Pennsylvania Online Casinos

Alicia Butler
Written by:
Alicia Butler
Andrew McDermott
Fact checked by:
Andrew McDermott
🗓
Updated:
January 5th 2024
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Pennsylvania is home to nearly two dozen online casinos. From slots to table games and live dealer games, there are hundreds of games to play at online gambling sites.

But does the online betting at Pennsylvania casinos stack up to the experience you’d get on a casino floor?

Discover the difference between the online casinos and land-based casinos in the Keystone State, and which casinos are worth playing at.

Can I Gamble Online In Pennsylvania?

Yes, Pennsylvania legalized online gambling in 2017. Now, anyone who is at least 21 years old, physically located in Pennsylvania, and not on any exclusion lists can legally gamble online in Pennsylvania.

🔍 Current Status:

Legal and Live!

📅 Market Launch Date:

October 26, 2017

🎰 Most Popular Online Casino Games:

Slot machines including Medusa II, live blackjack, and many progressive slots with massive jackpots

🔞 Legal Age to Gamble in PA:

21-years-old

My Pennsylvania Online Casino Experience

Pennsylvania online casinos offer a solid experience, which is similar to the one found at their land-based counterparts.

Though you won’t necessarily get a rush from the sound of hundreds of slot machines played simultaneously, online casinos available in the Keystone State have a library of hundreds of casino games you can play for real money.

The in-app experience mimicked the one I would have gotten on a casino floor as closely as possible without traveling to a land-based casino.

Whether I played the online casino on the website or the casino app really depended on the casino.

Though I generally prefer playing on the website versus the app, some online casinos do a great job of offering enough bells and whistles for in-app play to be my preferred method.

Overall, there were a few Pennsylvania casinos that stood out in regard to in-app experience, including Unibet and Caesars Palace.

I was able to use facial recognition software to verify my identity during the login process and before placing bets with Unibet, which made betting easier. I also just love Caesars Palace’s in-app experience. The new platform is just… wow.

A few other benefits I noticed during my online gambling experience versus and in-person one included:

  • Seamless one-touch betting

  • Game selection was impressive and easy to navigate

  • Lots of payment and withdrawal options

  • Phone, live-chat, and email customer service

  • Wide variety of welcome bonuses

Pennsylvania Gambling Sites vs. Land-Based Casinos

How do Pennsylvania gambling sites stack up to their land-based counterparts?

While online casinos won’t virtually transport you to a casino floor, there are a lot of benefits to online gambling. Just some of the benefits of online casinos include welcome bonuses, special gambling promotions, on-the-go gameplay, and more.

Welcome Bonuses

Pennsylvania online casino welcome bonuses are probably one of the best reasons to play online versus at a land-based casino.

When you sign up for a new user account, using the “Claim Now” or similar button on the OddsSeeker site, you may get a PA casino no-deposit bonus, first-deposit bonus, free spins, or other types of bonuses.

Special Promotions

Online casinos often offer special promotions, such as daily bonuses, holiday promos, and refer-a-friend bonuses.

On-the-Go Gameplay

When you play at an online casino, you don’t need to be physically present at the casino itself — just within the state where the online casino can legally accept bets.

That means you can play wherever, whenever.

Online gameplay also rivals the experience you’d find on a casino floor. I’d go as far as to say that online gameplay may even be better than at a land-based casino.

Scroll through a list of games, game categories, and features to find your favorites. If you don’t love the game you’re playing, simply click the home button to head back to the virtual lobby.

VIP Rewards Programs

When you sign up for an account with an online casino in Pennsylvania, you’re automatically entered into the platform’s VIP rewards program!

You don’t need to do anything special to sign up. Just check the rewards program benefits, make the minimum qualifying actions (some casinos require you to make a certain number of bets, while others want you to spend a minimum amount of money on bets), and move up tier levels.

Seamless Deposits and Withdrawals

There’s no need to visit the casino cage when you’re betting online. Instead, make a deposit using a valid payment method, usually a credit card, debit card, bank transfer, or e-wallet balance.

Pennsylvania Online Casino List

PA Online Casinos

No Deposit Bonus

Deposit Bonus

BetMGM Casino

$25 FREE

$1,000 Deposit Match

FanDuel Casino

$100 FREE

$1,000 Play-it-again

BetRivers Casino

N/A

$500 Deposit Match

DraftKings Casino

$50 FREE

$2,000 Deposit Match

Caesars Palace Online Casino

$10 FREE

$2,000 Deposit Match

Borgata Casino

$25 FREE

$1,000 Deposit Match

PlayLive Casino

25 FREE Spins

$625 Deposit Match

Stardust Casino

Coming Soon

$200 Play-it-again

Hollywood Casino

$10 FREE

$250 Deposit Match

Parx Casino

Coming Soon

$500 Risk-Free Bet

Mount Airy Casino

Coming Soon

$1,500 Deposit Match

Unibet Casino

Not active

$500 Deposit Match

Betway Casino

Coming Soon

$1,000 Deposit Match

Golden Nugget Casino

$25 FREE

$1,000 Deposit Match

Best Pennsylvania Online Casinos

Borgata

I’m kind of a self-proclaimed brand snob (a lot of my reviews favor the big-name casinos), and Borgata Online Casino lived up to the high-end experience offered by some of its biggest competitors.

Not only are there some of my favorite slot machine titles here, including Ghostbusters Triple Slime, Buffalo, and Taco Fury, but there’s also a huge selection of sports-themed games! Playing NHL Roulette, NBA Gold, and NHL Blackjack was one of the highlights of my experience.

There are also plenty of live table games, first-person games, and video poker games, too.

Unibet

At first, I wasn’t sure about an online casino run by one of the biggest names in sports betting.

So, how can Unibet specialize in sports betting and run an online casino?

Turns out, this PA online casino is run by Mohegan Sun — a brand I’m always excited to see branching out of Connecticut.

I love the Mohegan Sun/Unibet platform and recommend playing on the app for this one. You can set up two-step authentication each time you log in as well as use facial recognition to save time during that process.

Though I generally prefer the desktop browser layout, I was able to find my favorite games as well as a few I hadn’t played, including Night Life and Vegas Rush.

BetMGM

Like most of the other big-name online casinos on this list, BetMGM Online Casino offers a great user experience, an easy-on-the-eyes layout, and plenty of games.

I mostly enjoyed playing the titles on the “Top 10 Games” list and using the “Curated Slot Selection” feature to find my favorite themed slots.

When using this feature, choose your theme, features, and winning frequency.

Based on my selections (Hollywood, Cascading Reels, and Balanced), I got the titles Funk Master, Whild Wheels, and Big Bucks Bandits Megaways. I ended up playing Funk Master (I’m a sucker for a fun slot machine soundtrack), which was a blast.

FanDuel

As was the case with Unibet, I wasn’t sure I was going to love a sportsbook/casino combo.

Yet, Fanduel partners with Valley Forge Casino in Pennsylvania, and the online casino experience was just as streamlined as Unibet’s.

I love the clean virtual casino floor — finding games is easy, as there’s not a lot of clutter to sift through.

Some new games I haven’t played before that were featured on Fanduel’s site include Rock ‘n’ Lock and an influencer-themed slot machine titled Lots of Likes.

There were over 50 daily jackpots, including Mayhem (which I loved) and a cleverly themed slot machine, titled In the Rabbit Hole.

Currently, you can get 50 free spins from FanDuel Casino, so now is a great time to sign up and see how this famous sportsbook does as an online gambling site.

Caesars Palace Online Casino

I’m a fan of this newly launched platform.

It features a sleek user interface and an organized virtual casino lobby. As with most online casinos in PA, slots can be found at the top of the homepage (with featured slots first), then table games, and finally video poker games at the bottom.

I loved the slot game selection here and was able to find my favorite titles, such as Cleopatra, Atlantis Megaways, and Bonanza right on the homepage.

If you are interested in trying this new platform, now is a great time as you can get the Caesars Casino no deposit bonus that gives you $10 free!

Stardust

Stardust also partners with Valley Forge Casino in Pennsylvania to bring a land-based casino experience online — though the interface is totally different from Fanduel’s.

All my favorite slots are featured right at the top of the homepage, including Cleopatra and Wheel of Fortune Triple Extreme Spin (the rumors are true, I’m just as obsessed with these games as everyone else is).

The slot game selection at Stardust is a bit more sparse than at other Pennsylvania online casinos on this list. Yet, there are a ton of live dealer games, including 21 live blackjack tables, speed baccarat, and lightning roulette.

How to Choose the Best Pennsylvania Online Casinos

There are so many online casinos in Pennsylvania that choosing one can seem like an unending endeavor.

When looking for one, I recommend checking out each online casino’s game selection, withdrawal times, welcome bonuses, and customer service options.

Most of the big-name online casinos offer similar benefits, and many of the lesser-known ones offer fewer benefits but different game selections.

Make a list of features you’re looking for in an online casino and try out a few to see which ones check off the most boxes.

Pennsylvania Casino Apps Vs Desktop

There are two ways to play casino games at real money casinos in Pennsylvania: on the casino’s website or dedicated app.

PA Casino App Pros

A lot of online casinos do a great job of organizing in-app experiences, making it easier to play games when my laptop just isn’t available.

Some of the benefits of playing casino games in an app include:

  • Easy face-recognition login procedures

  • One-touch betting options

  • Fund your account with Apple or Google Pay

  • Find all your favorite games on your home screen

  • Play on the go, wherever you are within the state

PA Desktop Pros

Personally, I prefer desktop play to in-app gameplay, but that’s just me. I love seeing a list of games on a larger screen and feeling totally immersed in those games.

Some other benefits of playing casino games on your desktop include:

  • Few bugs and no in-app issues

  • Immerse yourself in online gaming

  • See all of your favorite games without the need to scroll

  • Passwords can be saved in your browser password manager

How To Download a Pennsylvania Casino App for iPhone

If you have an iPhone or other Apple smart device, you’re in luck! Most Pennsylvania casino apps are available in the Apple Store.

To download a casino app for your Apple device, follow the below steps:

  1. Open the Apple Store by clicking the icon on your device.

  2. Search for the online casino in the store.

  3. Click “Get”.

  4. Use facial recognition and follow the instructions to download the app on your device.

  5. Click “Open” when the download is complete.

  6. Log into your online casino account, using your username and password.

  7. If you don’t already have a user account, click the “Claim Bonus” or similar button on the OddsSeeker review of the online casino you want to sign up for.

Some devices don’t support online casino apps. If you don’t see an online casino app in the Apple Store, check the casino’s website to see if it can be backloaded onto your device. If not, your device may not support this app.

How To Download a Pennsylvania Casino App for Android

In most cases, you can download casino apps for Androids in the Google Play Store. Yet, you’ll find that some apps just aren’t available in the store, from time to time.

Just as with iPhone casino apps, it’s best to check the Google Play Store for an app first. If it's not available in the store, follow the below steps:

  1. Use the “Claim Bonus” or similar button to visit the online casino’s website.

  2. Look for the Android app button on the homepage.

  3. Download the .apk or XAPK file for Android operating systems.

  4. Download the necessary app to use .apk or XAPK files on your phone.

  5. Follow the instructions to install the app onto your Android device.

How Signup Offers Work in Pennsylvania

Signup offers work the same in PA as they do in most other states.

The most common signup offers are for new players only. If you have an online account already with a casino, you can’t “double dip” by signing up for different accounts. You also can only accept a welcome offer at one gambling platform (i.e. if the online casino is affiliated with a sportsbook, you may not be able to accept a welcome offer from both platforms).

The most common signup offers include no-deposit bonuses, first-deposit matches, free spins, and risk-free play.

No-deposit bonuses are usually smaller dollar amounts deposited into your online account by the casino. You can try out different games with those funds to get a better idea of the game selection on that platform.

First-deposit matches are usually capped at a few hundred (or sometimes a few thousand) dollars. The online casino will match your first deposit up to a certain amount.

For both no-deposit and first-deposit offers, you’ll need to satisfy wagering requirements (the amount of times you need to play the funds before you can cash them out). Certain games only apply a certain percentage toward wagering requirements.

Check the wagering requirements of each online casino before accepting bonus funds.

There may also be a time limit applied to bonus funds, meaning you’ll need to satisfy wagering requirements or use the bonus funds within a set time frame. If you don’t play your bonus funds in that time frame, you’ll lose them.

For free spins, you simply get a certain number of free slot machine plays. For risk-free bets, you get funds deposited back into your account if you lose a bet (or a percentage of that bet deposited back into your account).

How To Sign Up to a Pennsylvania Online Casino

Most PA online casinos offer a similar signup process. To sign up for a new user account at an online casino, you’ll need to follow a variation of the below steps:

  1. Click on the “Claim Offer” type button on our site on the review of the online casino you want to sign up for.

  2. Choose the state where you’ll play (you’ll need to sign up for a different account in each state you play in).

  3. Click the “Get Promo” type button.

  4. Enter your email address and choose a password.

  5. Copy and paste the bonus code (if you need one) into the field. Sometimes the bonus code may be already filled in for you.

  6. Enter your personal information (usually your phone number, name, date of birth, social security number, and address). This information must match your government identification.

  7. Agree to the terms and conditions by checking the boxes.

  8. If you’ve accepted a first-deposit bonus, make a deposit.

Payment Options

Most online casinos in Pennsylvania offer similar options for deposits and withdrawals, though you’ll find more deposit than withdrawal options.

These options may vary, depending on if you’re playing in the app or on the website.

Some of the most common deposit options include:

  • Apple Pay/Google Pay (in-app only)

  • ACH e-check

  • Cash in person

  • Credit/debit card

  • Online Banking via Trustly

  • PayNearMe

  • PayPal

  • Play+ prepaid account

  • Venmo

  • Wire Transfer

For withdrawals, the most common banking options include:

  • ACH e-check

  • Online Banking

  • PayPal

  • Play+ prepaid account

It usually takes up to two business days for your withdrawals to hit your bank account, though this doesn’t include online casino processing time. For your first withdrawal, it will take more time for the casino to process your request.

Can You Earn VIP Rewards From a PA Online Casino?

Most of the online casinos in Pennsylvania offer some type of VIP rewards program.

The good news is that you’ll be enrolled in the program when you sign up for a new account, automatically.

Most online casinos work on a tiered system. The more you play, the higher you’ll climb in tiers. Each tier level offers different benefits.

Once you reach the upper echelons of the VIP programs, you’ll get even more benefits.

Some of the most common VIP rewards include the following:

  • Casino bonus cash

  • Free or discounted hotel stays

  • Live events

  • Merchandise

Casino Games

Online Pennsylvania casino games are similar to the games you’d find on a land-based casino floor.

In my opinion, online casinos have done a great job of creating a virtual casino experience online.

The most common games you’ll find at online casinos in PA include slots, table games, and video poker.

Slots

Slots pretty much rule at online casinos, and most of the big-name casinos in Pennsylvania offer hundreds of slots by popular iGame designers.

Since there is little physical upkeep with online slot machines, the entire budget can be applied to iGaming development. Slots are the most popular types of games at online casinos.

You’ll find some of your favorite titles at PA online casinos, including:

  • Cleopatra

  • Divine Fortune

  • Wheel of Fortune

  • Monopoly

There are also themed/branded collabs, including:

  • Ghostbusters

  • Goonies

  • Hell’s Kitchen with Gordon Ramsay

Some of the most common slot machine features include:

  • Jackpots

  • Progressive Jackpots

  • Megaways

  • Cascading Reels

  • Wilds

Online casinos often post the return-to-player percentages (RTPs) of games. If you can’t find an RTP on an online casino’s site, you can usually find it on the developer’s site.

Tables Games

Table games at online casinos are similar to ones found at land-based counterparts. During these games, you’ll play against the house (a live dealer or a computer).

Blackjack

You’ll find blackjack games that allow you to play against a computer as well as live dealer blackjack games at Pennsylvania online casinos.

The rules of online casino blackjack are the same as at a land-based casino. Two cards are dealt for the player and two for the dealer.

Whoever gets as close as possible to 21, without going over, wins. Choose to hit or hold based on the first two cards you’re dealt.

Roulette

Both live roulette and computer roulette are available at online casinos.

Choose a number and a color, place your chips on the virtual table, and wait for the dealer to spin the roulette wheel.

Craps

Roll the die to try to get a 7 or an 11. If you don’t get either one of these numbers, whichever number you get, you want to get again before you roll a 7.

If you roll a 2, 3, or 12, you lose.

Baccarat

Though you won’t see as many baccarat games as you will poker games, this card game is becoming more and more popular at Pennsylvania online casinos.

The dealer will deal two cards for each player and two for the house. If you guess whose hand gets the closest to nine (without going over), you win.

If the value of the cards equals more than nine, you just add the values together and drop the first digit.

Hold’em 

The rules for table hold’em are similar to the rules of the card game. You’re simply playing against a dealer instead of other players.

Make bets on the ante and blind. The dealer deals two cards for you and two for them. Combine your cards with the community cards to make a poker hand.

Video Poker

Video poker is similar to table poker, though the game moves a bit faster and you don’t play multiple hands.

The computer deals five cards and you can keep cards or discard them to get new ones.

Some of the variations of video poker at online casinos in Pennsylvania include the following:

  • Jacks or Better

  • Deuces Wild

  • Joker Poker

  • Bonus Poker

Bingo

Bingo is becoming available at more and more PA online casinos.

Similar to the game played at land-based bingo halls and casinos, you purchase bingo cards to play each round. Manually daub your cards or the computer may do it for you.

The first person to make the bingo formation wins.

Live Dealer

Live dealer games are the bridge between land-based and online casinos. Before these games were available, online casinos just couldn’t keep up with their land-based counterparts.

To join a live dealer game, enter the room and place your bet.

The dealer is a live human in a casino (or more likely in a space owned by a casino in front of a green screen and behind a casino table).

Communicate with the dealer using a microphone or chat option.

Though this is as close as you’ll get to a land-based casino experience online, there are a few differentiations between online live dealer games and the games you’ll find on a casino floor, including:

  • Time limits for placing bets

  • Different betting options

  • Game multipliers

Some of the types of live dealer games you’ll find at most online casinos include:

  • Blackjack

  • Craps

  • Ultimate Texas Holdem

  • Lightning Roulette

Can I Win Real Money at a PA Online Casino?

Yes. You’ll deposit real money into your online casino account, play with real money, and withdraw winnings in USD. Of course, you may also lose real money, too.

What Are the Stakes at Online Casinos in Pennsylvania?

Minimum bets at online casinos really depend on the game. Most of the online casinos I played at in Pennsylvania featured penny slots — or slots that cost less than $0.40 to play.

Minimum bets on slots started at $0.01 and the lowest minimum bet on live table games I saw was $0.50.

The maximum bet on most slot machines was around $20, though some slot machines had maximum bets of up to $88. Maximum bets on table games were in the tens of thousands.

Are PA Online Casinos Legit?

Yes. PA online casinos must be approved by the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB) and are regulated by this organization. We only review online casinos in Pennsylvania that may legally operate within the state, so all of our recommendations are for legit platforms.

Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board

Pennsylvania online casinos are regulated by the PGCB.

The PGCB ensures all online and land-based casinos are following the laws and regulations set forth by the Gaming Act. It also wants to see that these platforms generate revenue for the state and increase tourism.

Pennsylvania Authorized Online Casinos Vs. Offshore Casinos

Though Pennsylvania legalized online gambling in 2017, many Pennsylvanians have been playing online casino games at offshore casinos.

These casinos have no jurisdiction in the U.S. and are not regulated by federal or state gambling laws. Offshore casinos often lure in players with too-good-to-be-true welcome bonuses and other promos.

Yet since offshore casinos are not based in the U.S., players may not protected and may not be able to seek help for unreturned holdings or unpaid winnings.

Some of the benefits of playing at a Pennsylvania-authorized online casino versus an offshore casino include:

  • Casinos must abide by state gambling laws.

  • Holdings and winnings must be held in FDIC-insured accounts.

  • Safe gambling practice options, such as self-exclusion and time limits must be offered.

  • Loyalty and VIP programs reward frequent players.

  • Offshore casinos don’t pay taxes to benefit the state economy.

Do I Have To Live in Pennsylvania to Gamble Online?

You don’t need to live in the state to gamble in Pennsylvania. If you are at least 21 years old and physically located within state lines, you can play at these online casinos.

How Do PA Gambling Sites Acquire My Location?

You’ll need to share your location in your device’s settings with any online casino.

Sometimes the casino can get your location without additional software; sometimes you may be required to download software, such as GeoComply or similar software, before placing bets.

You will not be able to bet (or sometimes even access an online casino’s website or app) if you are using a VPN.

When you use a laptop or desktop computer, you will need to download software for the online casino to know your location; iOS has its own software, so you won’t need to download anything.

Do You Always Need to Download GeoComply Software?

Many online casinos and sportsbooks are now requiring players to download GeoComply software to curtail VPN fraud.

Depending on the online casino, you may need to download third-party location device software, such as GeoComply or a similar brand.

For the online casinos I played at, I did not need to download any of this software; the app simply used my phone’s geotracking to verify my location. Once, I forgot to disable my VPN and I was unable to use the app or view the website.

How Old Do I Need To Be to Gamble in PA?

You need to be at least 21 years old to gamble in Pennsylvania. Before you can withdraw your holdings or winnings, you’ll need to provide proof of your age.

Responsible Gaming in Pennsylvania

Responsible gaming practices are important — especially when it comes to online gambling.

It’s easier to log into an app online than it is to drive to a land-based casino, so it’s important to protect yourself against problematic gaming.

By law, all online casinos in Pennsylvania must provide resources on responsible gambling.

Not only can you find information about knowing if your gambling habits have become problematic (such as FAQ pages and responsible gambling resources), but you can also use the following resources to limit or prevent gambling altogether in the state of Pennsylvania:

  • Self-exclusion

  • Deposit limits (daily, weekly, monthly)

  • Spending limits (daily, weekly, monthly)

  • Time limits (daily)

  • Cool off time limits

Player Tax Information

To gamble at Pennsylvania online casinos, you must be physically located within state lines.

GPS software and IP Address identification are used to verify your location.

You’re also not allowed to use a VPN while playing at online casinos. In fact, many platforms don’t even allow you to access an online casino website while you’re connected to a VPN.

You must be at least 21 years old to gamble online in the state and you can’t be on any exclusion lists.

According to the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue, you must pay taxes on gambling and lottery winnings — even if you’re not a resident of the Commonwealth. Taxes are due when you receive your winnings.

You must file a PA-40 Schedule T, PA-40 Schedule A, or PA-20S/PA65 Schedule T with your tax returns. Winnings are also subject to federal taxes.

PA Online Gambling Information

Pennsylvania passed a bill introducing online gambling and daily fantasy sports to the state on October 30, 2017. The new regulations gave Pennsylvania Online Casinos permission to offer sports betting as soon as the Supreme Court ruled on this matter.

Then the Supreme Court declared the federal ban on sports betting unconstitutional on May 14, 2018, overturning the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act of 1992.

This led the Keystone State to become the fourth state to legalize online gambling. The local iGaming industry is expected to surpass that of Nevada, New Jersey, or Delaware due to Pennsylvania’s large population which is almost at 13 million.

This is much higher as compared to nine million in NJ or three million in NV. Pennsylvania already has a well-established land-based gambling industry, which is second only to Nevada in its size. In 2017, the combined revenue of all Pennsylvania-based casinos exceeded $3,000,000.

On that historic day of October 30, 2017, a victory for online gambling was marked. It was on that day that Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf signed an omnibus gaming expansion bill, HB 271, into law.

Inside the provisions of HB 271

HB 271 is a comprehensive bill that underwent many revisions, with the final version clocking in at over 900 pages. We’ve dissected the bill, and pulled the important parts relevant to those interested in the online gambling provisions.

  • Legalizes online poker, slots, and table games.

  • 12 total licenses available, one for each of the state’s 12 land-based casinos. Each license is broken down into three categories: poker, slots, and table games

  • For the first 90 days of the licensing period, casinos can apply for a collective license covering all three verticals for $10 million.

  • After 90 days, casinos will be allowed to apply for an individual segment of a license for $4 million a pop.

  • After 120 days, any unclaimed licenses can be purchased by qualified entities that aren’t PA land-based casinos. The cost per segment is $4 million.

  • Vendor licenses will cost $1 million.

  • The tax rate on online poker and table games is set at 14% of gross gaming revenue with an additional 2% allocated for a local share assessment. The slot rate is a hefty 52%, also with an added 2% reserved for the local share.

In addition to online gambling, HB 271 legalizes the following:

  • Video gaming terminals (VGTs) at truck stops

  • Online lottery

  • Daily fantasy sports

  • The construction of up to 10 Category 4 (satellite) casinos.

  • Sports betting, pending the federal law that currently prohibits sports betting in most states, is overturned.

Statutory and Regulatory Structure

Location of Operators and Equipment

The law requires that all interactive gaming devices and associated equipment be located: i) in an interactive gaming restricted area on the premises of the licensed facility; ii) in an interactive gaming restricted area within the geographic limits of the county in Pennsylvania where the licensed facility is located; or iii) in any other area approved by the Board.

Location of Patrons

Pennsylvania law states that all wagers made through interactive gaming are deemed to be initiated, received, or otherwise made within the geographic boundaries of the Commonwealth. Wagers are deemed to be placed by the interactive gaming certificate holder.

Patron Accounts

Players must first register for and establish an interactive gaming account before playing a game or placing a wager. The interactive gaming account must have the ability to verify the player’s age, identity, and physical address to ensure compliance with the Act.

Persons excluded from registering for or maintaining an account include those under the age of 21, those on any self-exclusion or rejection list, and those who are gaming employees, key employees, or principal employees of a slot machine licensee or interactive gaming operator.

Pennsylvania Sports Betting

Online sports betting in Pennsylvania became legal as soon as the Supreme Court struck down the PASPA federal ban because local regulators signed the relevant bill in advance of this ruling.

Every entity that holds a casino license for slots can apply for a sports wagering certificate, which means that 11 of the 13 local gambling establishments will soon be free to enter this game. Just like with casino games, the costs are expected to be high – a certificate costs $10 million, and the tax rate is 36% on overall revenue.

None of the eligible casinos have applied for a sports betting certificate so far, but some of them will undoubtedly try to secure a slice of that pie. Since the barrier to entry is very high, we don’t expect any second-league brands.

Pennsylvania DFS

According to the new Pennsylvania iGaming bill, DFS contests are supervised by the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board, but the rules are slightly different than for other forms of internet gambling.

Operators aren’t required to have a local partner, a five-year license costs $50,000, and the tax on gross revenue is 15%.

Both DraftKings and FanDuel have already been approved, and the list of companies that are currently going through the licensing process is as follows:

  • Boom Fantasy

  • Draft

  • Fantasy Football Players Championship

  • FantasyDraft

  • FastPick

  • Sports Hub

Finally, PGCB’s executive director, Kevin O’Toole, has announced that Pennsylvanians who already participate in DFC contests with any of the licensed companies won’t need to re-register with their sites and will experience no difference in gameplay.

Pennsylvania Lotteries

After the recent iGaming bill was passed, the Lottery launched a new website called PA iLottery, which gives Pennsylvanians access to 25 casino-style games.

Most of them are very similar to slots in terms of gameplay and style, and their continued availability depends on the outcome of the lawsuit filed by the local casinos.

License Information

When starting an Online Casino Business in Pennsylvania, the first important thing to think about is company registration and acquisition of a license. Pennsylvania Gaming License gives many excellent opportunities to each licensee and makes their business profitable. Licensure is the cornerstone of the regulatory system.

They are required of casino owners and sports betting operators, casino employees, and companies that do business with casinos in order to ensure that those involved with this industry meet the statutory requirements of good character, honesty, and integrity and to keep the Pennsylvania online gambling industry free from organized crime.

P.A legalized online gambling through the Expanded Gaming Act in 2017. Pennsylvania citizens or visitors have access to online slot machines, online poker, and online banked table games. The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board has the authority to issue licenses and regulate license holders.

Licensing, Fees, and Taxes

The state authorized up to 39 licenses for online gaming to be split evenly between online slot machines, online poker, and online banked table games. In the first round of licensing, current land-based slot machine license holders had 90 days to petition for a license to offer all three types of online games for $10 million.

Between 90 and 120 days after the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board opened the application, license holders could seek individual gaming licenses for $4 million per category of license (that is, poker, casino, or other table games).

After 120 days, any qualified gaming operator could petition for the remaining licenses at a cost of $4 million per category of license. Online gaming operators that are partnered with the license holder must also be licensed at a cost of $1 million.

Nine casinos filed applications by the deadline of 16 July 2018 (Parx, Mount Airy, Hollywood, Rivers, SugarHouse, Sands, Valley Forge, Harrah's and Stadium). This period was followed by a 30-day period in which Pennsylvania casinos could purchase individual certificates à la carte for $4 million each.

Pennsylvania has a low corporate income tax of only 36%, has no tax on bets, no sales tax and no VAT. It has political stability, first-class tele-communications agencies and a long-standing financial services industry.

In addition, it maintains an attractive environment for international online gaming companies, with a Gaming License recognized by many countries all over the world, and this will make one's establishment a potential goldmine.

Online Regulation Analysis

Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (the Board) has regulatory oversight of interactive gaming in the Commonwealth, including licensing, testing devices, rulemaking, and other related duties.

An interactive gaming certificate is required to conduct interactive gaming. The Board is permitted to issue a total of 39 interactive gaming certificates, including 13 certificates for peer-to-peer poker games, 13 certificates for non-peer-to-peer simulated slot machines, and 13 certificates for non-peer-to-peer simulated banked table games.

The slot machine licensees licensed at the time of the enactment of Pennsylvania’s law authorizing interactive gaming (the Act), were given 120 days to apply for certificates before the application was opened to other applicants.

After this initial period was reserved for slot machine licensees, the application period was opened to qualified gaming entities (QGE). QGE is “a gaming entity licensed in any jurisdiction which has satisfied the requirements of this chapter and any other criteria established by the board, including financial and character suitability requirements.”

Pennsylvania Partnerships

All online gambling sites in PA must have established a partnership with a land-based casino in the state. The following is a list of those partnerships.

The benefit of knowing this may be when, or if, you would like to provide cash at the casino cage for a deposit or withdrawal. In this case, you would likely need to go to the partnered land casino for the transaction.

Name of Casino

Licensing Casino

Date Launched

Software

Hollywood Casino

Hollywood Casino

July 2019

IGT

PokerStars Casino

Mount Airy Casino Resort

November 2019

PokerStars

Unibet Casino

Mohegan Sun Pocono

November 2019

SG Digital

BetRivers Casino

Rivers Casino

January 2020

IGT

DraftKings Casino

Hollywood Casino

December 2020

Entain (Formerly GVC)

BetMGM Casino

Hollywood Casino

December 2020

SBTech

Betway Casino

Live! Casino Hotel Philadelphia

June 2021

Betway

Caesars Casino

Harrah's Philadelphia Casino & Racetrack

April 2020

SC Digital

Borgata Casino

Rivers Casino

February 2021

Entain (Formerly GVC)

Alicia Butler
Topic Expert
Alicia Butler

Alicia is OddsSeeker's Lead Editor & Fact Checker! She's been reviewing online casinos, sportsbooks, and other gaming since 2021, but has well over a decade of experience writing and editing for some of the largest online magazines and brands since 2011! Over her career, Alicia has worked as a travel and entertainment writer & editor contributing to widely read digital publications such as The Spruce, The Balance and The Spruce Pets, VeryWell, and TripSavvy. Alicia makes sure our readers can trust every word - holding both our team & our gaming operator partners to the highest standard to ensure that our readers always have the best possible experiences playing gaming online! Beyond OddsSeeker, Alicia is a marketing expert, entrepreneur, and avid traveler based in Connecticut!

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