Pennsylvania sports betting is legal and live, with 12 mobile apps available to sports fans. Retail sports betting launched in the Keystone State in November 2018, and legal online betting arrived in May 2019.
You’ll find reviews of the top apps and PA sportsbook promos below. The Pennsylvania sports betting industry features premier legal brands, including Caesars, bet365, BetMGM, and FanDuel.
Here, we break down everything you need to know about the PA sports betting industry, including news, laws, retail sportsbooks, and more.
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Latest Pennsylvania Sports Betting Industry News
Pennsylvania Sports Betting: Quick Facts
Pennsylvania bettors have excellent wagering options with access to various Pennsylvania sports betting apps. Keystone State residents and visitors have 12 online sportsbooks at their disposal.
Pennsylvania Population | 13 million |
---|---|
Legal Betting Age | 21+ |
Sports Betting Regulator | Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board |
Online Sportsbooks | ✅ Available |
Retail Sportsbooks | ✅ Available |
College Sports Betting | ✅ Available |
Esports Betting | ✖️ Not Available |
Tax Rate | 36% |
Pennsylvania Sports Betting Laws
Both retail and online sports betting received the green light when Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf signed a significant gambling expansion bill in October 2017.
Sports betting couldn’t launch at the time, however. The state had to wait for the US Supreme Court to strike down the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA).
PASPA allowed sports betting in only four states and blocked the option everywhere else. The Supreme Court ruled that the 26-year-old act was unconstitutional in May 2018.
Hollywood Casino at Penn National accepted the first legal Pennsylvania sports bet in November 2018. Over the next two years, a dozen more land-based sports betting venues launched sportsbooks.
The state has 12 legal sportsbooks after the exit of Betway from the market and the launch of bet365. A five-year sports betting license costs $10 million initially. Operators can then renew their sports betting license for $250,000.
State law prohibits more than one online skin for each license issued. Category 4 casino licensees may also petition the board to obtain separate sports wagering certificates for online wagering.
Approved PA Sports betting operators: Sports betting is allowed to be conducted in Pennsylvania at three types of facilities:
- 13 commercial casinos and racinos
- Eight off-track betting venues that are owned by companies operating casinos in the state
- Category 4 casino locations, known as satellite casinos
PA Sports Betting Taxes and Fees: Sports betting revenue is taxed at 36%.
Legal PA Betting Age: Must be 21 years old.
PA Sports Betting Legalization Timeline
SugarHouse Casino, which launched the first land-based sportsbook in December 2018, went live with Pennsylvania’s first licensed mobile sportsbook on May 31.
Retail sports betting launches in the state when Hollywood Casino accepts the first legal wager in Pennsylvania in November.
The legislature passes House Bill 271, which significantly expands gaming in the state. Gov. Tom Wolf signs the bill into law on Oct. 30.
Legal PA Betting Markets
- Football, the Super Bowl, and March Madness get a lion’s share of the betting action, but the sports world has big events year-round that might be worth your time.
- Pennsylvania bettors can stay in the state to bet on college sports featuring Penn State, Pitt, Temple, and more. Other states block local favorites as a college sports betting option.
- Plenty of other betting markets await Pennsylvania bettors on the state’s mobile sports betting apps. MMA, tennis, golf, motorsports, international leagues, and niche sports round out the opportunities available at Pennsylvania sportsbooks.
- Included in that lineup are in-state events like the NASCAR Cup Series races held at Pocono Speedway each year. Known as the “Tricky Triangle,” Pocono Speedway stands as one of the unique tracks on the NASCAR circuit.
- Racing fans in the Keystone State can check out Formula 1 odds at Pennsylvania sportsbooks as well.
- MLS odds are growing in popularity. Pennsylvania is represented by the Philadelphia Union.
Illegal PA Betting Markets
- Player award bets — Pennsylvania doesn’t allow bets on award honors like the Heisman Trophy, Cy Young award, or Super Bowl MVP. Instead of NBA Most Valuable Player, you might find a futures bet for the NBA leader in scoring, rebounds, or assists. Those numbers are facts, while MVP honors are based on opinion.
- Pro sports draft positions — Much like award bets, opinion factors into when and where an athlete begins his or her career. That keeps the bet away from your betting menu at legal PA sportsbooks.
- Coin flips or the color of a sports drink bath — The Super Bowl features plenty of prop bets, but Pennsylvania sportsbooks only carry bets for props that are directly tied to the action on the field.
- College player performances — You can bet on college teams in Pennsylvania, but not on the total number of yards thrown by a Penn State QB, for example.
- The Oscars, eating contests, pro wrestling, or political election results — You can’t bet on WWE odds, Acadamy Award moneylines, the Nathan’s Hot Dog Fourth of July winner, or election results in PA.
- High school sports and Little League World Series bets — The Little League World Series is a Pennsylvania institution, but you cannot bet on the kids no matter where they play. High school games are also prohibited.
- Events where you might have an influence on the outcome — The list includes players, coaches, trainers, or officials and their immediate family members. Any organized unions and agents that represent a sport or athlete are banned as well. Casino employees and contractors who run sports betting or handle transactions can’t bet either.
PA Sports Betting Revenue & Handle
Since launching online sports betting in 2019, Pennsylvania has been among the industry leaders in sports wagering revenue.
Total sports wagering handle in Pennsylvania came in at $414,673,804 for July 2024, an increase of 22.52% compared to the July 2023 total of $338,450,263. The figure is a slight decline from the $464,534,792 posted in June. September through March mark the peak of sports betting each year, so declines during the summer months is a typical outcome based on the sports calendar.
Of the total handle in July, $392,056,665 was generated by the state’s online sportsbooks.
The taxable sports betting revenue figure for July 2024 was $38,565,690, or 20.18% higher when compared to July 2023, when taxable revenue was $32,089,785.
Pennsylvania betting revenue generates tax dollars that are put to good use in the Keystone State. Pennsylvania’s sports betting tax rate for operators is 36%, one of the highest in the country.
This money goes to funding schools, repairing roads, lowering property taxes, etc.
🗓 July 2024 | 🗓 June 2024 | 🗓 May 2024 | 🗓 April 2024 |
---|---|---|---|
📱Total Online: $392,056,665 | 📱Total Online: $436,660,541.68 | 📱Total Online: $556,964,320 | 📱Total Online: $608,268,320 |
🏦 Total Retail: $22,617,139 | 🏦 Total Retail: $27,874,250.64 | 🏦 Total Retail: $34,948,306 | 🏦 Total Retail: $37,792,744 |
💰Total Handle: $414,673,804 | 💰Total Handle: $464,534,792.32 | 💰Total Handle: $591,912,627 | 💰Total Handle: $646,061,065 |
Pennsylvania Sportsbooks: In-Person Betting
Online sports betting is convenient, but nothing beats the experience of watching a game play out with snacks, drinks, and big screens at a casino sportsbook lounge.
Location | Sportsbook | Address |
---|---|---|
Harrah's Philadelphia | Caesars | 777 Harrah’s Blvd. Chester, PA 19013 |
Hollywood Casino at the Meadows | ESPN Bet | 210 Racetrack Rd Washington, PA 15301 |
Hollywood Casino Morgantown | ESPN Bet | 6021 Morgantown Rd Morgantown, PA 19543 |
Hollywood Casino York | ESPN Bet | 2899 Whiteford Rd York, PA 17402 |
Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course | ESPN Bet | 777 Hollywood Blvd Grantville, PA 17028 |
Live! Casino Philadelphia | FanDuel | 900 Packer Avenue Philadelphia, PA 19148 |
Live! Casino Pittsburgh | FanDuel | 5260 Lincoln Highway Greensburg, PA 15601 |
Mohegan Pennsylvania | Unibet | 1280 PA-315 Wilkes-Barre, PA 18702 |
Mohegan Pennsylvania at Lehigh Valley | Unibet | 1780 Airport Road Allentown, PA 18109 |
Mount Airy Casino Resort | The Sportsbook (formerly FOX Bet) | 312 Woodland Rd Mt Pocono, PA 18344 |
Parx Casino | BetPARX | 2999 Street Road Bensalem, PA 19020 |
Parx Shippensburg | BetPARX | 250 South Conestoga Drive Shippensburg, PA 17257 |
Presque Isle Downs and Casino | TwinSpires Racing, Kambi-powered retail sportsbook | 8199 Perry Highway Erie, PA 16509 |
Rivers Casino Philadelphia | BetRivers | 1001 N Delaware Ave Philadelphia, PA 19125 |
Rivers Casino Pittsburgh | BetRivers | 777 Casino Dr. Pittsburgh, PA 15212 |
South Philly Race & Sportsbook | BetPARX | 700 Packer Avenue Philadelphia, PA 19148 |
Valley Forge Casino Resort | FanDuel | 1160 1st Ave King of Prussia, PA 19406 |
Wind Creek Casino & Resorts | Wind Creek (Betfred) | 77 Wind Creek Blvd Bethlehem, PA 18015 |
Other Types of Gambling in PA
Sports bets, iGaming, and a robust horse racing schedule give bettors plenty to choose from in the Keystone State.
Gambling Alternative | Legal? |
---|---|
Social Sportsbooks | ✅ |
Daily Fantasy Sports | ✅ |
Horse Racing Betting | ✅ |
Lottery | ✅ |
Online Casinos | ✅ |
Online Poker | ✅ |
Esports | ❌ |
Social Sportsbooks in Pennsylvania
Social sportsbooks can look a lot like traditional Pennsylvania sports betting apps, but no real money changes hands. Users bet with a faux currency like “sweeps coins” or game tokens.
Users can pay their way into a better experience. You can use money to lengthen your playing experience on a site like Fliff.
Social sportsbook sites often reward users for logging in and making correct picks. The fictional rewards can be redeemed for a real cash prize.
Pennsylvania DFS (Daily Fantasy Sports)
FanDuel and DraftKings are some of the most popular DFS options in PA. DFS sites often fill the void in states that do not allow legal online sportsbooks. That’s not the case here, however.
In fact, states with online sports betting often lobby to keep free DFS sites out, especially if the DFS gameplay resembles team and player prop bets too much. DFS has been a legal option in Pennsylvania since 2017.
PA Horse Race Betting
Pennsylvania boasts one of the best racing programs in the country, with six tracks hosting live racing meets around the state.
- Pocono Downs at Mohegan in Wilkes-Barre
- Harrah’s Philadelphia Casino & Racetrack in Chester
- Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course in Grantville
- Parx Racing at Parx Casino in Bensalem
- Presque Isle Downs & Casino in Erie
Parx Racing, which hosts live Thoroughbred racing, has one of the top contests for 3-year-olds in the country in the Grade 1 Pennsylvania Derby held each September. The Pennsylvania breeding program also produced 2004 Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes winner Smarty Jones, one of the most popular racehorses in the last several decades.
Pennsylvania also has multiple OTB options that include:
- Parx Racing — at South Philadelphia Race & Sportsbook and at Chickie’s & Pete’s in Malvern.
- Penn National — at Hollywood Casino mini-casino locations in York and Morgantown.
- Pocono Downs (“The Downs”) — at Lehigh Valley in Allentown and at East Stroudsburg.
Residents of Pennsylvania can use some of the best horse betting apps on the market. For example, FanDuel Racing is linked to the FanDuel Sportsbook as a mobile betting option.
How PA Compares to Nearby States
Pennsylvania has become an industry force among states with legal sports betting—not surprising considering it is surrounded by some stiff competition.
Its neighbor to the east stands as the benchmark in the US mobile sports betting industry. In 2021, New Jersey became the first state to eclipse $10 billion in bets in a calendar year, per the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement.
New York has also flourished since it legalized online sports betting. It quickly surged to the No. 1 spot among all states for volume and revenue.
Ohio residents used to travel east to PA to place sports bets, but the Buckeye State added online sports betting at the beginning of 2023.
Pennsylvania, however, holds its own as one of the top sports betting markets in the US. Indeed, it consistently comes in every month as one of the top states in terms of total handle and total tax revenue.
Pros and Cons of Pennsylvania Sports Betting
Pennsylvania’s sports betting industry has performed well overall. The state allows both in-person and mobile sports betting. The state (34%) and counties (2%) both collect tax revenue from Pennsylvania sports betting.
The numbers speak for themselves. Pennsylvania has a large population and some of the most rabid fan bases in all of sports. What’s more, the Keystone State’s diversity leads to interest in just about any market.
The worries back in the summer of 2018 that some operators wouldn’t choose Pennsylvania because of the high tax rate have proven unfounded, as 10 mobile apps are going strong in the state.
Pros
Apps available from top names in the industry In-state college betting is permitted All apps safe and licensed by PA Gaming Control Board
Cons
Continues to lag behind NJ in betting handle and total revenue High tax rate for operators makes expansion into PA a challenge
Where Pennsylvania’s sports betting could improve is its somewhat operator-unfriendly model. Sports betting revenue is taxed at 36%, with operators paying a $10 million licensing fee to enter the market.
Those numbers represent some of the highest in the industry. Higher taxes force companies to bring fewer offers and bonuses to their Pennsylvania customers.
While FanDuel and DraftKings flourish in the state, the bottom half of the state’s list of online sportsbooks struggle to earn revenue relative to the top players.
Pennsylvania Responsible Gaming
Any state with legal sports betting must take measures for responsible gaming. The Keystone State has resources available for anyone concerned with compulsive and problem gambling.
Options include guides and links for anyone who wants to voluntarily ban themselves from casinos, racetracks, and gambling sites or apps.
PA residents can access self-assessment tools at the state’s responsible betting site. These tools will help bettors understand their behavior patterns and offer a path to change.
Gaming should be a form of entertainment. Don’t let it interfere with your relationships, well-being, or financial stability.
Call 1-800-GAMBLER, use the link above to find an online chat, or text 1-800-522-4700 if you or someone you know needs help.
Pennsylvania Sports Betting Industry: More Resources
- Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board: Press Releases – Monthly updates on revenue and other news in the Pennsylvania casino industry.
- Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board: Monthly Sports Wagering Report – A detailed revenue breakdown by sports betting operator. This report includes a breakout of online and retail betting handle and revenue.
- Visit PA – State tourism website offering an overview of Pennsylvania’s casinos and racetracks.
Pennsylvania Sports Betting FAQ
Yes. Pennsylvania gaming laws allow both online and retail sportsbooks to operate in the state.
The first legal online sportsbooks went live in Pennsylvania in May 2019. Since then, the industry has expanded. With Betway’s imminent exit and bet365’s launch, we’re looking at 12 online sports betting platforms in the state.
All legal mobile sports betting apps and websites display the seal of approval from the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board.
Absolutely. The state offers online sports betting, online casinos (iGaming), online lottery games, mobile horse racing bets, and more.
You must be 21 or older to bet in Pennsylvania. Sports betting, casino and poker are all legal and available online and at retail facilities.
Yes. DraftKings Sportsbook is legal and available in PA. DraftKings DFS is also available.
Yes. The FanDuel Sportsbook is legal and can be accessed. Its DFS offerings are also available in Pennsylvania.
No. In fact, residents of New York and New Jersey often cross the state line to bet on their in-state teams. You do have to be located in Pennsylvania when you place a bet. The state’s eligible visitors and residents alike can set up a PA app and place bets inside state lines.
Users must be 21+ to place mobile sports bets and play online casino games in PA.
Pennsylvania has all the industry leaders, including DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM, BetRivers, Caesars, ESPN Bet, and Fanatics Sportsbook. Gaming Today reviews and shares the best welcome offers to help you get started.
Pennsylvania is a great state for college sports betting. Unlike NY and NJ, the Keystone State allows bets on all games, including on in-state programs like Pitt, Penn State, and Villanova.
Yes. Stick with the safety of PA’s legal sportsbook options because offshore sites are always illegal. They’re not trustworthy, either.