Since the legalization of online sports betting in Pennsylvania, bettors have access to a wide variety of sportsbooks for professional and collegiate sports.
Currently, adults who are over 21 and located in Pennsylvania can legally bet on sports online from locally licensed sportsbooks.
Before the legalization of online bets, bettors in PA were relegated to placing wagers at brick-and-mortar casinos. Or they could take their chances with unlicensed, offshore online sportsbooks. Today, anyone within the state lines can legally bet on six different legal online sports betting platforms.
The available sportsbooks span a range of brands and partner brick-and-mortar casinos. But all offer mobile apps, a large selection of events, and a few different forms of betting. These include traditional sports betting, daily fantasy sports, futures, live in-game betting, and more. You can also bet on team sports like football and basketball, as well as individual sports like golf and tennis.
There is a limit, though, to what you can bet on at Pennsylvania sportsbooks. Politics, TV events like the Oscars, the weather, and sports drafts are all off-limits. You also cannot bet on esports.
How Many PA Online Sportsbooks Are Available?
Currently, bettors in Pennsylvania have access to eight sportsbooks.?A few more are expected to launch in the coming months. Here is an overview of each:
FanDuel Sportsbook
FanDuel is the only brand on par with DraftKings in terms of nationwide brand recognition. The FanDuel PA sportsbook has expanded from daily fantasy sports to host a robust sportsbook. Their brick-and-mortar partner is Valley Forge Casino Resort, which is located in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania.
New players at FanDuel PA can bet for the first 24 hours and receive all of their losses back up to $200. Another welcome bonus is $500 on the first deposit.
For both FanDuel and DraftKings, you can use the same sportsbook account to play all of their other products. This includes daily fantasy sports and their online casino.?
See our full Review of FanDuel Sportsbook In PA.
DraftKings Sportsbook
DraftKings is one of the most prominent names in sports betting due to its early push for daily fantasy sports in the United States. Today, they offer a full sportsbook to folks in both Pennsylvania and New Jersey. They also offer daily fantasy sports in almost all US states.
To launch a sportsbook, DraftKings PA partnered with Meadows Racetrack & Casino, which is owned by Penn National Gaming. The Welcome Bonus at DraftKings PA is exclusive to new players and doubles the first deposit and first bet for up to $1,000 in bonus cash.
See our full Review of DraftKings Sportsbook In PA.
Unibet Sportsbook
The Unibet Sportsbook is available in partnership with Mohegan Sun Pocono, and its offerings extend to both sports betting as well as the online casino.?
Unibet is a well-known international brand and commonly sponsors major sports teams in European soccer. But the American offerings are on-par with the overseas operations. The licensing arrangement with the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board offers peace of mind to local players concerned with joining an offshore betting website.?
Unibet PA offers a no-deposit registration bonus of $10, and the playthrough is only 3x in the sportsbook. That means there?s a good chance you can bet and withdraw winnings without depositing any of your own money.
SugarHouse Sportsbook
The SugarHouse PA Sportsbook is a partner of Rivers Casino, which was formerly known as SugarHouse Casino, one of the biggest brick-and-mortar betting operators in the state.?
On top of the competitive welcome bonuses, the SugarHouse PA Sportsbook offers an excellent rewards program. In ?iRush Rewards,? bettors receive loyalty points for every bet placed, and they can be cashed in for things like bingo cards, winnings multipliers, and physical prize drawings.
SugarHouse PA did an impressive job launching a sportsbook from scratch, offering intuitive navigation, event selection, and unique promotions on par with long-established brands like Unibet.
See our full review to learn more about SugarHouse PA Sportsbook.
Rivers Sportsbook
Rivers Casino of Pittsburgh is one of the largest casinos in Pennsylvania, and the online BetRivers PA Sportsbook is a particular local favorite for its Steel City brand recognition. However, BetRivers is available across Pennsylvania as well as in Indiana. It also hosts a decent selection of online casino games.?
On the sportsbook side, you can bet on a wide range of events with competitive odds. Further, both SugarHouse PA and BetRivers use the same iRush Rewards program for their company. So avid sportsbook bettors may want to open an account in both to compare odds before placing a bet. You?ll be rewarded either way.
FOX Bet Sportsbook
A popular aspect of the FOX?Bet PA sportsbook is the integration with the FOX Sports network. Bettors can stream live games with specialty coverage, live stats, in-game betting advice, and beyond.?
But FOX Bet goes beyond its analysis from top sports experts and live streaming. Features include a variety of bet boosters to make odds more lucrative. And you can even Tweet at them to request a custom bet that?s not already listed in the FOX Bet PA sportsbook.
Mount Airy Casino in the Poconos is the land-based partner to FOX Bet PA. Neither company seems to advertise that fact, so it seems like it was more to stay in compliance with the Gaming Control Board than a collaborative effort.
For more information, check out our Review Of FOX Bet Sportsbook.
Parx Sportsbook
The Parx Casino in Philadelphia is the largest brick-and-mortar casino in the state. So, it?s not much of a surprise that they launched their own online sportsbook rather than partner with an existing platform. The physical Parx Casino is also home to the Philadelphia Park Racetrack, which hosts an in-person sportsbook with an awesome atmosphere.
With that being said, the Parx PA online sportsbook offers all major events and fantastic odds. But the risk-free introductory period is the real standout feature, where new bettors will have up to $500 in lost bets refunded to their account.
BetAmerica Sportsbook
The BetAmerica Sportsbook is available in PA, NJ, and IN. Their horse race betting is also offered in 40 US states. They also have a nice catalog of online casino games for PA players, which is never a bad thing. Their partner, Presque Isle Downs & Casino, is a popular local choice for brick-and-mortar betting.
The BetAmerica PA Sportsbook offers a free bet of $50 after you bet $50 in real money on their site, which is a pretty exciting promotion. You can also take advantage of the welcome bonus of 25% up to $500, but that?s pretty weak compared to the other PA sportsbooks above.
List Of PA Online Sportsbooks And Their Land-Based Partners
| Online Sportsbook | Brick-And-Mortar Casino |
|---|---|
| DraftKings Sportsbook PA | Meadows Racetrack & Casino |
| FanDuel Sportsbook PA | Valley Forge Casino Resort |
| Unibet Sportsbook PA | Mohegan Sun Pocono |
| SugarHouse Sportsbook PA | Rivers Casino Philadelphia |
| Rivers Sportsbook PA | Rivers Casino Pittsburgh |
| Fox Bet Sportsbook PA | Mount Airy Casino |
| Parx Sportsbook PA | Parx Casino |
| BetAmerica | Presque Isle Downs & Casino |
Your Guide To Online Sports Betting In Pennsylvania
Just like it?s not a good idea to join an online sportsbook without first looking into it, everyone should be familiar with online sports betting before placing a bet. Here are some ins and outs:
Online Sportsbook PA Bonuses
One of the more common ways for online sportsbooks to set themselves apart is by offering competitive bonuses. This is especially true when most of them offer comparable odds on the same sporting events.
Players can expect to see some of these bonuses at PA online sportsbooks:
- No-Deposit Bonus: Bonus money that does not require a deposit.
- Deposit Bonus: Whether a welcome or reload bonus, the casino will match your deposit by a certain percentage. For example, if you bet $100 and the bonus is 25%, you would have $125 in your account.
- Loyalty Point Rewards: Earned as you bet, and normally not bound by rollover requirements.
- Odds Boosters: Applies to the odds of a bet rather than cash in the account.
- All Promotions: Make sure to read Terms and Conditions before you cash in on any bonuses at any online sportsbook.
Rollover Requirements
Although it’s important to understand specific types of bonuses, it?s also crucial to understand playthrough (also known as rollover) requirements.
In the Terms and Conditions of the specific bonus, the sportsbook operator will let you know how many times the bonus amount needs to be bet before you can withdraw your winnings. For example, if the playthrough requirement is 10x your bonus, you?ll need to bet ten times the amount you received in bonus cash. In some cases, the playthrough requirement will be your bonus, plus the deposit, times whatever the requirement.
Let?s say you deposit $100 and the casino matches it 100%. You would then have $200 in your account. However, if the rollover requirement is 10x the bonus, you would have to bet $1,000 before you can withdraw. Whether the bets win or lose doesn?t matter; however, if you lose all the money in your account associated with the bonus, you?re relieved of the rollover requirement and can simply deposit again.?
Can You Bet On In-State College Teams In Pennsylvania?
Yes. Unlike places like New York State, you can place bets on in-state college teams just like any other sport. People in places like Syracuse are surely jealous.
You can also bet on all professional sports as long as you?re not associated with the organization (same goes for college sports). If you?re a player, coach, official, or in a related occupation, it is illegal to bet on the sportsbook in many instances. If that applies to you, you?re best off waiting until retirement before indulging. You don?t want to be involved in a Black Soxesque scandal.
Local Pennsylvania teams that you can bet on at the PA online sportsbook include:
| Team | League | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia Eagles | NFL | |||||||
| Pittsburgh Steelers | NFL | |||||||
| Philadelphia Phillies | MLB | |||||||
| Pittsburgh Pirates | MLB | |||||||
| Philadelphia 76ers | NBA | |||||||
| Pittsburgh Penguins | NHL | |||||||
| Philadelphia Flyers | NHL | |||||||
| University of Pittsburgh | NCAA | |||||||
| Penn State | NCAA | |||||||
| Villanova | NCAA | |||||||
| Temple | NCAA |
The above list does not include the many golf tournaments and racing events held across the state of Pennsylvania. Further, each sport offers its own unique set of betting options. On top of the standard moneyline or spread bets, you can bet on who scores first, who wins MVP, and so on.
Betting On Esports In Pennsylvania
You cannot currently bet on esports at PA online sportsbooks. And it doesn?t look like it?s going to be available anytime soon. The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board does not permit betting on esports, and there is no indication that it?s on the agenda.
Right now, you can bet on esports in Nevada. New Jersey also seems to be less than a year away from offering the option at their licensed sportsbooks. Pennsylvania will almost certainly follow suit someday, especially as esports are quickly growing in national popularity.
Will New Sportsbooks Launch In Pennsylvania?
If you have the startup capital, platform, and partner casino, you can apply for a license through the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board. However, the upcoming prospects are few and far between.
The most likely next launch is the world-renowned William Hill sportsbook. William Hills currently offers an email signup form for those who want to be notified about any PA launch announcements. Another is Caesars Sportsbook, a site that?s currently available to folks in New Jersey and a partner of Harrahs.
Some rumors are circulating about Hollywood Casino launching an online sportsbook in PA. Their parent company is Penn National Gaming, though, which also owns Meadows Racetrack & Casino, the partner casino of DraftKings. While Rivers Casino launched two online sportsbooks, that?s a pretty rare practice that doesn?t seem likely for Penn National.
Playing Illegal Sportsbooks Versus Legal Online Sportsbooks in Pennsylvania
When it comes to online sports betting, there?s pretty much no reason to play at an offshore site if you?re located in Pennsylvania.?
It would be far more understandable for someone to choose an illegal online casino. Those likely have hundreds of games, larger bonuses, Live Casino rooms, and other games that local options don?t have.?
We?d be surprised if you found an online sportsbook that offers better bonuses or Terms and Conditions than any of the online sportsbooks in the Keystone State. Even if you do, is it worth betting with a site that?s unregulated, or regulated by a government that offers no recourse to Americans who illegally joined? Almost certainly not.
However, if you?re strictly an esports bettor and you?re not located in Nevada, then you have no other choice but to bet at offshore sites. Otherwise, all the same sporting events are going to be available at both the legal Pennsylvania online sportsbooks as well as the offshore sites, including comparable (or identical) odds.
How Can You Tell If A Sportsbook Is Legal In Pennsylvania?
If it?s not listed on this website, then there?s a slim chance that it launched under our radar. But the easiest way to know for sure whether an online sportsbook is legal to play from PA is to visit this site, click the link, and confidently place a bet.
Are Online Sportsbooks In PA Fair?
Online sports betting is different from online casino games in that you?re not trusting an algorithm to deliver fair results. Instead, you can just watch the results unfold in real-time. How are they going to tell you that a team did or didn?t win?
However, illegal sportsbooks and underground bookies may change the rules after the results come in. For example, if a team beats the spread, they could claim that the spread was something that it wasn?t. That?s why playing at a legitimate online sportsbook is so important.
The Strict Regulation Of The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board
They?ve been brought up a few times in this guide, but let?s dive into the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board. This regulatory body strictly enforces the online sportsbook laws of the state. This includes fairness and part of the licensing requirements involves regular auditing. But the most impressive part is the internal accountability. There are no companies within the state who operate without oversight. This all but eliminates the chance for fraud.?
It?s also worth noting that rigging a sporting event comes with harsh legal repercussions that dissuade would-be game fixers. On top of paying major fines, people can be barred from sports and even see the inside of a jail cell.
You Should Trust Legal Online Sportsbook In PA For One Simple Reason
Sportsbook operators aren?t so much looking out for their members as they are looking out for themselves. To avoid destroying the integrity of their business, being shut down by the Gaming Control Board, paying huge fines, and potentially going to prison, legal online sportsbooks keep everything fair, transparent, and above board.
Basically, you should trust a legal online sportsbook for the same reason you trust an online store. The only other option is to not bet online or not shop online, respectively. But shopping at an illegitimate clothing store might get your credit card stolen, just like playing at an illegal site can garner the same results.
How Hard Is It To Get Winnings?
Getting paid by a legitimate online sportsbook is simple. Once you have enough in your account to meet the minimum requirements for withdrawal (which could be as low as $0.01), you simply put in a withdrawal request. Then, choose your payment method, which is the same as you do for the deposit.?
For most online sportsbooks in PA, the withdrawal methods include check by mail, direct bank deposit, PayPal, or cage pickup (going to the partner casino?s cashier).?
If you take advantage of a bonus offer, make sure you meet all the playthrough (AKA rollover) requirements before you request a withdrawal. Although, the operator will likely just let you know that you haven?t qualified yet, no harm nor foul.
Pennsylvania Online Sports Betting FAQ
What kind of sports bets are legal in Pennsylvania?
Every type of sportsbook bet is available in Pennsylvania, including live, in-game betting. That means you can place bets after the game has already started.?
You can also parlay your bets. This is where you bet on more than one event but combine the odds of all for a higher payout. Similarly, teaser bets are legal as well. The ability to adjust the points spread or over/under makes them a popular alternative to parlays.
The sportsbook events that are illegal in Pennsylvania include bets on esports, politics, weather, sports drafts, or TV competitions.?
Can I bet on college sports in Pennsylvania?
Yes. Unless you?re associated with the athletic department of the college or university, you?re free to bet on all collegiate competitions, including local contests. Whether the college game is offered depends on the notoriety of the matchup and the sportsbook.
Can I bet on esports in Pennsylvania?
No. And it looks as though you won?t be able to for some time. There are no talks of the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board considering a change to the current restriction. If you want to bet on esports legally in the US, you need to do so from Nevada.
What is the tax rate for online sports bettors in Pennsylvania?
PA sports bettors with net winnings over $5,000 for the year pay 24% to the IRS and 3.7% to the State of Pennsylvania. That?s an incredible 27.7% tax on total gambling winnings.
To report your gambling winnings, you need to fill out Form W-2G. Your accountant or accounting software can sort it out for you as well.
Who can get a license to run an online sportsbook in Pennsylvania?
The maximum number of licenses for online sportsbook operators is 13. At least eight of those are already taken. So, how do you get one of the remaining five or so? Well, you need $10 million to apply, and you need to be an existing brick-and-mortar sportsbook or casino. If that applies to you, then you can apply for a license through the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board.
Is DraftKings offering sports betting in Pennsylvania?
Yes. As a partner of Meadows Racetrack & Casino, the DraftKings PA online sportsbook is available to all those located within state lines. Unsurprisingly (given its massive brand recognition), DraftKings is one of the most popular sports betting sites in the state. You can also use your DraftKings sportsbook account to play daily fantasy sports as well as their online casino games.
Is FanDuel offering sports betting In Pennsylvania?
Yes. The FanDuel PA online sportsbook launched through a partnership with Valley Forge Casino Resort. Much like its rival DraftKings, you can use the money in a FanDuel account for all its products, including daily fantasy sports and online casino games.