Pa online casino list
New casino sites to play real money
Similarly, the options are open for harrah’s philadelphia. While it is possible the casino uses the harrah’s name for its online casino, it is also possible the property takes advantage of the better known caesars brand and launches a caesars online casino in pennsylvania. It also offered a new class of license eliminating the amenity fee in place at valley forge and lady luck nemacolin. Valley forge paid the fee immediately after the bill became law.
Online casinos in PA
The first state-regulated online casinos in pennsylvania are up and running as of july 15, 2019.
If you are 21 years or older and inside PA state lines, you can now enjoy slots, table games, and video poker from your desktop computer or mobile devices.
This page contains all the information you need to get started at pennsylvania online casinos.
Below is a guide to the games you can play for free and for real money at PA online casinos. After that, you’ll find information on apps, bonuses, safety, and geolocation technology.
Regulated casinos also include protection for problem gamblers, which we cover at the end of this page.
Best online casinos in pennsylvania 2020
There are now eight online casinos to choose from in pennsylvania:
All the casino apps are available 24/7.
Real money and free online casino games in pennsylvania
You can play most games at PA casinos online for fun. Playing games in demo mode, or with play-money chips, allows you to find the titles you like before you gamble.
The only category of games that are not available for free play is live dealer table games. You can watch them, though you will not be able to bet play-money chips. Parx has plans to add this offering soon though.
The current offerings on real money online casinos in PA are a bit limited, to begin with. Rest assured that the casino sites will add new games as quickly as the PA gaming control board (PGCB) will allow it.
We offer an overview of how diverse these casino game categories are. Keep in mind that the most prominent new jersey online casinos offer more than 600 titles.
PA online slots
Slots are the biggest category of games for any online casino. You can expect to see over 200 games listed and you’ll need some way to sort the list of slot titles.
Firstly, casinos will feature their most popular games. You can use filters to search by, e.G., the number of reels, game developer, progressive jackpots, and so on.
If you enjoy live casino slots, then you will be able to play a lot of these online. You can search by name, or browse the listings for IGT, bally, or another live slot studio.
Many online casinos feature classic games, e.G., wheel of fortune, cleopatra, and wolf run. You can locate traditional three-reel slots, many of which will be new to pennsylvania. Online slot studios like netent created these.
When you browse the tiled graphics for slots to enjoy, you’ll see progressive jackpots listed underneath many of them. These pools can get massive, up to $1 million or more.
Table games at PA online casinos
Table games are a broad category, although it mostly covers all the casino games played on the green felt.
While most are card-based, dice and roulette wheels also fall under table games. Live dealer games are in this category; however, we will cover them separately.
This list is for the software-based versions:
Blackjack: there are a lot of variations of basic blackjack rules. These include games with side bets, multi-hand games and entertaining variants like blackjack switch, free bet blackjack, and spanish 21.
Roulette: you can bet your favorite numbers or try complex betting systems with online roulette. Where available, choose the european roulette wheel because the single zero reduces the house edge.
Casino poker games: A lot of card-based table games use poker-hand rankings. Online casinos have caribbean stud, three-card poker, ultimate texas hold ’em, let it ride, pai gow poker, and casino hold ’em.
Baccarat: two of the three bets you can place in baccarat have a very low house edge. As long as you avoid the “tie” bet, this favorite among high rollers can be entertaining.
Craps: with two betting phases and the chance to go on a hot streak as long as no 7s are rolled, craps is a lively live casino game. This appears at some online casinos, which gives you a chance to learn the complex bets.
Live dealer casinos in pennsylvania
In other states, live dealer table games have become the go-to for many players and soon, they’ll be available in PA. With these, you’ll bet online although the action will be dealt in real-time from studios in PA live casinos. Bets will settle automatically.
Games available include blackjack (where you play on a seven-handed table), roulette, three-card poker, casino hold ’em, and baccarat.
Keep in mind, you need to act before the timer runs down in these games. Your hand will be folded (or you’ll stand) depending on the game.
You can chat via text with the dealers and other players while you play. The added social element, plus the ability to watch the cards being dealt, make these increasingly popular games.
Video poker and novelty games
PA casinos allow you to play video poker games online. These include bonus poker and multi-hand variations, as well as traditional titles.
Pennsylvania online casino apps
There are pros and cons to online casino apps compared to mobile-friendly websites.
With apps, you often find only a limited number of game titles, along with account and cashier functionality. Compared to the hundreds of games you can play on your browser, this is a significant drawback.
On the positive side, having the graphics stored on your phone helps the games initialize faster. If you have ever had to wait for a bonus game to load on your mobile device after you hit it on a slot, you know how frustrating this can be.
Are the online casinos in pennsylvania safe?
All online casinos in PA are licensed and under the jurisdiction of the pennsylvania gaming control board (PGCB).
Players are protected by know your customer (KYC) guidelines and responsible gaming laws. The games are tested for integrity and fairness. A complaint and dispute process is available if necessary.
When it comes to pennsylvania online casinos, you really can’t get any safer.
The PGCB stated early in the licensing process that they have a deliberate, slow approach. This includes testing periods for new apps and websites. With the licenses for online casinos in pennsylvania held by local live casinos and racetrack casinos, you’ll have trusted brand names behind each of the apps.
A major concern for players new to casino games is the fairness of the spins or deals. At regulated casinos, games are regularly audited and the expected return-to-player (RTP) percentages are published. While each game has a small edge in favor of the house, you can be sure that you are getting a fair shot at winning and it’s in line with the published figures.
Casino bonus offers in pennsylvania
With a lot of online casinos opening in PA in quick succession, you can be sure they will be competing to attract new players.
This means 2020 is a perfect time to take advantage of their marketing budgets. Casino bonuses take four primary forms, and not every casino will offer them all. If not, the bonuses they do offer will need to be generous.
Here are the main types of casino bonuses:
- No-deposit welcome bonus: A popular way to attract new players is to offer free play for registering. This bonus is usually a small amount (between $10 and $25). You’ll need to wager it a number of times before you can withdraw it. These offers can start your casino bankroll, if you get lucky. If not, then you’ll have a chance to check out the real-money slot titles without any personal risk.
- Matched deposit bonuses: this is the most common form of a casino welcome bonus in PA. Your first deposit will be matched 100%, usually up to around $300, though sometimes much higher. You then get 30 to 60 days to meet the specified playthrough (wagering) requirements.
- Loyalty/comp point schemes: some casinos will tie their online comp point schemes together with their live casino. Others have separate schemes, with complex tier systems unlocking progressively bigger bonuses. For high rollers, these loyalty schemes often have a VIP level, too.
- One-off promotions: how active a casino is with promos can make a big difference to your bankroll over time. These vary widely, and include double points deals, reload bonuses, promos linked to new games and free chips for sharing on social media.
While nothing is stopping you from taking up several casino bonuses, keep in mind that these are restricted to one per household for each casino. Many players have been tempted to sign up their entire family for a free-play offer only to find their accounts to be closed down quickly.
Licensed and legal PA casinos vs. Offshore casinos
For many years, the only way to play online casino games in pennsylvania was to risk your money at offshore casinos. While there were some limited legal options with sweepstakes casinos, the new legal PA internet casinos effectively remove the need to take this risk.
Offshore casinos are usually based in the caribbean or central america and their legal status is uncertain. While their host nation licenses them, they are not recognized or licensed by any US authority and our banks are legally obliged to block payments to them.
A greater concern is the lack of oversight and controls. Many offshore casinos have disappeared over the years, and many players have faced significant issues getting their winnings paid. If you have a dispute with an offshore casino, there is no industry body or organization to help you.
With PA casinos under the watchful eye of the PGCB, they are licensed to accept conventional payment methods and thoroughly tested. There is no longer any reason to risk playing at an offshore site.
Geolocation and PA casinos
You will be able to access the PA online casinos from anywhere. However, playing games for real money and making deposits can only be made within PA state lines.
Pennsylvania casinos will not allow real-money play if there is any doubt about your location. In new jersey, this led to a lot of “false negatives.” players who were on mobile devices near state borders were sometimes flagged as being outside of the state.
Fortunately, those initial problems were ironed out and geolocation technology is more reliable.
If you are using a VPN or proxy server, you might still experience issues. Mobile users on 4G and close to the state border who experience problems can download additional geolocation software in some cases.
Wi-fi data is difficult to fake, and if you are not using a VPN, desktop players are unlikely to experience geolocation issues.
Full list of PA online casinos and potential launch dates
| PA online casino | launch date |
|---|---|
| sugarhouse online casino PA | july 17, 2019 |
| hollywood casino | july 15, 2019 |
| parx casino PA | july 15, 2019 |
| pokerstars casino | nov. 4, 2019 |
| unibet via mohegan sun pocono | nov. 12, 2019 |
| fanduel casino via valley forge | jan. 24, 2020 |
| presque isle downs | 2020 |
| harrah's | 2020 |
| live! Casino & hotel | 2021 |
| wind creek casino | TBD |
| MGM | TBD |
| golden nugget NJ | TBD |
There have already been three launches in the first month of 2020 with fanduel casino, betamerica, and betrivers casino launching in january.
Formerly sugarhouse casino, rivers philadelphia has become the first brick-and-mortar casino to offer two different online casino skins under its casino license: playsugarhouse and betrivers. The latter is integrated with the rivers pittsburgh online sportsbook that carries the same betrivers name. Rivers casino pittsburgh did not obtain an online casino license.
Similarly, the options are open for harrah’s philadelphia. While it is possible the casino uses the harrah’s name for its online casino, it is also possible the property takes advantage of the better known caesars brand and launches a caesars online casino in pennsylvania.
List of live pennsylvania casinos
There are currently 12 casino gambling properties in the state of pennsylvania, with another casino in the works in philadelphia’s stadium park.
According to PGCB, this includes 10 stand-alone and racetrack casinos and two smaller resort casinos. The former two are category 1 and 2 casinos, while the latter falls into category 3. These gaming establishments employ approximately 18,000 people and generate close to $1.4 billion in tax revenue annually.
Click on any of the casinos below to learn more about that property.
Mini-casinos: the next phase of pennsylvania casino development
As part of its gambling expansion law passed in october 2017, the state had the ability to issue up to ten category 4 licenses. These licenses allow for mini-casinos with 300-750 slots. A supplemental license costing $2.5 million allows these satellite casino properties to offer up to 30 table games as well.
The process for the issuance of mini-casino licensing involves a series of auctions. The preliminary auctions began in january 2018 and are limited only to the licensed category 1 and 2 casinos. The first license went to penn national, who spent $50.1 million to secure a location 50 miles south of its existing hollywood casino. During the first round of auctions, PGCB awarded five licenses.
The PGCB ran a second round of auctions on sept. 3 but there were no bidders this time around. As a result, the five remaining licenses will go unclaimed. In all, $114 million in license fees were raised.
Check out our dedicated mini casino tracking page to see which towns are getting satellite properties and how much each casino ponied up to get them.
Pennsylvania problem gambling support
A system for self-exclusion for problem gamblers is available at live casinos in pennsylvania.
This program involves filling out some forms, providing a photo ID, and voluntarily requesting one-year, five-year or lifetime exclusion.
A list of excluded people is distributed to all live casinos. Then it is the casinos’ responsibility is to prevent those people from entering gaming areas.
Removal from this list (for the shorter periods) does not happen automatically. After the period expires, individuals must request their removal personally.
Online gambling prevents new challenges when it comes to the management of problem gambling. For the majority to enjoy safe gambling online, support systems need to be in place for players who experience issues.
The pennsylvania gaming control commission manages this support program.
Here is what legal pennsylvania online casinos must provide:
- A prominentlink to their responsible gambling information page.
- Tools for time-out, self-exclusion and betting limits.
- A list of questions to assess whether you or someone you know has a gambling problem.
- Links to support organizations and therapists.
Support programs in the state include:
Overview of pennsylvania’s casino industry
The pennsylvania casino industry is relatively young. Casinos only became legal in 2004. Yet, in the dozen or so years in existence, the industry quickly became a powerhouse. Now it is the second-largest commercial casino industry in the country judging by gross revenue, trailing only nevada.
Thanks to steep tax rates, pennsylvania casinos actually generate more tax revenue for the state than nevada does. That number will get even bigger thanks to the gambling expansion law passed in the fall of 2017.
Here is a look at the history of the pennsylvania casino industry, starting with the latest news and moving back towards the casino industry’s more humble beginnings:
After a summer of bickering, the state legislature drafted a new version of the gambling expansion package, which both the house and senate passed. Gov. Tom wolf signed it into law on monday, oct. 30. The new law allows for a wide range of new gambling ventures, including:
It also offered a new class of license eliminating the amenity fee in place at valley forge and lady luck nemacolin. Valley forge paid the fee immediately after the bill became law.
This white paper gives you an idea of the scope of the new gambling policies and what kind of revenue it should generate going forward.
Legislation which would legalize and regulate online gambling in pennsylvania, and offer online gaming licenses to the state’s 12 casino properties first, was passed by the senate. In june 2017 it was amended and passed by the house, sending it back to the senate.
Lady luck casino nemacolin opened in july 2013.
Valley forge casino resort opened its doors in march 2012 becoming the first category 3 licensed casino in pennsylvania.
After several ownership changes and failed financing plans with no construction to date, the pennsylvania gaming control board voted to revoke the foxwoods casino philadelphia gaming license in december 2010.
Sugarhouse casino opened its first phase in philadelphia in september 2010.
Pennsylvania passed a law in january 2010, authorizing table game operations at the state’s licensed racino, casino, and resort casino properties. The law also clarified the size and scope of gaming and other operations at the state’s three different categories of gaming licensees, including:
- Allowing up to 250 table games and 5,000 slot machines at category 1 racino facilities
- Allowing 250 table games and 5,000 slot machines at category 2 stand-alone casinos. These properties were also authorized to operate amenities including restaurants, spas, and entertainment options, but not hotels.
- Allowing up to 600 slot machines and 50 table games at category 3 resort casinos. These gaming facilities can include attached hotels.
Parx casino standalone gaming facility opened its doors in december .
Rivers casino opened in pittsburgh, PA’s chateau neighborhood along the ohio river in september.
Sands casino resort bethlehem opened on the bethlehem works development site in bethlehem, pennsylvania in may 2009. Table games were added in july 2010. The property officially changed ownership to the poarch band of creek indians in june 2019. The casino is now known as wind creek bethlehem.
Hollywood casino opened at penn national racetrack in february 2008.
Mount airy casino resort officially opened in the poconos in november 2007, becoming the first pennsylvania casino with lodging.
The meadows casino began as a temporary casino adjacent to the racetrack in washington county, PA in june 2007. The permanent casino opened in 2009.
Presque isle downs casino and horse racing track near erie, pennsylvania opened in february 2007.
A slots parlor began operation at harrah’s philadelphia racetrack on the chester waterfront. Table games went live at the property in 2010.
Parx casino opened as a temporary gaming facility at the former philadelphia park racetrack in december 2006.
Foxwoods casino philadelphia is granted one of five stand-alone casino licenses for a soon-to-be-built property located along the delaware river in south philadelphia. The project fell apart, resulting in PGCB revoking the license in 2010.
Mohegan sun at pocono downs became the state’s first slot parlor after opening its doors in november 2006 at a harness track near wilkes-barre.
State lawmakers made a number of amendments to horse track security bill authorizing both the use of 61,000 slot machines at racetracks and other new casino locations across pennsylvania. Lawmakers rushed the bill through the house and senate over the fourth of july weekend, then quickly became law before any real opposition to casino gambling had a chance to oppose it.
The bill ultimately authorized the issue of three separate categories of slot machine licenses. These included:
- Category 1 for existing racetracks.
- Category 2 for designated tourist areas, including two in philadelphia and one in pittsburgh.
- Category 3 for resorts.
Former philadelphia mayor ed rendell runs for pennsylvania governor. He wins on a campaign that includes support for the idea of allowing slot machines at racetracks in an effort to lower property taxes.
Under then-governor tom ridge the state legislature came close to legalizing riverboat casinos. The state’s anti-gambling movement began to grow and gov. Ridge said he would veto any gambling bill not approved by referendum. Eventually the entire idea was scrapped.
A statewide survey found 48 percent of pennsylvania residents supported legalized riverboat gambling and just 38 percent were opposed. However, then-governor robert P. Casey claimed to be opposed to gambling and threatened to veto any gambling legislation passed in the state.
First developed under philadelphia mayor wilson goode, and championed by mayoral successor ed rendell, a proposal to allow riverboat gambling in philadelphia made it to the state legislature. The claim was it would create $25 million in new revenue for the city and 11,500 new jobs. However, the house of representatives voted against it in november by a margin of 118-81.
Resorts casino hotel opened in atlantic city, new jersey, becoming the first legal casino in atlantic city. Resorts and the rest of the atlantic city boardwalk is within 60 miles of philadelphia. It quickly become evident that pennsylvania residents are some of the budding atlantic city casino industry’s best customers.
PA online casinos
Commercial content. Play responsibly. 21+
The keystone state is now home to pennsylvania online casinos as well as retail PA casinos in the near future. Laws were expanded in 2017 to allow a range of online gambling options for residents.
This expansion allows for online table games, slots, sports betting, poker, and the state lottery. Online betting sites have passed approval and are expected to be launched in july 2019.
Play online casino games from your computer or mobile device anywhere in PA with these great PA online casinos!
PA online casinos rules & regulations
Since online gambling has now been legalized, there are rules and regulations that have been put into place and all operators will have to abide by these. One is that they must make use of geolocation services to ensure that those playing real money games are in fact located in the state of pennsylvania. This will also apply to any mobile platform that casinos will be hosting. Every player must be of the gambling age to engage in real money gaming and the casinos must follow local gambling laws at all times. They will also have to pay a high tax rate to the state to operate and will have to maintain licenses and undergo routine testing to ensure fair play. The rules do not vary much from what is used in other states that already offer online gambling.
Even though many of the applications for licenses have been approved, there is no timeline as to when the first PA online casino will be up and running. Land casinos are still finalizing partnerships and working on technology to prepare for the launch of these new sites that will soon provide PA residents with amazing ways to gamble online and enjoy the thrills of top-rated casino games.
Best PA online casinos
Players who are looking for online gambling will soon enjoy a huge variety of games, including online slots, blackjack, roulette, video poker, and so much more. Just like NJ online casinos, it feels like there are more online casinos in pennsylvania every day.
The application process for casinos in PA started back in may and venues had just 90 days to apply for an online gaming package. Also, the package includes the license to offer online poker, an online slot license, and an online table games license.
This all came at a cost of $10 million per application. There have been 9 different PA casinos that have applied for licenses. The biggest include parx casino, harrah’s philadelphia, sugarhouse casino, hollywood casino, and stadium casino.
Online PA casinos bonuses
First deposit bonus may only be claimed once per person across all rivers and sugarhouse websites. The welcome bonus provides a 100% deposit match for new sugarhouse account holders on their first deposit up to $250. Further terms and conditions apply, must be 21+ in pennsylvania or new jersey to play. Please play responsibly. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER.
Integrated casino & sportsbook
Android app (ios coming soon)
Right now, sign up with hollywood casino online in pennsylvania and get $25 FREE plus your first deposit matched 100% up to $500! Terms and conditions apply. Must be 21+, only in PA. Please play responsibly. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER
$25 free + up to $500 match bonus
Unibet casino deposit welcome offer - receive a 100% deposit match up to $500 in bonus money upon first deposit. Minimum deposit $10. Promoction period: october 29th, 2019 - onward. In order to be eligible for this promotion, the plater needs to make a first deposit (of at least $10). In order to eligible for this promotion, the player must be 21 years or older and be physically in the state of pennslyvania.
By law, players must be 18 or older and be located within the state of pennsylvania to play PA ilottery games. Before allowing an account to be set up, we will perform electronic verification using an industry standard, electronic verification process to verify the identity and ages of all customers. Do not allow children to play PA ilottery games and do not leave a computer or mobile device unattended while logged into pailottery.Com.
PA casinos – full list
| casino name | location | year casino opened |
|---|---|---|
| presque isle downs & casino | summit township | 2007 |
| mohegan sun at pocono downs | wilkes-barre | 2010 |
| mount airy casino & resort | mount pocono | 2007 |
| sands casino | bethlehem | 2009 |
| parx casino | bensalem | 2009 |
| sugarhouse casino | philadelphia | 2010 |
| harrah’s philadelphia | chester | 2007 |
| valley forge casino | upper merion township | 2012 |
| hollywood casino | grantville | 2008 |
| the meadows casino | north strabane township | 2009 |
| rivers casino | pittsburgh | 2009 |
In the keystone state, there are a number of land-based casinos that you can visit. You have multiple choices a short drive away no matter where you live in the state. If you’re not to thrilled about a drive or it would just take too long for you to drive across PA to get your casino fix, there will be a number of online casinos to choose among too. See what we think about them by reading our reviews or checking our tables. Make your choice about what you think is the best online casino in PA.
Online casino bonuses & player incentives
One of the main benefits players will enjoy when the latest PA online casinos do open is the offering of exciting casino bonuses. At an online site, players can enjoy more promos than they would at land casinos and with some of the great names in the industry offering online gaming in the near future, members will have some outstanding bonus offers that will be presented. With casino bonuses, one can collect free cash and free spins that can be used to play some of the hottest games in the industry, generating more payouts and enhancing the online gambling experience.
Many of the best online casinos in PA will welcome new members with a no deposit bonus, which will instantly be credited to an account as soon as it is created. This type of bonus is a perfect way for players to get started with the excitement of PA online gambling and it is a risk-free and obligation-free way to start playing real money games. There will also be high paying welcome bonuses and packages for those that are adding funds to a new account.
The best online PA sites will also offer many ongoing bonuses and promotions that can be redeemed as they return to the site. With loyalty programs, reload bonuses, referral rewards, free spins, and so much more, there will always be great rewards that can be enjoyed by players who are engaging in online and mobile gambling action.
How to set up an account at PA online casinos
Creating an account at any of the PA online casinos should be a reasonably simple process. You will be able to sign up using the desktop site, or via mobile apps once they are released.
Your first task is to head to the online pennsylvania casino of your choice. For our example, we’ll use the sugarhouse online site.
Head to the site and hit the join now key. Your registration form will be displayed. Before you enter any information, make sure you read the t’s and c’s associated with opening an account.
Next, complete the form. You will need to provide your personal details, including full name, address and date of birth. Make sure all the information you provide is accurate. You will also need to enter a valid email address. Many PA online casinos will send you an email to validate your account.
At this stage, you may need to enter a promo code in order to claim a bonus.
Next, you will have the opportunity to make your first deposit. Once you’re done, you will be able to play any of the range of casino games and slots available!
PA casinos partner with top rated software providers
While it may be a few more months until online casinos are operational in PA, leading caissons have already partnered with some of the best software providers in the industry to plan game portfolios that will be offered to registered members. Harrah’s, which already operates WSOP.Com, has partnered with 888 software and will be presenting a massive collection of game titles. Hollywood casino and the meadows will be offering games from IGT. Some other well-known providers that have been chosen by potential PA online casinos include sbtech, GAN, netent, scientific games, and pokerstars.
How to choose the best casino games
We believe that most PA online casinos will offer a huge range of casino games. How can you choose which are the best to play? There are a number of aspects you should consider when choosing the right game. Let’s take a look at a few of these now.
We recommend you find the casino games that offer high RTP, or return to player, percentage. This is most important with online slots. The best slots will offer an RTP percentage of at least 97%.
This information will be listed alongside the rules of each game or slot machine on the casino site.
Stakes
No matter whether you’re new to online gambling or a seasoned bettor, always pay attention to minimum stake requirements. The best casino games will offer low stakes versions, or at least require little in the way of stake to join real-money tables.
Demo versions
A good way to discover whether a particular casino game is worth playing is to try out demo versions. This can give you a good idea on how particular games work, and which ones suit your betting style.
The best online sites will offer demo versions of their most popular games. Make sure you take advantage of these opportunities before you stake any funds.
PA licensed land-based casinos
There are a number of PA land-based casinos available in addition to the online ones. Residents of the keystone state and beyond can visit any of the 13 pennsylvania casinos we’ve listed below. A number of these also offer legal PA online casinos.
Let’s take a look at what’s available.
Meadows
Meadows casino, located in washington county, offers a range of casino games along with horse racing. What can you play here? Meadows offers a variety of poker options, including pai gow, three card poker and four card poker.
Other casino options include roulette, craps, baccarat and blackjack. Slots and video poker are also available here.
Thoroughbred racing is available all year round. In addition, bowling is also an option for customers at meadows, with a bowling alley that hosts regular leagues and tournaments.
Presque isle
Found in erie, presque isle downs and casino is open daily. Featuring thoroughbred horse racing, presque isle offers a range of promotions to new and existing customers.
Their casino offerings are also impressive. Customers here can choose from slots and video poker. In terms of table games, there’s plenty available. Take your pick from craps and blackjack, with baccarat also an option.
There’s a nice variety of poker available here too. In addition to the classic version, presque isle also offers pai gow, three card poker, four card poker, let it ride and mississippi stud.
Presque isle have partnered with golden nugget to launch an online version. Due to be introduced at some point this year, online customers will have the opportunity to bet online on both casino offerings and sport.
Wind creek
Previously known as sands bethlehem, wind creek offers plenty of casino options. Caribbean stud poker sits alongside three card, four card and pai gow varieties.
Big six war and sic bo are also available, along with traditional card games like blackjack, roulette and craps. The land-based casino also features a hotel, shopping mall and food court.
Currently, wind creek don’t have a confirmed online partner. However, online casino games are offered, along with online poker.
Stadium
Expected at some point in 2020, stadium casino is currently being built in south philadelphia. There are also plans to launch an online version of their land-based casino shortly after they open their doors.
Stadium casino is owned jointly by cornish companies, who run many live! Casinos across the states. They’re partnered by greenwood racing, who own the highly rated PA casino parx.
Harrah’s
One of the most famous in PA, harrah’s have plenty to offer fans of casino betting. Located in chester, harrah’s house a racetrack, offering live harness racing in addition to their array of casino games.
What can fans of casino betting expect? Harrah’s is home to a range of slot machines and video poker. You can also play table games like blackjack, roulette, baccarat and craps here.
At harrah’s, you’ll also find facilities such as shopping, entertainment and dining.
Harrah’s philadelphia are partnered with 888 to offer online options. Online casino, poker and sports betting are all available to you online.
Lady luck
Lady luck don’t yet offer any forms of online gambling. At their retail site, you can take part in a range of poker games, as well as blackjack, baccarat, craps and roulette.
In addition, you can also play video poker and slot machines. However, to make use of any of the casino games available at lady luck, you need to be a member, a resident of their hotel or have paid to use the extra facilities available here.
Mohegan sun
Mohegan sun features one of the largest casino floors of any PA casino. Filled with slot machines and online poker, mohegan sun also houses blackjack, roulette, craps and baccarat tables.
There are also a variety of poker options for you at mohegan sun. Spanish 21, let it ride and mississippi stud is available, along with pai gow and three card.
In terms of online play, mohegan sun is partnered with kindred. Online casino, poker, and sports betting are available on the online site.
Sugarhouse
Another famous name with pennsylvania casinos, sugarhouse philadelphia features a casino floor housing slots and video poker. Also featured are a variety of table games, including favorites like blackjack, craps, roulette, and baccarat.
There are plenty of poker options available for you too. Spanish 21 and ultimate texas hold’em make up your poker opportunities, along with pai gow, three card and four card varieties.
Online betting is also a possibility with sugarhouse. Partnered with rush street interactive/kambi, you can play a variety of online casino games, alongside online poker and sports betting.
Valley forge
Located in montgomery county, valley forge is home to many casino games and slots. Casino members, hotel residents and those who have purchased relevant gift cards can enjoy blackjack, craps and roulette table games.
There are plenty of poker games here too. Pai gow, spanish 21 and texas hold’em are available here.
As for online play, IGT/GAN have partnered to offer online casino games, online poker, and sports betting.
Hollywood
Hollywood casino in grantville offers a great deal for all casino fans. Offering table games including blackjack, baccarat, roulette and craps, the casino floor also features a range of slots and video poker options.
Hollywood casino also offers thoroughbred horse racing all year round. In addition, hollywood also makes up part of the legal PA online casinos scene. Offering online casino games, poker, and sports betting, they are partnered with the renowned IGT.
One of the pennsylvania casinos that offer year-round thoroughbred horse racing, the range of casino games at parx is also impressive. Your poker options here include three card and four card versions, along with pai gow.
Slots and video poker are also available on the casino floor. Also featured are blackjack, baccarat, craps and roulette table games.
Parx has partnered with GAN to offer online casino games, online poker, and online sports betting.
Rivers
Located in pittsburgh, rivers casino is home to some fantastic casino options. Featured here are table games such as blackjack, craps, baccarat, and roulette. Poker fans can also join three card and four card games, along with mississippi stud and pai gow.
While there’s no betrivers casino just yet, play online casino games on their sister site, sugarhouse casino.
Mount airy
The mount airy resort & casino features one of the largest casino floors in PA. Housing video poker and slots, customers here can also take part in a variety of table games.
These include favorites like craps, blackjack, and roulette. Poker is also available, with pai gow, spanish 21 and let it ride varieties open to you.
Mount airy also features in the list of legal pennsylvania online casinos. Joining forces with 888 and pokerstars, the mount airy online site features casino games, poker, and sports betting.
Is online poker legal in PA?
As part of the law expansion we touched upon earlier, online poker is a possibility for residents of pennsylvania. FOX bet, through its partnership with pokerstars, is definitely the top choice.
PA poker sites
So, which sites are expected to launch online poker options? At this stage, nothing has been confirmed, but we can take an educated guess at which casinos will make online poker part of their repertoire.
Currently, partypoker, pokerstars, and WSOP were among the first to launch online poker sites in PA. The following casinos are likely to follow suit very shortly.
Online slots for PA residents
Players can play online slots at PA online casinos right now. These are usually the most popular games with players and since many PA residents will be new to nine gambling, slots provide a great and simple way to get started with real money games. As sites make use of the best software in the industry, one can expect to find some of the best titles, many of which can be found in local land casinos, so players may already be familiar with some games.
Online slots are easy to play and a number of the new sites that start operating will be offering some appealing welcome bonuses that can include free spins for those that have a love for slots. Players will be able to spin on three and five-reel games and will also have their chance to play for progressive jackpot payouts.
PA online casinos – the ultimate guide
Legal online gambling has arrived in pennsylvania! Online casino games, poker, sports betting, ilottery and daily fantasy sports were all part of an expanded gambling bill that passed the PA legislature in october 2017.
Best PA online casinos
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What’s new at PA online gambling sites february 2020
January kept bettors and sportsbooks busy with the NFL playoffs leading up to an exciting showdown in miami. The australian open, the first major tennis tournament of the year gave bettors non-stop action and college basketball season is in full swing, leading us up to what should be a very exciting february and march.
Bettors continue to choose online sports betting over retail as we have seen over 80% of all bets being placed over the internet. With promotional offers like draftkings $1000 sign up bonus offer and unibets $500 casino bonus, $20 in free bets and $250 risk-free bets, there has never been a better time to give it a try.
Perhaps the biggest news in online gambling in PA is that we now have online poker thanks to pokerstars PA launching on november 4th.
Lets take a look at what’s going on in sports betting and in PA online gambling markets:
- Pokerstars ran the football themed winter series leading up to the super bowl that featured over $675,000 in tournament guarantees. Be on the lookout for SCOOP, the spring championship of online poker coming soon.
- Fanduel, the number one online sportsbook in PA, added online casino games to their mobile app. Betrivers and betamerica also added casino games to their sites, bringing the total to 8 online casino options in pennsylvania.
- NBA bettors have can add plenty of value with exciting promos including fanduel’s 3rd quarter insurance, and daily odds boosts on select NBA games at playsugarhouse.
- With the NFL season coming to an end, there are still plenty of options for sports bettors in PA to get in on the action.
- Hollywood online casinocontinues to add new games every week. Check them out here and receive $25 free and up to a $500 deposit match.
News updates view all tracking PA online gambling
Modern video poker is dealing more bonuses, multipliers, and other innovations to players
Traditional video poker still exists everywhere, but all kinds of glitzy games with multipliers and bonuses are increasingly visible.
Sports betting now in allentown’s midst thanks to state’s 3rd OTB sportsbook
With the opening this week of a lehigh valley OTB sportsbook, area residents no longer have to travel nearly an hour to place a bet in person.
You can bet spring training baseball, with all the caveats, this year in PA
After singular caution last year about allowing MLB spring training wagers, PA regulators are now allowing them with certain restrictions.
PA sports betting: live now when and where can you bet on sports in PA?
PA brick-and-mortar sportsbooks began launching in the spring of 2018, with hollywood casino at penn national leading the charge and several others following right behind. Online sports betting websites and apps took a bit longer to get up and running, with play sugarhouse debuting in may 2019, followed over the next two months by betrivers, parx and fanduel.
As it stands now, 12 PA casinos have shelled out the $10 million required to purchase a sports betting license, meaning that you will have at least that many online sportsbooks to choose from in the near future. What’s more, you’ll be entitled to an array of lucrative welcome bonuses when you use our exclusive promo codes and links when signing up your accounts.
List of PA online sportsbooks
While nearly all PA casinos will be launching their own online sportsbooks in time, here are the ones where you can bet right now.
| Online sportsbook | BONUS | licensing casino | tech | launched |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| sugarhouse sportsbook | get bonus | sugarhouse | kambi | may 31, 2019 |
| betrivers sportsbook | get bonus | rivers | kambi | june 27, 2019 |
| fanduel sportsbook | get bonus | valley forge | IGT/GAN | july 22, 2019 |
| FOX bet sportsbook | get bonus | mount airy | stars group | sept. 4, 2019 |
| draftkings sportsbook | get bonus | meadows | kambi | nov. 4, 2019 |
| unibet sportsbook | get bonus | mohegan sun | kambi | nov. 13, 2019 |
| parx sportsbook | - | parx | kambi | june 27, 2019 |
| betamerica | - | presque isle downs | CDI | dec. 16, 2019 |
| harrah's philadelphia | TBD | harrah's philadelphia | scientific games | coming soon |
| betmgm | TBD | independent license | GVC holdings | coming soon |
PA online casinos: live now virtual slots and table games are here
Pennsylvania’s much-anticipated online casino industry kicked off in july 2019, with parx, hollywood and sugarhouse casino launching gambling sites featuring a mix of slots and table games. Several more properties are still putting the finishing touches on their products, which should begin rolling out on a consistent basis throughout the year.
Unlike sportsbooks, PA casinos are allowed to partner with unlimited “skins” (online gambling brands), and since all but one casino has purchased a license to offer some form of igaming (along with outsiders golden nugget and MGM), your choices for betting online could be staggering! Casino players can also take advantage of hefty sign up and welcome bonuses using our exclusive casino promo codes and links.
List of PA online casinos now live
Several PA online casino sites are now open for business. While you might notice that game selection is relatively limited, keep checking back as sites are constantly adding new games once they are approved by the pennsylvania gaming control board.
| Site | bonus | licensing casino | tech | launched |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| unibet casino | get bonus | mohegan sun | kindred/SG digital | nov. 13, 2019 |
| hollywood casino | get bonus | penn national | IGT | july 15, 2019 |
| sugarhouse casino PA | get bonus | sugarhouse | rush street | july 17, 2019 |
| parx casino | - | parx | GAN | july 15, 2019 |
PA online poker sites: live now pokerstars is now live! Who is next?
Pennsylvania poker players patience finally paid off with the launch of pokerstars PA on november 4, 2019. Just over two years after a massive gaming expansion package was signed into law, the virtual cards finally hit the air. PA poker players immediately hit the felt in droves as pennsylvania became the fourth state with legal and regulated poker within their borders.
Despite the launch of pokerstars, there are still a ton of lingering questions for the state of online poker in pennsylvania. Who will be the next to go live? When will they go live? How many online poker rooms can PA handle? Will PA join the interstate compact with new jersey, nevada, and delaware?
With seven land-based casinos and MGM applying for an online poker license, we can take our best guess at who will be next. Big names such as WSOP.COM (partnered with harrahs philadelphia) and party poker (partnered with valley forge) are already live in new jersey and should be ready to go in the near future while sugarhouse, parx, and hollywood casino have online casinos up and running, but may be delayed in getting poker up and running as they have to build their online poker room from scratch.
The biggest question is when and if pennsylvania will join the already established interstate compact with delaware, nevada and new jersey. The short answer is yes, but not any time soon. The states online gaming industry is still in its infant stages, and sports betting and casinos are bigger priorities for the PGCB.
Casinos in PA
Are you looking for a fun night of gambling and drinks, or maybe a place to host a bachelor or bachelorette party? Then browse through our comprehensive guide to find all the top PA casinos! Go all in at these casinos in PA!
Enter the sands casino resort in bethlehem, PA and treat yourself to the top slots, table games, and poker room in the northeast! That's not to mention a plentiful variety of casual and fine dining restaurants (i.E.: emeril's italian table), as well as the best in live entertainment. The look of the casino is gorgeous with high ceilings and modern architecture that rival some vegas casinos.
The facilities are perfectly clean and the rooms at the sands hotel are absolutely beautiful. The staff is friendly, helpful, and highly professional. And you get a free continental breakfast with your stay!
Easily accessible from new york, philly, new jersey, and delaware--mohegan sun at pocono downs attracts millions of visitors yearly! It continues to be known as one of the largest and most distinctive casinos in PA.
Set foot in over 55,000 square feet of gaming space. Choose from about 2,300 slot machines and electronic table games, and over 80 table games. Watch live harness racing 8 months a year. Catch live entertainment (including the best local bands) in one of two awesome bars. Plus, mohegan sun is home to over ten restaurants and food & beverage outlets.
Formerly philadelphia park racetrack and casino, parx casino is one of the largest and most impressive PA casinos you will ever lay your eyes on! The casino features 24-hour gaming, 3,500 slots, 140 live table games, a great poker room with 60 tables, and live racing--all surrounded by elegant decor.
Try one of several delicious dining options, including a wonderful steakhouse. Stop by for a drink or two at one of the bars. Parx casino is also home to the 360 nightclub, one of the best nightclubs in pennsylvania!
Open 24 hours a day and 365 days a year, presque isle downs & casino is a gambler's haven with 2,000 slot machines and 48 table games. If you live in the buffalo or cleveland area, presque isle is less than 90 minutes away!
Visit the downs clubhouse & lounge, featuring a picturesque view of the racetrack in addition to the finest in casual dining. Do not pass up the unbeatable prime rib buffet! Enjoy live entertainment every friday and saturday night at the lounge! If you're looking to party all night, check out the other three lounges--all of which serve your favorite spirits until 2 A.M.!
Stroll through the doors of the hollywood casino in PA, and encounter a huge variety of entertainment options. Whether you're looking to play one of the 2,450 slot machines or 56 action-packed table games, or bet on thoroughbred and simulcast racing--this pennsylvania casino will satisfy your needs.
Pick up some souvenirs at the awesome rodeo drive gift shop. Sit down to a delicious meal and red-carpet service at the final cut steakhouse--one of many great restaurants on premises. Hollywood casino is also home to hollywood on the roof, a premier venue for year-round musical entertainment, including the coolest tribute bands.
At the sugar house casino in pennsylvania, you will find all the slots and table games that you love--right in the heart of philly! All state-of-the-art slot machines feature TV screens, allowing you to watch your favorite teams live while playing.
Stop by the refinery, a cool waterfront eatery with irresistible dishes and cold microbrews. During the warmer weather, you can take your dining experience outside on the beautiful patio! Happy hour is everyday from 6-8 P.M.; with specials like $2 beer, $3 wine, and $4 cocktails. Open 24 hours, the casino has convenient access to public transportation and free parking.
Mount airy casino resort is located right in the heart of the beautiful pocono mountains and features more than 2,200 of the latest slot machines, as well as the hottest table games. Dining options at the casino resort in PA are nearly endless. Whether you're looking for a quality steakhouse, all-american dining, a hearty buffet, or sunday brunch--mount airy has it all!
The overall staff, including the casino dealers, is gracious and friendly. Stay in the 4-star luxury hotel, and experience the best lodging in the poconos! The resort also includes an upscale lounge/nightclub, a spa, a health club, and an 18-hole golf course.
Stroll into rivers casino and get your hands on one of nearly 3,000 slot machines! The top PA casino also contains over 100 tables and a 30-table poker room. More than $71 million in jackpots have been awarded to visitors of the casino! That's not to mention its great daily gaming promotions!
Rivers casino offers a variety of bars, lounges, and other venues to enjoy in between gaming. There's even a spectacular buffet, offering the finest dining in pittsburgh! Rivers was named the "best overall gaming resort" in pennsylvania by the readers of casino player magazine.
One of the great casinos in pennsylvania!
There's something for everyone at harrah's casino in chester, PA! Open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and 365 days a year--harrah's is the premier hot spot for gaming action in pennsylvania. The casino features more than 2,900 of your favorite slots, video poker machines, and live table games. The cocktail waitresses are quick and attentive, ensuring that your gaming experience is a most pleasurable one.
If that's not enough, harrah's is also home to a great horse racing track! Let your gluttony run free at the temptations buffet, or enjoy wings and beer while you watch your favorite games at the end zone sports bar & grill.
The meadows is a world-class casino in PA that offers harness racing, slots, table games, a bowling alley, and spectacular dining options. The casino is home to more than 3,500 slot machines, featuring new additions and longtime favorites. You can also take advantage of 72 table games, including a 32-table poker room.
The fun doesn't end there! Meadows offers the best in entertainment, with everything from intimate lounge acts to major headliners. Catch live entertainment in silks lounge or pull up a seat at pacers, a cool vegas-style lounge featuring terrific duos and combo bands. Make it an overnight trip, as there are 18 lodging options in the nearby area.
PA online casinos
PA online casinos took a huge step forward in 2018 when ten of pennsylvania’s thirteen casinos applied for online gambling licenses that cover online poker, online slots, and online table games.
Online sports betting and casino gambling has begun in the state as of july 2019. By years end, pennsylvanians will have a wide variety of online gaming sites to choose from, each competing for their business.
Full sportsbook and online casino with slots and table games!
List of PA online casinos
Last updated: january 3, 2020
Below is where each of the 13 PA casinos stands in regards to online gambling and sports betting in pennsylvania.
| Casino | online gambling status | online gaming products | sportsbetting (including online) |
|---|---|---|---|
| parx casino | LAUNCHED - july 15 2019 | online poker, table games, slots | LAUNCHED - january 8, 2019, philly turf club launched january 17, 2019; valley forge turf club launch march 14, 2019. ONLINE - live june 2019 |
| mount airy | LAUNCHED - november 4th, 2019 as pokerstars, pokerstars casino | online poker, table games, slots | LAUNCHED - september 4th, 2019 as foxbet |
| stadium casino | approved october 31st, 2018 and rescinded online poker application | table games, slots | |
| wind creek bethlehem (formerly sands bethlehem) | approved october 3rd, launch TBA | online poker, table games, slots | |
| rivers philadelphia (formerly sugarhouse casino) | LAUNCHED - july 15 2019 | online poker, table games, slots | LAUNCHED - december 13, 2018. ONLINE: live may, 2019 as playsugarhouse |
| rivers casino pittsburgh | rescinded application october 4th | N/A | LAUNCHED - december 13, 2018. ONLINE - live june, 2019 as betrivers |
| harrah's philadelphia | approved august 15th, launch TBA | online poker, table games, slots | LAUNCHED - january 24, 2019 |
| valley forge casino | approved october 3rd, launch TBA | online poker, table games, slots | LAUNCHED - march 13, 2019; ONLINE SPORTSBOOK - live july 2019 at fanduel |
| hollywood casino at penn national | LAUNCHED july 15 2019 | online poker, table games, slots | LAUNCHED - november 17, 2018 |
| the meadows casino | not applied | N/A | LAUNCHED - november 4, 2019 as draftkings |
| mohegan sun pocono | approved november 28th, launch TBA | online table games, slots | APPROVED: may 15, 2019 |
| presque isle downs and casino | approved october 31st, launch TBA | online table games, online slots | LAUNCHED - august 2019 |
| lady luck casino | not applied | N/A | |
| MGM | approved january 2019 as "qualified gaming entity" | online poker, table games, slots | |
| golden nugget | approved january 2019 as "qualified gaming entity" | table games, slots |
How we got here
The original ten casinos that submitted applications each applied for $10 million licenses that cover a suite of online gambling products: poker, table games and slots. The original deadline to apply for these licenses was july, 16th 2018.
The remaining PA casinos had until august 14th, 2018 to apply for licenses at a price of $4 million for individual product licenses (poker, table games, and slots). The pennsylvania gaming control board (PGCB) then decided to open up additional applications to outside qualified gaming entities for the remaining licenses.
Sports betting was the first to be added to PA casinos in late 2018. In 2019, online sports betting went live in the spring while online casinos started popping up in the summer of 2019.
Which will be the best PA online casinos?
The PA online casinos that launched in the summer of 2019 were given a jump start on the PA market with playsugarhouse, hollywood casino and parx casino first launching online casinos.
Ultimately, casinos will likely leverage their first-to-market status as well as their partner relationships with software providers to get a leg up on the competition. But we’ll know more when more than the original three begin offering casino games to players.
The frontrunners
Parx casino – the biggest casino in PA is one of the first online casinos to go live in PA and has an edge on the field by being one the most recognizable brands in the state. On top of this fact, parx has an established relationship with software provider GAN, who currently provides the software for the play money online casino and mobile app. Parx launched their online casino on july 15, 2019.
Playsugarhouse – using the license of sugarhouse (soon to be rivers casino philadelphia) rush street, the parent company of both sugarhouse and rivers casino pittsburgh operates under the playsugarhouse brand. Rush street has been running this online casino brand successfully in new jersey for the past few years. The rivers casino is the third largest casino in pennsylvania while sugarhouse is number eight. Playsugarhouse launched their online casino on july 17, 2019.
Hollywood casino at penn national – hollywood casino was the first to launch a legal retail sportsbook in PA and is clearly interested in being at the forefront of the online gaming market as well. They were officially the first online casino to launch in the state as well, opening their virtual doors at 11am ET, july 15, 2019.
Harrah’s philadelphia, owned by parent company caesars entertainment who currently run a successful online casino with online poker in both nevada and new jersey through a strong partnership with 888. The partnership should allow the brand to take advantage of merged liquidity agreements in other states when they become available. They are licensed for online gaming and expected to launch in the summer of 2019.
Mount airy, formed their partnership with pokerstars, which also makes them a good bet in pennsylvania. Shortly before their license was approved by the PGCB, mount airy announced a major partnership with pokerstars to offer an online casino and online poker room and with betstars to offer a sportsbook. The mount airy online sports book went live with foxbet after a rebrand from betstars in september 2019. This was followed by the launch of the first online poker room, pokerstars, as well as the pokerstars casino in early november. Pokerstars name recognition in the online poker world could help cement its position as a top online casino as well.
Other applicants
Sands bethlehem was somewhat of a surprise in the first round of pennsylvania license applications given that they were owned by staunch online gambling opponent sheldon adelson. But with a $1.3 billion takeover by wind creek hospitality and as one of pennsylvania’s top casinos, new ownership is eager to jump into the online gambling market with both feet.
Valley forge casino is licensed for online gaming and expected to launch sometime in 2019, especially after the successful launch of the fanduel online sportsbook.
Presque isle downs is licensed for online slots and table games (no online poker) and expected to launch sometime in the summer of 2019.
Mohegan sun pocono is also licensed for online slots and table games only (eschewing online poker). They are expected to launch sometime in 2019.
Stadium casino although their philadelphia site is still unbuilt, they are licensed for online gaming. It is expected that the stadium casino will first launch their brick and mortar casino in 2020 before following it up with the launch of their online product.
MGM and golden nugget are two out-of-state operators that have been tentatively approved to offer online casino gaming in pennsylvania under the qualified gaming entity provision of the PGCB. They are still working on their official licenses but are expected to enter the market soon.
The abstainers
Not all of pennsylvania’s 13 eligible casinos applied for online gaming licenses — the meadows casino, lady luck casino, and rivers casino pittsburgh are sitting on the sidelines. Rivers casino’s abstention makes sense. As mentioned above, parent company rush street will use sugarhouse’s license to reach the state’s online players. No need to pay twice. At the present time, the rivers casino has launched online sports betting as betrivers but looks to be avoiding an online casino with the playsugarhouse online casino serving rush street interactive’s online casino business.
Despite the fact that the meadows did not apply for a license they will likely use the license from penn national gaming, which also operates the hollywood casino and has already went live with games.
The other casinos must think either the taxes and fees are too high, or that their market share would be too low to attempt the venture.
When will PA online casinos launch?
The launch process has already begun. Three online casinos (hollywood, parx, and playsugarhouse) launched in july of 2019. Many more are expected by the end of 2019.
Pokerstars was the first online poker room in PA
Over four months after the first online casino, pokerstars PA became the first online poker room in pennsylvania. The player pool is limited to players from pennsylvania for now, but that did not stop pokerstars from attracting over 1,000 real money players in the early days of its launch. Pokerstars PA could eventually participate in a multi-state agreement that would allow it to merge player pools with new jersey and other states that legalize online poker.
What about sports betting?
In early 2018, sports betting wasn’t even legal in pennsylvania, but now it’s a new and exciting marketplace. In july of 2018, the PGCB opened up 13 sports betting licenses at a cost of $10 million per license and nearly all of PA casinos have applied to offer sports betting.
The first casinos were approved in early october while others were approved later that month. Hollywood casino launched the first sportsbook in november and other casinos have suit into 2019.
Online and mobile sports betting lagged behind, but eventually launched in may 2019 with the opening of the playsugarhouse sportsbook. Betrivers parx, fanduel and foxbet were the next to open, as sportsbooks were eager to launch online sportsbooks before the start of the 2019 NFL season. Draftkings PA, through a partnership with the meadows, opened up its virtual doors during the middle of the 2019 NFL season.
Other online gaming options in PA?
If none of these games strike your fancy, you can always play the PA online lottery, which went live in pennsylvania in may of 2018. New players can receive a $5 free bonus to try out the selection of engaging games.
Full sportsbook and online casino with slots and table games!
Playsugarhouse, parx and hollywood casino were the first to open up online casinos.
Bonuscodepa.Com is extremely excited to see the largest state yet bring online gambling to its citizens — and if you live in pennsylvania and like to play poker, gamble or sports bet you will be able to.
The dozen or more brands that will offer online poker or casinos are likely going to offer some pretty sweet deals to attract you to their new online poker rooms and casinos.
Bonuscodepa.Com helps you cut through the crap and keeps you up with the latest bonus codes to receive the best online poker and casino bonuses in pennsylvania.
A pennsylvania bonus code is entered to opt you into an advertised bonus, promotion or offer, available through the casino or poker room.
When do you typically enter a bonus code?
Bonus codes are typically entered during registration at a pennsylvania online casino or poker room. You’ll often be asked for the code on the same screen where you create your username or password, but you find it elsewhere in the registration process or rarely — when making a first deposit.
What does a bonus code do?
A bonus often allows you to get a particular welcome offer provided by the online casino or poker room. They are also used in online marketing so the poker room or casino knows where you found out about the casino.
Do I have to use a bonus code?
You do not always have to use a bonus code but it is recommended if a casino or poker room prompt you to fill out a code.
What happens if I forget to enter a PA bonus code?
If the casino or poker room offers a field for a bonus code, it’s better to enter the code when prompted. But even if you forget to enter the code, some casinos may still allow you the opportunity to take advantage of the offer. If you sign-up and forget to enter a bonus code,iit doesn’t hurt to contact customer service to make sure that you are eligible. Many online casinos don’t exactly want their first experience with their customer to be a negative one.
How do I know if I need to use a bonus code?
Our mission at bonuscodepa is keep you informed of the most up to date bonus codes offered for online casinos in pennsylvania. So if you are looking for a pennsylvania bonus you’ve come to the right place.
Check back often for announcements when PA poker rooms and casinos go live and be the first to know of new bonus codes.
PA online gambling
The PA online gambling market is now firing on all cylinders. Even online poker is up and running, with a huge turnout on the first day of testing.
You have multiple online casinos and PA sports betting sites to choose from, with even more on the way.
If you want to get playing right now, there are plenty of great regulated gambling sites and legal online casino sites in PA you can get started on in a matter of minutes. Take a look at the best options available to pennsylvania customers.
Best online gambling sites in pennsylvania
Casino players have a handful of options when it comes to online gambling and there is only one poker site accepting PA players. These legal PA gamblings sites are our top suggestions of where you should play:
Is online gambling legal in PA?
On oct. 26, 2017. Gov. Tom wolf signed H 271 into law, enacting widespread gambling expansion that extends beyond just PA online casinos.
Here is a look at exactly what the law authorizes:
- Online poker
- Online casino games (table games and slots)
- Sports betting, both retail and online
- Online lottery
- Daily fantasy sports
- Tablet gaming in certain areas at authorized airports
- Video gambling terminals (vgts) at qualified truck stops
- Mini-casinos
The law allowed the state to regulate and legalize these activities, but the law does not mean that every online casino site or sports betting app is suddenly legal in pennsylvania. Only sites vetted, approved, and overseen by the pennsylvania gaming control board (PGCB) are legal.
All of the legal real-money gambling sites are very clearly tied to a land-based casino in the state. For example, fanduel sportsbook (and now, fanduel casino), works in tandem with valley forge and betrivers and sugarhouse are brands under the two rivers casinos in the state.
Online casinos in pennsylvania
Legal online casinos in pennsylvania launched in july 2019. After starting with three sites, the industry is starting to grow at a slightly faster clip. The state awarded 10 casinos interactive gaming licenses. Additionally, the PGCB is currently considering allowing MGM resorts and golden nugget NJ to operate in PA.
This is the latest info on all of these online casino projects:
| casino | launch | bonus | android app? | Ios access? | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unibet | nov. 2019 | $10 free | yes | yes | play now! |
| Sugarhouse | july 2019 | $250 | yes | yes | play now! |
| Hollywood | july 2019 | $25 free | yes | yes | play now! |
| Pokerstars casino | nov. 2019 | yes | yes | ||
| parx casino | july 2019 | yes | no | ||
| fanduel casino | jan. 2020 | $500 risk free bet | yes | yes | |
| betamerica casino | jan. 2020 | no | no | ||
| betrivers | jan. 2020 | $250 deposit match | yes | yes | play now! |
| Harrah's | 2020 | - | - | ||
| wind creek | N/A | - | - | ||
| stadium park philly live! Casino | N/A | - | - | ||
| MGM resorts | N/A | - | - | ||
| golden nugget NJ | N/A | - | - |
PA sports bettings sites
With football season winding down and march madness around the corner, sportsbook operators who haven’t gotten in yet will likely do so soon. Every casino in pennsylvania, save for lady luck nemacolin, has applied for a $10 million sports betting license.
Here is a look at where each operator is in the process:
| casino | online sportsbook | app? | Bonus | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| draftkings (the meadows) | live as of nov. 2019 | android and ios | $25 free | play now! |
| FOX bet (mount airy) | live as of sept. 2019 | android and ios | $20 free | play now! |
| Fanduel sportsbook PA (valley forge) | live as of july 2019 | android and ios | $500 | play now! |
| Unibet (mohegan sun pocono) | live as of nov. 2019 | android and ios via geoguard | $20 free | play now! |
| Playsugarhouse sportsbook PA | live as of may 2019 | android and ios via geoguard | $250 | play now! |
| Betrivers online sportsbook | live as of june 2019 | android and ios via geoguard | $250 | play now! |
| Parx casino sportsbook | live as of june 2019 | android | ||
| betamerica (presque isle downs) | live as of dec. 2019 | geoguard web access | ||
| caesars sport (harrah's philadelphia) | 2020 | yes | ||
| hollywood casino at penn national | 2020 | yes | ||
| wind creek | 2020 | no | ||
| live! Hotel & casino | 2020 | no |
Real-money gambling apps in PA
There are currently eight online sportsbooks, eight online casinos, and one online poker option in pennsylvania. Here is a look at when each of them launched:
5/28/2019: playsugarhouse.Com sportsbook
On tuesday, may 28, playsugarhouse pennsylvania began testing on the first-ever PA online sportsbook. At launch, the site kicked off with several of the same elements present on its new jersey site, including jackpot parlays, in-game betting, cash-out betting, and the same deposit bonus offer. The only thing missing? Access for iphone users.
6/24/2019: parx online sportsbook
Sugarhouse had the market to itself for nearly a month, but parx eventually doubled the number of online sportsbooks on june 24 when it began testing. The final product bore a strong resemblance to the bet builder function introduced at retail launch, making for a seamless transition for players going from brick and mortar to online. That is unless they had an iphone.
6/25/2019: betrivers online sportsbook
Just one day after parx launched its online sportsbook, rivers casino pittsburgh followed suit with testing on betrivers. The two ended up receiving final approval at the same time, as betrivers only needed two days of testing given its sister casino’s successful playsugarhouse launch.
7/15/2019: hollywoodcasino.Com
After being the first casino to launch a retail sportsbook, hollywood casino got to notch a second “first” in its belt. On july 15, the penn national and IGT product hollywoodcasino.Com officially began testing, bringing slots and table games to desktop and android users.
7/15/2019: parx online casino
Just hours after hollywoodcasino.Com started taking customers, parx online casino followed suit. The GAN-powered online casino product was the first site and, up to now, the only site with a blackjack game for players. Additionally, the site offered slots, roulette, and video poker.
7/17/2019: playsugarhouse casino…and an apple solution
You would think being third to launch would be a big disadvantage. However, playsugarhouse online casino perhaps made the biggest splash of the three casinos because it brought both a new casino site and an answer for iphone owners. In tandem with geocomply’s geoguard app, sugarhouse offered iphone users a chance to both bet on sports and play online casino games via their phone’s browser.
7/22/2019: fanduel sportsbook PA
The fourth PA online sportsbook totally changed the paradigm for what to expect from a PA betting app. When fanduel sportsbook PA launched, it brought with it the first integrated wallet with new jersey, meaning you could seamlessly travel between the two states with the same app, same account, and same sports betting bankroll. Moreover? They brought with launch the first iphone app option for PA bettors.
9/4/2019: FOX bet PA
The launch of FOX bet sportsbook in PA brought with it the artillery that comes with a major media company. In addition to android and iphone apps and sign-up deals, the site also brought a massive marketing campaign with promos centering on FOX sport’s biggest personalities like colin cowherd and cris carter.
11/4/2019: pokerstars PA
Online poker players impatiently awaited the arrival of the state’s first online poker site for months. When it launched, it was only a day or two before the pokerstars PA site surpassed the traffic of the pokerstars NJ site. But it wasn’t just poker, it came with the pokerstars casino product and integrated in FOX bet as well.
11/4/2019: draftkings sportsbook
It looked like draftkings might not find a way into pennsylvania, but once it partnered with the meadows casino, it was only a couple of months before its app debuted in PA as the state’s sixth online sportsbook.
11/12/2019: unibet sportsbook and casino
Unibet debuted with a double feature of both an online sportsbook and an online casino. The site partnered with mohegan sun pocono to offer online gambling. Iit launched with an android app and iphone access via the geoguard app.
12/16/2019: betamerica sportsbook
Betamerica and presque isle downs caught people by surprise with the sneakily quiet launch of betamerica sportsbook shortly before the end of the year. It launched, but did so without an app and only geoguard browser access.
There are still more apps to come in 2020. Several major players in the state, like harrah’s philadelphia, still have not gone online.
What online casino options are in PA?
Initially, the thought was that everyone would launch on or around this day, but only two, parx casino and hollywood casino, were ready. Sugarhouse casino rolled out playsugarhouse.Com two days later.
Months later, pokerstars casino debuted alongside pokerstars PA online poker site. Unibet casino followed a couple of weeks later. Fanduel casino launched at the end of january, 2020, making PA the first state to house online casino with the fanduel branding.
Betamerica and betrivers casino followed during the week leading up to the super bowl, both launching on jan. 30.
Each of these online casinos offer relatively small libraries of games. Things that are commonplace in new jersey, like live dealer games, are just finally heading to pennsylvania. Parx will be the first to add that popular offering.
Why such slow goings in pennsylvania?
The short answer is the wire act. Ever since the department of justice released a new, much stricter, interpretation of the wire act in january 2019, pennsylvania regulators have taken an extremely conservative approach to online gambling. Part of that approach includes having every operator and every casino game provider stand up separate servers in pennsylvania. Both operators and game providers planned on sharing new jersey servers with their PA products. The change in regulations threw a wrench in their plans…and their timeline.
Where this change is hurting PA online casino customers is not just that casino sites aren’t launching very quickly. The other big issue is, that with few operators successfully jumping through the hoops required to offer games in pennsylvania, there are just not a lot of game options for players. Ideally, the number of providers will continue growing in 2020, but history suggests we should expect continued slow rollouts on the online casino front.
What PA sports betting sites are live and legal?
Online sportsbooks, on the other hand, got off to a hotter start. Currently, there are eight betting apps to choose from.
After initial slim pickings for iphone users seeking to sports bet in pennsylvania, they now have a glut of options to choose from. Parx is currently the only sportsbook without an iphone option.
Unibet, betrivers, and playsugarhouse do not have an ios app for sportsbook users, but all three offer browser-based betting in -tandem with the geoguard app, a geolocation app from geocomply that allows for browser gaming.
The launch of fanduel sportsbook was when the market for pennsylvania sports betting really started to open up. The sportsbook combined the PA and new jersey app into a single venture for both android and ios, with the site geolocating you to determine what you can bet on. Draftkings sportsbook similarly offers a single app that works in all states where draftkings accepts regulated sports bets.
FOX bet also launched with both ios and android options when it went live in september 2019, but it segregates apps based on states and offers a separate PA and NJ version for users.
The big perk of this for users is the shared wallet across states. If you go back and forth between pennsylvania and new jersey, no more worrying about whether or not the right account is properly funded.
Online poker in PA
The vertical of online gambling that is the slowest-going of all is pennsylvania online poker. The first PA poker site, pokerstars PA, did not even go live until november 2019, over two years after the law legalizing and regulating it passed.
The state expects other online poker sites to launch. Given the slow start though, it may be a while before new sites launch. In theory, these seven casinos are all supposed to offer online poker, but mount airy, through pokerstars is the only one to launch so far:
- Sugarhouse
- Harrah’s
- Hollywood casino
- Mount airy
- Parx
- Valley forge
- Wind creek
The next most likely candidate to launch appears to be WSOP.Com, which has offered a couple of hints to suggest it might be up in running in pennsylvania in time for the 2020 WSOP, which begins in late may. The other contender to get going in the keystone state next is partypoker, which is partnered with valley forge casino. Both of these sites are operational in new jersey. WSOP.Com is also available in nevada and delaware.
Before you get too excited about the prospect of playing online poker with players in new jersey, delaware, and nevada, which share a compacting agreement, be advised that the PGCB’s conservative approach to the wire act means compacting may take some time.
Compacting with other states is possible in the law and PGCB regulations, but uncertainty about which interpretation of the wire act will prevail means it is unlikely the PGCB will greenlight shared player pools until pending court action around the DOJ and the 2019 wire act is complete.
With so much uncertainty around online poker, keep an eye on the latest news and developments on the subject here at playpennsylvania.
Casinos in PA
Are you looking for a fun night of gambling and drinks, or maybe a place to host a bachelor or bachelorette party? Then browse through our comprehensive guide to find all the top PA casinos! Go all in at these casinos in PA!
Enter the sands casino resort in bethlehem, PA and treat yourself to the top slots, table games, and poker room in the northeast! That's not to mention a plentiful variety of casual and fine dining restaurants (i.E.: emeril's italian table), as well as the best in live entertainment. The look of the casino is gorgeous with high ceilings and modern architecture that rival some vegas casinos.
The facilities are perfectly clean and the rooms at the sands hotel are absolutely beautiful. The staff is friendly, helpful, and highly professional. And you get a free continental breakfast with your stay!
Easily accessible from new york, philly, new jersey, and delaware--mohegan sun at pocono downs attracts millions of visitors yearly! It continues to be known as one of the largest and most distinctive casinos in PA.
Set foot in over 55,000 square feet of gaming space. Choose from about 2,300 slot machines and electronic table games, and over 80 table games. Watch live harness racing 8 months a year. Catch live entertainment (including the best local bands) in one of two awesome bars. Plus, mohegan sun is home to over ten restaurants and food & beverage outlets.
Formerly philadelphia park racetrack and casino, parx casino is one of the largest and most impressive PA casinos you will ever lay your eyes on! The casino features 24-hour gaming, 3,500 slots, 140 live table games, a great poker room with 60 tables, and live racing--all surrounded by elegant decor.
Try one of several delicious dining options, including a wonderful steakhouse. Stop by for a drink or two at one of the bars. Parx casino is also home to the 360 nightclub, one of the best nightclubs in pennsylvania!
Open 24 hours a day and 365 days a year, presque isle downs & casino is a gambler's haven with 2,000 slot machines and 48 table games. If you live in the buffalo or cleveland area, presque isle is less than 90 minutes away!
Visit the downs clubhouse & lounge, featuring a picturesque view of the racetrack in addition to the finest in casual dining. Do not pass up the unbeatable prime rib buffet! Enjoy live entertainment every friday and saturday night at the lounge! If you're looking to party all night, check out the other three lounges--all of which serve your favorite spirits until 2 A.M.!
Stroll through the doors of the hollywood casino in PA, and encounter a huge variety of entertainment options. Whether you're looking to play one of the 2,450 slot machines or 56 action-packed table games, or bet on thoroughbred and simulcast racing--this pennsylvania casino will satisfy your needs.
Pick up some souvenirs at the awesome rodeo drive gift shop. Sit down to a delicious meal and red-carpet service at the final cut steakhouse--one of many great restaurants on premises. Hollywood casino is also home to hollywood on the roof, a premier venue for year-round musical entertainment, including the coolest tribute bands.
At the sugar house casino in pennsylvania, you will find all the slots and table games that you love--right in the heart of philly! All state-of-the-art slot machines feature TV screens, allowing you to watch your favorite teams live while playing.
Stop by the refinery, a cool waterfront eatery with irresistible dishes and cold microbrews. During the warmer weather, you can take your dining experience outside on the beautiful patio! Happy hour is everyday from 6-8 P.M.; with specials like $2 beer, $3 wine, and $4 cocktails. Open 24 hours, the casino has convenient access to public transportation and free parking.
Mount airy casino resort is located right in the heart of the beautiful pocono mountains and features more than 2,200 of the latest slot machines, as well as the hottest table games. Dining options at the casino resort in PA are nearly endless. Whether you're looking for a quality steakhouse, all-american dining, a hearty buffet, or sunday brunch--mount airy has it all!
The overall staff, including the casino dealers, is gracious and friendly. Stay in the 4-star luxury hotel, and experience the best lodging in the poconos! The resort also includes an upscale lounge/nightclub, a spa, a health club, and an 18-hole golf course.
Stroll into rivers casino and get your hands on one of nearly 3,000 slot machines! The top PA casino also contains over 100 tables and a 30-table poker room. More than $71 million in jackpots have been awarded to visitors of the casino! That's not to mention its great daily gaming promotions!
Rivers casino offers a variety of bars, lounges, and other venues to enjoy in between gaming. There's even a spectacular buffet, offering the finest dining in pittsburgh! Rivers was named the "best overall gaming resort" in pennsylvania by the readers of casino player magazine.
One of the great casinos in pennsylvania!
There's something for everyone at harrah's casino in chester, PA! Open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and 365 days a year--harrah's is the premier hot spot for gaming action in pennsylvania. The casino features more than 2,900 of your favorite slots, video poker machines, and live table games. The cocktail waitresses are quick and attentive, ensuring that your gaming experience is a most pleasurable one.
If that's not enough, harrah's is also home to a great horse racing track! Let your gluttony run free at the temptations buffet, or enjoy wings and beer while you watch your favorite games at the end zone sports bar & grill.
The meadows is a world-class casino in PA that offers harness racing, slots, table games, a bowling alley, and spectacular dining options. The casino is home to more than 3,500 slot machines, featuring new additions and longtime favorites. You can also take advantage of 72 table games, including a 32-table poker room.
The fun doesn't end there! Meadows offers the best in entertainment, with everything from intimate lounge acts to major headliners. Catch live entertainment in silks lounge or pull up a seat at pacers, a cool vegas-style lounge featuring terrific duos and combo bands. Make it an overnight trip, as there are 18 lodging options in the nearby area.
CASINOS in PENNSYLVANIA (PA) - 2020 up-to-date list - casinosavenue
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Bethlehem sands casino
Sands bethlehem is considered as one of the top gaming experience in pennsylvania. The casino is located inside the sands resort. It possesses a 140,000 sq ft gaming floo …
The outlets at sands bethlehem, 77 sands blvd 18015 bethlehem
Casino lady luck nemacolin farmington
Located south of pittsburgh this gambling venue possesses everything you need to have fun and live a joyful experience in a sophisticated environment. The stylish gaming …
4067 national pike 15437 farmington
Chester harrah's philadelphia casino & racetrack
It is a colorful and lively spacious gaming floor that invites you to live memorable moments at harrah’s philadelphia casino. This stunning 100,000 sq ft features around …
777 harrah's blvd 19013 chester
Erie presque isle downs casino
Presque isle downs & casino is a horse track establishment located just outside the lovely city of erie. Your favorite games are featured on high-tech slot machines that …
8199 perry hwy 16509 erie
Grantville hollywood casino penn national race course
This beautiful and impressive gambling venue guarantees you an experience full of feelings and surprises! The luckiest will be delighted by the 2,400 slot machines and ma …
777 hollywood blvd 17028 grantville
King prussia valley forge casino & resort
Those 35,000 sq ft guarantee you a very special gaming experience. Around 600 luminous slot machines are located in the main gaming floor and invite you to have fun on cl …
1160 1st ave 19406 king of prussia
Mount pocono mount airy resort & casino
Casino mount airy is located in the heart of the pocono mountains at two hours driving from philadelphia and new york city. Over 1,800 luminous and shining slot machines …
312 S R 45100 18344 pocono
Parx casino & racing bensalem
Right next to the parx horse track racing is the parx casino, one of the biggest casino of the region. The large and spacious gambling floor houses around 3,500 from clas …
2999 street road, 19020, bensalem
Philadelphia sugar house casino
On the banks of delaware river with a view of the beautiful benjamin franklin bridge is casino sugarhouse. This gambling venue greets you in its design and stylish settin …
1001 N delaware ave 19125 philadelphia
Pittsburgh rivers casino
Rivers casino stretches over 120,000 sq ft and every inch of it offers action and entertainment on the banks of the ohio river . Almost 3,000 slot games and more than 100 …
777 casino dr 15212 pittsburgh
Washington the meadows casino
It is in a stylish, colorful and luminous gaming floor that the meadows racetrack & casino invites you to try your luck. Don’t lose yourself in one of the largest casino …
210 racetrack rd, 15301, washington
Wilkes-barre mohegan sun pocono downs casino & hotel
Within easy access from great metropolitan cities like new york or philadelphia, mohegan sun casino is located on 400 acres in the hillside of plains. A magical atmospher …
1280 hwy 315, wilkes-barre, PA 18702 wilkes-barre
The state of pennsylvania (PA) is located in the northeast of the united-states between new jersey and ohio. The “keystone state” has a population of nearly 13 million. Its official capital is harrisburg but its most populous city is philadelphia.
There are 12 casinos in activity within the territory of PA. In total the gaming offer include more than 30,000 slot machines, 1,000 gaming tables, 290 poker tables as well as 9 horse tracks. The parx casino & racing of bensalem is one of the biggest gaming venue with an offer of 3,500 slot machines as well as 130 gaming tables such as blackjack, roulette, craps, baccarat, 3 & 4 card poker. A cozy high limit room and poker cash games are also part of this attractive offer, particularly within the poker room.
As the most populous city of PA, philadelphia is also a touristic hub. Indeed, thanks to its rich historical heritage, the city is one of the most visited in the US. “philly” was the place where the declaration of independence and the constitution were signed. The independence hall is therefore a must-see building. In front of it, the liberty bell center is another unavoidable point of interest. The bell is a piece of US history, as it was used in the independence hall. In order to escape from the city life, residents and tourists can appreciate the natural area featured in the rittenhouse park. There, it is possible to relax while strolling down the paths. At night, the place is very lively thanks to its trendy boutiques, flavorful restaurants and festive nightclubs. History and culture buffs will choose to visit the museum of art or the eastern state penitentiary. Finally, the reading terminal market is a must-see place when it comes to dinning options. There, people can enjoy tons of different foods coming from all over the world.
A stay in pennsylvania should bring you to pittsburg, another interesting city to discover. The home of the steelers NFL team boasts several attractive attractions. Thanks to the duquesne incline, you will have the opportunity to reach the top of the mount washington and then appreciate a stunning view of pittsburg and its surrounding. Back in the city’s streets, the sites to not miss are the heinz history center, the zoo & PPG aquarium and the phipps conservatory & botanical garden.
In addition to philadelphia and pittsburg, the state of pennsylvania (PA) features natural wonders made of rocks, caverns or cave. The geological formations are stunning and create incredible areas. The most impressive remain devils den at gettysburg, indian echo caverns at hummelstown, laurel caverns at farmington or boulder field at pocono mountains region.
Pennsylvania online gambling law – complete guide and history
October 30, 2017 marked a historic victory for online gambling proponents. It was on that day that pennsylvania governor tom wolf signed an omnibus gaming expansion bill, HB 271, into law.
With the signing, pennsylvania became the fourth US state to legalize online gambling, thus ending a four-and-a-half year drought in which several states came close to pulling the trigger on igaming — often on multiple occasions — but ultimately fell short.
Pennsylvania was one of these states, with discussions about online gambling dating all the way back to 2013, the same year that new jersey, delaware, and nevada went live with their respective online gambling operations.
What follows is a brief look at the long road toward igaming legislation in pennsylvania.
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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 casino. 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.
Pennsylvania online gambling legislation timeline
The first rumblings from lawmakers regarding online gambling took place in 2013. In the ensuing years, there were multiple instances where legislators came frustrating close to passing a bill, only for the process to get derailed at the 11th hour.
It wouldn’t be until 2017, which was the third consecutive year that advocates made a concerted push to legalize online gambling, that igaming legislation crossed the finish line.
Rep. Tina davis (D) of district 141 spearheaded the earliest official effort to legalize online gambling in pennsylvania back in april 2013 with the introduction of house bill 1235 (HB 1235). The provisions in HB 1235 enabled existing casinos and slot machine license holders to apply for supplemental licenses that would have allowed them to set up online operations. Licensees would have been subject to a $5 million non-refundable authorization fee and would have paid a 28 percent tax on revenue from online gambling.
The bill made it as far as the house committee on gaming oversight. It was there that committee chair and PA state rep. Tina pickett suggested that the bill be stalled until 2015. Reportedly, concerns about the possible detrimental effects of gaming expansion – as well as a high degree of uncertainty at the time about how successful new jersey’s then-nascent online gambling industry would be – led to what amounted to a tabling of the bill for the balance of the 2013-14 legislative session.
Despite the defeat, it soon became clear that PA was taking online gambling seriously, evidenced by the passage of SR 273 in december 2013 — a bill which commissioned econsult solutions to conduct a study measuring the economic impact of igaming.
2014 was a year of relative inaction. In june sen. Edwin erickson proposed online gambling bill SB 1386. However, it failed to generate much interest and was never brought up for a vote.
The bill was prompted by the positive results of the econsult study, which were published in may. It stated that pennsylvania stood to generate $184 million in first year revenue and $307 million in subsequent years from online gambling.
More importantly, the study concluded that igaming would have a complementary, not cannibalistic, impact on land-based revenue, stating that ” igaming may not only be benign in terms of land-based gaming but actually be synergistic and generate an increase in casino foot traffic and land-based revenues.”
Interestingly, econsult used a 60% tax rate on slots, and 20% on other games for the basis of its analysis — figures that weren’t too far off the mark of those in the bill that would eventually pass.
In either case, the study would pique enough interest in PA online gambling for legislators to make a concerted push in 2015.
2015 saw no less than four online gambling bill being proposed:
- HB 649: proposed by new gaming and oversight committee chair rep. John payne, who would unofficially become the face of the pro-online gambling side in 2015/16. The bill, introduced in february, called for a blended 16% tax rate on gross gaming revenue, and a $5 million licensing fee for operators.
- HB 920: proposed by tina davis in the spring, the bill was essentially a carbon copy of HB 649.
- HB 695: rep. Nick miccarelli proposed an online poker only bill, that called for a licensing fee of $5 million per operator, and taxed all interactive gross gaming revenue at 14%.
- SB 900: the first serious effort by the PA senate to push igaming legislation, SB 900 was a joint effort of senators kimward, roberttomlinson, eldervogel, and josephscarnati. It differed radically from payne’s effort, suggesting a $10 million permit fee and an otherworldly 54% tax rate on gross gaming revenue.
Of these, HB 649 would emerge as the leading candidate. In june, the PA senate community, economic and recreational development committee held two hearings on online gambling. There were some positive takeaways from the hearings, but questions still lingered as to the economic impact.
After a quiet summer, the stars finally appeared to align for online gambling. PA was facing a significant budgetary shortfall, and in october, gov. Tom wolf’s tax plan was defeated in the house, prompting a search for new revenue sources. Online gambling emerged as a means of filling the gap.
To increase potential revenue from gambling expansion, HB 649 was inundated with provisions, including ones that would legalize slot terminals at airports, allow for the addition of video gaming terminals (vgts), and change the face of category 3 casinos. Ultimately, all this proved too much to digest for legislators, who were torn on the bill’s more controversial points.
And while HB 649 did pass by a margin of 18-8 in the gaming and oversight committee, legislators would kick the can down the road.
Pennsylvania emerged as a leading candidate to pass online gambling legislation in 2016. But as was the case the year before, lawmakers teased online gambling proponents with passage before allowing the bill to die.
After months of inaction, online gambling conversations sprung to life in june, when an omnibus gaming bill emerged in the house. HB 2150 was the first bill to link online gambling and daily fantasy sports. The bill called for an $8 million license fee for pennsylvania online casinos and $2 million fee for “significant vendors.”
An amendment to the bill to include controversial vgts at bars and taverns would not find passage in the house, but shortly thereafter, a new amendment proposed by rep. Rosita youngblood that did not include vgts passed by a margin of 115-80.
In late june, the newly amended HB 2150 was passed by the house — the first time an igaming bill sailed through one of the state’s two major legislative chambers. And the following month gov. Wolf earmarked $100 million for online gambling expansion as part of a $1.3 billion revenue package.
All looked good, that is until the senate decided to sit on gaming reform until the fall. This despite the pressing need for a local tax share fix mandated by the PA supreme court, which found the current local tax share section of the gaming act of 2004 unconstitutional.
The senate only met for nine days that fall, and did not use them to consider HB 2150. Instead, it tried to tack on a temporary local share fix amendment to a responsible gaming bill, HB 1887. This was viewed as a way to address the more pressing problem, while pushing the larger issue of gaming reform to 2017.
The house had other plans, further amending the bill to include a permanent local share fix and gaming reform provisions. Soon after, HB 1887 became the second bill to include online gambling to pass in the house in 2016.
However, the senate’s stubbornness ruled the day, and it did not address gaming reform before recessing.
In 2017, pennsylvania finally passed online gambling legislation, but the path toward legalization was anything but a smooth ride.
Gaming expansion quickly became a hot topic, with state sen. Jay costa issuing a memo stating his intentions to introduce legislation early in the legislative cycle.
In may, HB 271 emerged and was quickly passed by both the senate community, economic & recreational development committee and the senate appropriations committee by substantial margins. The bill held some controversial provisions however, particularly the 54 percent tax rate on slot machine and table game revenue. Online poker would be taxed at a more reasonable 16%, but a $5 million licensing fee would be imposed upon operators. This stood in stark contrast to the situation in new jersey, where online gambling licensing fees were low and the tax rate was just 17.5% across the board.
Nevertheless, HB 271 passed in the senate by a margin of 38-12, becoming the first igaming bill to navigate the senate’s waters.
In june, a starkly different version of the bill narrowly passed (102-89) in the house. The new HB 271 featured a flat 16% tax rate on all online gambling verticals, and a comprehensive licensing fee of $8 million. Another big differentiator was that vgts were included in the house version of the bill, but not the senate.
Vgts remained a contentious issue throughout the summer. And compounding matters, was that the legislature became mired in a months long budgetary impasse, with the respective chambers unable to find common ground on how to fulfill a $2 billion shortfall. The impasse ultimately prompted standard & poor’s to hit pennsylvania with a credit downgrade.
Frustrated, in october gov. Wolf took matters into his own hands, proposing to close the state’s budget deficit by borrowing against future payments from the PA liquor control board, and thus nullifying the need for new revenue sources — like those gambling expansion would provide.
Luckily, this perceived threat prompted a response from the senate and the house, who worked diligently to find their own solution. Compromises were finally reached, and on october 25 the senate passed an amended version of HB 271 by a margin of 32-18. The bill was swiftly sent to the house where on october 27, it passed by a vote of 109-72.
On october 30, wolf signed the completed budget, which included HB 271, into law, and pennsylvania became the fourth US state to legalize online gambling.
Pennsylvania’s land-based casino history
Pennsylvania boasts the second largest land-based casino industry of any US state; quite impressive given just how young the industry is.
It wasn’t until 2004 that PA lawmakers authorized a whopping 61,000 slot machines at horse tracks and slot parlors. The law allowed the newly minted pennsylvania gaming control board to issue up to 14 licenses, and set up the board to act as the regulatory and oversight committee for the industry.
After a two-year lull, the board issued casino licenses to 11 operators in the final days of 2006: six to standalone casinos, and five more to venues that already featured horse racing.
From that point forward, the floodgates were officially open. 2007 – 2010 saw a frenzy of activity, with 10 casinos opening their doors to the masses. And today, there are 12 land-based casinos in PA, including two category 3 (valley forge and lady luck nemacolin) casinos, and industry frontrunners sands bethlehem, parx casino, rivers casino, and sugarhouse casino.
2010 also marked the year that table games were legalized, transforming slot parlors into full-service casinos. It was around that time that revenue really took off, spiking from $1.96 billion in 2009 to $2.49 billion the following year, and coming close to its all-time peak at $3.02 billion in 2011.
Table games, which included poker, were only taxed at 14%, compared to slots at 54%. So it was little wonder that casinos began placing a greater and greater emphasis on their virtual felt games, eventually even expanding into stadium style table gaming. As of late 2017, table gaming accounts for nearly 28% of the industry’s gross gaming revenue — high by industry standards.
Since 2011, the industry has mostly stabilized with table game revenue gains offsetting modest losses on the slots side. With increased competition from satellite casinos pending, and the inevitable expansion of the casino industry in other states, pennsylvania casino will look to online gambling — both as a new stream of immediate revenue for the affiliated casino, but also as a traffic driver.
Whether or not igaming will spark another golden age for PA gambling is questionable, but it should put he land-based industry back on a positive trajectory.
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Pennsylvania online casinos
On oct. 30, 2017, pennsylvania gov. Tom wolf signed into law a gambling expansion package that legalized and regulated online casino games, plus daily fantasy sports and sports betting.
The first three online casinos in pennsylvania launched on july 15, 2019, and five more are expected before the end of the year. Five online sportsbooks and sports betting apps are also already live with more to come.
Online poker is still to come, although it’s on the near horizon with pokerstars pennsylvania due to launch imminently.
The new legislation legalizes a diverse range of online gaming activity, including:
- Online casinos in pennsylvania
- Online poker in pennsylvania
- Video gambling terminals (vgts)
- Daily fantasy sports (DFS)
- Satellite casinos
- Sports betting (dependent on the supreme court ruling)
Pennsylvania online casinos
Casinos first became legal in pennsylvania in 2004. Today, pennsylvania boasts the sixth largest population in the U.S., and it generates more gaming tax revenue for the state than nevada.
The gambling industry is heavily taxed in pennsylvania which means a casino must consider its impact before it enters the online casino market. Even so, most, if not all of the land-based casinos are expected to join the online gaming market.
Pennsylvania online casinos were estimated to earn approximately $154 million in revenue during year 1. The projection is consistent with new jersey’s online casino performance.
Evidence suggests the revenue will come from new customers, not necessarily existing ones, as online casinos have a far greater reach.
Pennsylvania casinos online poker
At least seven pennsylvania online casinos have applied for licenses with partners to provide online poker along with their casino games. They are:
- Mount airy (pokerstars)
- Harrah’s (888/WSOP)
- Valley forge (partypoker)
- Sugarhouse
- Hollywood casino
- Parx
- Wind creek
Pennsylvania casino partnerships
In anticipation of legalized online gambling, retail casinos several years ago began forging partnerships with software platforms and online casinos operating in new jersey. As mentioned seven are licensed for online poker so far; here’s a look at a few of the partnerships.
Mount airy casino (pokerstars)
Mount airy casino surprised many in pennsylvania when it signed a deal with pokerstars in august 2018. It will launch the first online poker site in pennsylvania in the fall of 2019.
Harrah’s
As part of caesars entertainment, harrah’s operates as WSOP.Com in a partnership with 888. It is the only company currently offering online gambling products in both nevada and new jersey.
Valley forge (partypoker)
Once the most trafficked poker site in the world, partypoker has surged back into international prominence in recent years. Massive online tournament guarantees, drastically improved software and a burgeoning partypoker live tour have also had a big impact. It’s expected valley forge and partypoker will launch their co-branded online poker site in 2020.
Mohegan sun pocono
The tribal operator manages the operations of resorts casino in atlantic city. Resorts online casino teamed up with software provider NYX to offer a suite of online casino games. Additionally, pokerstars operates under resorts’ license in new jersey. Of note: scientific games acquired NYX in january 2018.
Even though parx had some reservations about online gaming, they signed a multi-year agreement with software provider GAN back in 2014. Parx is already building a potential customer base with a social casino using GAN’s software.
Rivers and sugarhouse
Rivers in pittsburgh and sugarhouse casino in philadelphia are both owned by rush street gaming. Playsugarhouse.Com operates under golden nugget’s online casino license in new jersey. There is some speculation that rush street is eyeing NYX/scientific games for its pennsylvania online casino.
Pennsylvania online casino FAQ
How old does a player need to be to gamble online in pennsylvania?
Players must be 21 years of age or older to play online casino games or online poker in pennsylvania. Fantasy sports enthusiasts must be 18 to participate in daily fantasy sports contests.
Do players need to live in pennsylvania to play online casino games?
Players do not need to be a resident of pennsylvania to play online casino games or online poker. However, players must physically be located in the state to participate.
When will online casino games go live in pennsylvania?
There is speculation the first online casino will go live toward the end of 2018. The application for online casino licenses is currently underway, and there are no firm dates at this time.
How will online casinos know if a player is in pennsylvania?
Regulated online casino sites use geolocation services to determine a player’s location. A player whose location cannot be verified will not be able to access online casino games.
Latest pennsylvania online gambling updates
Pennsylvania online poker revenue declines in january
Pokerstars bounty builder series launches in pennsylvania and new jersey
On the plus side: borgata’s katie stone talks online poker, industry growth
so, let's see, what we have: complete list of online casinos in pennsylvania. Play live dealer games, online slots, blackjack, & more at legal online casino apps & sites in PA. At pa online casino list
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