Since online gambling in PA was legalized in 2017, plenty of new gaming sites have emerged. Many offer similar betting options, but they all have differences that distinguish them from one another, making some even better than others; Knowing what the best gaming sites in Pennsylvania are will help you make an informed decision before you get started, which is why we at Profitsquad picked out the best ones for you!
Read on and find out everything you need to know.
Top notch $2,000 deposit bonus Great variety of games in offer Caesars rewards system for special promos Caesars NJ online casino is perhaps one of the best out there. In fact, no Caesars online casino review would be complete without mentioning the great selection of games, great customer service contact options, and the excellent level of security. This online casino is well worth spending time on thanks to its great graphics and overall enjoyable atmosphere. Caesars NJ online casino really is here to stay.
Over 410 games & Live Dealer available Awesome $1,000 match deposit bonus Wide variety of slot games BetMGM online casino is without a doubt one of the best online casinos around. With a very impressive selection of games and a wide range of bonuses and promotions, it’s no wonder this casino is very popular. The customer service options are very good, as is the level of security. BetMGM NJ online casino is well worth visiting.
Licensed and legal in the USA Risk-free sports bet for new customers This Borgata Casino online casino review was a real pleasure to research. This online casino clearly knows how to please its players. With a huge selection of games and impressive withdrawal speed, Borgata Casino could be one of the best NJ casinos around. Customer service and security are very good, and players are set to enjoy spending their time online.
All forms of online gambling are legalized in The Keystone State, if you are placing bets at a licensed operator, and you are of legal age.
Types of Online Betting | Permitted | Legal age |
Casinos | Yes | 21 |
Sportsbooks | Yes | 21 |
Horse Racing | Yes | 21 |
Daily Fantasy Sports | Yes | 18 |
Lotteries | Yes | 18 |
Poker | Yes | 21 |
All the virtual casinos and sportsbooks that we’ve reviewed are completely legal for residents of the state. However, you don’t have to be a resident to be able to gamble. You’ll only need to be within the state’s border to place bets or play games; Keep in mind that all websites will use geolocation to make sure that you are located within the border when trying to access the site.
As per PA regulations, you must be at least 21 years old to participate in sports betting, (including horse racing wagering) and online casinos in PA.
However, you can buy lottery tickets and place DFS wagers as soon as you turn 18.
Betting with cryptocurrencies is forbidden in the USA, which means there is no legitimate way for you to bet with crypto as a resident of Pennsylvania. To be safe, make sure to stay away from crypto wagering platforms.
Yes, placing wagers online has been legal since 2017 when the House Bill 271 was signed into law by the Governor of the state.
Let’s look at the main facts about the legality of online gambling in PA:
You may find that you can access international sites that are not regulated and licensed in your region that claim to accept US players, but you won’t have any legal protection from scammers - so steer clear and stick with US regulated sites.
On October 30th, 2017, the authorities finally legalized online casinos and put them under the jurisdiction of the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board.
However, all must be directly tied to a land-based casino in the state.
The PGCB can issue 3 categories of operating licenses to virtual gaming sites after conducting background checks and charging the required fees.
The categories in question are:
All can only have a specific number of slots and table games as per their legislation.
Online sports betting in PA did not become legal until mid-2018 when the Supreme Court struck down the PASPA federal ban.
In doing so, it allowed each individual state to legalize sports betting. In PA, the PGCB is responsible for all internet sportsbook operators.
To receive a license, all operators must undergo a background check and pay a license fee. Only then can they operate legitimately within the state’s borders.
Like online casinos, all sportsbooks must partner with land-based venues so that it is within the legal boundaries.
Unlike many other states, it is legal to bet on both college and professional sports!
Betting on horse racing is the oldest legal type of wagering in the Keystone State. It was originally legalized in 1959, and the first track to open was in 1963. In addition to the race tracks themselves, there are many off-track betting establishments where you can watch simulcasts and place bets.
Off-track horse betting has been allowed since 1988.
It wasn’t until 2017 that online horse race betting in Pennsylvania was legalized. Every operator must pass thorough background checks and pay the required one-time fee of $10 million. The OGCB is responsible for overseeing all gambling operators.
The Pennsylvania lottery was established as a government-run entity in 1971, and the lottery draws have been held regularly since the year 1972. The lottery in PA has the richest history of any bet type and, when internet wagering was legalized, it became even more accessible. Nowadays, it is entirely legal and convenient to purchase lottery tickets from a website.
Daily Fantasy Sports were legalized along with other wagering forms in PA, but slightly different rules apply here. While the operators are audited and licensed by the Pennsylvania Gambling Control Board, they don’t have to be partnered with a land-based betting entity.
Furthermore, the license fees for Fantasy sports are set at $50,000 for a 5-year license, and the gross revenue tax is 15%, as opposed to 36% for other gaming enterprises. As it stands right now, there are 8 different Daily Fantasy Sports operators in The Keystone State.
Online poker was first legalized in Pennsylvania in December 2017 with the passing of the H 271 Gambling Expansion Act.
However, it wasn’t until November 2019 that online poker officially launched in the Keystone State.
Under the law, the online poker industry is regulated by the PGCB, which is also tasked with issuing licenses to those who qualify. To play legally, you need to be aged 21 or over and situated within state borders.
The bonuses and promotions that you’ll encounter at sportsbooks & real money casinos sites depend entirely on the platforms themselves. These bonuses can include everything from welcome offers (deposit and no deposit), daily and monthly bonuses, and even loyalty programs.
Here’s what you can expect at platforms in PA:
While your access to certain bonuses and promotions may depend on your state, it is safe to assume that a gaming platform will provide the same offers to all players. So, an online casino that operates in both Pennsylvania and New Jersey will have the same offer for residents of both states, even if they must access that offer through different channels.
Most platforms will allow you to collect rewards points that can be exchanged and used in their land-based counterparts
Every player rates betting sites based on their own requirements and preferences. However, there are certain elements that are important for a betting site to be rated well amongst all players. There may be dozens of Pennsylvania online gambling sites operating legitimately, but here are the most popular ones.
Most of these choices contain the online gambling trifecta – casino, sportsbook, and horse racing. That is one of the main reasons they are so attractive to players in Pennsylvania.
If you sign up with more than one of these operators, you can claim more than one offer, play games in demo mode, and see which one you prefer.
All states impose taxes on winnings from gaming sites as they are considered income, and Pennsylvania is no different. Where this state stands out, however, is the sum that is being taxed.
When it comes to your income taxes, Pennsylvania taxes only 3.07%, which is a flat tax, and the lowest out of all the states where gambling on the internet is allowed by law.
However, in addition to the state tax, there are federal taxes that are applicable to winnings. The good news is that you don’t have to worry about paying these federal taxes – they are the responsibility of the operator.
That is why the casino withholds a certain percentage of your winnings when you cash out. If you provided your social security number to the operator, then the tax will only be 25%, but if you didn’t, then the tax goes up to 28%.
Additionally, depending on your tax bracket, you may need to pay up to 35% in federal taxes if you happen to win a bet made on an internet-based bookie.
The 3.07% tax goes directly to the PA’s budget, while the federal taxes go to the federal budget. These funds are then reallocated to education, state and local economic development, property tax relief, and other causes.
Type | Tax Rates | Notes |
Casino | 3.07% State tax | The federal tax would be 28% if you didn’t provide your SSN. |
Sports betting | 3.07% State tax 24% Federal withholding rate | This federal tax rate is for winnings of $5,000 or more |
Horse racing | 3.07% State tax 24% Federal withholding rate | This federal tax rate is for winnings of $5,000 or more |
Lottery | 24% | This is the rate for winnings of $5,000 or more |
Daily Fantasy Sports | 24% | This is the rate for winnings of $5,000 or more |
3.07% State tax | For winnings of $5,000 or more. |
Make sure you do declare any winnings on your tax return. If you fail to do so, you may be in for some hefty penalties.
Legalizing online gambling in PA has opened the market to numerous top-rated sites.
Casinos, Sportsbooks, and most of them boast having both options – plus horse racing.
Deciding what the best platform is for you, depends on how you prefer to play and your expectations from the site overall. If you play on a safe and regulated site, stick to your limits, have fun and are old enough, then you’re good to go.
You must be at least 21 years old, according to state legislation. The only exceptions are lottery tickets and DFS bets.
In-person wagering has been allowed for a long time, and now so is online gambling. This refers to betting on casino games, betting sites, horse racing, DFS, and lottery.
You need to check what kind of license the site has. If it has a PGCB license, you’re good to go. Otherwise, you cannot bet there as a resident of Pennsylvania.
No, you don’t, but you must be in PA at the moment of wagering. You must be in Pennsylvania-licensed sites physically. If the PGCB only licenses the site, then you can only play from PA.
Definitely. There is nothing stopping you from signing up for all the gaming sites in Pennsylvania. You just have to be over 21 and physically present in PA.
You can use bank transfers, credit and debit cards, and e-wallets. However, always check with the specific gambling platform to see which methods are allowed.
Absolutely not! Gambling with cryptocurrencies is forbidden in the US, which makes it forbidden in Pennsylvania.
Yes, they do! Any legitimate casino will confirm your identity, especially before allowing you to withdraw funds. That is how they prevent identity fraud.
Most bookies contain dozens of different sports, including football, basketball, baseball, soccer, F1, and many other national and international ones.
Absolutely! Betting on college sports in The Keystone State is just like betting on professional sports.
Questions? Email us:
[email protected]
Copyright © Profit Squad 2022.
All Rights Reserved. | Void where prohibited.
Applicable to users over the age of 21.
If you are concerned about gambling visit:
ProfitSquad is owned and operated by Parallel Value Ltd, Reg: C101034, Malta
