Since launching online casinos in 2019, Pennsylvania has become home to some of the country's leading operators. Real money players in PA can now gamble legally and safely on slots, roulette, blackjack, and more.
Our experts have reviewed all Keystone State’s operators, highlighting Pennsylvania's best providers and promotions, legal requirements, payment options, and mobile casinos.
Pennsylvania currently has 23 online casinos with 39 online casino licenses available, so plenty more operators could launch in the state. In the rapidly changing market, more brands will likely provide more options for PA players.
With more online casinos launching in Pennsylvania each year, real-money players have a wide selection of games. As most gambling verticals are legalized, players can access a wide variety of games from anywhere in the state. Live dealer games, blackjack, and online slots are among the most played in PA.
Pennsylvania gambling regulations state very few differences between the type of games land-based and online casinos can offer. Common varieties of slots, blackjack, and roulette are available, as well as live dealer games, craps, and baccarat. Associations that hold a regular license can hold bingo draws twice a week for a year.
All online casino players in Pennsylvania must be aware of RTP (Return to Player) figures before playing. RTP is the average percentage of money a game pays back to players over time.
For example, a slot with a 96% RTP suggests that, on average, you’d receive $0.96 back for every $1, wagered over 100 spins. All games run on Random Number Generators (RNG), so returns always vary. Online slots typically return higher RTP rates than land-based machines.
If you are over 21 and within Pennsylvania’s borders, you can gamble safely and legally with any state-regulated online casinos. All are licensed by the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB), which oversees fairness, data protection, player safety, and responsible gambling.
The first significant legislative efforts to legalize online gambling in PA started in 2015 with HB 649 and SB 900. Both bills failed, but gamblers only had to wait until 2017 for successful gambling legislation to pass.
On October 30, that year, Governor Tom Wolf signed HB 271, legalizing online gambling in Pennsylvania. However, logistical issues prevented online casinos from launching in the state until 2019. All PA online operators must partner with a land-based casino to receive a license.
The online casino registration process can seem challenging to new players, but operators do everything possible to make it quick and straightforward. We’ve made your sign-up even easier by providing a step-by-step guide:
Online casinos cater to players by offering a wide range of safe and easy-to-use banking methods. If you want to play with an online casino for real money, you must deposit funds into your casino account. Follow the steps below to make a deposit quickly:
A minimum deposit is one of the most common conditions for claiming an online casino welcome bonus, so be sure you are depositing the right amount. However, some online casinos offer no deposit bonuses that don't require this step.
Most Pennsylvania online casinos support payment methods players use daily, like popular bank cards and e-wallets. However, some banks impose restrictions and block gambling-related transactions. You may need to check your provider’s online and gambling transactions policies.
Anyone over 21 in Pennsylvania can legally gamble on online casino websites and apps. You don’t have to be a PA resident; you have to be present in the state and old enough to gamble.
All legit US online casinos will ask you to verify your identity with your photo ID to prove your age. If you are using a mobile device, you must also allow the gambling site to use your device’s location to verify that you are in the state while gambling online.
When signing up to a PA casino, you will need to provide information like your date of birth, email, home address, phone number, and the last four digits of your Social Security Number. Once you sign up, most casinos let you deposit and play casino games for real money.
However, you can only cash out after you verify your account. As part of your account-verification process, you will need to provide copies of documents, including your picture ID, proof of address, and payment method. Casinos typically take a few hours to a few days to verify your account.
Since its founding in 2004, the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB) has regulated all land-based and online casinos in the state. The PGCB was founded as the regulating body for slot machines when they were introduced in land-based casinos and now oversees all gambling licenses and regulation in the state. It was the first government agency created by the State of Pennsylvania after more than 30 years.
Casino apps are available for most online casinos on the iOS or Google Play App Stores. Anyone of the legal gambling age can download the app or play on the mobile browser site. The registration process is the same as on desktop, but you must enable your device’s geolocation services so the online casino can check you are within Pennsylvania’s borders.
Pennsylvania casino apps for Android devices can be downloaded from the Google Play Store or directly from the casino’s website.
Many Pennsylvania online casinos provide apps for iOS devices that can be downloaded from the Apple App Store or the casino’s website.
Online casinos have been legal in Pennsylvania since 2017, with the first casino going live in 2019. Pennsylvania first regulated gambling in 1959, with the state’s legalization of horse racing. It wasn’t until 2004 that slot machines were introduced in the state. Most online casino games launched in 2019, except for live dealer games, which were introduced a year later.
The Pennsylvania Race Horse Development and Gaming Act was signed, legalizing land-based casinos. This act allows 14 casinos in Pennsylvania to offer slot machines.
Gov. Ed Rendell signs a bill to legalize table games at casinos in Pennsylvania.
Representative John Payne introduced HB 649 to the House, and Senator Kim Ward sponsored SB 900, a bill to legalize online gambling.
Gov. Tom Wolf signed HB 271 and legalized online gambling in Pennsylvania.
Parx Online Casino (Now betPARX Casino) receives full approval to operate in the Keystone State and is the first licensed operator to launch.
Pennsylvania casino players can access both legal casinos and offshore sites. However, there are some significant differences between the two.
Any regulated online casino in Pennsylvania has met the strict regulations set out by the PGCB, which guarantees financial transparency, player privacy and security, game fairness, and responsible gambling. You can find the licensing information for any online casino at the bottom of each casino’s website and app.
They hold licenses with international gambling restrictions or don’t hold licenses at all. Therefore, they do not adhere to Pennsylvania’s regulations nor offer the protection and security standards required by the PGCB.
It is crucial to distinguish between legal and offshore casinos and know their differences.
Pennsylvania’s gamblers have an excellent choice of land-based and online casinos. The state is home to over 20 online casinos and 17 land-based casinos. While both allow you to play your favorite casino games, we’ve compared some of the main differences between online and land-based casinos to help you choose.
There are 17 land-based casinos in Pennsylvania, providing some of the best live gambling experiences in the US. Brick-and-mortar casinos offer all the same games you can find at PA online casinos.
Mount Airy Casino Resort has the distinction of being Pennsylvania’s first AAA Four Diamond casino resort. That quality carries through to its casino, which is open 24/7. There are almost 1,700 slot games and 70 table games with options like craps, roulette, blackjack, and baccarat. There is also a retail sportsbook and a poker room on site. You can also earn Mount Airy Player’s Club points by gambling.
The Mohegan Sun Pocono casino is a massive 82,000-square-foot space with over 1,900 slot machines and over 50 table games. You can enter the high-limit slot room or private player’s lounge. There is also a poker room with nine tables, live horse racing, a spa, several restaurants, and shops alongside the casino. The Mohegan Sun Pocono frequently hosts live entertainment like its Wise Crackers Comedy Club.
Parx Casino was voted best casino in Pennsylvania in 2016 and 2017 and provides over 3,000 slots, over 140 table games, and nearly 50 poker tables. The casino covers 150,000 square feet, and slot games have regular promotions you can enjoy with an Xclub card. If sports betting is more your speed, a retail sportsbook is onsite.
The casino also offers fun promotions for its customers, like its best hat competition for anyone visiting on Kentucky Derby day. Live thoroughbred horse races are held on the race track, and you can watch and bet on these events.
Construction for the 94,000-square-foot Nittany Mall Casino near Penn State’s campus is underway, and it is expected to have 750 slots and 30 table games. SC Gaming agreed to a deal with Saratoga Casino Holdings to develop and manage the new property. However, regulatory approval from the PGCB could delay proceedings.
Problem gambling is a serious issue that many players don’t know how to spot. Anyone suffering from these symptoms should seek help and responsible gambling resources from professional organizations.
In accordance with Pennsylvania gambling regulations, all online casinos must provide a responsible gambling page. These pages must include resources on spotting problem gambling, account tools like spend limits, and links to third-party resources. Pennsylvania operates a self-exclusion policy that allows players to opt out of all promotional gambling material and prevents them from registering with online casinos.
Yes, you can legally gamble online in Pennsylvania. Online gambling was legalized on October 30, 2017, and launched on July 17, 2019.
The legal gambling age in Pennsylvania is 21. Anyone of legal gambling age can use an online casino or visit a land-based casino. You may be required to verify your age while registering with an online casino by submitting your photographic ID.
You do not have to live in Pennsylvania to play at online casinos. You can play if you are visiting or passing through the Keystone State, however, geolocation must be enabled.
The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB) oversees online gambling in PA. Any online casino launching in the state must receive a license from the PGCB and pass the regulatory body’s standards for safe operation.
No, interstate online gambling is not legal in Pennsylvania. However, the state may be invited to join the Multi-State iGaming Agreement (MSIGA), which would allow poker rooms to host players from multiple states.
Online casino apps are available to players in Pennsylvania. If an online casino has an app, you can find it on your device’s app store or download it from the online casino site.
TPennsylvania currently has 23 online casinos, such as BetMGM, FanDuel, and Caesars. There are 39 online casino licenses available, so plenty more operators could launch in the state.