Pennsylvania's Trusted Source for Legal Betting & Online Wagering
Pennsylvania has among the most diverse betting options in the country, and PennStakes.com is your one-stop shop for everything in the Keystone State. Here you will find trusted and up-to-date Pennsylvania-specific information that helps you place safe and secure legal wagers at the best PA online casino sites.
As the menu of options continues to expand, our experts have you covered with the latest news, unbiased reviews and more. Bookmark PennStakes.com for the best offers and to know when new products and sites are launched.
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LEGAL PENNSYLVANIA OPERATORS
Latest Casino & Sports Betting News in Pennsylvania
Part of our mission is to consistently provide up-to-date Pennsylvania gambling news and developments. We do that both with stories and through social media. As new betting sites launch and new issues and legislation emerge, we will have the latest details for you.
We Are Pennsylvania’s Gambling Experts
We have a veteran team with decades of experience covering Pennsylvania and gambling. We are dedicated to staying abreast of every aspect of PA gaming and have extensive knowledge of the state’s online sports betting and gambling industry. Additionally, our expert reviewers regularly evaluate and review Pennsylvania’s legal gaming sites and apps.
Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board - Certified Registered Gaming Service Provider - 118095
Everything You Need to Know About Gaming in PA
Pennsylvania takes a back seat to no one in terms of breadth of offerings. Sweeping legislation in 2017 (a decade after the first brick-and-mortar casino opened) laid the groundwork for explosive growth in a state with an existing gaming infrastructure already in place. The PA lottery debuted its online options in 2018, and retail Pennsylvania sports betting went live in November of that same year. By summer 2019, online sports wagering and online casino sites were available in the Keystone State.
Pennsylvania poker players are well served by four top online poker rooms: PokerStars, WSOP/888Poker, Borgata Poker and BetMGM Poker. The only weakness in the PA market is that the state has not yet joined the Multi-State Internet Gaming Association (MSIGA). Regulators have no objections but so far PA has not taken the final step to enable Pennsylvania poker players to play against competition for New Jersey, Michigan, Nevada and Delaware.
Launch Dates
When Gov. Tom Wolf signed bill H 271 in October 2017, Pennsylvania became a national leader in online gaming, offering more options than any other state at the time. With that stroke of a pen, Pennsylvania gamblers could enjoy online slots, table games, online poker, the lottery, video gambling terminals, keno, fantasy sports and virtual sports from the comfort of their homes or on-the-go on mobile devices. The legislation also set the stage for sports betting, which became legal less than a year later when the U.S. Supreme Court overturned the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act.
| Gaming Type | Legalized |
|---|---|
| PA Lottery | August 1971 |
| Retail Casinos | January 2007 |
| Daily Fantasy Sports | May 2018 |
| PA Online Lottery | May 2018 |
| Retail sports betting | November 2018 |
| Online sports betting | June 2019 |
| Online Casinos | July 2019 |
| Online Poker | November 2019 |
PA Operators
State law allows for up to 25 licenses for permanent gaming operations, and each can have a betting platform. Because of that, the state has a wealth of operators, including some of the biggest in the nation: DraftKings, FanDuel, Unibet, Caesars and BetMGM.
| Site | Online Casino | Online Sports | Online Poker |
|---|---|---|---|
| BetAmerica | Yes | Yes | No |
| BetMGM | Yes | Yes | No |
| BetRivers | Yes | Yes | No |
| Caesars | Yes | Yes | No |
| DraftKings | Yes | Yes | No |
| FanDuel | Yes | Yes | No |
| Hollywood/Barstool | Yes | Yes | No |
| PlayLive! | Yes | No | No |
| Parx | Yes | Yes | No |
| PlaySugarHouse | Yes | Yes | No |
| PokerStars/FOX Bet | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Unibet | Yes | Yes | No |
| Wind Creek | Yes | No | No |
PA Laws and Regulations
The legal age to play poker, bet on casino games or wager on sports in Pennsylvania is 21, whether it be online or in a retail sportsbook/casino/poker room. If you are 18, you can bet on horse racing, the lottery or Daily Fantasy Sports.
PA state law allows for up to 25 licenses, under the authority of the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board, for permanent gaming operations. Those are broken down into four categories: racinos (6 open; 7 allowed), stand-alone casinos (4 open; 5 allowed), resort casinos (2 open; 3 allowed) and satellite or “mini” casinos (5 planned; 10 allowed). All are eligible for online casino games as well sports betting, both retail and online, subject to state license fees and approval. Sportsbooks must be tethered to a land based casino.
Pennsylvania’s tax rates are higher than New Jersey and have been cited as one of the reasons the state has lagged its neighbor in terms of new offerings. Not only does the state charge a $10 million fee to obtain a license, but its tax rate is also 54% for slots and 16% for table games (it is 15% for each in NJ). Online sports betting revenue is taxed at 36% (13% in NJ).
FAQ
You must be 21 or older to wager real money an online in Pennsylvania, whether it be games (such as blackjack, video poker, slots), poker or placing a sports bet. You can play the lottery or wager on horse racing if you are 18.
Yes, you must be physically located in PA to place a bet online, however you do not need to be a Pennsylvania resident. Operators use geolocation software to determine your location. However, you can create and fund online gambling site accounts from anywhere.
We recommend that you only bet at Pennsylvania regulated betting sites. You should avoid offshore operators because they are not safe. You have no legal recourse if there is a problem and you may not use the US banking system. Licensed PA sportsbooks and online casinos have games that you know are fair We only review PA licensed betting sites.
The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB) regulates online gambling in Pennsylvania. All legal PA online casinos must be licensed by the PGCB.
Have some sympathy for the PA regulated online sportsbooks and casinos. The state taxes them heavily. In addition to a $10 million license fee, tax rates are 54% for slot machines and 16% for table games. Any winnings you make are taxed as if they were your personal income. Check out our tax guide for details.
A $10 million fee and a partnership with one of the state’s land-based casinos or racetracks are required for an online casino license featuring a full complement of gambling options (online slots, table games and poker). According to Pennsylvania law, only these racinos and brick-and-mortar casinos can seek a sports betting license. To apply, each must pay a $10 million license fee and meet specific guidelines and regulations. All gambling licenses must be approved by the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board.
Yes, you can bet on horse racing in Pennsylvania. The state has three thoroughbred tracks (Parx, Penn National and Presque Isle Downs) and three harness tracks (Harrah’s Philadelphia, The Meadows and The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono). PA also has several off-track betting sites, and you can wager on horse racing online.
Responsible Gambling
It is part of our mission to be a resource for gambling education and provide support information to Pennsylvania bettors who may have a gambling problem. We provide contacts for support groups such as the Council on Compulsive Gambling of Pennsylvania (1-215-643-4542) and the PGCB helpline (1-800-GAMBLER). You can also ask the PGCB to instruct state-regulated casinos and sportsbooks to exclude you from playing for a period of time.
Contributors
More than 30 years working in online gaming and sports journalism. I hope to explain the growing US online casino market to help those new to internet gambling have a better understanding.
