PA Online Sports Betting is now legal and about to explode across the Keystone state. Pennsylvania currently has 11 online sportsbooks and mobile betting apps open for business. Sports betting has been legal in Pennsylvania since the end of 2018. The state was one of the first adopters of this positive trend, along with New Jersey. Online betting is legal too, and there are many available online betting apps. Safe, regulated and 100% legal online gaming with the most trusted name in casino gaming. Explore the bets and odds offered for all your favorite sports. The thrill of Caesars, anytime, anywhere in Pennsylvania, on your terms. Simple and easy play, so you can be gaming in just the click of a button. Sports betting is legal in Pennsylvania since November 2018. Residents can bet on sports using licensed online sportsbooks. Find the best sports betting sites! Pennsylvania (PA) Sports Betting Laws and Background Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) Is online sports betting legal in Pennsylvania? Sports betting became legal in Pennsylvania in 2018 when the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) was ruled unconstitutional by the Supreme Court of the United States.

Pennsylvania officially became a sports betting state when the Commonwealth’s first retail sportsbook launched in 2018. Now you’ll find more than ten retail sportsbooks spread across the state.

Online sports betting debuted in 2019, ushering in a new era of mobile sports betting in the KeystoneState. The overwhelming majority of sports wagers in PA are now placed at the state’s more than ten legal online sportsbooks.

Below, you will find the essential details regarding online sports betting sites in Pennsylvania.

PA Online Sports Betting Apps

PA online sports betting expansion

Among the top PA sports betting apps are some of the biggest names in the game. FanDuel, in partnership with Valley Forge Casino, established itself as an early market leader.

DraftKings joined the market before the end of 2019, launching under Penn National’s Meadows Racetrack & Casino license.

Other heavy hitters with an online sportsbook in PA, along with their land-based partners include:

• BetRivers Sportsbook (Rivers Pittsburgh)
• Unibet Sportsbook (Mohegan Sun Pocono)
• Fox Bet Sportsbook (Mount Airy Casino Resort)
• Caesars Sportsbook (Harrah’s Philadelphia)
• Barstool Sportsbook (Hollywood Casino)
• BetMGM Sportsbook (Hollywood Casino Morgantown)

Online sports betting sites in Pennsylvania

PA sports betting sites offer mobile wagering via apps and online wagering through their respective websites.

Here is the full list of PA online sportsbooks and when they launched or are planning to:

• SugarHouse Sportsbook (Launched May 31, 2019)
• BetRivers Sportsbook (Launched June 27, 2019)
• Parx Sportsbook (Launched June 27, 2019)
• FanDuel Sportsbook PA (Valley Forge) (Launched July 22, 2019)
• Harrah’s Sportsbook (summer 2019)
• Fox Bet Sportsbook (August-September 2019)
• William Hill Sportsbook (fall 2019)
• DraftKings Sportsbook (2019)
• BetAmerica Sportsbook (2019)
• Unibet Sportsbook (2019)
• BetMGM Sportsbook (2020)
• Live! Philadelphia Hotel & Casino (2021)

PA sportsbook locations, partners, licensees

The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB) oversees all sports betting in the state, both retail and online.

Only PA casinos (and racinos) can get a license to do this. However, none have done it alone. Many choose to partner with software and sports betting services suppliers from around the world to launch retail and online sports betting operations in Pennsylvania.

Here’s a look at which operators have partnered with which on the launch of sports betting in Pennsylvania:

Here is a look at where each of the sportsbooks is located:

Benefits of legal online sports betting

Once you accept that Americans are already betting billions of dollars on sports every year, and that most of it is through illegal bookies and offshore online sportsbooks, it’s easy to see that there are several benefits to legalized sports betting.

For those who bet sports, legal sports betting offers a safer environment with increased consumer protections. Legal sports betting in Pennsylvania also means a boost to the local economy, new jobs, and a significant tax revenue stream for the state.

Regulated sports betting also slows the proliferation of illegal sports betting operators. Since it’s all above board and public, legal sports betting also means the integrity of sports across the country is better protected than ever before.

Top sports betting events, sports teams in PA

Pennsylvania doesn’t differ much from the rest of the country when it comes to major sports betting events.

The most-bet-on event in the country and in PA is the annual NCAA men’s basketball tournament. March Madness may get even more attention in PA because a local-Philadelphia team, the VillanovaWildcats, have become perennial contenders, winning the tourney in 2016 and 2018.

The SuperBowl is the second-biggest betting event in the US and PA. Of course, the Super Bowl’s popularity in Pennsylvania was at an all-time high in 2018 when the PhiladelphiaEagles won it. However, the NFL is also wildly popular in Pittsburgh where locals bleed the black and gold colors of the PittsburghSteelers.

Other local teams that draw a lot of betting interest in PA include:

• Penn State Nittany Lions (NCAA football)
• PittsburghPanthers (NCAA football)
• Philadelphia Phillies (MLB)
• PittsburghPirates (MLB)
• PhiladelphiaFlyers (NHL)
• PittsburghPenguins (NHL)
• Philadelphia76ers (NBA)

Other significant sporting events that draw a ton of betting action in PA include:

• World Series (MLB)
• NBA Finals
• Stanley Cup Playoffs (NHL)
• The Masters (PGA)
• Wimbledon
• College football playoffs
• Kentucky Derby/Triple Crown

Unfortunately, PA sportsbooks cannot accept wagers on non-sporting events like the NFL Draft or the AcademyAwards. For a PA sportsbook to take action on something, it must be directly tied to a sporting event.

PA sports betting FAQ

Are legal sports betting options live in Pennsylvania?

Yes, they are. Pennsylvania law allows for regulated sports betting at licensed PA casinos or on licensed sports betting apps run by PA casinos. Betting with offshore online sportsbooks and illegal bookies is still against the law, but there are now several legal sports betting options in Pennsylvania.

Who is eligible for a sports betting license?

The PGCB only grants licenses to run retail sportsbooks to existing PA casino license holders. That includes racetracks with casinos, otherwise known as racinos.

Is there legal online sports betting in Pennsylvania?

Yes, there is. Online sports betting launched in Pennsylvania when the first sports betting site went live on May 31, 2019. The state is now home to more than online sportsbooks.

What about mobile sports betting apps?

Pennsylvania online sportsbooks are available on desktop browsers (for use with a Geolocation plug-in) but most are also available in app form. The first step is downloading your favorite PA sports betting app for either iOS or Android.

What sports can I legally bet on?

You can bet on almost all US college and pro sports in PA. That means the big four US pro sports leagues: NFL, NBA, MLB, and NHL. Plus, most major NCAA-sanctioned college sports. There are even betting markets in PA for overseas sports action like European football, cricket, and rugby.

What colleges are excluded?

You can bet on all US college teams in PA. New Jersey restricts college sports betting to schools and games outside the state only. PA does not have such restrictions.

Are there other PA sports betting restrictions?

If it’s a sport, you can pretty much bet on it in PA. The only restriction is that the betting market must revolve around a sporting event. That means you cannot bet on non-sporting events like the Academy Awards or the NFL Draft. It also excludes Super Bowl props like the color of gatorade that will be dumped on the winning coach.

Who is eligible to place a sports bet in Pennsylvania?

As long as you are 21 or older and physically inside the state of Pennsylvania, you can place a sports bet online or live at a retail sportsbook. The lone exception is if you are in any way, shape, or form involved with the team or the league you wish to bet on.

How does an online sportsbook know that I’m actually inside PA when I place a wager?

Online sportsbooks in Pennsylvania employ geolocation software to make sure anyone placing a bet is inside PA at the time. There’s no getting around this law.

What types of sports betting does Pennsylvania support?

PA law allows for single-game wagering at licensed retail and online sportsbooks. That means all kinds of traditional bets are available on a variety of sporting events, including:

• Futures
• Moneylines
• Point spreads
• Totals (over/unders)
• Parlays
• Round robins
• Teasers
• Player, team, and game props
• Live, in-game betting

How much revenue does sports betting generate for Pennsylvania?

PA has established itself as the third-largest sports betting market, trailing only New Jersey and Nevada. PA sportsbooks surpassed $4 billion in total wagers (handle) before it turned two years old.

What are the tax rates on PA sports betting?

Online and retail sports betting in PA are taxed at 34% plus a 2% local share assessment. That means 36% of all sports betting revenue is going to the Commonwealth.

What about esports betting?

Because esports don’t fit the definition of a traditional sporting event, bettors can’t currently bet on esports in PA. That said, PA lawmakers have discussed the possibility and could legalize esports betting sometime in the future.

Pennsylvania Online Sports Betting Tax Rate

What about daily fantasy sports?

PA began regulating daily fantasy sports (DFS) in May 2018. That means it’s legal to play DFS at licensed PA fantasy sports operators.

History of PA sports betting

Pennsylvania was one of several states that legalized sports betting pending a change in federal law prior to the US Supreme Court declaring the federal ban on sports betting unconstitutional in May 2018.

That was the only change in federal law PA needed to move ahead, and the PGCB was immediately tasked with producing regulations to govern sports betting in the Commonwealth.

The PGCB came up was the following plan:

• Allowing PA casinos to apply for a sports betting license giving them the right to operate online and retail wagering on sporting events approved by the board.
• Charging sports betting licensees a one-time fee of $10 million.
• Allowing each licensee a single online sports betting skin prominently featuring the name of the associated casino.
• Allowing licensees to launch supplemental retail sportsbooks at off-track betting and local satellite casino locations.

It took some time for the first to be submitted, but sports betting license applications began pouring in by August 2018.

The state’s first retail sportsbook

Hollywood Casino at Penn National was the first to apply and launched the state’s first retail sportsbook on Nov. 15, 2018.

As other locations prepared to launch, on Dec. 7, Presque Isle Downs submitted a license application. Sportsbooks began opening at casinos across the state, and by the end of March 2019, Mount Airy and Mohegan Sun applied for licenses as well.

That left Lady Luck Casino Nemacolin and Sands Bethlehem. The tiny Lady Luck operation looked to be leaving sports betting to sister site Presque Isle Downs.

As for SandsBethlehem, it was going through a sale. That sale closed at the beginning of June 2019 with the property becoming Wind Creek Bethlehem. The new owners claimed they were moving ahead with the process of bringing sports betting to the casino.

Around the same time, the era of online PA sports betting was ushered in when SugarHouse began online app testing on May 28, 2019. By July 29, four online betting apps were up and running with more getting ready to launch.

That brings us to August 2019 with nine PA retail sportsbooks operational and four more to launch this year, and each to either run a PA sports betting app already or have plans to launch one soon.

PA sports betting law, regulations

Pennsylvania legalized sports betting, pending a change in federal law, as part of a comprehensive gambling expansion packageapproved in October 2017. That change in federal law came on May 14,2018, when the US Supreme Court struck down the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) and upheld a 2014 New Jersey law aimed at allowing sports betting in casinos and racetracks in the Garden State by a vote of 6-3. PASPA is the law that made sports betting illegal everywhere except Nevada, and limited sports gambling in Delaware, Montana, and Oregon.

PASPA declared unconstitutional

In the written Supreme Court decision, JusticeSamuel Alito said PASPA infringed upon state sovereignty guaranteed in the US Constitution. He also said states should be able to make their own choices when it comes to sports gambling, opening the door to legalized and regulated sports betting across the country.

Of course, Pennsylvania is ahead of the curve on the issue, as one of just a handful of states that legalized sports betting pending a change in federal law prior to the release of the Supreme Court decision. That paved the way for the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB) to set up the regulatory framework for legalized sports betting inside the state.

Pa Online Sports Betting Apps

Sports gambling has become extraordinarily popular and profitable for many, with sports betting online having turned into a multi-billion dollar industry. The best sports betting sites are now online sports betting sites, as the wealth and breadth of key information on top websites online give gamblers in-depth information and analysis literally moments after this information becomes available.

Parties perhaps interested in delving into online sports betting have to recognize that, like any other reputable industry, and gambling in particular, a great number of rules and regulations are firmly in place to help prevent cheating, crime, and corruption that can materialize so quickly in the betting industry. The best online betting sites recognize these concerns and have in place rules, regulations, and measures that keep their companies operating within the full framework of all laws while still growing and expanding to make their business venture a success.

The Industry Leaders

Gamblers need to realize that laws relating to sports gambling within states, and sports betting online, are constantly changing. Online sports betting sites, the top sites in sport, sites such as Bovada, BetOnline, and MyBookie, make fully clear the rules and regulations of their sites and the industry they serve. Participants should know all the rules and regulations within that site before making bets, and should know what's legal and permissible in one state doesn't necessarily apply to another.

Participating states, and those in line

As of 2018, six states have legal sports betting: New Jersey, Nevada, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Mississippi. Other states are lining up varied legislation that will make the activity legal within their state lines, to varied degrees, coming up. These states include Delaware, New Mexico, Arkansas, Michigan, New York, and Connecticut.

One example of a leader in the industry

MyBookie, whose sportsbook is rated among the best online betting sites in 2019, accept bets on a wide array of U.S. pro and college sports. Sports they feature include the NFL, MLB, NCAA, NHL, NBA, NASCAR, Golf, and Tennis. In addition to straight bets, they offer wager types including Parlays, Buying and Selling Points, Teasers, If Bets and Action wagers. They feature lines displayed in American, Fractional or Decimal Odds. Their new features include Live Bets and a mobile-friendly website that combine with a Casino & North American Racebook.

Ways to get the action with participating websites

There are several ways to LIVE stream contests with the best sports betting sites. If players can cast to their Smart TV, or if they own a Google Chromecast, Roku device, or Amazon Fire Stick, they can get the fastest and latest action down on the latest lines. And as an incentive to sign up, players here can get a Sportbook Bonus of 50% up to $1000.

In addition to taking deposits via bank wires, person to person money transfers, and cashiers checks, MyBookie accepts Visa and Mastercard, credit cards, and Bitcoin. Having multiple payout options, they can process withdrawals in less than 24 hours via Bitcoin. This fully licensed online company offers players a series of generous bonuses and rewards welcoming them, providing potential players further incentive to sign up and immediately begin play.