Pennsylvania Online Gambling

Pennsylvania gambling laws received a substantial update in October 2017. At that time, Gov. Tom Wolf signed a gambling bill into law. The 2017 PA online gambling bill took advantage of US online gambling laws, making Pennsylvania the fourth US state to do so. The new statutes legalized online poker, online casinos, daily fantasy sports, and sports betting in PA. Changes included truck stop VLTs and tablet computer gambling in Pennsylvania’s international airports.

The bill ushered in a new era of gaming for Pennsylvania, while unleashing a wave of regulatory activity. Since then, longtime operators sought licenses for iGaming and sportsbooks. Also, a bevy of international online gaming software companies sought licenses. Throughout the course of 2019, various betting sites plan to launch online casinos, sportsbooks, and poker sites.

Pennsylvania’s Legal Casinos

Even before the latest update to its gambling laws, Pennsylvania was one of the leaders in brick-and-mortar gambling in the United States. The state’s dozen combined casinos and racinos generated large revenues for the Pennsylvania Department of the Treasury. Almost every version of gaming is licensed, regulated, and taxed. As of 2019, sports betting in PA is going to be legal, regulated, and widespread.

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Best Pennsylvania Online Gambling Casinos, Sportsbooks & Poker Sites 2019

Pennsylvania Online Gambling Quick Menu:

• PA Gambling Laws
• Is Online Gambling Legal in Pennsylvania?
• PA Online Poker Laws
• Pennsylvania Online Betting
• PA Land-Based Casinos
• Track Betting & Off-Track Betting
• Charitable Gambling
• Pennsylvania Bingo Halls
• Social Gaming in PA

Pennsylvania State Gambling Laws

Laws That Pertain to Pennsylvania Gambling

Pennsylvania’s gambling industry is one of the most substantial in the United States. Though states like California, Washington, and Oklahoma have more casinos, no other state but Nevada collects more gambling taxes than Pennsylvania.

After several stops and starts, Pennsylvania also is a leader in the online gambling industry. In October 2017, Gov. Tom Wolf singed a gambling bill into law which legalized online poker and casino sites. Since then, Pennsylvania legalized sports betting. With tablet computer gambling in airport terminals and VLTs in truck stops, Pennsylvania has more legal ways to gamble than most US states.

18§5513 and 4§325.101. Gambling Defined.

The “elements of gambling are: consideration, element of chance, and reward.”

In Pennsylvania, gambling has three parts and must have these three parts to be considered gambling. If the game has an element of chance and a reward, it is gambling. “Consideration” is defined as a “benefit which must be bargained between parties” – in gambling terms, the payout on a bet.

Ban on Bookmaking.

Pennsylvania law bans “Pool selling and bookmaking; punch boards, drawing cards; private wire for gambling information; cockfighting; bullet play illegal.”

Pennsylvania declares lesser known bookmaker bets illegal: betting pools, punch boards, and drawing cards. Wagering on cockfighting is illegal. Like the 1961 Federal Wire Act, the state makes it illegal to send private wires for gambling purposes. The 2017 law makes online poker and online casinos legal, though.

Is Gambling Legal in the State of Pennsylvania?

Yes. State leaders have legalized most forms of betting in PA. Land-based PA casino have a full range of slot machines, table games, video poker, and bingo gaming. A few racetracks operate as racinos, but also offer pari-mutuel wagering, simulcasting, and OTB services. Sportsbooks are opening throughout 2019. Interactive gaming also launched in June 2019.

Since House Bill 271 passed into law in October 2017, Pennsylvania allows sports betting, online poker, online casinos, daily fantasy sports, airport tablet computer gambling, and video lottery terminals. VLTs were limited to truck stops across Pennsylvania. Each truck stop can have up to 5 video lottery terminals, which are similar to slot machines.

Pennsylvania’s international airports can offer gambling on tablet computers to anyone who had a valid airline ticket. The tablet computer, which can be found at bars and restaurants in the airports, allow slot machine-type gambling. Arnold Palmer Regional Airport near Pittsburgh, a regional airport, also is allowed to offer tablet computer betting.

Pennsylvania Gambling Laws

Type of Gambling – Offered/Licensed? – Notes & Restrictions

• Online Gambling – Yes – Online gambling legalized in 2017, launching in 2018-2019.
• Land-Based Casinos – Yes – 6 casinos, 6 racinos, and 5 satellite casinos on the way.
• Charitable Gaming – Yes – Bingo if you are listed as an “Association”.
• Lottery Betting – Yes – State Lottery (1972), Powerball (2002), Mega Millions (2010).
• Minimum Gambling Age – 18 for lottery, bingo, pari-mutuel bets. 21 for land-based casinos and racinos.

Is Online Poker Legal in Pennsylvania?

Yes, online poker in PA is legal. Poker brands like PokerStars and 888 Poker have deals with local land-based casinos (in this case Mount Airy Casino & Resort). 888 also has a deal with Harrah’s in Philadelphia, as it 888 and Caesars Entertainment properties often do. Hollywood Casino (Penn National Gaming) is partnered with IGT, while Mohegan Sun Pocono is linked to Scientific Games’s TBD. Presque Isle works with SBTech, while Rivers Casino in Pittsburgh and SugarHouse Casino in Philadelphia work with Rush Street Interactive (which owns SugarHouse).

Parx Casino works with GAN and Kambi, while Sands Bethlehem has a deal with TBD. Valley Forge Casino has an ambitious partnership with IGT, GAN, GVC Holdings, and Party Poker. The upcoming Stadium Casino has no deal yet, but will in due time. Lady Luck Nemacolin and Meadows Casino have no licensing deal.

Most of Pennsylvania’s casinos plan to launch their sites in 2019, with mid-2019 as the listed launch date for about half of the operators. 2018 involved the lengthy licensing process by the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB). Since the PGCB also is licensing land-based sportsbooks and online casinos, the process took most of the second half of 2018.

Most of the licensed operators have both online casinos and online poker sites, which cost a $10 million licensing fee. Presque Isle and the Stadium Casino project chose online casinos, but do not have an online poker component yet. Launching an online casino costs a $7.5 million fee, so Presque Isle might not pay the additional $2.5 million to launch an Internet poker site. Given the fact a federal ban on interstate poker will keep Pennsylvania from joining the Multi State Internet Gambling Act (MSIGA) — which would have allowed shared player liquidity with New Jersey, Nevada, and Delaware — the Stadium Casino might choose to do the same.

Pennsylvania Online Poker Laws

Name of Bill – Year Submitted – Lawmaker – Supported – Opposed

• House Bill 271 – 2017 – Joe Scarnatti – Mike Turzai, Tom Wolf – Republican backbenchers.

Is Sports Betting / Daily Fantasy Sports Legal in Pennsylvania?

Yes, sports betting also is legal in Pennsylvania. HB 271 that legalized online gambling also legalized sportsbooks, which became effective after the US Supreme Court repealed the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA). HB 271 also legalized daily fantasy sports. DraftKings and FanDuel can sign up competitors in the country’s 5th-largest state (by population). The sports betting industry is expected to generate $200 million a year in tax revenues for Pennsylvania, while the DFS industry should generate another $5 million in taxes.

Because PA sports betting operations are regulated, trusted brands like SugarHouse Sportsbook and FanDuel Sportsbook operate in Pennsylvania. Bettors also will find Stars Group, 888sports, and William Hill among the PA sportsbooks.

Does Pennsylvania have land-based casinos?

Yes, Pennsylvania has 6 land-based casinos and 6 casino-racetracks, more commonly known as racinos. In the early stages of 2018, the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board held auctions for placement of satellite casinos, also known as mini-casinos. Development continues on 5 more satellite casinos, which could not be within 25 miles of any other brick-and-mortar casino in the state. The PGCB planned to license up to 10 mini-casinos, but interest in doing so was limited.

One reason is Las Vegas Sands Corp. decided to get out of the Pennsylvania market. LVS, which owns Bethlehem Sands Resort & Casino, sold the casino to the wealthy Indian tribe, the Poarch Band of Alabama (Wind Creek Hospitality). Bethlehem Sands is the most lucrative casino in the state, but Sheldon Adelson was unhappy with the online gambling bill, special local taxes on casinos ($10 million), and the unionization of the Sands Bethlehem. Stories circle that LVS plans to seek a land-based casino in New York state in the coming years.

CASINOS

Does Pennsylvania have any legal betting tracks / shops?

Yes, Pennsylvania has six legal betting tracks. In 2006, the traditional racetracks convinced the legislature to approve slots parlors for all six tracks, which would help the traditional thoroughbred racing and harness racing industry remain viable. Since then, several of the racinos opened full casino operations.

HORSE TRACK RACINO

RACE BOOKS

Does Pennsylvania allow off-track betting?

Yes. Several of the racinos have off-track betting facilities. For instance, Parx Racing has five OTBs (“turf clubs”) in and around the Philadelphia area. Search for businesses like Northeast Turf Club, South Philadelphia Turf Club, and Valley Forge Turf Club to learn more about Pennsylvania OTBs.

Penn National Gaming is the same way. The operator, which owns gaming venues in Ohio, Florida, and 16 other states, turned Penn National Lancaster and Penn National York into OTBs. Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs also has OTBs, such as the Downs at East Stroudsburg and the Downs at Lehigh Valley.

The Meadows Racetrack and Casino in Washington, Pennsylvania also has opened three OTBs over the years, though only one still remains open: Meadows Harmar.

OFF-TRACK BETTING

Does Pennsylvania allow charitable gambling?

Yes, the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board issues bingo licenses for non-profit charitable gaming organizations across the state. Under the terms of the Bingo Law, they are called “associations”. Here is a small sampling of the charitable bingo parlors in Pennsylvania.

BINGO HALLS

Is social gaming allowed in Pennsylvania?

Yes. Private poker games and other forms of social gaming are legal, so long as the host does not charge fees or otherwise making a profit off the gaming. If you organized a social gaming event for friends, you can win pots from the card game, but don’t charge a door fee or collect a poker rake.

Free-play social gaming casinos like Double Down Casino, Slotomania, Zynga, and Big Fish Games can sign up players in Pennsylvania. Freeplay online casinos like PlayMGM (MGM Resorts) and Play4Fun Casino (Mohegan Sun) are available. The Play4Fun social casino is notable, because Mohegan Sun operates a racino in Pocono. Sign up for a free account and win rewards that can be used in any Mohegan Sun casino in the United States. Instead of driving to Resorts Casino in Atlantic City or Mohegan Sun in Connecticut, you can go to Mohegan Sun at Pocono to redeem your freeplay credits.