Pennsylvania
PA Poker News November Update: Phil Galfond's BetRivers in Pennsylvania; Global's '25 Days of Poker'
Hi! I’m Keith Becker, PokerNews Ambassador and Pennsylvania native, here with a PA poker update for October 2024. It’s an exciting time in America for the game we all know and love, and I’m excited to be bringing you state highlights every month.
What are the big issues and stories on everyone’s minds? Let’s get into it.
The thing on everyone’s mind of course is Pennsylvania joining the MSIGA and multi-state poker. While there isn’t immediate huge news on that front as these things take time, one interesting development this month was BetMGM finally – and somewhat quietly – combining their Michigan and New Jersey player pools.
Do they know something we don’t? Eh, maybe. But it’s just as likely that they are just benefitting from combining their existing pools, plus doing their due diligence enabling the proper infrastructure so that when the time does come to combine with Pennsylvania, they’re not at a disadvantage. For now, we here in PA will have to continue to wait.
Speaking of BetMGM, they’re also currently in the middle of their Poker Online Championships, a marquee series at the operator offering a combined $2 MILLION in guarantees. These are primarily big entries aimed at higher-stakes players.
PokerStars in the USA – and thus Pennsylvania – has gone the other way this month, offering their Fall Fest Series. This series features a lot of smaller entries, although it’s exclusively hold’em and Omaha, whereas Stars has been known to experiment with more mixed games in the past. But there’s a little bit of something for every buy-in level on the US clients. For reference, the ABI (average buy-in) in this BetMGM series is about $240. On Stars in their Fall Fest it is $112. So whatever level you want to play, you got it this month.
And when I say something for everyone I certainly don’t want to leave out cash game players. Those players should look to new operator BetRivers, who has made bold claims about their rake and rewards, particularly for those players in the cash game streets.
The rewards seem to be particularly lucrative for those players willing to redeem their bonuses from playing poker for casino or sportsbook play and promos, but the operator insists it has the leading rewards in the market for all players nevertheless. I’ve played a little bit on BetRivers, which of course is represented by Phil Galfond, and I am looking forward to putting in more volume there soon to take advantage of this honestly stellar return to the player.
And again on the subject of cash games, let’s pivot quickly to live poker, as BetRivers Poker is affiliated with Rivers Casino in both Philadelphia and Pittsburgh and currently has some boosted high-hand promotions, paying out $1,000 to the qualifying high-hand – at times firing off every 30 minutes! Great place to be right now if you’re a live cash grinder.
Meanwhile, the competing poker room at Philadelphia Live! casino just concluded their Live Cup IV. This unique tournament with Day 1s at both the Maryland and Philadelphia locations saw the Philly Day 2 reach a $1.3M Prize Pool with 2,570 entries. The tournament ended in a seven-way chop, with Taerim Kum from Willow Grove, Pennsylvania taking home the largest share at over $112K.
Back to the online streets… We were talking about how there’s something out there for every buy-in level. Well, how about free! There has been a fervor for the massive ClubWPT Gold invitational freeroll, which now has a drawing with massive prizes for anyone who simply registers for a ClubWPT Gold account, in addition to the $5 Million invitational freeroll for those fortunate enough to score one of the coveted Golden Passports. 2,000 Golden Passports are being awarded through various giveaways and competitions, and some Pennsylvania residents have also been lucky enough to score one, like a longtime friend of my stream Patrick McCormack, who won by simply retweeting a tweet and getting someone else to sign up. What a spot! Good luck Patrick, AKA WTR.
And finally, Global Poker is currently running satellites to their 25 Days of Poker “Unfold the Present” tournaments. These tournaments have insane guarantees – 5 Million on the Gold Coin side and 500,000 guaranteed in the Sweeps Coin Final both on December 26th. Remember, you can’t qualify for these tournaments directly, so get firing away in those feeder satellites. It’s gonna be huge value in those finals.
Poker is surging in America, and I’m thrilled to be your ambassador here in Pennsylvania. For more information, check out our PokerNews Pennsylvania page here, and be sure to follow me on socials to stay in the know. I’ll be back next month with another update!
Keith Becker is an American poker player based out of Pennsylvania. A former member of PokerStars Team Pro Online, Becker is now a PokerNews Ambassador and Streamer. Becker has been streaming poker on Twitch since Day 1 of regulated poker in Pennsylvania and has led a grassroots movement for PA to join the Multi-State Internet Gaming Agreement.
Follow Keith on X/Twitter and Twitch!
Pennsylvania
Shapiro wants to incentivize data centers to be better neighbors. Will that work?
Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania High School Girls Basketball 2026 Playoff Brackets, Schedule (PIAA) – March 10, 2026
The 2026 Pennsylvania high school girls basketball state playoffs begin on Tuesday, March 10, with second-round games for all divisions.
High School On SI has brackets for every division in the PIAA high school girls basketball playoffs. The state championships begin on March 19th.
Pennsylvania High School Girls Basketball 2026 Playoff Brackets, Schedule (PIAA) – March 10-11, 2026
CLASS 1A BRACKET (select to view bracket)
Second Round
New Covenant Christian vs. Delaware County Christian – 03/11
Philadelphia Montgomery Christian Academy vs. Benton – 03/11
Our Lady of Lourdes Regional vs. Motivation – 03/11
Linville Hill vs. Southern Fulton – 03/11
Williamsburg vs. Elk County Catholic – 03/11
Farrell vs. Bishop Carroll – 03/11
Clarion-Limestone vs. Saint Joseph’s Catholic Academy – 03/11
Bishop Guilfoyle vs. Aquinas Academy – 03/11
CLASS 2A BRACKET (select to view bracket)
Second Round
Shalom Christian Academy vs. Southern Columbia Area – 03/10
Faith Christian vs. Mountain View – 03/10
Wyoming Seminary College Prep vs. Marian Catholic – 03/10
York Catholic vs. Berlin Brothersvalley – 03/10
Neshannock vs. Penns Manor – 03/10
Kennedy Catholic vs. Keystone – 03/10
Bishop McCort vs. Chartiers-Houston – 03/10
Winchester Thurston vs. Wilmington Area – 03/10
CLASS 3A BRACKET (select to view bracket)
Second Round
Imhotep Charter vs. Holy Redeemer – 03/10
Pequea Valley vs. Schuylkill Haven – 03/10
Hughesville vs. Notre Dame-Green Pond – 03/10
Dunmore vs. Executive Education Academy – 03/10
Trinity vs. Troy – 03/10
Northwestern vs. Greensburg Central Catholic – 03/10
Shady Side Academy vs. Beaver Falls – 03/10
Central Cambria vs. Karns City – 03/10
CLASS 4A BRACKET (select to view bracket)
Second Round
Susquehanna Township vs. Universal Audenried Charter School – 03/11
Scranton Prep vs. Allentown Central Catholic – 03/11
Central Columbia vs. Villa Joseph Marie – 03/11
Valley View vs. Neumann-Goretti – 03/11
Delone Catholic vs. Penn Cambria – 03/11
Slippery Rock vs. Oakland Catholic – 03/11
Belle Vernon vs. Blackhawk – 03/11
North Catholic vs. Harbor Creek – 03/11
CLASS 5A BRACKET (select to view bracket)
Second Round
Lampeter-Strasburg vs. Mt. St. Joseph Academy – 03/11
Marple Newtown vs. Crestwood – 03/11
Bethlehem Catholic vs. Villa Maria Academy – 03/11
North Pocono vs. Archbishop Wood – 03/11
York Suburban vs. TBD – 03/11
Peters Township vs. Manheim Central – 03/11
South Fayette vs. Penn-Trafford – 03/11
Baldwin vs. Indiana – 03/11
CLASS 6A BRACKET (select to view bracket)
Second Round
Upper Dublin vs. Perkiomen Valley – 03/10
Hazleton vs. Parkland – 03/10
Easton vs. Red Lion – 03/10
Downingtown West vs. Archbishop Carroll – 03/10
Wilson vs. Cardinal O’Hara – 03/10
Pennsbury vs. Altoona – 03/10
Dallastown vs. Emmaus – 03/10
Canon-McMillan vs. Taylor Allderdice – 03/10
Get even closer to the action by creating a free account. Follow your favorite teams and get score updates, breaking news and alerts when new photo galleries are available.
More Basketball Coverage from High School On SI
Pennsylvania
Pa. State Trooper fatally shot during traffic stop in Chester Co., authorities say
West Caln Twp., Pa. (WPVI) — A Pennsylvania State Police Corporal was shot and killed in the line of duty in Chester County Sunday night.
Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro was joined by law enforcement officials outside of Paoli Hospital in paying tribute to Cpl. Timothy O’Connor.
Lt. Colonel George Bivens says O’Connor responded to a call to investigate an erratic driver just after 8 p.m. in Honey Brook.
O’Connor stopped that vehicle the intersection of Compass Road and Michael Road in West Caln Township.
Bivens says O’Connor made a radio call indicating the stop, but did not respond to calls to check on him.
Officers in the area immediately responded and found the situation investigators are calling murder-suicide.
Bivens says within seconds of approaching the stopped vehicle, the driver opened fire, killing O’Connor at the scene.
Investigators say the driver then got out of the vehicle and fatally shot himself.
Authorities tell Action News that officers responded to the scene when the trooper called for backup after shots were fired.
Bivens say O’Connor is a 15-year veteran of the Pennsylvania State Police.
He leaves behind a wife and young daughter.
Governor Shapiro has ordered flags to be flown at half-staff in honor of O’Connor.
Chester County District Christopher de Barrena-Sarobe says the county is assisting with the investigation.
Officials are not releasing the name of the suspect at this time, but say he is a 32-year-old man from Chester County.
They will now be investigating his background and motives, according to de Barrena-Sarobe.
Compass Road is closed between Hill and Lammey Roads as police continue with their investigation.
Copyright © 2026 WPVI-TV. All Rights Reserved.
-
Wisconsin1 week agoSetting sail on iceboats across a frozen lake in Wisconsin
-
Massachusetts1 week agoMassachusetts man awaits word from family in Iran after attacks
-
Maryland1 week agoAM showers Sunday in Maryland
-
Pennsylvania5 days agoPa. man found guilty of raping teen girl who he took to Mexico
-
Florida1 week agoFlorida man rescued after being stuck in shoulder-deep mud for days
-
Sports6 days agoKeith Olbermann under fire for calling Lou Holtz a ‘scumbag’ after legendary coach’s death
-
Virginia6 days agoGiants will hold 2026 training camp in West Virginia
-
Politics1 week agoMamdani’s response to Trump’s Iran strike sparks conservative backlash: ‘Rooting for the ayatollah’