On Oct. 26, 2017. Gov. Tom Wolf signed H 271 into law, enacting widespread gambling expansion that extends beyond just PA online casinos.
Is online gambling legal in PA?
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Here is a look at exactly what the law authorizes:
The law allowed the state to regulate and legalize these activities, but the law does not mean that every online casino site or sports betting app is suddenly legal in Pennsylvania. Only sites vetted, approved, and overseen by the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB) are legal.
All of the legal real-money gambling sites are very clearly tied to a land-based casino in the state. For example, FanDuel Sportsbook works in tandem with Valley Forge and BetRivers is the brand of the two Rivers Casinos in the state.
Online casinos in Pennsylvania
Legal online casinos in Pennsylvania launched in July 2019. After starting with three sites, the industry is starting to grow at a slightly faster clip. The state awarded 10 casinos interactive gaming licenses. Additionally, the PGCB is currently considering allowing MGM Resorts and Golden Nugget NJ to operate in PA.
This is the latest info on all of these online casino projects:
PA sports bettings sites
Football season is underway, which means sportsbook operators are pushing to launch during sports bettings most lucrative season. Every casino in Pennsylvania, save for Lady Luck Nemacolin, has applied for a $10 million sports betting license.
Here is a look at where each operator is in the process:
Real-money gambling apps in PA
There are currently eight online sportsbooks, five online casinos, and one online poker option in Pennsylvania. Here is a look at when each of them launched:
There are still more apps to come in 2020. Several major players in the state, like Harrah’s Philadelphia, still have not gone online.
What online casino options are in PA?
Pennsylvania online casinos rolled out on July 15, 2019.
Initially, the thought was that everyone would launch on or around this day, only two, Parx Casino and Hollywood Casino, were ready. SugarHouse Casino rolled out PlaySugarHouse.com two days later.
Months later, PokerStars Casino debuted alongside PokerStars PA online poker site. Unibet Casino followed a couple of weeks later.
Each of these online casinos offer relatively small libraries of games. Things that are commonplace in New Jersey, like live dealer games, are still a ways off in Pennsylvania.
Why such slow goings in Pennsylvania?
The short answer is the Wire Act. Ever since the Department of Justice released a new, much stricter, interpretation of the Wire Act in January 2019, Pennsylvania regulators have taken an extremely conservative approach to online gambling. Part of that approach includes having every operator and every casino game provider stand up separate servers in Pennsylvania. Both operators and game providers planned on sharing New Jersey servers with their PA products. The change in regulations threw a wrench in their plans…and their timeline.
Where this change is hurting PA online casino customers is not just that casino sites are launching very quickly. The other big issue is, that with few operators successfully jumping through the hoops required to offer games in Pennsylvania, there are just not a lot of game options for players. Ideally, the number of providers will grow in 2020, but history suggests we should expect continued slow rollouts on the online casino front.
What PA sports betting sites are live and legal?
Online sportsbooks, on the other hand, are operating at a faster clip. Currently, there are eight betting apps to choose from.
After initial slim pickings for iPhone users seeking to sports bet in Pennsylvania, they now have a glut of options to choose from. Parx is currently the only sportsbook without an iPhone option.
Unibet, BetRivers, and PlaySugarHouse do not have an iOS app for sportsbook users, but all three offer browser-based betting in -tandem with the GeoGuard app, a geolocation app from GeoComply that allows for browser gaming.
The launch of FanDuel Sportsbook was when the market for Pennsylvania sports betting really started to open up. The sportsbook combined the PA and New Jersey app into a single venture for both Android and iOS, with the site geolocating you to determine what you can bet on. DraftKings Sportsbook similarly offers a single app that works in all states where DraftKings accepts regulated sports bets.
FOX Bet also launched with both iOS and Android options when it went live in September 2019, but it segregates apps based on states and offers a separate PA and NJ version for users.
The big perk of this for users is the shared wallet across states. If you go back and forth between Pennsylvania and New Jersey, no more worrying about whether or not the right account is properly funded.
Online poker in PA
The vertical of online gambling that is the slowest-going of all is Pennsylvania online poker. The first PA poker site, PokerStars PA, did not even go live until November 2019, over two years after the law legalizing and regulating it passed.
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The state expects other online poker sites to launch. Given the slow start though, it may be a while before new sites launch. In theory, these seven casinos are all supposed to offer online poker, but Mount Airy, through PokerStars is the only one to launch so far:
The next most likely candidate to launch appears to be WSOP.com, which has offered a couple of hints to suggest it might be up in running in Pennsylvania in time for the 2020 WSOP, which begins in late May. The other contender to get going in the Keystone State next is partypoker, which is partnered with Valley Forge Casino. Both of these sites are operational in New Jersey. WSOP.com is also available in Nevada and Delaware.
Before you get too excited about the prospect of playing online poker with players in New Jersey, Delaware, and Nevada, which share a compacting agreement, be advised that the PGCB’s conservative approach to the Wire Act means compacting may take some time.
Compacting with other states is possible in the law and PGCB regulations, but uncertainty about which interpretation of the Wire Act will prevail means it is unlikely the PGCB will greenlight shared player pools until pending court action around the DOJ and the 2019 Wire Act is complete.
With so much uncertainty around online poker, keep an eye on the latest news and developments on the subject here at PlayPennsylvania.
With new casinos launching regularly, you can expect most everything available in a brick and mortar casino, and in many instances, even more. Pennsylvania gambling sites offer a mix of betting options, slot machine games, and bonus offers. Some casinos will award players with a no-deposit bonus, while others might have a match offer.
For example, Sugarhouse offers Pennsylvania players an online sportsbook and casino with a $250 sign-up bonus.
Sugarhouse Casino and Sugarhouse Sportsbook are available for Android and iOS players, with free and real-money games on the site.
Online casinos and sportsbooks now live in Pennsylvania
The PA online casino industry is finally up and running, but still has a ways to go before all operators are launched and offering games. However, here are several online casinos up and running in the state, including:
There are also several PA online sportsbooks to choose from:
SugarHouse, FOX Bet, and Parx all offer integrated sportsbooks and online casinos. PlaySugarHouse broke ground with the first offering available to iOS users. Players simply sync up the browser version of SugarHouse with the Geo Guard third-party geolocation app and they are good to go.
When it comes to iPhone access, every sportsbook has means for iOS customers to bet. FanDuel, DraftKings, FOX Bet, and Parx all have apps in the Apple app store.
The FanDuel and DraftKings apps are seamlessly integrated with its New Jersey app, which is ideal for Philadelphia-area commuters. Meanwhile, SugarHouse and Rivers are both easily accessible via the iPhone browser.
For online casinos, PokerStars, SugarHouse and Hollywood have iPhone access, but Parx does not. SugarHouse, like the sportsbook, is accessible via the iPhone browser with over 40 titles to choose from.
The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB) has approved ten PA casinos for their interactive gaming licenses and we expect to see additional casinos and betting sites open in the coming months. Plus, with football underway, more sports betting apps should roll out soon.
The only two potential new licensees still in the process are out-of-state applicants MGM and Golden Nugget. Both are approved qualified gaming entities. However, neither has been approved for a license as of the start of November.
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What does the PA online gambling market look like?
Most everyone is getting involved in the PA online casino and sports betting industries in one way or another. In fact, there are also several outside companies taking part.
Here is a look at all the companies involved in online casinos, who their partners are, and where they are in the process:
Full list of conditionally approved PA online casinos
PGCB has conditionally approved the following casinos for online slots, online table games, and online poker:
Four other casinos opted for online table games and slots licenses, but will not offer online poker. Those properties are:
That leaves three casinos sitting out. Rivers Casino initially applied, but rescinded its application. It will promote the rebranded Rivers Philadelphia online casino when it launches. Lady Luck Nemacolin and The Meadows are not taking part, likely deferring to their sister properties of Presque Isle and Hollywood Casino respectively.
Mohegan Sun Pocono
Mohegan Sun was on a bit slower schedule than its peers, as one of the last casinos to present online casino plans. It announced earlier this year it will work with Kindred for online gaming, in particular, sports betting. The Unibet brand finally went live in Pennsylvania in November.
In May, Mohegan presented sports betting plans and noted that Pala Interactive would be assisting on the online casino and online poker fronts.
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PlaySugarHouse
The first of the online sportsbooks to launch, PlaySugarHouse Pennsylvania is one of two integrated online casinos and sportsbooks in Pennsylvania. The PA online casino uses the proprietary Rush Street Interactive platform. Kambi supplies the betting odds and some of the tech for the sportsbook.
PlaySugarHouse.com PA is available as an integrated Android app that users can download directly from the site. If you want to access the site on an iPhone, you can do so via your browser, but first, you have to download and enable the third-party GeoGuard app from GeoComply.
Don’t get too used to the name though. SugarHouse is in the process of rebranding to Rivers Casino Philadelphia.
The sportsbook went live at the end of May 2019, while the online casino launched on July 17, 2019.
BetRivers
BetRivers is the online sportsbook product from Rivers Casino Pittsburgh. While it looks like a near-clone of its sister site, PlaySugarHouse, they are actually two different entities. You need to set up different accounts to play on each sports betting site and the funds do not comingle.
Additionally, BetRivers does not have an online casino. Rivers Pittsburgh initially applied for a $10 million interactive gambling license package, but later rescinded its application. It can potentially be a skin of PlaySugarHouse someday, but for now, it is without an online casino option.
Given that SugarHouse is rebranding to Rivers Casino Philadelphia, there is certainly room for the two Rush Street properties to pool their resources when it comes to online gambling marketing and promotions across Pennsylvania.
Hollywood Casino
Hollywood Casino at Penn National is the flagship property of Penn National Gaming. The PA-based casino company is relatively new to the online casino game. Accordingly, it inked a deal with IGT last fall to power its online casino product.
IGT’s PlayDigital platform debuted in the US when HollywoodCasino.com launched in Pennsylvania on July 15. It was the first online casino to launch in Pennsylvania.
The platform features the biggest slot library on the market. Additionally, it is the only online casino to offer the IGT Game King video poker suite with nine different video poker variants.
Hollywood Casino also is supposed to launch an online poker site, but given that they are starting from scratch and up against seasoned competitors, we do not expect this project to be a priority for Penn.
After a deal for sports betting with William Hill fell through, Hollywood is now working with Kambi to eventually launch a Hollywood-branded online sportsbook.
Harrah’s Online Casino
If you’ve spent any time at all on Caesars Online Casino in New Jersey, then you have a good idea of what to expect from Harrah’s Philadelphia Online Casino when it finally launches.
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A product of Caesars Interactive Entertainment (CIE) and Nyx, the NJ platform features a robust list of games, including a couple of hundred different slot titles an all your favorite table games on both its browser-based client and its online casino app.
When Harrah’s Philadelphia launches, you can also take advantage of one of the best rewards programs in the business, Caesars Rewards. Your online play can translate into brick and mortar casino rewards at any Caesars properties across the country.
And, of course, Harrah’s Philadelphia’s online gambling offerings will eventually include the largest regulated online poker site in the US, WSOP.com. At launch, the site will likely not be sharing players with sister WSOP sites in Nevada, New Jersey, and Delaware, but PA law does allow for shared player liquidity as an option for the future.
Valley Forge Casino
Valley Forge Casino is up and running with FanDuel Sportsbook as of July 22. The casino has online table games and online slots in the works too.
If the casino product ends up anything like the sportsbook, which offers an iOS app and a shared wallet with players’ New Jersey accounts, it could be a trendsetter on the online casino front as well.
The current plan is to launch the site as VFCasino.com. The casino’s partnership with FanDuel’s parent company, Flutter Entertainment, means they will get to work with GAN on the online casino product. Flutter was previously known as PaddyPower Betfair, so if you want a sense of what to expect from Valley Forge, the Betfair online casino in New Jersey is probably a good indication.
No guarantee some of the same exclusive titles on Betfair will crop up in Valley Forge. However, the hope is there will be a similarly large library of slot titles. Betfair is somewhat lacking in a long list of table games, but it is a dream for slots players.
Presque Isle Downs
The Churchill Downs-owned Presque Isle Downs decided early on not to offer poker, but to move forward on an online casino.
The casino inked deals with SBTech and Golden Nugget in March 2019. For SBTech, it was the first US partnership on a sports betting platform.
In December 2019, the BetAmerica online sportsbook launched in Pennsylvania. There will eventually be a BetAmerica online casino as well.
Mount Airy Casino
Mount Airy Casino has a big-time partner for its online gambling offering in The Stars Group (TSG). While TSG is better known for its online poker client, PokerStars, it is also a veteran online casino provider. Both sites launched in early November.
What’s unique is the PokerStars client presents online poker, online casino, and sports betting from FOX Bet in a single place. Users can easily jump from one vertical to another with a united account and shared wallet, without leaving the client or the app.
Wind Creek
The new kid on the block, Wind Creek is probably better known to Pennsylvania gambling enthusiasts by its previous name, Sands Bethlehem.
The ink is barely dry on the Wind Creek transfer of ownership, so this is a property you should not expect to see any online gambling product from in 2019. Wind Creek’s owners, the Poarch Band of Creek Indians, are absolutely pursuing online gambling, but they are still struggling to catch up with the competition after the late start.
Stadium Casino / Philly Live! project
We know Stadium’s owner, Cordish, plans to get involved in both sports betting and online casino. even before the casino opens in December 2020. The group already has a retail sportsbook deal in place with FanDuel.
Parx Casino
The biggest casino in Pennsylvania is forging into new territory with online gambling. It did so kicking and screaming. The company repeatedly trying to foil efforts to bring online gambling to Pennsylvania, now they are of the mindset that, if you can’t beat them, join them.
Parx was the second casino to get an online sportsbook product up and running in the state, joining the SugarHouse PA online sportsbook product. It was also the second Pennsylvania online casino to start accepting bets.
Parx and its partner GAN launched Parx Online Casino in July 2019 with a library of slot titles, video poker, roulette, and baccarat.
Is gambling legal in PA?
In October 2017, Gov. Tom Wolf signed the state’s massive gambling expansion bill. The legislation created a wealth of new gaming opportunities in the Keystone State, including:
This lengthy list does not mean that Pennsylvania gambling is now a free-for-all. There is a big difference between regulated and unregulated gambling.
The easiest way to tell whether or not a gambling site is legal in PA is to determine if it is vetted and regulated by PGCB. Look for the PGCB seal (pictured left). Or, if you are unsure, you can visit the PGCB website.
Unlike illegal offshore casinos, regulated online casino markets mean customers:
What can you expect from Pennsylvania online casinos
The list of games online should mirror what you find in your favorite PA casino. Games to expect include:
Do not expect games like virtual sports and Keno at your online casinos in PA. These games are the turf of the Pennsylvania Lottery. They are currently available at PA Lottery monitors in bars and taverns and should be online at the PA Lottery’s online site eventually, but they will not be debuting on PA online casino sites.
Deposit and no-deposit bonuses
Online gambling sites will try to win new customers with tempting offers to sign up for accounts on the site. Once those sites go live, check back with PA Online Casino for the best offers and exclusive bonus codes to ensure you get the best deals upon signing up.
Many sites will offer an option to test out the online casino without even having to put money on the site. These promotions, called no-deposit bonuses, will offer small amounts like $10 or $25 in exchange for a player signing up for an account.
If you want to just test out the games a PA real-money gambling site has to offer, you don’t have to reach for your wallet either. Most games come with a free-to-play demo where customers can give the game a try before giving it any of their money.
Deposit bonuses offer bigger monetary offers in exchange for customers depositing on the site. These deposit offers often match 100% of your deposit in bonus funds up to a maximum of $200 or $250.
Most bonuses come with certain terms and conditions, like a wagering or playthrough requirement. Be sure to check what a promo entails.
How to deposit and cash out at Pennsylvania online casinos
Getting money on and off online gambling sites in PA is relatively straightforward. For some sites, the options may begin relatively limited, but should eventually expand to include:
Withdrawal options are generally limited to the method you used to deposit. For some deposit methods, instead, players will need to opt for a check in the mail.
PA casino loyalty programs
Just like PA brick and mortar casinos reward loyal players, online casinos have programs where players can earn cash, prizes, and other rewards in exchange for playing on the site.
One example players can already take advantage of is iRush Rewards, which sports bettors on both Rivers and SugarHouse can earn rewards and move up a tiered system that offers bigger rewards to higher-level players.
In fact, many of these online promotional programs will sync up with your brick and mortar account. Here are some of the programs we know will interlink online and brick and mortar:
Live dealer games
Unlike online versions of games like roulette and blackjack that rely on a random number generator and computer graphics, these games play just like you are in a casino.
That is because these games feature a real person as your dealer, dealing real cards, and spinning a real roulette wheel. Cameras in a studio capture the action and players online can even chat and interact with their dealers.
The result is the comfort of playing the game in the comfort of your home or on the go on your phone but with the fun and social interaction of a PA brick and mortar casino.
Parx is already advertising its online dealer plans, and we expect most casinos will eventually roll out this option.
Progressive jackpot slots
Pennsylvania online gambling sites should offer progressive slots to attract players as well.
You may get some of the more popular progressive slots titles like Divine Fortune, Rags to Riches, and Wonderland. The PA guidelines on minimum returns to the player are some of the lowest in the nation, making for notoriously tight slot machines.
Other online gambling offers in PennsylvaniaPA online lottery games
While casino lovers of PA count the days until launch, there is one way to pass the time. As part of the gambling expansion law, the state-legalized PA online lottery. Pennsylvania’s iLottery launched in May 2017 with a dozen or so online instant games.
These online instant games are like a scratch-off ticket you would buy at the store, but more interactive. Online instants often include bonus games in addition to the scratch-off component, allowing you to multiply your winnings on each ticket.
As part of the rollout, the PA Lottery also introduced a revamped PA Lottery mobile app. While you cannot purchase lottery draw tickets online just yet, you can use the app to play instant games, check winning numbers, and scan your draw tickets to find out if you have a winner.
PA online poker update
Eventually, there are supposed to be eight different PA online poker sites up and running in the state. In all honesty, the likelihood of a sustainable Pennsylvania online poker market with that many operators is slim.
What Pennsylvania poker players can expect is these operators getting up on running once they are ready and vetted by the PGCB:
Best Online Sports Betting And Casino
The first site, PokerStars, launched with great success in November 2019.
Responsible gaming at PA online gambling sites
Another great asset in a regulated online casino market is the array of responsible gambling tools at a player’s disposal.
In Pennsylvania, there is a separate self-exclusion list managed by PGCB. Players who want to ban themselves from playing on any regulated PA online casino can do so through them. This list is separate from the brick and mortar self-exclusion list.
Additionally, many online sites, both sports betting and casino, offer means of controlling your play with things like:
Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-Gambler
Online Betting Live Casino
If you want other resources to address problem gambling, consider:
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