Legal online sports betting officially arrived in the state of Pennsylvania in May of 2019 with the launch of the BetRivers (SugarHouse) sportsbook. As of this March, there are 11 different online sports betting options in PA, with another two books expected to enter this year. The future has never looked brighter for PA sports betting sites.
This article will walk you through everything you need to know prior to opening an account with a PA sportsbook and placing your first wager.
Pennsylvania was one of the first states to legalize sports betting after New Jersey, thanks to the due diligence of the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board. Here are some fast facts about sports betting revenue in The Keystone State.
| ✅ Launch Date | Nov. 15, 2018 |
| 📅 Legal Betting Age | 21 |
| 🏬 Number of Retail Sportsbooks | 17 |
| 📱 Number of Mobile Sportsbooks | 14 |
| 💰 Total Pennsylvania Handle (2021) | $6.5 Billion |
| 📈 Total Pennsylvania Handle (All Time) | $13.7 Billion |
| 💸 Largest Sportsbook Handle | FanDuel |
Our pick for the best sportsbook app in Pennsylvania is PointsBet, which has been the premier name in sports betting over in Australia for several years. Whether you are a Pennsylvania resident that is new to sports betting or a seasoned wagering veteran, you'll love several features of the PointsBet sports betting app. Here are some of the highlights of the PointsBet sports betting app:
Odds Boost- Another reason to love PointsBet is their daily Odds Boost offerings. Each day PointsBet picks a certain wager and they boost the odds in favor of their players. For example, PointsBet may move the odds on a specific MLB parlay from +230 to +290! You can see why folks are raving about odds boosts!
Lucrative Bonus Offers- If you live in Pennsylvania, you can capitalize on an outstanding bonus offer from PointsBet. New users are rewarded with up to $2,000 in Risk-Free Bets when they signup with PointsBet. This is one of the largest bonuses we have ever seen!
Bettors can use our Pennsylvania bonus page to always find the latest and greatest offers from every PA sportsbook. Our team keeps the page updated daily with new promotions so check back regularly.
When it comes to having a variety of betting options in Pennsylvania, FanDuel Sportsbook knocks it out of the park! FanDuel has a fantastic app and they simply know how to give gamblers what they want. FanDuel offers odds on all sides and totals and they offer a vast amount of live betting options.
FanDuel also offers an impressive amount of prop betting options on a daily basis. They don't just limit props to football and basketball either. Hockey bettors in Pennsylvania will love the fact that they can place a bet on whether or not Sidney Crosby will score a goal for the Pittsburgh Penguins.
FanDuel Sportsbook is also offering a heck of a welcome bonus for those new to Pennsylvania sports betting. Right now, folks can get a $1,000 No Sweat First Bet. This is a great way to get started with Pennsylvania online sportsbooks.
If live betting on sports is your main gambling pleasure, DraftKings is the perfect sportsbook for you in PA! The overall user experience is fantastic and there is a slew of options.
DraftKings spent a ton of resources on their sports betting app, which is why it's such a great option for live betting. Sports bettors in Pennsylvania can quickly sort by sport to find the game they want to wager on.
Want to place a bet on the Eagles after the game has already started? DraftKings is the best place to do that!
If you're a serious sports bettor in PA that's in search of value, Unibet is just the ticket. These folks offer lower juice than most of the big boys like FanDuel and DraftKings.
It's not uncommon for Unibet to offer -107 on some games when the rest of the market charges the standard -110 juice. That 3 cents may not sound significant, but it has a huge effect on a gambler's bottom line over the course of a season.
Unibet's app and website are very basic, but hey, there's nothing wrong with that. They may not have all the bells and whistles, but they're functional and offer loads of value.
The most popular casino app in PA is BetMGM and it's easy to see why! New casino players can get a $1,000 Deposit Match and $25 on the house when they sign up for a new account! This is one of the most lucrative casino bonuses in the country!
Another neat feature of the BetMGM Casino is the live dealer games. Players can indulge in Craps, Blackjack, Roulette, Baccarat, and Poker.
There are a ton of online slots to choose from as well. As of March, BetMGM has added 50 new games to its online offering.
The sports betting laws in place in Pennsylvania are fairly straightforward with a few items of note that bettors should be aware of:
- The minimum age requirement to open a sports betting account in Pennsylvania is 21.
- Bets may only be placed on live sporting events. This means no betting on NFL/NBA Drafts, Presidential Elections, or award shows like the Grammys.
- Wagering on esports is not allowed in Pennsylvania.
- While you do not have to be a permanent resident of PA, you do need to be located within state lines when placing a wager. Sports betting apps will verify this by using geolocation technology.
While the legal age to bet on sports is currently set to 21 (as it is in every new betting market), there are still options for PA residents between the ages of 18 and 21. The PA Lottery is online and has an age limit of 18+. Additionally, the minimum age for betting on horses in Pennsylvania is also set to 18.
It is quite expensive for sportsbook operators to enter the Pennsylvania sports betting market. They have one of the highest licensing fees and revenue tax rates in the United States. The currently licensing fee is set to $5 million with an 18% tax on revenue. We have seen other states, such as Indiana, offer licensing fees as low as $100,000 with a mere 8.5% tax rate.
Many of the big-name operators in the US have paid the price to enter the PA market, but several well-known sportsbooks are still missing in Pennsylvania.
With the majority of US states, the gaming industry is controlled by the brick-and-mortar casinos that are licensed and operating in the state. To ensure these casinos don't suffer from the influx of online sportsbooks and casinos, states require online sportsbooks to partner with one of the licensed and regulated casinos.
Below is a list of the current 11 online sportsbooks operating in Pennsylvania along with the casino they partnered with to enter the market.
Pennsylvania Handle Show Substantial Year-Over-Year Growth - While the total handle in PA is considerably lower (slightly more than half) what we see in New Jersey, the growth rate is relatively similar. The total handle in PA was up 62% from December of 2019 to December of 2020.
Sports Betting Continues to Grow in PA in 2022 - Sports betting handle was huge in Pennsylvania for January, as the state brought in $793.7 million in bets. The handle declined a bit in February to $597.1 million. However, handle bounced back in March because of the NCAA Basketball Tournament.
New sports bettors in Pennsylvania have a list of new sportsbook bonus offers to review for the 2022-2023 NFL season. These offers range from cash deposit bonus offers to risk-free bet offers. In addition to our recommend promotion below, you can find reviews for every offer available in the US sports betting market in our promo code directory.
Our recommended promotion for new PA bettors this March comes from DraftKings and includes $150 in free bets if your team wins your $5 first bet. Not only is this a great offer, but DraftKings offers one of the better apps available in Pennsylvania, with plenty of player prop betting options.
Sports bettors in the Keystone State have 15 brick-and-mortar sportsbooks at their disposal in 2022. If you live in Pennsylvania or plan on visiting, here is a list for your reference.
The Downs at Lehigh Valley
Unibet runs this 28,000 square foot sportsbook at The Downs. Inside the book, there's a full-service restaurant and bar, as well as 27 HD TVs to watch the outcome of your sports bets and horse races.
1780 Airport Road, Allentown, PA 18109
South Philadelphia Race and Sportsbook
Plan on taking in a Phillies or Eagles game this season? Stop by this incredible 27,000 square foot location, which has a mobile partnership with Parx. They have 7 live betting windows and 100 HD TVs so you won't miss any of the action.
700 Packer Ave. Philadelphia, PA 19148
Hollywood Casino York
Barstool Sportsbook signed a deal with Hollywood making this the first Barstool location on the East Coast. Barstool has plenty of live ticket writers, betting kiosks, and a huge video wall for your viewing pleasure.
2999 Whiteford Road, York, PA 17402
Live! Casino Pittsburgh
This mini-casino in Pittsburgh has a FanDuel Sportsbook that offers over 20 betting kiosks as well as live ticket writers. The main attraction is a big screen TV that is 40 feet tall.
5260 Lincoln Highway, Greensburg, PA 15601
Wind Creek Casino
Wind Creek signed a deal with Betfred, one of the largest sportsbooks in the UK, to provide a sportsbook at this location. Some of this location's best features are 21 TVs, 8 betting kiosks, live ticket writers, and a full bar and grill.
77 Wind Creek Blvd. Bethlehem, PA 18015
Mohegan Sun Pocono Casino
Unibet runs this 1,130 square foot sportsbook, which features 6 betting kiosks and a large 28-foot video screen. This isn't one of the larger locations in the Keystone State, but it gets the job done if you need to get some bets down.
1280 PA-315, Wilkes-Barre, PA 18702
Mount Airy Casino
Fox Bet has been running this sportsbook since 2019. It is 7,000 square feet and has live ticket writers and 8 betting kiosks. The book is open for 8 hours on weekdays, 14 hours on Saturday, and 12 hours on Sunday.
312 Woodland Rd. Mt Pocono, PA 18344
The Meadows Casino
This Barstool Sportsbook is currently under construction, but you can still place bets at any of the kiosks.
210 Racetrack Road, Washington, PA 15301
Presque Isle Downs and Casino
Presque Isle Downs was recently bought by Churchill Downs, which is why TwinSpires operates the retail sportsbook. It features 50 HD big screens and 25 betting kiosks.
8199 Perry Highway, Erie, PA 16509
Live! Casino Philadelphia
FanDuel operates a fantastic sportsbook at this mini-casino location in Philly. Sports bettors will enjoy the 7 live betting windows, over 30 betting kiosks, a 52-foot media wall, and 24 TVs.
900 Packer Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19148
Valley Forge Casino
This FanDuel Sportsbook is open from 10 am to Midnight each day. They provide 27 TVs, 2 sports tickers, 7 betting windows, and some betting kiosks.
1160 1st Ave. King of Prussia, PA 19406
Harrah’s Philadelphia Casino
Caesars has a giant sportsbook at this casino. It features 65 TVs, 6 betting windows, and Philly Tap & Tavern for outstanding food and drinks.
777 Harrah’s Blvd. Chester, PA 19013
Parx Casino
Parx has one of the largest sportsbooks in the state! The company spent over $10 million on this fabulous 10,000 square foot conglomerate. Be sure to check out their 156 foot media wall, which is an incredible site to see for any sports fan.
2999 Street Road, Bensalem, PA 19020
Rivers Casino: Philadelphia and Pittsburgh
As its name implies, BetRivers operates the sportsbooks at both of these iconic Pennsylvania casinos. The Philly location is right on the Delaware River while the Pittsburgh site is right next to Heinz Field and PNC Park. Both sites have plenty of ticket writers, betting kiosks, and HD TVs.
- 1001 N Delaware Ave. Philadelphia, PA 19125
- 777 Casino Dr. Pittsburgh, PA 15212
PA online sportsbooks make the registration process a breeze for new bettors in the state. Many folks are able to bet online in a matter of minutes after following these simple steps.
- Download the online betting app of your choice
- Copy the bonus code from the table at the top of this page
- Enter all of the personal info that the PA sports betting app asks for
- Paste the bonus code into the correct box when prompted
- Make your initial deposit into your PA online sportsbook
- Enjoy mobile sports betting and bonus funds
With one of the largest betting markets in the US, Pennsylvania offers a massive variety of sportsbooks for bettors to choose from. Such competition is great for the PA sports betting industry but can make it difficult for bettors to find the right sportsbook app.
We address this and many other questions and concerns that we get regarding Pennsylvania sportsbooks and the PA sports betting market in the FAQs below. Read these over if you're new to online gambling in Pennsylvania.
Is sports betting legal in Pennsylvania?
Yes, sports betting was legalized in PA in 2018. Initially, betting was limited to brick-and-mortar sportsbooks only. The industry expanded online in 2019, and today there are six big-name sportsbooks operating in the state.
Is mobile betting legal in Pennsylvania?
Yes, when the state moved to allow online sports betting in 2019 it also opened the gates to license mobile operators as well. Anyone in PA can bet on popular sportsbook apps like DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM, and Unibet.
What sports can you bet on in Pennsylvania?
Pennsylvania bettors can bet on any professional or college sporting event. There are no restrictions regarding PA college teams, or prop betting on college sports. That being said, it is illegal to bet on non-sporting events in Pennsylvania. This includes elections, award shows, drafts, and even eSports.
What is the best PA sportsbook?
With a wide variety of sportsbooks to choose from it can be difficult to identify which sportsbook is the best in Pennsylvania. The majority of operators in PA use the same company to determine which sports, events, and even what odds to post. That being said, we prefer a sportsbook with a solid mobile product, industry-low juice, and solid customer support. For us, the best sportsbook in PA comes down to PointsBet, BetRivers, and Unibet as they check every box.
What separates a successful sports gambler from the rest?
Two things tend to separate successful sports gamblers from the rest: Bankroll Management and Getting A Good Number. Most winning sports bettors only wager 1-3% of their bankroll per play. They also always shop around for the right line at the right odds.
Is retail betting legal in PA?
Yes, there are currently 12 retail sportsbook open in Pennsylvania. This includes two near Pittsburgh, four near Philadelphia, one near Allentown, two near Scranton, and one in Erie. Operators include FanDuel, DraftKings, BetRivers, SugarHouse, Barstool, and Unibet.
Do I have to pay taxes on my sports betting winnings in Pennsylvania?
Unfortunately, Yes. Any gambling winnings are subject to a 36% tax in the state of Pennsylvania. This is one of the highest rates in the country!
