Best PA Online Casinos: Real Money Online Gambling Sites & Casino Games

Betway PA Casino

Betway partnered with Live! Casino Hotel Philadelphia to gain entry into the Pennsylvania market. Its online casino launched in June 2021, and while it may not be quite as large a player as others on the list, Betway offers a seamless gaming experience.

At the time of writing, the casino has over 130 slots titles, 23 table games, and numerous video poker titles. As Betway tries to gain a foothold in the US market, this European giant provides excellent customer service and seems to be making a genuine effort to add more titles to its repertoire with each passing week.

FanDuel PA Casino 

FanDuel is undoubtedly one of the favorites among casino gamblers in Pennsylvania. In its first month of operation, the online casino posted the most significant revenue of all local apps and has continued to dominate the market.

Licensed in partnership with Valley Forge Casino Resort, FanDuel casino offers a complete range of casino games alongside liver dealer games and a fully-fledged sportsbook. One of the main reasons this casino is so popular is not the extensive range of games but the great rewards program ideal for casual gamblers. It also helps that the platform works seamlessly too.

BetMGM PA Casino 

BetMGM's online casino PA launched in December 2020 and is considered one of the best in the state by many local gamblers. This is primarily down to the vast range of games on offer at the casino and the functionality and reliability of its dedicated casino app.

BetMGM PA Casino also features a sportsbook and gives players access to the highly regarded MGM rewards program in partnership with the Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course. Those looking to bet on sports or play online casino games can do so through the dedicated app.

From Live dealer games to an impressive range of online slots, BetMGM PA has it all and then some.

Unibet PA Casino

Unibet is another European gambling operator looking to make inroads in the American market. Launched in 2019 in partnership with Mohegan Sun, this hybrid casino and sportsbook has every angle covered in online gambling.

Perhaps the most attractive aspect of this casino is the jackpot games that allow players to win big every day. It's also the only PA casino where you can play 'Eagles Blackjack' and the 'Eagles Online Slot' thanks to the operator's partnership with the Philadelphia Eagles.

PokerStars PA Casino 

PokerStars was one of the first online casinos to launch in Pennsylvania in November of 2019. The company entered the market thanks to a partnership agreement with Mount Airy Casino Resort and has become a stalwart of the local online gambling scene in the years since.

An account at the PokerStars PA casino gives a player access to FOX Bet Sportsbook and PokerStars online poker site. But there's a seemingly endless list of options for those who prefer casino games. These include blackjack, roulette, and a plethora of live dealer games.

One of the most enticing things about PokerStars PA casino is the daily prize pool races. Players are automatically entered into these races and ranked based on their everyday play and wagering. It's a great incentive to play a few more games and perhaps win a share in some pretty great cash prizes.

DraftKings PA Casino

DraftKings Casino PA was another one of the early launchers in the state, opening for business in May 2020 thanks to its partnership with Hollywood Casino. The operator quickly put gamblers' doubts that DraftKings was 'only' a DFS and sports betting site.

To outdo its closest rival FanDuel, DraftKings Casino PA offers an impressive range of games and some tremendous regular promotions. These include exclusive games and some huge jackpots. The operator has also sully embraced live dealer games, with blackjack and roulette being the most popular live dealer options.

DraftKings is a dominant force in the local PA casino market like its rival.

Borgata PA Casino 

Borgata PA Casino launched in the Keystone State in February 2021. It entered the market on the back of its partnership agreement with River Casino Philadelphia.

Although it came to the party quite late, Borgata casino has wasted no time in attracting players from Pennsylvania. This is partly due to its vast range of online slots — almost 2oo last time we checked — and its rewards program. Interestingly, the program is the same M Life rewards program that MGM Resorts is famous for. No real surprise there, as MGM owns Borgata.

One of the great benefits of this relationship is that points earned at both BetMGM casino and Borgata Casino can be used to claim rewards from what many consider the best loyalty program in the industry. Great incentive to open accounts with both online casinos!

BetRivers PA Casino 

BetRivers is entrenched as a Pennsylvanian institution. The company runs two casinos in the state — The Rivers Casino in Philadelphia and the Rivers Casino in Pittsburgh. And now, it also runs one of the state's top-rated online casinos.

BetRivers is a forerunner in the industry and was one of the first online casinos in PA to run live dealer games. The casino app also has a superb range of slots from some of the top providers in the industry. It also uses its in-house software, which gives the casino a uniquely natural feel. The casino also has some of the best-in-market bonuses, which are easy to earn and usually only have a 1x wagering requirement.

A payout or return to player (RTP) is the proportion of wagers paid to players in winnings. All PA online casinos are required to display a verifiable RTP percentage. Sometimes you will see this for individual online games or the online casino.

All online casinos will have an RTP of less than 100%. This is because the house must always have an edge—it is a business. However, the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board requires all online casino games to have a minimum RTP.

You must check an online casino's RTP to give yourself the best possible odds of winning.

Thankfully, the RTP percentage at online casinos is usually higher than at a retail casino. What this means is that generally speaking, you will have better odds of winning at an online casino.

The standard RTP percentage for online casino games is usually somewhere in the 94-97% region, but this can be higher or lower. Some online casinos will even go as high as 98%+. This is why it's always a good idea to shop around and look for the highest RTP giving you a higher chance of winning.

Newest Casinos in Pennsylvania

There are currently over a dozen online casinos in Pennsylvania. Caesars online casino marked its arrival in 2020. The latest to launch in the state were Borgata which launched in February 2021; Barstool Sportsbook Casino, which launched in May 2021; and Betway, which launched in June 2021.

PointsBet launched its sports betting app in Pennsylvania in early 2022. The Australian online bookmaker looks like the most likely candidate for a launch shortly as it currently operates legal online casinos in several other states.

Online casino bonus offers are an excellent way for new players to test out the waters or to get a feel for how a particular game operates on a specific platform. Bonus offers can come in many guises. While some are automatically added to your account, others require a bonus code—even some need you to wager a certain amount before your bonus is activated.

For example, some online casinos will only allow a percentage of your wagering on specific table games to count towards the wagering threshold you must hit to activate your bonus. This varies from casino to casino as some will prefer those that play slots while others will focus more on table games such as roulette or blackjack.

You must check out the terms and conditions for each bonus offer. And here at PennStakes.com, we’ll help you find the best bonuses available.

Here are a few of the most common bonuses at online casinos.

No Deposit Bonuses 

This is one of the most popular bonuses, particularly for new players in online gambling. The no deposit bonus is given to new players that register on a PA online casino site without the need to make a real cash deposit.

The money is technically yours as it's in your account, but it can only be used to place wagers and cannot be withdrawn. Even if you win, you still may not be able to withdraw your winnings until you have reached a wagering or 'playthrough' requirement. These bonuses are usually limited to new players only and must be used within a certain period following registration.

Deposit Match Bonuses 

A deposit match bonus is exactly what it sounds like—any funds you deposit into your account are matched by the casino. These bonuses are available to both new and existing players. The most common deposit match bonuses range from 50% to 100%. However, some online casinos in Pennsylvania will offer bonuses that are even higher than 100%. This is why some players will have accounts at multiple online casinos so they can take advantage of these offers as they become available.

Deposit match bonuses are paid in on-site credits and you may need to fulfill some wagering requirements or play a certain number of games before you can redeem the full bonus amount.

Free Spins

Some PA online casinos will offer free spins on select slots titles. These are mostly offered to new players only and are a great way to try out online slots without wagering any of your own hard-earned cash.

Others will also offer a combination of free spins and cash in the form of on-site credit that can be used on other games.

Welcome Offers

For players who are new to online casino gaming, the welcome offer is the one to be on the lookout for. The welcome offer is reserved for new players and is quite often the most impressive promotion that the casino has to offer.

The most common welcome offers are significant deposit matches on first-time deposits or a combination of free spins and on-site credit.

Loyalty Bonuses 

PA casino apps and sites will often run loyalty or rewards programs. These programs reward players with loyalty bonuses. Generally speaking, a player will accumulate points for wagering and playing slots and casino games. Players are usually placed at certain levels or tiers in the program based on their level of wagering. In other words, the more you wager, the more loyalty points you earn.

These points can be redeemed for bonus codes, cash, free spins, or even tickets to on-site tournaments. If you plan to play regularly, then it's crucial that you see what kind of loyalty bonuses you will earn at each PA online casino.

Pennsylvania Mobile Casinos Apps

Mobile casino apps are fast becoming the most popular option for online casino gaming and it's easy to see why. Since the first smart devices were launched, gaming developers have gone above and beyond to bring all the most popular casino games to a mobile device.

Practically every PA casino will have a mobile app that is available for both Android and iOS devices while some will have mobile functionality built into their websites. Generally speaking, players who use their mobile device for casino gaming will use pa casino apps instead of a browser. This is because the apps now have full gaming capabilities and are incredibly easy to use.

That said, some games are more enjoyable than others when played through a mobile app. For example, online slots are great fun with easy to master controls whereas online poker can be a little trickier on a smaller mobile device.  

Pennsylvania’s Most Popular Online Games

PA online casinos offer many of the same slots and table games you would find at your favorite land based casino. And unlike those brick-and-mortar casinos, almost every online casino game can be played for free in demo mode, allowing players to become comfortable with the game before risking real money. Among the state’s most popular online casino games:

• Slots: PA online casinos offer hundreds of slot titles, from classic games such as Cleopatra and Wheel of Fortune to new titles with the latest graphics. Most offer a large selection of progressive slots, which feature massive jackpots that grow over time.
• Blackjack: The most popular table game in any casino, whether land-based or online, with a house edge of less than 1 percent for players who use correct basic strategy. The online version offers single deck and multiple deck blackjack games, some with surrender options and sidebets.
• Poker: In addition to video poker, several online casino poker variations are available, including Pai Gow, 3 Card Poker and Casino Hold’em. For those who wish to play No-limit Texas Hold’em, Omaha or other stud games at a poker-specific site, Stars Casino provides the state’s lone poker app, offering a large number of cash games and tournaments for various buy-in levels. There is hope that online poker options will increase, though.
• Roulette: Identical to roulette in your favorite land-based casino, with a random number generator replacing the electronic wheel. Several online variations are available, with European and French Roulette (no double zero slot) offering more favorable odds than the American version.
• Live Dealer: Live dealer re-creates the casino table game experience with an actual person dealing the cards (or spinning the wheel) from a studio. The online casino game is streamed to your computer or mobile device. Players can chat online with the dealer and others at the table. This popular format went live in PA during the fourth quarter of 2020.

As with online gambling sites in the majority of US states, PA online casinos offer a wide range of easy to use deposit and withdrawal methods. Here are some of the most common methods available.

• Play+

  Play+ is a prepaid debit card that was created for using on online gambling sites. Most online PA casinos will allow you to use a Play+ card to deposit or withdraw funds. If you don't have one of these cards, then you can often apply for yours directly from the casino.

• PayPal

  PayPal hardly needs an introduction. It's one of the largest payment processors in the world and yes, it can be used to deposit funds into your online casino account. PayPal can be funded using a credit card or direct bank transfer. It's worth noting that most PA casinos will allow you to withdraw using PayPal only if that is the method used for deposits.

• ACH/bank transfer

  A bank transfer is more popular with players who want to make large deposits and withdrawals. This is because there are higher limits on this type of transfer. However, this is also the slowest method for both deposits and withdrawals.

• PayNearMe

  PayNearMe is a deposit-only option for PA online casinos. For this method all deposits must be made in cash at one of the many participating retail stores in Pennsylvania. These include 7-Eleven, Family Dollar, and CVS Pharmacy. Deposits made through this method are extremely quick and will land in your account almost instantly.

• Wire Transfer

  Much like an ACH transfer, the wire transfer is popular for players who want to make large deposits and withdrawals. This is also a slow method that could take as much as 7-10 days. Best to check with your bank before deciding on this option.

• Visa and MasterCard

  Credit cards and debit cards remain one of the most popular options at online casinos due to the speed of transactions and the convenience factor. The majority of PA online gambling sites will accept both Visa and MasterCard while some casinos will also accept American Express and Discover. One thing to note about this method is that while deposits are instant, withdrawals can take longer and must be made to the card that was used to make the deposit.

• Neteller

  Neteller is an e-wallet option that is growing in popularity as an alternative to PayPal. Neteller works in the same way as PayPal in that you create an account, add funds, then use that account to transfer funds to your online casino account. Withdrawals are equally straightforward with most taking no more than a day or two to process.

• Check

  Checks are sometimes used to deposit or withdraw large amounts of money. Deposit checks must go directly to the online casino's HQ or to a casino cage at its land-based partner. Withdrawal checks are sent by mail to the players registered address. This isn't a great option as you need to wait for check to clear which can take some time.

• Cash at Casino Cage

  This is a great option if you prefer to use cash when making deposits. You can visit an online casino's land-based partner to do this. The only drawback is that you have to physically leave your house and get to the casino!

Gambling Regulation

The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board regulates the state’s online gambling industry. Among the key components of the state’s online casino gambling laws:

• The minimum age to participate in Pennsylvania online casino gambling is 21.
• Bettors must be inside the state to place a wager with a Pennsylvania-licensed online casino. GPS software and IP Address identification verify a bettor’s location.
• The rules of play for internet casino gaming must be similar to the rules of play in land-based casinos.
• Existing Pennsylvania land-based casino license holders are eligible to receive an online gaming license and can partner with an unlimited number of online “skins.”
• Casino tax rates on gross revenue from internet gaming are 54% for slot machines (one of the highest rates in the U.S.) and 16% for table games.

Yes. In 2017, Pennsylvania became the fourth state in the U.S. to legalize online gaming, part of a massive gambling expansion signed by Gov. Tom Wolf. The legislation allowed for online casinos, online poker and other forms of gambling, including online sports betting and online lottery games.

PA online casinos launched in July 2019, and five were live by the end of the year. By 2021, the number had grown to 13, each offering slots, table games and video poker. PA land-based casinos are permitted to partner with an unlimited number of brands, creating a wealth of legal online casino choices for Pennsylvania players.

Gambling should be fun, which is why we take responsible gambling seriously at PennStakes.com. When reviewing casino and slots sites, we make sure they take it seriously, too. Pennsylvania bettors who may have a gambling problem can contact the Council on Compulsive Gambling of Pennsylvania (1-215-643-4542) or the PGCB helpline (1-800-GAMBLER), to name a few sites, and seek help. The PGCB also, at your request, have state-regulated casinos and sportsbooks to exclude you from playing for a set amount of time. Part of our mission is to provide resources to help you gamble responsibly.