sports.

It also allowed for a number of other gambling expansions such as online lottery, tablet gambling in airports, video gambling terminals at truck stops and 10 satellite casinos. Players were officially able to play online poker in PA in 2019.

Why isn’t there a federal online poker bill?

There have been many attempts to pass an online poker bill at the federal level.

• 2009 – Rep. Barney Frank first proposes regulated online poker.
• 2011 – Frank and Rep. Joe Barton attempt to get Congress to repeal the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA).
• 2012 – Sen. Harry Reid and Sen. Jon Kyl combine to propose a poker-only bill, known in the poker community as Reid/Kyl. The bill dies when Congress adjourns.

Nowadays, the federal government is more likely to focus its attention on sports betting. Unfortunately, online poker and gambling just doesn’t rate for many constituencies as key issues.

There does seem to be a movement towards greater states’ rights, however. The dismissal of PASPA in May 2018 allowed sports betting to proceed at each state legislature’s discretion.

A recent reversal of Department of Justice opinion on the Wire Act may also end up being a net positive for online gambling advocates. The DOJ seems to have been swayed by anti-gambling lobbyists funded by Las Vegas Sands owner Sheldon Adelson.

Neither the states nor the media are amused by the appearance of corruption and impropriety. As a result, online gambling might become a medium for states to argue a greater issue, and thus, rise in prominence.

What is the UIGEA?

UIGEA is an acronym for the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act. It passed Congress in September 2006 and was signed into law by President Bush two weeks later.

The UIGEA made it illegal for banks to process payments for unlawful gambling sites. It did not define what that was. Most publicly-traded sites immediately left the US market after the UIGEA was enacted.

These included Party Poker, iPoker, Microgaming Poker Network, Ongame, and 888. All of these examples returned to the US market when states started to regulate online poker.

What is Black Friday?

Black Friday was the day the US online poker community describes April 15, 2011.

On that date, PokerStars, Full Tilt Poker, and Absolute Poker were charged with gambling crimes by the US Department of Justice in the Southern District of New York.

Unfortunately, Full Tilt Poker and Absolute Poker did not have enough cash on hand to pay players. PokerStars paid all customers within weeks. Strange as it may seem, it was PokerStars that eventually made all Full Tilt Poker players whole after coming to an agreement with federal authorities.

Will the federal government ban online poker?

Federal law allows states to legalize and regulate online poker. This is specifically exempted from the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act. A September 2011 Department of Justice opinion confirmed this and explicitly gives states the right to permit intrastate gaming.

There was an attempt in Congress to reverse this legal opinion. The effort was spearheaded by Sheldon Adelson, founder and CEO of Las Vegas Sands, the parent company of Venetian in Las Vegas.

Adelson’s lobbyists submitted the Restoration of America’s Wire Act (RAWA). The bill failed in 2016 and does not appear to have much support in this Congress. Libertarian groups, states’ rights activists, governors, state lotteries and most of the gaming industry have come out in opposition to RAWA.

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Since then, Adelson and company have been working through other channels to head off online casino and online poker play. It is extremely likely that the group effected some degree of influence over the Department of Justice’s January 2019 opinion to reinterpret the Wire Act.

In that opinion, the DOJ essentially reversed its prior position on the statute to say that the law actually pertains to all gambling, not just sports betting. Needless to say, there were many parties in opposition to this opinion.

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So far, the opinion has not found much success in court. A June 2019 ruling from a New Hampshire federal court dismissed the opinion from affecting that state’s lottery commission and an associated vendor. Only time will tell if the precedent will ripple out to other interested and/or affected parties.