Legal Sports Betting

PokerStars PA Is Seeing a Huge Surge in Popularity

By Bob Wankel

Published: Apr 2nd, 2020 · 12:03 PM EDT

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One of the most renowned casino gaming platforms in the world, PokerStars PA has quickly emerged as a go-to stop for Pennsylvania online casino users since arriving in state last November.

But over the last two weeks, interest in online poker has soared.

Check out this chart from Google Trends for people searching for “PokerStars”:

I’m not sure most people are even aware that online poker is available and legal in Pennsylvania and New Jersey. Indeed it is.

How To Play

For nearly 20 years, PokerStars has been a leader in the real-money online poker industry, and the benefits of such longstanding experience are evident in the app’s top-notch gameplay and breadth of cash game options.

New users can get PokerStars PA and a free $30 bonus or up to a $600 first deposit match by clicking right here.

If you’re in New Jersey, click here.

New users located in both PA and NJ can take advantage of two different bonus offers. PokerStars is offering new players a more conservative bonus of a free $30 following an initial deposit of $20, while more aggressive bettors can score up to a $600 first deposit match. More on these bonuses in a bit.

PokerStars, which was granted its licensing from the PGCB in late 2019 through a partnership with Mt. Airy Casino Resort, has long been popular among NJ online casino users since its debut there in 2016. Be aware, however, that players in Pennsylvania who have previously played with PokerStars across state lines will need a new account.

Also of note, PokerStars is the counterpart of The Stars Group’s FOX Bet. So current FOX Bet players can use a shared wallet to play PokerStars and vice versa.

Interested in signing up with PokerStars PA and taking advantage of its aggressive new user sign up offer? Here’s everything you need to know.

PokerStars PA App

PokerStars PA recently relaunched its next generation app and is available to desktop/laptop players as well as iOS and Android platforms. You will recognize Mt. Airy Casino Resort branding within the app, which also offers a shared wallet with FOX Bet PA. This latest app update brings with it a significant design and functionality upgrade.

The home screen offers players the ability to conveniently swipe through popular hold’em cash games, upcoming tournaments, and games under $5, while also providing a complete list of options within each category via a “see all” feature. Buy-ins and stakes escalate as users swipe from left to right. Here’s a look:

Also at the home screen, players can easily toggle between cash games, sit and go, and tournament styles by clicking along the top header. Each category reveals its own assortment of game options. For instance, the cash games tab takes users to hold’em cash games, pot limit Omaha, and other cash game options. Similar to the home menu, the buy-ins increase as users swipe to the right. In the case of hold ’em cash games, the buy-in and stakes range anywhere from 80 cents with a 1 cent buy-in all the way up to a $500 buy-in and $5 stakes.

The PokerStars PA app also goes far beyond just poker, providing access to traditional casino table and slot games.

As noted above, though PokerStars has had a strong presence for a few years in New Jersey, bettors physically located in Pennsylvania will need to download a separate app to play.

PokerStars Promo Code and Bonus

“What’s the sign up bonus?”

Quite simply, this is the most common question asked by prospective players before signing up with a new real money gaming app. In the case of PokerStars PA, there are two variations of the new user bonus available.

Players that are looking to make a more modest initial deposit of $20 will score $30 in free bets by entering the code “FREE30” after clicking the “Cashier” button in the PokerStars lobby.

These funds will be available for use within 36 hours of the initial deposit and come in the form of $20 for free play use and $10 in the hugely popular (and potentially very lucrative) Spin and Go format. These are quick-hitting tournaments that offer players a shot add huge payouts. The $10 Spin and Go bonuses is paid out in three $1 tickets, one $2 ticket, and one $5 ticket.

Of course, more seasoned bettors–or ones that are looking to make more of a significant initial investment–can reap the benefits of PokerStars PA’s 100% match bonus on initial deposits up to $600. Fully realizing the benefits of this reward, however, requires players to frequently use and wager money in specific real money formats.

After heading over to the “Cashier” window through the lobby, players can enter the code “STARS600” to apply this promo over the first three deposits as long as they do not make a withdraw. If players do make a withdraw prior to the third deposit, they can not receive the match on future deposits.

Redeeming Your PokerStars PA $600 Bonus

In order to redeem the $600 first deposit match bonus, players will need to earn redemption points. When users reach 140 points, which are rewarded in increments of 5 for every $1 in rake or tournament fees paid, $10 in free cash becomes available. Essentially, this provides users with a 35% rebate on every dollar spent.

Ultimately, while this process is a bit more complicated and requires heftier initial deposits and playing commitments, there is substantially more upside in it than the free $30 offer.

Users will not be eligible to receive both bonus offers, so they must make a decision on which path to take prior to making an initial deposit.

 

New users can get PokerStars PA and a free $30 bonus or up to a $600 first deposit match by clicking right here.