Find the top Pennsylvania betting sites at Gambling Spotlight. Our guide looks at betting types, bonus offers, and the best sites in the state.
The Keystone State has long been renowned as a gambler-friendly part of the US and, as you might expect, there are a large number of Pennsylvania betting options on the table.
But, there’s no need to feel swamped with information. At Gambling Spotlight, we’ve taken on the hard work by finding the state’s top operators.
On this page you can find out more about legal sportsbooks in the state and how they work, and compare and contrast the very best Pennsylvania sports betting sites.
Are online betting sites legal in Pennsylvania?
The simple answer is yes. Legislators in Pennsylvania gave the theoretical green light to sports betting sites back in 2017. This was actually before the Supreme Court overturned PASPA, a federal ruling that prohibited sportsbooks across much of the United States.
As a result, when PASPA was declared unconstitutional in 2018, Pennsylvania didn’t have to clear any more legal hurdles, and sports bettors in the Keystone State were soon able to enjoy legal sports betting.
Keystone State betting sites are overseen by the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB), which aims to keep players safe and ensure fair play. In order to place wagers at Pennsylvania betting sites, players must be over 21 and physically located in PA when they play, although they don’t have to be permanent residents.
Why play at a licensed Pennsylvania online betting site?
If you’re based in Pennsylvania, betting is a lot safer at licensed sites. That’s because these sportsbooks have to adhere to a list of rules to be granted their license, and they can face sanctions if they don’t continue to follow them.
When betting at licensed sites, you can rest assured that your data is kept safely encrypted, and that operators will offer fair odds and prompt payouts.
Regulated sportsbooks also have to follow ethical conduct guidelines, such as ensuring players on exclusion lists can’t place bets.
Why should I avoid offshore online sportsbooks?
If you really wanted to, you could place your bets at offshore online sportsbooks. However, we would seriously advise against it.
While offshore sites will often try to reel in players with generous welcome bonuses, you’ll have no guarantee that these online sportsbooks will act in an ethical, responsible, or reliable way. You may find that payouts are slow or go missing, e-mails to customer support go unanswered, or your data is misused.
If the worst does happen and you fall victim to fraud, it will probably prove difficult, or even impossible, to take action if a site is beyond the jurisdiction of the state of Pennsylvania. With a great choice of legal sports betting sites to choose from, there’s simply no need to resort to shady offshore options.
How to identify a legal online betting site in Pennsylvania
To find out whether a Pennsylvania betting site is legit, have a look at the homepage. You should see a statement confirming a PGCB license. You can also search the Board’s website for details of licensed sites.
At GamblingSpotlight, we only list legal, regulated operators, so you can find the best online betting sites in Pennsylvania right here on this page.
Which online betting sites can Pennsylvania residents play at?
DraftKings
DraftKings arrived in Pennsylvania a year after sports betting was legalized, launching in November 2019.
Fans will no doubt recognize the name, as DraftKings is one of the biggest brands in the daily fantasy, and latterly sports betting industries.
The sports coverage at the site is great, as you might expect from a top sportsbook. You can place bets on everything from football to basketball to MMA bouts, with a range of in-play markets also available on many events.
New players can get a matched deposit bonus of 20% up to $1,000, and regular promos are made available for returning members.
FanDuel
New to FanDuel? You can enjoy a risk-free first bet of $1,000. This means that if your first bet is a loss, FanDuel will refund it in the form of bonus cash – so you can bet all over again without having to deposit more funds.
As a FanDuel member, you’ll be able to bet on major league games like the MLB and NFL, niche sports such as Aussie Rules and table tennis, and college events. Moneylines, spreads, futures, and in-play wagers are all on the agenda, too, and parlay insurance offers can sweeten the deal when you place multiple bets.
BetMGM
BetMGM is the online arm of MGM Resorts, owners of casinos across the USA. As you’d expect from a major brand like this, the website exudes style, with a large array of sports, including football, golf, tennis, boxing, and more.
The site is as user friendly as it is attractive, with the ‘easy parlay’ tool allowing you to swiftly combine bets and instantly calculate your odds and potential winnings. BetMGM also offers new players the chance to enjoy a risk-free first bet of up to $1,000. Simply place your first wager and, if it loses, you’ll be paid back in free bets.
BetRivers
BetRivers is affiliated with the waterfront Rivers Casino in Pittsburgh, so locals will no doubt be familiar, but the brand has an equally fine reputation across the several states where the site is live.
Sign up as a new player and you’ll enjoy a 100% matched deposit bonus up to $250, which should get things off to a good start. The sportsbook also has regular odds boosts to potentially bring bigger returns to its customers and market coverage that is right up there with the best Pennsylvania betting sites
Unibet
Unibet is another PA sportsbook which offers a risk-free welcome offer. In this case, you’ll get up to $500 of your first stake back if things don’t go your way. From major leagues to college games, as well as NASCAR, golf, and many more markets, Unibet has plenty to wager on.
The site is known for giving customers opportunities to win tickets to sports events, while bettors who love in-play wagers are particularly well looked after. Unibet will give you $10 in bonus credits weekly if you place five live wagers of $10 or more.
Pennsylvania’s land-based bookmakers
There are plenty of retail sportsbooks to choose from in Pennsylvania. The Mohegan Sun Pocono and Wind Creek Bethlehem are owned by Native American tribes but operate as commercial casinos.
| Land-based sportsbook | Address |
| Harrah’s Philadelphia | 777 Harrah’s Blvd, Chester, PA 19013 |
| Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course | 777 Hollywood Blvd, Grantville, PA 17028 |
| Hollywood Casino York | 2899 Whiteford Rd, York, PA 17402 |
| Lady Luck Casino Nemacolin | 4067 National Pike, Farmington, PA 15437 |
| Live! Casino Pittsburgh | 5260 US-30, Greensburg, PA 15601 |
| Live! Casino & Hotel Philadelphia | 900 Packer Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19148 |
| The Meadows Racetrack and Casino | 210 Racetrack Rd, Washington, PA 15301 |
| Mohegan Sun Pocono | 1280 PA-315, Wilkes-Barre, PA 18702 |
| Mount Airy Casino Resort | 312 Woodland Rd, Mt Pocono, PA 18344 |
| Parx Casino and Racing | 2999 Street Rd, Bensalem, PA 19020 |
| Presque Isle Downs & Casino | 8199 Perry Hwy, Erie, PA 16509 |
| Rivers Casino Philadelphia | 1001 N Delaware Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19125 |
| Valley Forge Casino Resort | 1160 1st Ave, King of Prussia, PA 19406 |
| Wind Creek Bethlehem | 77 Wind Creek Blvd, Bethlehem, PA 18015 |
| The Downs at Lehigh Valley | 1780 Airport Rd, Allentown, PA 18109 |
| South Philadelphia Race & Sportsbook | 700 Packer Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19148 |
How to bet on sports with real money
If you’re in PA and want to bet on sports with real money, just follow the simple steps below.
- Check Gambling Spotlight and discover the best sports betting sites in Pennsylvania. We’ve made it easy to weigh up the various promos, so all you have to do is choose one of the offers on this page.
- Click the link to be taken directly to the sign-up page.
- Follow the site’s instructions to get registered. Don’t forget to type the promo code in to claim the optional welcome offer, if required. You may be asked to provide documents to prove your name, age and address.
- If there’s a no deposit free bet offer, you’ll be able to use it after signing up. Otherwise, you’ll need to load funds into your account. Click on the cashier link, select your preferred payment method, and make the transfer.
- Once your deposit is credited, you can start placing wagers. It’s worth taking a look around and seeing what’s on offer before you dive in. Good luck!
Which sports can I bet on in Pennsylvania?
In PA, you can bet on pro and college events, as well as international match-ups and fantasy sports. Some popular options available to bettors include:
- Football (incl. NFL)
- Basketball (incl. NBA)
- Baseball (incl. MLB)
- Hockey (incl. NHL)
- Soccer (incl. MLS)
- Boxing
- Golf
- MMA
- Tennis
- Motorsports (incl. NASCAR)
- Cricket
Local sports teams to bet on
Game days are big events in Pennsylvania, especially when the major league teams play. These are:
- Philadelphia 76ers (NBA)
- Philadelphia Eagles (NFL)
- Philadelphia Flyers (NHL)
- Philadelphia Phillies (MLB)
- Philadelphia Union (MLS)
- Pittsburgh Pirates (MLB)
- Pittsburgh Penguins (NHL)
- Pittsburgh Steelers (NFL)
The prominent college teams in Pennsylvania are::
- Penn State Nittany Lions
- Penn Quakers
- Pittsburgh Panthers
- Temple Owls
- Drexel Dragons
- Duquesne Dukes
- Villanova Wildcats
- Lehigh Mountain Hawks
- Lafayette Leopards
- Saint Joseph’s Hawks
- Robert Morris Colonials
- Saint Francis Red Flash
- Bucknell Bison
Betting Markets
Sports betting doesn’t just mean picking out a potential winner. Here are some ways you can put money on events at Pennsylvania betting sites.
- Moneyline – a simple, classic bet, where you simply wager on who you think will win the event.
- Point spread – here, you’re betting on the points margin. This means you can wager on whether the team will win or lose by a certain number of points.
- Props – these bets aren’t related to who’ll win or lose, but rather individual aspects of the event. For example, whether a particular player will score in football, or which team will score first.
- Futures – as the name suggests, these are bets that are placed on events that’ll happen in the future. For example, betting on who’ll win the Super Bowl this season.
- Totals – totals are over/under bets. This means you don’t need to be specific about an outcome, just whether it will land over or under a certain threshold figure. For example, you could bet on whether there will be over or under 2.5 goals scored in a soccer match.
- Parlays – parlays are bets which are cumulative and made up of several wagers. Usually, all your bets need to be successful in order for you to receive a payout, but the win can be substantially higher if they are.
- Live Betting — just because you’ve missed the start of an event, it doesn’t mean you can’t place a bet. Many sports betting sites in Pennsylvania offer in-play wagers, with odds fluctuating in real-time depending on how things are going.
Mobile betting apps in Pennsylvania
It’s perfectly legal to place bets using an operator’s mobile app, so you aren’t limited to playing on a desktop or laptop. Among the sites that offer downloadable apps for iOS and Android are BetMGM, FanDuel, BetRivers, and Unibet.
While all betting sites have mobile-optimized pages which you can access through your web browser, it’s worth downloading an app if you have the space on your device. You often get a much smoother gambling experience this way, and push notifications can let you know the results of your wagers, along with the latest bonus offers.
Pennsylvania betting payment methods
The available payment methods will vary depending on where you’re wagering, but the best PA betting sites offer plenty of options. It’s worth bearing in mind that while most deposit methods are instant, withdrawals can take longer and processing times will vary.
Deposit
Not all deposit options are available at every site, but if you want to top up your account, you are likely to find payment methods including:
- Credit and debit cards such as Visa, Mastercard, Discover, and AMEX
- E-wallets
- PayNearMe
- Prepaid Play+ cards
- ACH/eCheck
- Online banking
- In-person at land-based casinos and sportsbooks
Withdrawal
You’ll usually find there are fewer withdrawal options than ways to deposit funds, but there are still plenty of ways to request your payout:
- In-person at land-based casinos and sportsbooks
- Check by mail
- E-wallets
- Prepaid Play+ cards
- ACH/eCheck
- Online banking
History of gambling in Pennsylvania
Here’s the lowdown on how Pennsylvania became one of the country’s sports betting hotspots.
2004 – The Pennsylvania Racehorse Development and Gaming Act is approved, paving the way for legalized casinos and racinos. The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board is formed to oversee gambling in the state.
2006 – Pennsylvania’s first casino, Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs, opens.
2017 – A bill, HB 271, is passed. It legalizes sports betting in the state, pending the lifting of a federal ban enforced by the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA).
2018 – PASPA is overturned by the Supreme Court, giving states the right to legalize sports betting. Later that year, Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course takes the state’s first legal sports bet.
Problem gambling support in Pennsylvania
Gambling can be a fun activity to enjoy in your spare time, but if you’re finding it has a negative effect on your life, you may want to seek help.
Signs of problem gambling include betting beyond your budget, focusing too much on gambling to the detriment of other aspects of your life, and feeling stressed or angry when gambling. Here are details of some of the organizations offering help and support in Pennsylvania.
Council on Compulsive Gambling of Pennsylvania (CCGP)
PO Box 444, Spring House, PA 19477-0444
Phone: 1-800-GAMBLER
Email: josh@pacouncil.com
National Council on Problem Gambling
Phone: 1-800-522-4700
Gamblers Anonymous
http://www.gamblersanonymous.org/ga/
Phone: 855-2CALLGA
Ready to start betting on sports in Pennsylvania?
Ready to enjoy these great sites for yourself? On this page, you’ll find the best betting sites in Pennsylvania, making it easy to compare welcome offers and sign up to a sportsbook you like the look of.
FAQs
Is online betting legal in Pennsylvania?
Absolutely. Online betting is legal for Pennsylvania residents and visitors, as long as you’re aged 21 or over.
How do I know if I’m playing at a licensed Pennsylvania online sportsbook?
Check the homepage of the sportsbook. It should state that it’s licensed by the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB), the body which regulates all forms of gambling in the state.
If you’re unsure, you can always double-check on the PCGB’s website. Any site recommended on Gambling Spotlight will have the regulator’s seal of approval.
Will I be taxed for my gambling winnings?
Yes. All gambling winnings are subject to both state and federal taxes.
What other forms of gambling are allowed in Pennsylvania?
Pennsylvania allows online and in-person gambling at casinos. You can also play real money bingo games, bet on daily fantasy sports, and gamble on horse racing. There’s also the Pennsylvania Lottery.
Do you need to be in Pennsylvania to play at a Pennsylvania online sportsbook?
Yes. To play at a Pennsylvania online sportsbook, you need to be located within the state. Online betting sites will check your IP address, or use geolocation data to determine your location.
You don’t need to be a resident of PA to wager, so if you’re visiting the state temporarily, it’s perfectly legal to gamble at the state’s online sportsbooks during your stay.
Is Pennsylvania online betting fair?
Pennsylvania sports betting sites are strictly regulated to ensure that they are run by operators with integrity and that all betting markets are fair.
Which is the best online betting site in Pennsylvania?
Every player will have their preferences when they gamble, so it’s impossible to definitively pick out the best overall online betting site in Pennsylvania. You can always try out a few different options to see which best suits you.
Are there any new online betting sites in Pennsylvania?
Yes. One of the latest Pennsylvania betting sites is TwinSpires, which started taking bets in 2021. Bookmark this page and keep coming back to find out about new online betting sites in the Keystone State.
References:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gambling_in_Pennsylvania
https://gamingcontrolboard.pa.gov/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sports_in_Pennsylvania#Major_league_professional_teams
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hollywood_Casino_at_Penn_National_Race_Course
https://www.pennbets.com/pennsylvania-online-gambling-law/
https://eu.ldnews.com/story/news/2018/11/18/sports-betting-kicks-off-hollywood-casino/2039763002/