Pennsylvania Online Sports Betting

Pennsylvania got into sports betting early — and has reaped the reward. This state is at the forefront of the legalized industry with a sea of betting sites. But which one is the best one for Pennsylvania bettors?

We attempt to answer that question, plus more in this betting guide. By the time you’re done reading this, you’ll be more than ready to attack Pennsylvania betting, and not just sports either. Keep reading for must-know information on the state!

Is Sports Betting Legal In Pennsylvania?

You bet it is! Once the Supreme Court struck down the federal ban on betting, Pennsylvania acted quickly. Retail sports betting debuted later that same year (2018) followed by online betting in May 2019. They were early adopters in every sense of the word.

Not only that, but they have a healthy market of sports betting operators. Multiple retail sportsbooks take in bets but so do 11 online betting apps. Yes, 11! The list of bookies licensed in the state includes the likes of DraftKings, Caesars, FanDuel, BetRivers, BetMGM, and others. Since we’re on the topic, here’s how you can select the best platform to bet on if inside the state.

International Online Sportsbooks Available In Pennslyvania

In Pennsylvania, sports betting is legal and widely available, offering a range of options for enthusiasts. However, bettors should be aware that state-regulated sportsbooks impose certain restrictions. For instance, Pennsylvania sportsbooks cannot accept wagers on political events or entertainment props, and there are limitations when it comes to betting on in-state college teams like Penn State and Temple University. These restrictions can limit your betting experience, particularly if you’re interested in local teams or specific events.

International sportsbooks present an alternative for those looking for more flexibility. These offshore platforms allow you to place bets on political events, wager on a full spectrum of college sports without restrictions, and explore various specialty markets that Pennsylvania’s legal sportsbooks may not offer. Whether you're keen on betting on local college games or following the latest political developments, international sportsbooks provide a wider array of betting opportunities.

If you're concerned about safety, rest assured that the international sportsbooks we recommend have undergone thorough vetting for reliability and security. Our team has used these platforms for years, ensuring they provide fast payouts, fair odds, and dependable customer service. By opting for these trusted offshore operators, you can enjoy a richer betting experience while maintaining peace of mind about the safety of your funds and personal information.

Legal Online Sportsbooks Available In Pennslyvania

Pennsylvania legalized sports betting in 2017, becoming one of the early adopters in the U.S. market. The state officially launched its sports betting operations in November 2018, allowing both online and in-person wagering through licensed sportsbooks. Bettors can place wagers using their mobile devices or visit physical locations across the state. Pennsylvania's sports betting market is extensive and diverse, featuring a wide range of options across various sports, from football to hockey. Several major sportsbooks have established a strong presence, ensuring a competitive environment. The state's regulatory framework prioritizes security and fairness, providing a safe and enjoyable betting experience for all participants.

Pennsylvania Online Sportsbook Comparison

So which Pennsylvania sportsbook should you bet at? Well, it depends entirely on you and what you value the most as a gambler — betting options, bonuses, rewards, and so on. That’s why instead of recommending a single betting site, we’ll share a few in each category. This way, you can get a more personalized recommendation based on what you care about. Here are our best choices:

Best sportsbook for betting options: FanDuel takes the crown here. We should preface this by saying, by and large, the apps offer the same types of bets on the same sports and leagues. However, FanDuel gets the win here because of their boosted odds promotions, which they are famous for. They routinely promote bets at discounted lines which should behoove you as a bettor big time.

Best sportsbook for live betting: DraftKings wins on in-play betting. This platform has long separated itself due to technology, and that’s on full display when betting live. DraftKings uses AI to refresh live lines in almost real-time. There’s just a smoothness to using DraftKings for life betting that has to be experienced to be truly appreciated.

Best sportsbook for bonuses: Promotional bonuses aren’t as big today as they were years ago when these bookies were hungry for users. That’s why Caesars' $1000 risk-free deal jumps out to us. It’s higher than most competitors offer. The deal allows bettors to make their first bet completely risk-free. They’ll refund any loss up to that $1000 mark.

Best sportsbook for rewards: Keep a lookout on Fanatics Sportsbook. The platform was a late entrant to the marketplace, but they’ve made up ground on its name and rewards. As you’re likely aware, Fanatics is an e-commerce giant for sports apparel. The cool thing is betting rewards can be swapped into merchandise — a perk no other bookie can offer.

Best sportsbook for user experience: We could make a strong argument for a number of operators for this category, we really would. However, we’re giving the slight edge to FanDuel. There's a reason why it’s currently No. 1 in not just Pennsylvania, but all of the country in terms of market share. They know how to deliver a killer user experience to bettors from top to bottom.

Pennsylvania Quick Facts

What You Can’t Bet On In Pennsylvania?

Pennsylvania is ahead of the eight ball when it comes to betting. They really are. However, that doesn’t mean they don’t have boundaries. They do have restrictions, including not taking wagers on the following betting markets:

Politics: This might be the biggest bummer of all — no politics or elections, and that goes for any country not just the United States. Pennsylvania does indeed “stick to sports” here.

Award shows: Putting money on who’s going to win the Oscars or Grammys has been a fun quirk on a tired show. But the state isn’t having it since it’s not a real sports outcome.

WWE: here again, the “non sports” label strikes on WWE betting. Anything that’s scripted like WWE is off limits across the state.

Don’t think Pennsylvania is alone is not allowing these types of wagers. Every state disallowed this, thanks to its regulators. You know where you can bet on these things though? Offshore sportsbooks, that’s where. These remain grey options for Pennsylvania bettors because they are more free playing experiences.

Who Can Legally Bet In Pennsylvania?

Besides the no-betting on non-sports thing, the state of Pennsylvania is surprisingly pretty lax with its betting rules. They do the smart thing and let bettors bet for the most part. Here’s what they do allow:

Legal age: You must be 21 years old to place a sports bet in Pennsylvania. This is a federal rule so it goes for every state.

Mobile betting: Yes, you can place bets on your phone or computer anywhere within state borders. This has been allowed since early 2019, and contributes to most of the state’s betting revenue.

Retail sportsbooks: Pennsylvania has numerous retail sportsbooks located in casinos across the state. These aren’t as popular as mobile apps, but it is a thing for old-school bettors.

Remote registration: You can sign up and verify your account remotely, making it easy to start betting online. No need to do so inside a physical sportsbook like some states do.

Taxable winnings: Winnings from sports betting are considered taxable income in Pennsylvania so be sure to report them on your tax return. You can get away with a lot in the United States, but not paying taxes in full is one that’s very, very hard to do. Uncle Sam is always watching…

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Pennsylvania Sportsbooks and Casinos

Currently, the following casinos have obtained sports betting licenses in Pennsylvania and offer sports betting on-site:

Pennsylvania Casinos with Sportsbooks

• Hollywood Casino at Penn National Racecourse. Home to major horse races. Located near Philadelphia in Grantville. Offers sportsbook, racebook, casino, and poker room.
• SugarHouse Casino in Philadelphia. Located on the Delaware River. Prepared sportsbook with experience from New Jersey. Offers slots, table games, entertainment, and in-house sportsbook.
• Rivers Casino Pittsburgh. One of the first sportsbooks in Pennsylvania (December 2018). Introduced the BetRivers app in June 2019. Offers slots, table games, poker room, and mobile betting
• Parx Casino and Racing. The largest casino in the state. Features a horse racetrack, sportsbook, and facebook. Located in Bensalem, PA, with numerous gaming options.

Valley Forge Locations

• Valley Forge Race and Sportsbook. A Parx-licensed off-track betting location. Situated in Oaks, Pennsylvania, with similar amenities to Parx.
• Valley Forge Casino. Located in King of Prussia. Partners with FanDuel for its sportsbook product.

Pennsylvania Sports Betting Timeline

Pennsylvania has a healthy relationship with sports betting and it can be seen through its lengthy period of sportsbooks operating legally.

Legalization in 2018

Pennsylvania legalized sports betting in November 2018, and quickly sportsbooks started popping up all over the state. The first land-based sportsbook opened in November, not long after betting was legalized, at Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course and partnered with William Hill Sportsbook.

In December 2018, two more sportsbooks opened at the Rivers Casino and the SugarHouse Casino, partnered with Kambi sportsbook. There are now eight land-based state-run sportsbooks in the state of Pennsylvania.

While having brick-and-mortar sportsbooks is great to have in the state, some prefer online sports betting to the real deal because it’s fast, convenient and you can participate in live betting. There are so many perks to online gambling that many don’t know about.

The current state of play and offshore bookmakers

Luckily, the casinos and sportsbooks are allowed to operate online sportsbook apps that residents of Pennsylvania can download from their smartphones and bet online from the comfort of their homes.

See all the great things that can happen when bettors, politicians, and operators work together to create a cohesive playing experience?

How To Bet On Sports In Pennsylvania?

Being from Pennsylvania and loving sports go hand-in-hand, don’t they? The state, and Philadelphia if we’re being specific, are known for their diehard ways — which can result in harsh crowds that boo Santa Claus as the legend goes. So you better believe all these sports are easily bet-able in the state. Here are the most common sports that get attention:

How To Bet On Football In Pennsylvania?

Zero surprise here — football is the most bet-on sport in the state. By a mile. This is a trend you see across the entire country too. You’ll especially love Super Bowl betting here. Pennsylvania sportsbooks are known to roll out the best promos and prop bets during the “Big Game.”

How To Bet On Basketball In Pennsylvania?

Hoops and Pennsylvania go way, way back. Remember Wilt Chamberlin made his name playing in the state — both in high school and for the Sixers. So you better believe basketball is a big deal from sportsbook to sportsbook. Like the Super Bowl, March Madness is another time of the year to look out for killer promotions.

How To Bet On Baseball In Pennsylvania?

Baseball truly offers endless betting opportunities during the season. There are games on practically every day for six months out of the year — every day! If there’s a sport to really master betting-wise, it’s definitely baseball.

How To Bet On Fighting In Pennsylvania?

Pennsylvania has a blue-collar, rough-and-tumble reputation. Part of that was instilled from the Rocky movies. So you already know bettors in the state love boxing and UFC betting. Rumor has it that making these bets on mobile near the city’s famous Rocky Balboa statue is good luck too!

Betting On Pennsylvania Sports Teams

The great thing about Pennsylvania is it has two major cities in Pittsburgh and Philadelphia. Besides basketball, each of these cities has pro sports teams in the major leagues. Here’s how to go about betting on them:

Betting On Pennsylvania NFL Teams

Two of the most storied franchises in the NFL call the state home — the Pittsburgh Steelers and Philadelphia Eagles. There's hardly a rivalry between the two since they play each other once every four years, but both franchises have their legions of fans. Bookies know this and readily offer betting on every game they each play.

Betting On Pennsylvania NBA Teams

Like we mentioned before, there’s no Pittsburgh team here. That means all the attention goes to the Philadelphia 76ers, and that’s not necessarily good. Fans and bettors demand a lot out of the Sixers, and the franchise hasn’t quite lived up to those lofty expectations yet.

Betting On Pennsylvania MLB Teams

Philadelphia Phillies and the Pittsburgh Pirates are the local teams in baseball. Again, there’s not much of an in-state rivalry here since the teams are in separate divisions. But they do play annually multiple times a year, games that are more about bragging rights than anything else — or for bettors, fun betting opportunities too.

Betting On Pennslyvania NHL Teams

Now this is a rivalry. Both the Philadelphia Flyers and Pittsburgh Penguins play in the same NHL division — the Metropolitan. Anytime these two face off, the betting opportunities are sizzling hot. Circle those meetings on your calendar ahead of time so you don’t miss out.

Betting On Pennsylvania NCAA Teams

There’s a TON of options here. Penn State, UPenn, Pittsburgh, and Villanova all reside in the state. These are mostly football schools minus Villanova so be aware of that. Fall betting will be best for the collegiate betting.

Pennsylvania Betting Revenue Statistics

Since mid-2018 when the ban on sports betting was lifted at a federal level, Pennsylvania has consistently been one of the biggest wagering markets around. Its betting handle state-wide is $30 billion — $2.5 billion of which is actually revenue. This makes it the fifth-biggest market in the country behind only New York, New Jersey, Nevada, and Illinois.

We see Pennsylvania staying in the top-5. That’s because the states that follow it — Colorado, Arizona, and Indiana — are way, way off Pennslyvania's revenue marks. Betting has been a success in-state since day one and there’s no reason to believe that won’t continue.

Other Types Of Betting In Pennsylvania

Casino betting is another bright spot for the state. Yes, it can be found in physical casinos — slots, table games, all the usual. However, Pennsylvania also allows iGaming online, which is much more less common countrywide. Those same casino games can be wagered on a mobile device without issue.

Horse-race betting is much of the same. There are in-person options at local tracks, but it’s fully allowed online too.

Honestly, most things are allowed in Pennsylvania. Poker, daily fantasy sports (DFS), and state lottery are also easy to find as well. This state has proven itself to be one of the most open to any and all kinds of betting.

Sports Betting Rules In Each State

See our directory below for more state guides. We have one for every single state in the country  — and all are just as packed with current information as this one.

Responsible Gaming In Pennsylvania

We’re obviously sports betting advocates — that’s no secret. But more specifically, we’re advocates of controlled betting. The moment you lose grip on your betting activity, that’s where we draw the line. Your job as a bettor is to keep things responsible.

That starts with understanding your limits and making sure that your betting remains a source of joy rather than a cause for concern. The best bets are the ones that add to your life, not take away from it. So set your limits, stick to them, and remember that betting is just a form of entertainment — not the way to pay rent or bills.

If the balance ever starts to tip, Pennsylvania has your back. Resources are readily available to help you keep your gaming habits in check. This is why regulation exists in the first place to have guardrails in place. Additionally, we wanted to share some national resources too in case someone you know ever needs it:

Council on Compulsive Gambling of Pennsylvania (https://www.pacouncil.com/)
Provides resources, education, and support for individuals affected by problem gambling.

Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (https://gamingcontrolboard.pa.gov/?p=67)
Offers information on self-exclusion programs and responsible gambling initiatives.

PA Casinos, iGaming, Fantasy, Video Gaming Terminal Self-Exclusion (https://gamingcontrolboard.pa.gov/?p=43)

Here, you can exclude yourself from being able to participate in a variety of gambling activities in the state.

Gamble Aware (https://www.gambleaware.org/)

A non-profit organization providing resources and support for individuals struggling with gambling addiction.

International Center for Responsible Gaming (https://www.icrg.org/)

The International Center for Responsible Gaming (CRG) is a research institution dedicated to promoting safe gambling practices and addressing gambling-related issues.

24/7 Gambling Support Line (https://www.ncpgambling.org/help-treatment/about-the-national-problem-gambling-helpline/)

A round-the-clock helpline offering immediate assistance and guidance for those experiencing gambling-related problems.