Pennsylvania has emerged as one of the premier gaming markets in the country. We reviewed all licensed operators and compiled a list of the best online gambling sites in PA. Below you will find which websites we recommended for different types of online wagering and games, as well as what your options are for deposits and withdrawals, mobile apps, and bonus offers all tested in-house.

John Isaac, Editor at online-gambling.com

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John Isaac is one of the editors at online-gambling.com. He is an expert at card games, such as blackjack and poker. In addition, he writes about the US gambling laws and the Indian and Dutch gambling markets.

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Types of Online Gambling in PA

We’ll now take a look at online gambling sites in PA from the standpoint of an all-around gambler. We will cover different preferences including casinos, sportsbooks, daily fantasy, and lottery. In doing so, we’ll compare the top-performing operators and list the best gambling sites in Pennsylvania for each category.

Casinos

The state of Pennsylvania has come a long way since 2017 when the proposal for legal online casinos was passed into law. There are now several reputable gambling sites with licenses from the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board. For more details about the platforms listed below, check out our list of online casinos in PA.

Gambling always involves some risk, so it’s advised to start when you feel most comfortable. If you’re ready to play for real money at online casinos in PA, we can also suggest unique options such as live dealer games, progressive jackpots, and virtual scratch cards.

Live Dealer Gambling

Live dealers are rightly considered the pivot point of most modern gambling venues. That being said, it’s not in the least bit surprising that the PA gambling sites are heavily invested in creating all-inclusive casino platforms with live-dealer games. These segments are in and of themselves spectacular and fully sufficient to meet the expectations of even the most pretentious punters.

With the multi-purpose gambling sites featured here, a wide selection of sports betting in real-time is also a possibility. That means you can bet on fixtures as they are being played and take advantage of unique betting lines according to the current situation. Live sports betting owes its popularity, above all, to the easy-to-use platforms, an example of which is shown below.

Live lotto and Wheel of fortune-like games are slowly catching up in terms of popularity, offering raffle-like online events that take place once in a given interval of time hosted by young, charismatic individuals. Players usually choose numbers or sectors to place their wagers on. If that sounds like something you want to try, our recommended operators will provide you with the opportunity.

Sportsbooks

The legal situation around online gambling in sports betting in the United States has been through quite a few twists and turns before reaching its current state. The state has made it possible to wager on sports via three excellent online gambling sites that service Pennsylvania bettors. Find below the details of their sports betting offers:

There are a few factors to consider when choosing between sportsbooks. Please be sure to factor in how much each operator is giving to their new and existing customers. The welcome bonus is a good start, but the availability of regular promotions at sportsbooks in Pennsylvania is a big plus as well. For the finer details, refer to our in-depth guides.

Daily Fantasy Sports

Daily fantasy sports is one of the online gambling options in Pennsylvania that was legalized only recently. In 2018, the first daily fantasy sports operators in the state opened for business. For your convenience, we narrowed down the selection to just one recommendation. This is the DFS operator with the best contests and offers for PA bettors.

Besides the on-point welcome offer, this operator distinguishes itself by offering over a dozen sports and various competitions for players to opt-in, America’s favorite sports and leagues included. You can find more information on this topic in our guide to daily fantasy sports in Pennsylvania.

Poker

Online poker has been legal in Pennsylvania since October 2017. Currently, Pennsylvania continues setting up its online poker network and is expected to join the multi-state pooling agreement that would allow it to share players with states such as New Jersey, Delaware, and Nevada. As of now, there is one solid operator we can recommend to all gamblers in PA.

The best poker site in PA is the leading site for tournament poker. As a true ambassador of the game, it organizes live events while giving a chance to regular players to qualify via satellite tournaments. With the nice-sized welcome bonus, you can get up to speed in no time.

Lottery

The Pennsylvania Lottery has been legal and available since 1972. In addition to its regular drawing, the state also participates in the popular games of Powerball and Mega Millions. The 2017 amendment of the gambling laws propelled the expansion of online lottery in Pennsylvania. One year later, Pennsylvania iLottery was launched and remains unchallenged in the lottery niche.

The PA Lottery can be traced back over forty years, carving a history that allowed for the rapid developments that the industry has recently seen. We do our best to thoroughly cover everything you need to know about playing the online lottery in PA as well as the different options available to you.

Bonus Offers & Promo Codes for Gambling in PA

Few and far between are the PA gambling sites that don’t attach conditions to their offers. Why should you care? Meeting wagering requirements with a big playthrough count takes some effort. For that reason, we suggest that you closely analyze the pros and cons of any offer to decide whether or not you’ll manage to keep your end of the deal.

Wagering requirements are the necessary evil that makes the game worthwhile for both online gambling sites in PA and their players. The lengthy terms shouldn’t discourage you from claiming a gambling bonus. We have assembled a list showcasing our favorite promotions offered by the PA gambling sites.

The offers listed above come from five different operators,?but all hold something in common. Those are the minimum deposit amount and validity period. You’ll want to pay particular attention to these two factors when committing to an offer. Keep in mind that some of these operators may tip new customers with an additional one-time bonus that is not bound to the deposit amount – the so-called ‘no deposit bonus.’

Deposit Bonuses

The bigger your first deposit is, the bigger your welcome bonus will be. All gambling sites reviewed across our website offer decent welcome bonuses; we’ve picked the best of the lot so that whichever you select won’t disappoint. With that said, remember that the qualifying deposit amount usually sits around $10.

No Deposit Bonus Offers

Every so often you’ll come across a no deposit bonus from online betting sites in Pennsylvania. They may come in the form of a supplemental no-deposit perk attached to the welcome bonus, as is the case with many offers from the top PA gambling sites. We’re constantly assessing new promotions and the latest no-deposit offers to recommend only the best to our readers.

Gambling Apps in PA

The PA mobile betting apps provide a superior gambling experience with tailored offers through a convenient interface. This is often why they are cherished, but there are other benefits to using a casino app as well. Namely, playing live casino games on the go. Taking the game wherever you go is the biggest selling point for Pennsylvania gambling enthusiasts.

Another advantage worth mentioning is that mobile users are also entitled to a welcome bonus. With this in mind, below you’ll find the details of the best mobile gambling site in Pennsylvania.

This is one of the best gaming operators for PA mobile gambling players. The app itself comes in two versions, one of which is compatible with iOS devices and the other for Android. Both can be downloaded and installed on the official website of the operator. By choosing to register with this site, we believe you get the best of both the sports betting and the casino worlds directly on your phone or tablet.

Deposits and Withdrawals at Gambling Sites in PA

There are several methods you can use to deposit money into your gambling account. There are no additional fees unless explicitly stated otherwise. If your card was issued by Bank of America, Capital One, JPMorgan Chase, or Santander, you can make an instant card deposit.

PayPal is another popular option that enables players to deposit instantly and safely as no banking details are shared in the process. There are other options for payments via eWallets, but gambling sites that accept PayPal are the most common.

To make a deposit, you first need to be a registered user. Once your account is validated, you can proceed with a deposit, generally initiated from the cashier tab after choosing the desired payment method. If there are any taxes or limits, you will be notified. If the welcome bonus requires you to opt in, be sure to tick the respective box before confirming the payment.

In the event of winning the desired sum of money, you might want to withdraw a portion or even the full amount. This is done similarly to making a deposit; the withdrawal method will be the same as your deposit method, speeding up the process immensely.

Payouts and Odds

To play from a position of advantage, you should avoid coming up against big profit margins. That is, you want to get adequate value for your bets. For further reference, we’ll call this payout percentage. It represents how much of the real value you get paid. The rest is called ‘house edge’ or ‘juice’ and is the rightful cut of the operator.

The payout percentage is another term for ‘return to player’ (RTP). Generally, RTP is stated clearly within the description of casino games so that the player knows what to expect. When it comes to sports betting, the profit margins of the operator directly affect the odds of the betting lines.

Knowing the average payout of the different gambling avenues is a nice statistic to be aware of, but nothing to stake your game plan on. Either way, we have prepared a table with approximate payout percentages that compare sports betting markets and some of the most popular online casino games.

Payout Levels for Casino Games and Sports Betting:

The games of skill such as blackjack usually have a much higher return to player due to the various movements that a player can make. Games like slots don’t give you much of a choice other than spinning the reels, so the RTP there is naturally lower. As far as sports betting goes, the payouts differ between sportsbooks, so you’re better off double-checking the odds with a profit margin calculator before each bet.

How to Start Gambling Online in Pennsylvania

To get started, you will need a verified account at an online gambling site in Pennsylvania. Only once you have an account can you make your first deposit. From there, you can experiment a bit with how and where you’d like to gamble. The most popular options are sports, as well as table games such as online blackjack in PA.

If you’re new to online gambling in Pennsylvania, we recommend starting slow with relatively smaller bets. You should never gamble with more than you can afford to lose.

Responsible Gambling in Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania takes responsible gambling and any related problems seriously, offering various organizations dedicated to addiction prevention, and recovery. Pennsylvania’s Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs offers solutions for those struggling with gambling addiction, including a 24-hour hotline and an up-to-date list of professional support groups and helpful resources. Additionally, there are many independent specialists qualified to provide personalized therapy for gambling addicts.

Online vs. Retail Gambling

There are several distinct advantages to playing at gambling sites in Pennsylvania. While not uniquely characteristic to operators in the state but relevant to all gambling sites in the US, these five aspects are useful considerations when choosing where and how to play.

Gambling on the go is an underlying advantage of remote gaming and, hence, widely recognized as one of the best aspects of Pennsylvania gambling sites. In this regard, online gambling overshadows land-based casinos and betting shots because it enables players to place bets more frequently.

Land-based Casinos, Kiosks, and Racetracks

According to recent data, the state’s proactive legislation proved to be beneficial to the economy as the land-based casinos generate $1.4 billion in taxes annually for Pennsylvania – even with New Jersey gambling providing stiff competition. Some of the biggest venues nowadays include Lady Luck Casino Nemacolin and Mohegan Sun Pocono.^[1]

The total number of operational PA casinos is currently fourteen. Parx Casino, on the other hand, is arguably the biggest gambling venue in PA. Parx has reported a revenue before tax of $462.1 million in 2020. The next two largest casinos are Sands Casino Resort Bethlehem and Rivers Casino. The Live! Casino in South Philadelphia opened in January 2021 giving PA gamblers an even greater choice of options.

Pennsylvania Gambling Laws

Pennsylvania has become one of the most progressive states in terms of gambling. For years, gambling was prohibited except for lottery and betting on horse races. However, the sector started to change quickly when Pennsylvania legislators passed Act 71 in 2004, legalizing casinos and racetracks within the state.

The state took its biggest step toward the modernization of its gambling laws in October 2017, when the Pennsylvania legislature sent House Bill 271 to Governor Tom Wolf’s desk. Wolf eventually signed the bill and officially legalized online casinos with table games and slots, poker rooms, lottery, daily fantasy sports, and sports betting. Since then, many software providers have applied for state licenses.^[2]

The online lottery and the daily fantasy were the first officially launched segments. In May 2018, the Supreme Court ruled the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act as unconstitutional. Despite the radical change, some sports betting operators are still on the fence as to whether they should go through the licensing procedures of the Gambling Control Board.

Legal Gambling Age in PA

The current legal gambling age in Pennsylvania for pari-mutuel betting such as lottery, horse racing, and bingo is 18, while for casino gambling it’s 21. Underage gambling is punished by the law, and anyone below 18 or 21 caught gambling could face serious consequences.

Casinos deny access to any visitor under the age of 21 who tries to gamble, and both service and payment are denied to players under the legal gambling age in PA. All online operators have employed strict know-your-customer measures to identify and prevent underage gambling at its earliest stage.

• Legal Online Gambling Age
  The legal age for online gambling in Pennsylvania is 21+.
• Drinking Age
  The legal age for consuming alcohol in Pennsylvania is 21+.
• Legal Age for Marijuana
  Weed is illegal for recreational use in Pennsylvania. Medicinal use is legal for those 21+.

Expected Changes in Regulation

There aren’t any anticipated, upcoming legal changes for gambling in Pennsylvania. The state is currently occupied with the recent implementation of online sports betting. Several sports betting websites have been launched already.

The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board had already set in motion numerous gambling-related bills as part of a legislative push in the state. Gambling tax income has played a major role in the state budget, and we expect this to continue opening doors in terms of increased transparency and growth in the future.

History of Gambling in Pennsylvania

Turning Pennsylvania into one of the most developed and successful states in terms of gambling was undoubtedly a long process. A major turning point was when Ed Rendell became the Governor of Pennsylvania and promised to allow slot machines at racetracks to lower the taxes.

Facts and Figures

There’s much more to the state of Pennsylvania than initially meets the eye. You are at a loss if the best online gambling sites in PA is the only thing that comes to mind at the mention of PA. To gather a more comprehensive understanding of the state, the following table will guide you.

Conclusion: Great Variety for New and Experienced Players

All signs point to the fact that Pennsylvania is a great state to be a gambler in. It is one of the few states where casinos, sports betting, online poker, daily fantasy, and the lottery are all legally available. The Keystone State takes a pragmatic approach to online gambling, realizing that regulated gaming provides the state with a healthy taxation income and also gives gamblers a safe place to wager.

What’s Legal Nearby?

• Online Gambling in NJ
• Sportsbooks in NY
• Sportsbooks in Ohio
• Online Gambling in WV

References

1. Wynne, Lucy, (July 19, 2023), Pennsylvania June 2023 Report: Igaming up by 32%, Gambling Insider, Retrieved January 18, 2024
2. Fletcher, Robert, (September 7, 2023), Red Rake Gaming Enters Us with Pennsylvania Licence, iGaming Business, Retrieved January 18, 2024