Online Gambling and Top Casinos in Pennsylvania 2024

Land-Based Casinos in Pennsylvania

There are 17 land-based casinos. The venues carry one of four licenses as outlined by the PGCB:

• Cat 1: Racetrack casinos
• Cat 2: Stand-alone casinos
• Cat 3: Hotel resort casinos
• Cat 4: Satellite casinos

As of 2024, there are six racinos with a Cat 1 license, four Cat 2 casinos, three Cat 3 casinos, and four Cat 4 casinos.

The PA Gaming Control Board permits up to 25 licenses, which means more venues are expected to open in the near future.

Horse & Dog Tracks

The state is home to three thoroughbred racetracks and three harness tracks.

A casino is attached to all three thoroughbred tracks, including the Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course in Grantville.

Horse betting in Pennsylvania is legal but players can only place pari-mutuel wagers.

Greyhound racing betting is illegal in the state and has been outlawed since 2004.

Online Sports Betting

Online sports betting is big business in PA. The state collects around $50 million a month in tax revenues from its regulated sites and in-person sportsbooks.

In October 2023 alone, PA sportsbooks posted record revenues of $829 million. The state also taxes bettors.

There is a 24% federal tax, plus your 3.07% income tax, on all winnings via licensed operators.

There are 12 online sportsbooks inside PA.

Offshore sites are also open to residents in the state and provide a wider range of bet options, including college sports, politics, and entertainment betting.

Bingo Halls and Charitable Gambling

There are scores of bingo halls in Pennsylvania, operating from Scranton to Central Valley.

These are licensed under PA’s 1981 Bingo Law, which permits bingo for “Charitable and Civic” purposes.

Players can also play bingo online in PA.

Charitable gambling is also permitted, but organizations must receive a license and cannot provide single-game prizes worth more than $2,000.

In fact, charitable raffles have a $15,000 monthly cap on prizes.

Social Gaming at Home

Social gaming such as home poker nights, lottery-style numbers games, and quarter auctions are not permitted in Pennsylvania.

Poker Rooms and Clubs

Poker rooms are abundant in Pennsylvania, but there are very few stand-alone rooms.

Instead, most poker rooms are attached to or affiliated with casinos.

Hollywood Casino at Penn National, for example, houses 16 poker tables, while Parx Casino has a 48-table poker room.

Online poker is also available at state-regulated sites.

However, the industry suffers from low revenues, and PA has no firm commitment to join the Multi-State Internet Gaming Agreement.

Offshore poker sites, meanwhile, accept residents from the Keystone State and host wide-ranging tournaments where players across the U.S. and beyond can compete with each other.

Eight-Liners

Both in-person and online slot machines are widely available in the Keystone State.

Harrah’s has 2,900 slot machines, with over 3,000 slots at The Meadows Racetrack and Casino.

Casino Cruises.

Riverboat are not legal in Pennsylvania, and there are no casino cruises that operate out of the state. The closest can be found in neighboring New Jersey.

Online Slots

You can play online slots in Pennsylvania at all 21 licensed operators and many more top-reviewed offshore sites. 

These games have Random Number Generator (RNG) software built in and anti-glitch mechanisms to ensure games are fulfilled and payouts honored.

The RTP (Return to Player) on the best PA online slots is between 90% and 99%.

Bet levels range from dimes to $100 a spin at many top-rated casino sites.

You can also find themes that reflect your interests. There are historical slots, space-age games, adventure titles, and even sci-fi games.

These range from 3, 5, and 6 reels through to cluster pays. Some slots even have as many as 230,000 paylines.

Online Poker

You can play online poker in Pennsylvania at licensed sites and offshore casinos. 

In-state sites have plenty of games to compete in every day.

However, PA is not part of the multi-state poker pact, which means you can’t challenge players from outside the state.

That’s why many online poker players join offshore sites.

Here, you can buy into nationwide and international poker tournaments and compete for thousands of dollars in prize money.

The Keystone State also hosts WSOP online bracelet events each year.

Players can buy seats for between $400 and $1,000 and compete for Texas Hold’em bracelets.

Blackjack

Online blackjack is available at all 21 licensed online casino operators in the Keystone State, as well as offshore sites. 

There are built-in RTP and volatility levels for each game, as well as thorough payables so new players can easily understand the rules.

PA permits casinos to hold variations of blackjack under Chapter 633a of the Pennsylvania Code.

Live Dealer Games

Live Casinos online are permitted in Pennsylvania and are hugely popular at offshore sites too.

Games are hosted by dealers in a live studio and regulated by the Gaming Control Board. 

The types of live dealer games available to online players include baccarat, roulette, blackjack, three-card poker, and craps. 

Winnings from regulated sites are taxed at the same rate as other casino winnings.

Is Online Gambling Legal in Pennsylvania?

Gambling in Pennsylvania is legal in many forms.

The state regulates both in-person and online sportsbooks, brick-and-mortar and online casinos, racetracks, lotteries, and social games.

HB 271 legalized online gambling in the state in 2017 and forms the basis for PA’s legal online gaming activity.

Gambling Promotion

All establishments and online brands in Pennsylvania must adhere to the state’s gambling advertising regulations.

License holders cannot advertise indecent or offensive graphics or audio content that contradicts the game rules or target players who have been excluded from play. 

All promotions must carry the statement: “If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, help is available. Call 1-800-GAMBLER.”

Regulatory Oversight

The Gaming and Control Board (PGCB) regulates the industry.

The governing body was established by Section 1201 of title 4 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes.

License Fees

Applicants for Pennsylvania gambling and sports betting licenses must pay fees, as detailed in House Bill 271.

• Category 1 slot machine license applications cost a non-refundable fee of $16.5 million.
• Category 2 applications for standalone casinos require an initial fee of $50 million that is subject to renewal after three years.
  
  Category 2 casino applications require a one-time non-refundable fee of $24.75m There is also an annual $10m slot machine license operation fee for Cat 1 and 2 venues.
• Category 3 casinos must pay an initial licensing fee of $5m.
• Category 4 licenses cost $7.5m, and the establishments. These premises must have between 300 and 700 slot machines and up to 40 table games.

Racetrack Casino Applications

No Category 1 gambling facility (racebook) can be located within 20 miles of another Category 1 facility (Section 1302(b) of title 4 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes).

Category 1 licenses are open to applications from those who have previously been issued a license to conduct thoroughbred or harness racing with pari-mutuel wagering by either the Harness Racing Commission or the Horse Racing Commission.

Online gambling application fees, meanwhile, cost between $4m to $12m. There is a $250,000 renewal fee, due every five years.

Be smart with safety:

PA is the seventh-worst state for online data breaches, and residents must be sensible when they bet online.

This means only joining recommended sites that are fully encrypted and protect players. 

Gamers should create unique passwords for gambling accounts, only use trusted payment methods, and never share their details with anyone.

Seek out encryption:

The top casino sites in Pennsylvania and across America use TLS encryption for all transactions.

This means you can ensure a safe connection when linking up from your computer, phone, or tablet.

Take your time:

You wouldn’t buy a house in two minutes, so why rush to gamble?

Whether you plan to play roulette online or bet on the World Series, it’s important to stop, think, and consider your bets.

Take your time when playing for real money or betting on sports in order to maximize your enjoyment.

Know your limits:

It’s important to set deposit and bet limits before you begin gambling. This way, you won’t risk exceeding your budget and getting into debt.

Use limitation tools at your chosen site to self-exclude, block future payments, and take time-outs.

Seek Help:

If you are struggling with setting limits or feel you are suffering from problem, then find help.

Call the PA Gambling Addiction 24-hour hotline at 1-800-GAMBLER.

Find out more about gambling addiction symptoms here.