State of Play in Pennsylvania
Sports Betting in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania is one on a shortlist of states that offer legal online sports betting casino gaming, and poker. The Keystone State put sports betting legislation in place before it even became legal for Pennsylvania to offer sports wagering.
Pennsylvania’s massive gambling expansion saw online sports betting launch in May 2019. The first of the state’s legal online casino sites went live later that year.
Pennsylvania currently stands as one of the most vibrant iGaming hubs in the US, and status will likely persist for the foreseeable future.
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Sportsbooks in Pennsylvania
Q&A
- How old do you have to be to bet online in Pennsylvania? 18 years of age for all forms of daily fantasy sports, but that is bumped up to 21 years of age for all other forms of online betting. The standard age to wager on sports or play at online casinos in the United States is set at 21.
- Can I bet on college sports in Pennsylvania? Yes. The debate about betting on college sporting events continues to heat up throughout the country, but Pennsylvania made a quick decision. Sportsbooks in Pennsylvania are able to offer college sports betting markets and those are available to customers.
- Are there any mobile apps in Pennsylvania? Absolutely. All forms of online gambling in Pennsylvania come with mobile apps that can be easily found on the App Store or a link is provided for Android devices. Most of the action in the state of Pennsylvania is done through a mobile app.
- Can I bet using BetMGM in Pennsylvania? Yes, in fact BetMGM is one of the largest companies in the online gambling scene in Pennsylvania. There is a BetMGM app that offers online sports betting, an online casino site, as well as online poker.
- Can I bet anonymously at Pennsylvania legal betting sites? No, this is something that cannot be done regardless of what form of online betting you are looking to do. In order to wager online in Pennsylvania, you will have to create an account and log into that account each time that you want to wager. There is a strict registration process that you will have to complete before each site can verify your identity.
Methodology
Pennsylvania Online Betting
The Pennsylvania online betting industry stands as one of the biggest U.S. online gambling markets. Much like neighboring New Jersey, Pennsylvania acted as one of the first states to make mobile sports betting legal after the repeal of the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) in 2018.
Pennsylvania is one of a handful of states to offer legal online sports betting, casinos, and poker. In terms of sports betting revenue, the Keystone State hosts one of the most successful markets in the nation.
Pennsylvania Legalization Timeline
PA sports betting launched in 2018 after lawmakers lifted the federal ban on sports betting. Lawmakers in Pennsylvania seemed pretty confident that this would ultimately happen as they could pass a bill to legalize the industry back in 2017.
Lawmakers passed House Bill 519 along with the comprehensive gaming package, and this gave the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board the task of creating sports betting rules and regulations. They also did this back in 2017, and it helped the state have things in place for a quick launch.
Online operators can apply for a sports betting license in Pennsylvania, which has helped the state attract some of the biggest brands in sports betting. Some pretty hefty fees come with a license, but virtually all of the most prominent players in U.S. iGaming operate in the state.
The tax rate on gross revenue is 36 percent, easily the largest in the United States. Operators also have to pay a licensing fee of $10 million, another figure that is at the top of the list compared to other states.
Both online and retail sports betting is available in Pennsylvania, and operators have plenty of freedom for sports to offer or betting markets to feature. Betting on college sports is either outlawed or restricted in some other states, but you won’t find similar laws in Pennsylvania.
Pennsylvania is one of the top-five biggest sports betting markets in the U.S. and usually lands in the top three in most months in terms of the betting handle. So even though there were some minor hiccups at launch, there are very few concerns or problems with Pennsylvania sports betting at this time.
Which Online Sports Betting Sites Are Live In PA?
Pennsylvania sports bettors place a large percentage of wagers online or through a mobile device. Online sports betting launched a few months after retail sportsbooks opened up, but it didn’t take long for those sports betting apps to catch up in terms of betting handle.
SugarHouse Sportsbook was the first online sports betting site to launch in Pennsylvania, but several other operators quickly joined it. However, each online site had to go through a soft launch before they were able to offer the entire mobile betting app.
Remote registration is allowed in Pennsylvania, making it easy for bettors to sign up for an account without ever visiting a casino. In addition, most online sports betting sites offer a welcome bonus or a promo to help attract new customers to the site.
DraftKings and FanDuel are two of Pennsylvania’s most prominent online sports betting options. That is a common theme throughout the U.S. Mobile sportsbook apps are available on both Android and iOS devices, allowing customers to bet on sports from anywhere in Pennsylvania.
Here is a list of some of the top online sports betting sites in Pennsylvania:
- Barstool Sportsbook
- BetMGM
- BetRivers
- Betway Sportsbook
- Caesars Sportsbook
- DraftKings Sportsbook
- FanDuel Sportsbook
- FOX Bet Sportsbook
- Parx Sportsbook
- PointsBet
- SugarHouse Sportsbook
- Unibet Sportsbook
One interesting fact about online sports betting in Pennsylvania is that mobile betting on iOS devices wasn’t available for a few months after launch. The state ultimately corrected the problem, but it limited growth for the first few months that betting was available.
Top Sportsbook Picks in Pennsylvania
Retail Sportsbooks Available In Pennsylvania
Most states tend to focus on online sports betting as this industry grows, but Pennsylvania has some tremendous retail sportsbooks. Licensed casinos and off-track betting sites are eligible to apply for a license in the state, and there are currently 15 different options.
These retail sportsbooks offer all of the same betting options that players can find online, and most of the locations have self-service kiosks for sports bettors who prefer to do things independently. These retail sportsbooks will also allow betters to use cash as a form of payment or to receive cash with a withdrawal request.
Here are all of the casinos that offer retail sports betting in Pennsylvania:
- Hollywood Casino
- Rivers Casino Philadelphia
- Rivers Pittsburgh
- Valley Forge Casino Sportsbook
- Live! Casino Philadelphia
- Live! Casino Pittsburgh
- Harrah’s Philadelphia (Caesars)
- Parx Sportsbook
- Wind Creek Casino Sportsbook (Betfred)
- Presque Isle Downs & Casino
- Mount Airy Casino Sportsbook
- The Meadows Sportsbook
- Mohegan Sun Pocono
- The Downs at Lehigh Valley
- South Philadelphia Race & Sportsbook
One unique thing about retail sports betting in Pennsylvania is that some operators offer retail betting at more than one location.
Valley Forge Casino offers a retail version of FanDuel Sportsbook, the most popular land-based sports betting location in the state. In addition, FanDuel also offers retail sports betting at Live Casino! locations in the state of Pennsylvania.
Are Daily Fantasy Sports Sites Legal In Pennsylvania?
Lawmakers also included daily fantasy sports in the comprehensive gaming package that they passed in 2017, and the first sites launched in 2018. Most states don’t see much revenue from DFS sites, but that hasn’t been the case in Pennsylvania.
The legal age to play at these DFS sites is 18 years, while all other online gambling options require players to be at least 21. In addition, the state taxes the revenue of DFS sites at a rate of 15%, which is one of the reasons that the state has seen so much money generated.
The two biggest DFS operators are leading the way in Pennsylvania, but eight other sites are also available. These fantasy sports sites don’t have to partner with a casino and can enter the state as an online option.
Here is a list of all of the licensed DFS operators in the state of Pennsylvania:
- Boom Fantasy
- DRAFT
- DraftKings
- FanDuel
- FantasyDraft
- Fantasy Football Players Championship
- FastPick
- Sports Hub
- Scout Fantasy Sports
- Yahoo Fantasy
- Monkey Knife Fight
The one thing that makes the DFS industry in Pennsylvania different from other states is the number of sites with a license. Of course, you aren’t going to see this many options in many states, but the population of Pennsylvania has attracted many companies.
Salary Cap DFS Sites
When it comes to a salary cap, DFS sites, DraftKings and FanDuel lead the way. These sites helped make DFS games popular, and the salary cap games are what they are known for.
Both DraftKings and FanDuel offer a mobile app that the player can access on both Android and iOS devices. This is the best way to play these DFS sites, as you can play from anywhere in the United States.
Signing up for a new account can be done in minutes, but you will have to be in Pennsylvania before you can enter a contest physically. Other DFS operators have similar salary cap game options, but they are no match for the top two sites.
Salary cap games require players to put together a roster based on the site’s set salary. The players who rack up the most fantasy points will win the contest and take home the prize pool.
Fantasy Player Prop Games
Monkey Knife Fight is a site in Pennsylvania that focuses and specializes in these games, and this is a new and innovative way to play fantasy sports. You won’t be putting together any lineup at these sites, but you will still be looking at player performances.
Prop betting has become extremely popular in the United States, and these player-prop games are a form of that. Instead of placing a wager at the sportsbook, you will be making predictions based on the options posted on the site.
Monkey Knife Fight isn’t the only site in Pennsylvania that offers these games, and you can typically find them at most of the sites listed above. So if you are good or enjoy prop betting, it would be worth checking out these games.
Best Ball Games
Best ball is one of the newest forms of DFS games that you will find in Pennsylvania. You will see this game offered at DraftKings and FanDuel, but the smaller operators focus on this option.
These sites can offer best ball games daily, weekly, or for the entire year. For example, you are still putting together a lineup with Best Ball, but the site will automatically choose the most optimal lineup during the contest period.
Best ball has become popular because it lets players still have a chance to win even if some players on the roster have terrible performances. This type of DFS contest will only get more popular as time goes on, and it will be one that you find offered by more DFS operators.
Most of the sites listed above offer some Best Ball game, or there are at least plans to provide this type of game in the future.
Top Sportsbook Picks in Pennsylvania
Are Online Poker Sites Legal In Pennsylvania?
Online poker in the U.S. hasn’t caught on as quickly as online sports betting or casinos. Pennsylvania operates as one of only a handful of states offering regulated online poker in the U.S.
The exact online gambling bill approved in 2017 allowed for legal online poker in Pennsylvania, but poker sites took longer to launch than online sportsbooks and casinos. As a result, retail casinos in Pennsylvania can apply for online poker licenses, but it requires a partnership with a company that offers online poker services.
Like other online gambling options, online poker means “mobile” poker in Pennsylvania. These sites with online poker offer a mobile app that can be downloaded on both iOS and Android platforms and then accessed from anywhere in the state.
There are ten live poker rooms in Pennsylvania, and there are nearly that many online options at this time. Four different online poker companies are already offering games in the state, but there is a chance that the list will grow in the coming years.
The legal gambling age for Pennsylvania online poker is 21 years of age, which is standard with all iGaming options. The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board oversees this industry as well, and it is the group that grants online poker licenses.
Pennsylvania Online Poker Sites
Casinos in Pennsylvania initially focused on sports betting and online casinos, and that’s why it took so long to get online poker sites off the ground. There are also a limited number of companies that offer online poker, but all of the biggest names are in the state.
The four online poker sites that are currently live at this time are:
- BetMGM
- Borgata
- WSOP.com
- PokerStars
The state has approved five other casinos/operators for a license, but those online poker sites have not yet launched. The list of those sites is:
- PartyPoker PA
- Parx Casino
- Penn National
- SugarHouse
- Wind Creek Casino
Online poker sites offer cash games available at all times and multi-table tournaments.
Similar to online sports betting sites, new customers can receive welcome bonuses and promotions from the four operators. In addition, all banking transactions can be made online or through mobile apps.
Online poker is pretty standardized throughout the U.S., and the same operators don’t change much from state to state. Pennsylvania offers plenty of options for online poker, and more sites could be on the way.
Pennsylvania Online Poker Player Pools
The Wire Act has kept online poker sites from creating player pools that allow players from different states to compete against each other. That is no longer an issue, though, as the Department of Justice has made it clear that they will not prosecute this action.
This could have a significant impact on the online poker scene in Pennsylvania, but lawmakers in the state have not made any changes to the current law. The first step would be to agree with other states that offer online poker, including Delaware, Michigan, Nevada, New Jersey, and West Virginia.
Delaware, Nevada, and New Jersey already have an interstate poker agreement. Michigan and Pennsylvania would likely be the following two states to enter the deal, but it’s unclear when that will happen.
Online poker pools would allow players from Pennsylvania to compete with players from other states. In addition, an interstate poker agreement would take online poker to the next level in Pennsylvania.
Are Online Casino Sites Legal In Pennsylvania?
Online sports betting came first in Pennsylvania, but online casino sites were next on the list. The first online casino sites in Pennsylvania launched during the summer of 2019, but there has been tremendous growth.
Penn National Gaming has established itself as the leader when it comes to online casino sites in the state. Four different sites are operating under the Penn National brand, allowing that company to take over a significant market share.
Most of the online casino sites in Pennsylvania offer over 100 different types of online slots and a long list of table game options. In addition, new games continue to launch at online sites in the state, which might be launching in a handful of states simultaneously.
Some games can be played free at Pennsylvania online casino sites, and slots can be in demo mode. But unfortunately, live dealer games are the only options that bettors can’t play for free. However, customers can flip back and forth between the online casino or sportsbook, and they can share bonuses and funds.
PA Online Casino Sites
Pennsylvania became the fourth state in the U.S. to approve online gambling after Governor Tom Wolf approved it in 2017.
The state was starting at a budget deficit of more than $2.2 billion, and it was one of the biggest reasons that the state was looking into online gambling. Casinos in Pennsylvania focused on launching mobile sportsbook apps before online casinos, but there wasn’t a massive gap in the launches of each industry.
Signing up for an online casino site in Pennsylvania can be done online (on a desktop or laptop computer) or through the mobile app. Land-based casinos in the state can partner with multiple online operators to increase the number of options in Pennsylvania.
Pennsylvania online casino sites must apply for a license with the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board, and there are some stipulations before the Commission can grant a license. However, the state has an impressive safe gambling campaign launched, and there are a few things that Pennsylvania online casino sites must provide.
All online casinos must provide links to resources to help with problem gambling. There is also a list of questions that casinos must include in assisting users in determining if they have a gambling problem.
Each online casino must have a page dedicated to discussing problem gambling, and the casino must provide a link. Finally, there has to be a way for users to take a time-out from online casino gambling if they feel the need.
That’s not all that must be required before the state grants a license, but it’s the first step.
Available Online Casino Sites In Pennsylvania
- Barstool Casino
- BetMGM Casino
- BetRivers Casino
- Betway Casino
- Borgata Online Casino
- Caesars Online Casino
- DraftKings Casino
- FanDuel Casino
- Fox Bet Casino/PokerStars Casino
- Hollywood Online Casino
- Parx Online Casino
- PlayLive! Casino
- PlaySugarHouse Casino
- Stardust Casino
- TwinSpires Casino
- Unibet Casino
- Wind Creek Online Casino
Online casino sites in Pennsylvania can offer a wide range of slots, table games, or forms of online poker games. The operator determines what games they want to provide, and there is plenty of crossover between the sites.
Gambling limits and minimum and maximum bets allowed for the specific games are another responsibility of each site. The top online casinos in Pennsylvania will have a broader range of options than the smaller sites.
Live Dealer Online Casinos
The online casino experience in Pennsylvania has grown quite a bit since it first launched in 2019, primarily as live dealer games are now available. Live dealer games place the players right on the middle of the casino floor through a computer or other mobile device.
These games have become extremely popular because the action is fast-paced, and players don’t have to wait around for action from other bettors. But unfortunately, live dealer games aren’t typically available 24/7 at online casino sites.
When it comes to live dealer games, here are the types of games that you will typically see:
- Blackjack
- Roulette
- Baccarat
If you can’t travel to a retail or commercial casino in Pennsylvania, live dealer games provide the next best option. The bettor can access these games from anywhere in the state, which has helped online casino gambling become more popular.
Best Pennsylvania Online Sportsbooks
How Do I Know That Online Gambling Sites In Pennsylvania Are Fair?
Each online gambling site in Pennsylvania can set its odds or betting lines, but all of those lines will be fair. For one, if there were a site that wasn’t being fair to its customers, then that site would go out of business in a hurry.
The exact opposite is in Pennsylvania, as each site looks to offer the best odds. For example, this happens with sportsbooks, online casino sites, or online poker sites.
Remember that just because the sites are fair, that doesn’t mean you will be winning money all of the time. There is a reason that these sites continue to seek a license, and this is because casino operators make money in the long run.
If you feel that a site in Pennsylvania is not being fair, you can reach out to customer service to further discuss the situation.
Who Regulates Pennsylvania Legal Online Sportsbooks?
The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board oversees the state’s online sportsbooks. The PGCB is in charge of reviewing applications and then issuing new licenses to approved sportsbooks.
The PGCB releases sports betting figures and data each month, and it regulates all of the sportsbooks in the industry.
Why Should I Trust Legal Online Sportsbooks?
There are several reasons to trust a legal online sportsbook, but the most important is that the state regulates these sites. In addition, the sportsbook protects your identity and personal information, and you can also get some help if something goes awry.
These legal online sportsbooks are not to be confused with offshore sportsbooks that used to be the only options in the United States. Those sites are not permitted and regulated, and playing at an illegal gambling site carries a high risk for the player.
As long as you are betting at a licensed and regulated sportsbook in Pennsylvania, you are protected and should trust the online sportsbook.
How Do I Get Paid If I Win?
This is a question that nearly everyone wants to know the answer to before they start betting online in Pennsylvania. The answer is relatively simple, and you get paid by whatever site you are using to do your online betting.
Each DFS site, online sportsbook, online casino, or online poker site in Pennsylvania will have its banking department. This is where the player must make all of the initial payments or deposits. This is also how you will request your winnings if you are fortunate to have some.
You can always reach out to the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board if you have issues with receiving payments, but the sites should take care of it.
Pennsylvania Professional Sports Teams
Pennsylvania pro sports team play a significant role in all four major U.S. sports leagues. The following list includes some of the popular in-state teams available to wager on at PA online sportsbooks:
- Philadelphia Eagles (NFL)
- Pittsburgh Steelers (NFL)
- Philadelphia Phillies (MLB)
- Pittsburgh Pirates (MLB)
- Philadelphia 76ers (NBA)
- Philadelphia Flyers (NHL)
- Pittsburgh Penguins (NHL)
Top Sportsbook Picks in Pennsylvania