If you are looking for the best PA online casino, then you are at the right place. CasinoSmash is here to help you find the top Pennsylvania online gambling sites.
Whether it's slots, poker or sports betting you are looking for, online gambling in PA has got you covered with some of the best sites in the US.
In this guide to gambling in PA, we'll cover:
- What are the best PA online casinos
- What real money casino games you can play in Pennsylvania
- How to get a free bonus to play real money games
- How PA deals with problem gambling
- A brief history of gambling in PA
And lots more.
The Keystone state is one of the top markets for gambling in the USA. In fact, PA casinos are second in revenue, behind Nevada.
The state legalized gambling in 20041 and has since expanded the market after also legalizing sports betting. Most recently2, Pennsylvania also joined the list of states that allow real money online gambling, which includes both online casinos and online sports betting. It is also one of four states to offer legal online poker.
PA online casinos have a great selection of games. While slots are by far the most popular, casinos in Pennsylvania also offer video poker and table games like baccarat, roulette and blackjack.
Live dealer games aren't available to play at Pennsylvania online casinos yet, although this will most likely change in the near future.
You will also find plenty of deposit bonus offers from the best casino sites in PA. Some of the deposit bonus options available include match bonuses, extra cash and free spins as well. Sometimes, in order to claim a casino bonus, you will be required to enter a casino promo code.
In case you want to play on mobile, simply download and install the free casino apps available for iOS and Android.
Pennsylvania also offers assistance to those dealing with a gambling problem. The Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs offers a 24-hour hotline. If you are dealing with this issue, call 1-800-GAMBLER. Real money casino gambling isn't risk-free and must not be considered a way to make money under any circumstances.
Best PA Online Casinos: Full List
Currently, PA has seven legal online casino websites. The casino games available to play in the state are online slots, video poker and table games.
Pennsylvania is also one of four states to allow legal online poker. Live dealer games aren't available yet, although some online casino websites will likely offer them soon.
Let's take a look at the best real online casino sites in PA.
Stars Casino
Stars Casino PA went live in November 2019, with Mount Airy Casino Resort as its land partner. It is part of the gambling industry juggernaut The Stars Group (Flutter), which meant that PA poker players would also have access to the PokerStars games.
For now, Stars Casino is the only site to offer online poker in PA. Slots, table games and video poker are also available. It uses the PokerStars in-house software as its games provider. You can download and play Stars Casino PA on mobile.
Unibet Casino
Another online casino that went live in November 2019, Unibet Casino PA is another brand to join the Pennsylvania online casino market carrying over experience from New Jersey. It partnered the brick-and-mortar Mohegan Sun Pocono casino.
Unibet's tech partner is SG Digital, the Kindred Group's US representative. It offers a wide range of casino games, including slots, video poker and table games. Unibet Casino PA is available to play on mobile as well.
FanDuel Casino
The first PA online casino to go live in 2020, FanDuel Casino PA launched in January with Valley Forge Casino Resort as its brick-and-mortar partner. The games available include slots, video poker and table games.
FanDuel Casino PA has both IGT and GAN as its tech partners, offering great service from two well-known names in the online gambling industry. The FanDuel app is available on mobile as well.
BetRivers Casino
BetRivers Casino completed a great month for online gambling in Keystone state. It was the third PA online casino to go live in late January 2020, with its homonymous Rivers Casino in Pittsburgh as the land-based, brick-and-mortar partner.
BetRivers Casino has a portfolio of games that includes slots, video poker and table games, with Rush Street Interactive as its software provider. The casino app is available to download on mobile.
BetMGM Casino
In 2020, BetMGM announced the launch of BetMGM Casino in PA to make available the exclusive variety of online slots and table games to all the players in the Keystone state.
The integration of BetMGM with M Life Rewards Program of MGM Resorts allow all the BetMGM customers to enjoy a wonderful gameplay experience at MGM Resorts properties. BetMGM is also the first partner of Pittsburgh Steelers, which also laid the foundation of their sports betting offering.
DraftKings Casino
DraftKings Casino PA, which is part of the daily fantasy sports juggernaut, was added to the PA online casino market in 2020.
DraftKings has the Hollywood Casino at Penn National Road Course as its land-based partner. With a good portfolio of games available that includes slots, table games and video poker, DraftKings has Kambi as its tech partner. DraftKings also offers a mobile app for download.
Betway Casino
Betway launched its online casino in 2021 in Pennsylvania, which offers a wide range of games including the slots, blackjack, video poker, baccarat and roulette. Betway is offering a matching deposit bonus offer for an amount up to $1000 to its new players. The player will have seven days after creating the account to opt into the offer and make a first deposit, which should be a minimum of $10.
What Casino Games Can You Play in PA?
Pennsylvania online casinos offer many different real money games for all kinds of players.
The most popular casino games available online in PA are, without any doubts, online slots. These games are on offer at all online casinos and are the main draw for them. However, there are other options.
Table games like blackjack, baccarat and roulette also enjoy plenty of popularity in PA. Another popular pick among casino players in PA is video poker.
Live dealer games are not available yet in the state. The first live dealer games are set to be launched by Parx, although there is no scheduled release date yet.
PA Online Casino Apps
PA casinos also offer the option for you to play the games on mobile. Most of the online operators in Pennsylvania also have free casino apps available to download, both for Android and iOS.
Finding these apps is fairly simple, as the download links are visible on the homepage. In order to install casino apps, simply follow the instructions provided by the site and you are ready to start playing.
Casino apps in PA rely on geolocation software, which is necessary to ensure that the players are in the Keystone state territory.
PA Online Sports Betting
On October 30, 2017, Governor Tom Wolf signed into law the expansion of gambling in Pennsylvania. The legislation made online casinos legal, and also allowed sports betting in PA.
However, the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act meant that Keystone state residents still had to wait before placing their first bets at sportsbooks.
A few months later, in May 2018, the Supreme Court of the United States ruled the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act unconstitutional, which meant that Pennsylvania could finally offer sports betting in its territory.
Sportsbooks in PA are also required to partner a land-based casino or racetrack in order to offer their service.
In May 2019, the first online sportsbook went live in Pennsylvania, two months prior to the first online casino. Currently, the online sportsbook list in PA includes:
- DraftKings
- FanDuel
- BetMGM
- Unibet
- Stars
- BetRivers
- Betway
Some of the casinos that also offer land-based sports are Valley Forge, Parx, Harrah's, Rivers Casino and Hollywood Casino.
PA Online Poker
Pennsylvania is one of four states to allow legal real money online poker, the other three being Nevada, New Jersey and Delaware. Currently, PokerStars PA is the only option available for online poker players in Keystone state, although that is set to change in a not too distant future.
While no dates have been set yet, WSOP PA and PartyPoker PA both have deals in place to enter the Pennsylvania online gambling market.
While WSOP has picked Harrah's Philadelphia as its brick-and-mortar casino partner, PartyPoker has partnered with Valley Forge.
Soon, Pennsylvania will have more online poker rooms, with the potential to share its players pool with New Jersey, Nevada and Delaware.
How to Get a Casino Bonus in PA
If it's an online casino deposit bonus you are looking for, then we have some very good news. Pennsylvania online casinos have some of the best deposit bonus offers in the US. The variety of bonus offers from online casinos in PA is quite impressive.
For starters, the most common bonus available is the welcome deposit bonus for new players. This package commonly includes a match bonus to the first deposit, which will add extra cash equal to what has been deposited, up to a maximum value determined by the casino.
Other common bonus offers include a fixed amount of cash for the players and free spins to win real money, which can be used on selected slots or, sometimes, at the player's discretion. Some sites may require the user to enter a promo code.
One thing to keep an eye on when choosing a deposit bonus at online casinos is the minimum wagering requirement. In order to withdraw any winnings originating from the bonus, the player will first need to wager that bonus a certain number of times.
Give preference to casinos that offer a smaller minimum wagering requirement for the bonus, since you won't have to reroll that amount too many times before requesting a withdrawal. You can read the reviews from the team of experts at CasinoSmash to find the best online casino bonus offers available in PA.
Deposit and Withdrawal methods
Online casinos in Pennsylvania offer a good number of options for deposit and withdrawals. Debit cards and credit cards, such as Visa, MasterCard and American Express, are the most common options available to deposit and withdraw at PA online casinos.
E-wallets, such as Paypal, Neteller and Skrill, are another common option available to deposit and withdraw money at the online casinos.
For players that, for one reason or another, don't want to do these transactions online, there is also the option to do it at brick-and-mortar casinos.
While it's a slightly less conventional alternative, you can make the deposit in cash and then transfer the funds to your online account. The deposited amount will then be made available to your online account rather than at the land-based casino.
In order to withdraw money from online casinos in PA, you will be required to provide additional information.
This is required by the legislation in order to prevent money laundering and other potential financial frauds. Another common requirement is to use the same method as the original deposit. Remember that, if you want to withdraw any money originating from a casino bonus, you will have to complete the minimum wagering requirement first.
Fairness and Safety
Online gambling involves real money, and it also requires players to provide sites with personal and sensitive information. Naturally, some concerns do arise from that. After all, it's only fair for the users to know if their data is kept safe.
Well, we can guarantee that online casinos and other online gambling sites in Pennsylvania are extremely safe.
Again, we emphasize that you must play on the legal and licensed sites, as this will offer you additional guarantees and protection. In order to earn a license issued by the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board, the sites must follow strict rules and guidelines - something that won't be guaranteed if you play on offshore casinos or any other site that isn't licensed in PA.
These requirements include keeping the users personal and financial data safely stored, accessible only to authorized personnel, and using the industry-standard encryption technology.
As far as fair gaming is concerned, the games available at PA online casinos must first go through rigorous testing to ensure that they aren't rigged and that all casino games offer a fair chance for the player to win. The games must run a Random Number Generator, or RNG for short.
How to Deal with Problem Gambling in Pennsylvania
Compulsive gambling can be a real issue for online casino players. Always keep in mind that casino games should be played for fun, first and foremost, and should never be used as a way to make money.
Online gambling isn't risk-free, so never wager more than what you can afford to lose. For more information (and help) on how to do this, read this beginner's guide to casino bankroll.
We do know that gambling problems are real. If you are dealing with this situation, or happen to know someone who is currently dealing with a gambling-related issue, then it's important to know that PA offers assistance to problem gambling.
The first, and perhaps most important step to take, is to recognize and identify the problem. Then, the next step is to look for assistance.
If you are seeking assistance to deal with a gambling problem, you can call the Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs 1-800-GAMBLER 24-hour hotline.
The online casinos also offer responsible gambling programs, which also provide the players with some tools that can help dealing with the problem. Users can impose limits to the account. Another option is to either suspend or self-exclude, which will prevent the player from accessing the account or creating new ones.
History of Gambling (and Online Casinos) in Pennsylvania
Gambling in Pennsylvania was considered illegal for a long time. Keystone State residents could only bet on the lottery, but, other than that, there were no viable legal options.
The attempts to make gambling legal in the state all ended up failing. However, public opinion on the activity slowly shifted to a more favourable take.
Then, in 2004, PA finally made the move to make gambling legal in the state. The Pennsylvania Racehorse Development and Gaming Act3, or Act 71, created the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board while legalizing casinos and racetracks.
Currently, some of the top PA casinos are Hollywood Casino at Penn National Road Course, Parx Casino, Rivers Casino, Mount Airy Casino Resort, Mohegan Sun Pocono, Valley Forge Casino Resort and Presque Isle Downs Casino.
In 2017, PA took an important step and passed a bill to allow online gambling. On October 30, 2017, Governor Tom Wolf signed the bill into law. While Pennsylvania authorities were relatively quick to legalize the activity, making it the one of four states to allow legal online gambling, Keystone state residents still had to wait a bit longer to play slots and other online casino games.
The first PA online casino went live much later, on July 15, 2019.
The market has since expanded considerably, and now it has eight licensed PA casino websites. This is very important for casino players in Pennsylvania, as it gives them more options. Sticking to the legal and licensed sites is the safest possible alternative. Gambling legislation requires an online casino to partner a land-based, brick-and-mortar casino.
Sports betting is another big gambling market in PA. The online gambling expansion also allowed racetracks and casinos in PA to offer land-based sportsbooks. On May 31, 2019, the first online sportsbook went live, offering another option for gambling online in PA.
The PA online Casino Market
The recent numbers for the online gambling market in PA have been encouraging.
April 2020 marked another month with record-setting marks for online casino games. April saw a significant 77.5% increase, to $43.1 million from $24.3 million in March.
Online slots were responsible for the largest part of that contribution, more than doubling the revenue to $27.3 million in total. Table games contributed with $10.5 million, closing in on a 20% increase compared to March. Finally, online poker also skyrocketed with a 67.7% growth, up to $5.3 million in revenue.
Rivers Casino was the top-grossing PA casino in April, followed by Mount Airy, Valley Forge, Hollywood Casino at Penn National Road Course and Parx.
FAQ
Now, let's take a look at the frequently asked questions about online casinos in Pennsylvania.
Can you gamble online in PA?
Yes, you can gamble online in PA casinos. Online gambling was signed into law in 2017, allowing players who are at least 21 years old and physically located in the state to use the sites. The first online PA casino went live on July 15, 2019. It was only the fourth state to legalize gambling online, which happened on October 30, 2017.
Sports betting is also legal in Pennsylvania, and is available both at online sportsbook sites and land-based sportsbooks in brick-and-mortar casinos.
Are casinos legal in Pennsylvania?
Yes, Pennsylvania legislation allows both online casinos and brick-and-mortar casinos as well. In 2004, Keystone state passed and signed Act 71 into law, which legalized land-based casinos and horse racetracks, allowing racetracks to offer slots and casino games as well, making Pennsylvania only the fourth state to allow gaming online. According to information from the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board, the gambling industry in PA generates well over $1 billion in tax revenue and has over 20,000 employees.
Is there gambling in Pennsylvania?
Yes, there is gambling in Pennsylvania. You can bet on sports, play real money online casino games and online poker. Brick-and-mortar casinos and land-based sportsbooks are also legal in Keystone state, which is among the top gambling markets in the US. Pennsylvania was only the fourth state to allow online gaming at real money sites. While it only has one site available for now, the Pennsylvania poker online market is set to expand in the near future and add a few more sites to the list.
Does Parx Casino have online gambling?
Yes, Parx does have online gambling. It was the second casino site to go live in Pennsylvania, shortly after Hollywood online casino. It offers many different games, including slots, table games and video poker. It was also the first casino site in Pennsylvania to offer live dealer games. If you want to play mobile casino games on the go, the Parx app is available to download on iOS and Android.
How many casinos does Pennsylvania have?
Currently, Pennsylvania has 12 brick-and-mortar casinos. The land-based casinos in Pennsylvania are Harrah's Philadelphia, Hollywood Casino at Penn National Road Course, Lady Luck Casino Nemacolin, Live! Hotel and Casino Philadelphia, The Meadows Racetrack and Casino, Mohegan Sun Pocono, Mount Airy Casino Resort, Parx Casino and Racing, Presque Isle Downs & Casino, Rivers Casino Philadelphia (formerly known as SugarHouse Casino), Rivers Casino Pittsburgh, Valley Forge Casino Resort and Wind Creek Bethlehem.
Pennsylvania also has ten legal online casinos, which are Hollywood, Parx, PlaySugarHouse, Stars Casino, Unibet Casino, FanDuel Casino, BetAmerica, Rivers Casino, Caesars Casino and DraftKings Casino.
How old do you have to be to go to the casino in PA?
You must be 21 or older to go to the casinos. PA gambling legislation also requires players to be at least 21 for any real money online games, including casino, poker or betting on sports, all of which are legal in Keystone state.
What real money online games can I play in Pennsylvania?
You can play a variety of real money online games in Pennsylvania. The list of games include slots, poker, video poker, table games and live dealer games. Sports betting online and at sportsbooks in land-based casinos and racetracks is also legal. Pennsylvania was the first state to take a legal sports bet after the 1992 Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act was ruled unconstitutional by the Supreme Court of the United States.
Do online casinos in Pennsylvania have a deposit bonus?
Yes, online casinos in Pennsylvania offer some good deposit bonus options, which sometimes require you to enter a promo code beforehand in order to claim them. The most common bonus offered by Pennsylvania is a first deposit match bonus for new players. Some casinos also have a free play bonus, which requires no deposit. It's always worth keeping an eye on any promo code related promotions too.
In order to withdraw any winnings that come from a deposit bonus or a free play bonus, you will be required to complete a minimum wagering requirement. This means that you must wager a value equivalent to the bonus a number of times to make it eligible for a withdrawal, but before the bonus expires. Each casino has a different wagering requirement, so if you intend on withdrawing money from the bonus, give preference to the ones that offer a lower minimum requirement, as you will be able to withdraw earlier.
Can I play online casino games for free in Pennsylvania?
Yes, you can play casino games for free in Pennsylvania, without wagering real cash. Some sites offer you the option to try out the games for free. Each casino will have its own specific requirements. Some will only be accessible to players physically located in Pennsylvania, while others will require the player to have a casino account. In some cases, you will be able to play for free even if you aren't located in Pennsylvania and even if you don't have an online casino account.
How to deal with a gambling problem?
When it comes to dealing with a gambling problem, the first necessary step is to identify it. Whether you are dealing with this issue or if someone you know is going through a similar situation, the next step after identifying the problem is to look for professional help. One option is to call The Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs 24-hour hotline. Pennsylvania residents can call 1-800-GAMBLER to access the hotline.
The sites will also provide tools to deal with the problem. Players can impose limits to the account, such as a deposit limit, loss limit and playing session limit. In some cases, it is recommended to opt for a cool-off period or to opt for self-exclusion, which will block the account and any ads related to casino and gaming.
Keep in mind that real money gambling isn't risk-free, and is meant to be fun above anything else. Never think of it as a way to make quick money. Only wager what you can lose, and make sure to never go beyond that limit.
