By
Jerry Smith
Staff Writer Updated: 08/24/2019
Jerry’s greatest advantage is his extensive experience on the casino floor. His time as a casino manager taught him everything about what makes a player tick. Besides being a skilled poker player, he has deep knowledge of all live table games and gambling regulations in the US.
, Photo by pokerstars.com
The gossip mill is abuzz with rumors that online poker giant PokerStars might launch online poker in Pennsylvania as soon as next week. Michael “Gaga30” Gagliano, an ambassador for Borgata Poker and a professional poker player from the east coast, tweeted earlier on this week that PokerStars will be conducting beta testing on the 27th of August in the Keystone State and if successful, will go live on 30th August.
In July, just before their soft launch on 15th July, a representative of The Stars Groups (TSG) had this to say:
We’re working with our partners and the authorities to finalize plans and bring our leading brands to PA’s players as soon as possible. There’s a lot to look forward to, so rest assured we’ll be in touch with more details as soon as they’re available.
While it’s only a rumor, for now, there might be some evidence to support Gagliano’s claim that poker players in Pennsylvania could have something to look forward to in the coming week.
Doug Harbach, Director of Communication at Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board, recently remarked that though there isn’t any firm timetable as yet, players might see online poker up and running “before the end of summer.” Since the astronomical summer extends right into September and comes to an end with the fall equinox, according to meteorologists, summer ends on 31st August. Going by this estimation, online poker in PA might just go live by the end of August, which is in sync with the information Gagliano may have stumbled upon.
Owned by The Stars Group, PokerStars is the largest real money online poker platform in the world. Offering a plethora of poker variations, the company controls more than 66% of the global online poker market.
Launching its beta play-money-only site in September 2001, the company has come leaps and bounds since then. In September 2018, they debuted PokerStars VR, a completely immersive virtual reality poker experience.
Averaging more than 15,000 competitors playing real money cash games every day, their cardroom is accessible through downloadable poker clients for Windows, iOS, macOS, and Android devices.
Though Harbach did not indicate which operator will be the first to roll out online poker in the state, it is speculated that PokerStars will be one among the first few operators to go live. In addition to being the only poker network to receive approval for online poker, thanks to its partnership with Mount Airy Casino, PokerStars is also the stand-alone operator who has shown an interest in Pennsylvania’s market.
During their investors’ call for the second quarter of this year, The Stars Group publicized their intention to roll out online poker in the Keystone State.
CEO of TSG, Rafi Askenazi, recently remarked that the company would:
If social media is to be believed, PokerStars might make a huge announcement at EPT Barcelona in the coming week. It remains to be seen whether what they have to say will prove the rumor mill right.
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