Best Online Poker Tournaments in Pennsylvania (PA)

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Mar 09, 2023 12 min read Last updated Jul 16, 2024

Find and play all the best online poker tournaments in Pennsylvania and see the full (updated) schedule, showing all the latest upcoming PA poker tournaments. Online poker is legal and regulated in Pennsylvania. There are plenty of sites that players have to choose from, including PokerStars PA, BetMGM Poker PA and Borgata Poker PA. This page will look at the various poker tournament options available in Pennsylvania.

Pennsylvania Online Tournament Calendar

As PokerNews is the premier destination for everything poker-related in the Keystone State, we're excited to introduce our latest addition: the Online Poker Calendar Widget.

Designed with the needs of Pennsylvania's poker community in mind, this dynamic widget provides players with up-to-date information on the latest tournaments for you to play. Why not check it out below?

PokerStars PA, in particular, runs a robust weekly schedule that includes Sunday Special and Thursday Thrill events at various buy-ins on one of the best PA online poker sites. Additionally, these sites offer the occasional tournament series, such as BetMGM's Winter Poker Championship.

Play Online Poker Tournaments in Pennsylvania

The following section will help you get more familiar with the various types of Pennsylvania online poker tournaments you can play, ranging from one-table Sit & Go’s to MTTs with upwards of hundreds of players.

What Are Online Poker Tournaments?

Online poker tournaments are a format of poker where players receive a starting stack of chips in exchange for a buy-in and play with increasing blind levels until one player has all the chips. Some would argue a tournament is the most popular online poker game. There are freerolls and real money poker tournaments at the online poker sites PA has to offer.

Unlike poker chips in cash games, poker tournament chips cannot be cashed out, and players must play until they are eliminated. Some online tournaments draw thousands of entrants and can create massive prize pools and lead to significant paydays.

With only a select percentage of online poker players in an online poker tournament, play differs significantly around the money bubble. ICM becomes a consideration — something else that makes tournaments unique from cash games. Players can earn entry into various events through tournament tickets won in lower buy-in satellite tournaments or even poker freerolls. These tournament tickets can become extremely valuable.

Many Pennsylvania poker players earn a nice living playing multi-table tournaments these online poker sites offer. These online poker players are skilled and crush it on regulated online poker sites.

What Are the Different Types of Online Poker Tournaments?

We will now break down the various types of poker tournaments that Pennsylvania poker sites offer and explain what makes them different.

Bounty Builder Poker Tournaments in PA

Bounty tournaments are those where a portion of the buy-in goes to bounties earned by knocking out players. Bounty builders are tournaments where bounties increase progressively as the tournament goes on. Online poker PA sites are notorious for offering these exciting types of events.

High Roller Poker Tournaments in PA

High rollers are tournaments at higher buy-ins than typical players are accustomed to. While it varies, online high rollers typically range from $250 to $10,000. You'll find many high rollers at PA online poker rooms.

Freeroll Poker Tournaments in PA

Freerolls are promotional events where players can win tickets, try to win a seat in another event, and ultimately parlay a big score. Some freerolls have prize pools that players can compete for a piece of. You'll find several freerolls on all the PA poker apps.

Poker Satellites in PA

Similar to freerolls, satellites allow players to put up a small buy-in and win a seat in a more significant event rather than taking home a cash prize. Satellites enable recreational players to take their shot at higher stakes and play events they usually wouldn’t. The Pennsylvania online poker market is stacked with juicy satellites.

Why Play Online Poker tournaments?

Before looking any further at online poker tournament options, you may be wondering why you should be playing tournaments in the first place. What makes poker tournaments more appealing than cash games?

While tournaments and cash games have pros and cons, several things make online poker tournaments worthwhile.

Unlike cash games, poker tournaments allow players to rapidly build their bankroll by shipping a big event, meaning tournaments can quickly excel your growth in poker.

A deep tournament run can also leave a player taking home anywhere from 100 to 1,000 times their initial investment, which is simply impossible in cash games. The allure makes tournaments more exciting than cash games for many players.

What Online Poker Tournaments Can I Play in Pennsylvania?

Now that we've looked at the different types of online tournaments and talked about why you would want to play them in the first place, it's time to look at what online tournaments are available to play at the PA online poker sites.

Luckily for those who want to play online poker in Pennsylvania, several poker tournament options exist for players across various sites, including bounty builder tournaments, high rollers, and satellites.

Visit your favorite PA online poker operator to get in on the tourney action. Oh, and don't forget your deposit bonus when joining any of the online poker apps.

Play Bounty Builder Poker Tournaments in Pennsylvania

As mentioned earlier, bounty builders are bounty tournaments where the bounties increase progressively as the tournament goes on. The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board permits these types of games, and the online poker site operators in the Keystone State host plenty of them.

If this appeals to you, you are in luck, as sites such as PokerStars PA, Borgata Poker, and the entire PA online poker market will address your needs.

What Are Bounty Builder Poker Tournaments?

Here’s how a bounty builder tournament might work at the best online poker sites in the Keystone State: it may start of as $5 at the start of a tournament and be five times that by the time the final table comes around.

This changes the dynamics and makes people play more aggressively and with more comprehensive ranges as they are looking to pick up bounties. Additionally, there is a greater emphasis on reaching the top two spots to pick up those final bounties.

Anyone who has played them can attest that progressive bounty tournaments make for exciting dynamics and can be fun if you can run up a big stack and knock out some short stacks. At all PA online poker platforms, you'll find these types of games. They're some of the most epic online poker games around.

What Are Pennsylvania's Best Bounty Builder Poker Tournaments to Play?

BetMGM Poker PA’s Bounty Blitz – BetMGM Poker PA offers several bounty and PKO events, including the Bounty Blitz series that features buy-ins ranging from $20 to $535 and guarantees of up to $20,000.

PokerStars PA’s $10 Bounty Builder – This PokerStars PA event is the perfect starter event for players looking to get into bounty tournaments. $4.55 of the buy-in goes to the bounty prize pool, so go play to try to spin it up. The event features eight minutes levels and a starting stack of 5,000 with blinds at 15/30.

PokerStars PA’s $30 Bounty Builder – This event is a step up from the lower buy-in Bounty Builder and sees $13.60 going to the bounty pool. If you hope to rack up a decent score, this event may allow you to do so. The event follows the same structure as the $10 Bounty Builder.

Play High Roller Poker Tournaments in Pennsylvania

While there are plenty of micro and mid-stakes options for online grinders in Pennsylvania, there are also plenty of bigger tournaments for high-stakes pros or those looking to shot-take.

What Are High Roller Poker Tournaments?

High-stakes tournaments are any tournaments that cost more to play than your typical $5 or $10 online tournament. These high-roller tournaments can range in buy-ins from $100 to tens of thousands.

Let’s look at the best high-stakes poker tournaments in Pennsylvania.

What Are the Best High Roller Poker Tournaments to Play in Pennsylvania?

PokerStars PA’s Super Tuesday Higher Roller – This 8-Max tournament comes with a $20,000 guaranteed prize pool as players get 100,000 chips in exchange for their $250 buy-in. Levels increase every ten minutes, and blinds begin at 300/600, allowing for much play.

PokerStars PA’s Sunday High Roller – If you want to grind a weekend schedule, the $20,000 guaranteed $250 Sunday High Roller may be your best bet. The 6-max event sees players starting with 10,000 chips and blinds of 25/50 and ten-minute levels.

BetMGM Poker PA’s Friday Special – The $215 buy-in Friday Special on BetMGM Poker PA may be the perfect weekend tournament as players get 50,000 chips and play for ten-minute levels.

Play Freeroll Tournaments in Pennsylvania

Since high-roller tournaments aren’t for everyone, let’s look at a much more affordable tournament offering: the freeroll. These tournaments are perfect for beginning players or those looking to build a bankroll from scratch.

What are Freeroll Poker Tournaments?

Freeroll tournaments are promotional events where players win or earn their seats for free, giving them a chance to turn nothing into something. Freerolls are great ways for players to grow their bankrolls and move up to micro and low-stakes events.

If you want to find a freeroll to help you start building up an online poker bankroll, there are plenty of options in Pennsylvania.

What Are Pennsylvania's Best Freeroll Poker Tournaments to Play?

BetMGM PA’s Depositor Freeroll – The Depositor Freeroll on BetMGM Poker is a $5,000 guaranteed event that you can earn a seat into just by depositing on the site. The value doesn’t get better than that. The event features 30,000 starting stacks and eight-minute levels and runs on Sundays.

PokerStars PA’s Deposit Freeroll – PokerStars PA also offers a deposit freeroll with $5,000 added to the prize pool. This event features starting chips of 2,500 and blinds of 15/30 with six-minute levels.

PokerStars PA’s Monthly Stars Rewards Freeroll – This promotional event has $2,000 in added prize month and can be entered by opening a chest and receiving a ticket. The event follows a similar structure as the Deposit Freeroll.

Play No-limit Hold’em Tournaments in Pennsylvania

Let’s take a look at the most common type of poker tournament out there, the no-limit Hold’em tournament. While the constant threat of being all in may be intimidating to some, many find no-limit to be the best form of poker out there.

What Are No-Limit Hold’em Tournaments?

Dubbed “The Cadillac of Poker,” no-limit Hold’em is the most common form of poker that features unlimited betting, two hole cards and five community cards. No-limit Hold’em is played in both cash game and tournament formats, the latter of which will be discussed here.

What Are the Best No-Limit Hold’em Poker Tournaments to Play in Pennsylvania?

PokerStars PA’s Sunday Special – This event costs just $100 to enter and has a $50,000 guaranteed prize pool. The Sunday event sees players begin with 10,000 chips and blinds of 25/50 and plays relatively long with 12-minute levels.

PokerStars PA’s Deepstack Saturday – Another $100 event on PokerStars; this 8-max tournament comes with a $15,000 guarantee as players begin with a starting stack of 50,000 and blinds of 100/200/30 and levels lasting ten minutes.

BetMGM PA’s Daily C-Note – This $100 buy-in tournament on BetMGM Poker PA comes with an $8,000 guarantee as players begin with 50,000 chips and blinds of 150/400 with ten-minute levels.

Play Pot-Limit Omaha Poker Tournaments in Pennsylvania

If two cards aren’t enough for you and you’re looking for a four-card game, pot-limit Omaha will be right up your alley. Despite the capped betting, these games can get big quickly and are great for players looking for lots of action.

What Are Pot-Limit Omaha Poker Tournaments?

Omaha is a poker variant where players get four hole cards and use two to make the best five-card hand with the five community cards. Pot-limit Omaha tournaments are popular and are played at the World Series of Poker and elsewhere.

What Are Pennsylvania's Best Pot-Limit Omaha poker tournaments?

BetMGM PA’s $20 PLO – This low-stakes tournament is great for players who are new to the game and are looking to try their hands at four cards. The event has a $300 guarantee as players begin with 5,000 chips with eight-minute levels.

PokerStars PA’s Nightly PLO – This $20 PLO event gives players a great shot at trying out the four-card game. The event has a $1,000 guarantee and plays 6-max as players start with 5,000 chips and blinds of 30/60.

PokerStars PA’s Morning PLO – Are you looking to play in the morning instead of night? Then the Morning PLO event is your best option. This one comes with a $200 guarantee and starting stacks of 3,000.

Play Satellite Tournaments in Pennsylvania

If you’re looking to play a big event but don’t have the bankroll, a satellite may be your best chance.

What Are Satellite Poker Tournaments?

Satellites are single or multi-table events where players can win seats in bigger events for just a fraction of the buy-in. Most satellites offer several seats and are an excellent way to get newer players into higher buy-in events.

Here’s a look at some of the best satellites available in Pennsylvania.

What Are the Best Satellite Poker Tournaments to Play in Pennsylvania?

PokerStars PA’s Nightly Stars Knockout – This Saturday tournament costs $10 to enter and awards five seats into the $8,000 guaranteed Nightly Stars Knockout.

PokerStars PA’s Wednesday Storm – Another Saturday tournament that costs $10 to enter; this one awards five seats to the Wednesday Storm tournament with a $12,500 guarantee.

BetMGM PA’s Six Figure Sunday – Yet another $10 satellite, this event awards three tickets to BetMGM PA’s $100 Six Figure Sunday and allows for unlimited reentry.

Best Online Poker Tournaments in Pennsylvania FAQs

Article last updated 09 Feb 2024

PR & Media Manager for PokerNews, Podcast host & 2013 WSOP Bracelet Winner.

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