Pennsylvania Online Casinos — Legal Sites in 2024

Since expansive gambling regulations were introduced in 2017, the Pennsylvania online casino industry has continued to grow. The first far-reaching state gambling laws were passed in 2004, when slot casinos were introduced. Since then, the state has become one of the friendliest in the US to both casino gamblers and casino operators.

What does all of this means for players? Mainly, that there’s a ton of options for all types of online gambling in PA. Let us narrow the field for you with our own picks for the best PA casinos and share a bit more about the history of PA gambling.

Top Pennsylvania Online Casinos

We count all of our recommendations as some of best legal US casinos out there.

Are PA Online Casino Sites Legal?

Pennsylvania online casinos are permitted under House Bill 271. The bill was passed by state lawmakers on October 26, 2017, and signed into law on October 30, 2017 by Governor Tom Wolf. Better known as the Truck Stop and Satellite Casino Bill, HB 217 had many impacts on gambling in PA.

Some Impacts of House Bill 271

Is Online Poker Legal is PA?

Online poker is included in the regulations introduced as a result of HB 271. Based on our list or recommended online poker casinos, bettors will have no problem finding an operator hosting their favorite poker variation using top-tier gaming software.

Online Sports Betting Legal Status

Sports betting online, at retail casinos, and on mobile apps is regulated in Pennsylvania. The federal government paved the way for retail and online sports betting in Pennsylvania in 2018 when it rolled back the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) across the US. Since then Eagles and Flyers fans alike have been able to put money down on their favorite teams from Philly.

Sports betting received the go-ahead in 2017, but officially launched for retail in November 2018. Online sports betting was launched by licensed operators in Pennsylvania in May 2019.

Horserace Betting

Horserace betting was the first introduced type of gambling to be regulated in Pennsylvania. The state passed the Race Horse Industry Reform Act in 1959. The Act results in regulated horserace betting in Pennsylvania and the first PA racetrack opens in 1963, and several off-track betting locations are opened as well. Pennsylvania was also included in the Interstate Horse Racing Act of 1978.

The Pennsylvania State Lottery

A state lottery was introduced in Pennsylvania in 1971. Since then all proceeds have gone to the Lottery Fund, which uses the revenue to support programs for elderly residents. In 2010, Pennsylvania joined the multi-state Mega Millions game. As part of House Bill 271, in 2017 the state lottery was given the ability to offer keno and other online games of luck as well as hosting raffles and scratch cards.

Bingo in PA

The Pennsylvania Bingo Law was passed in 1981 giving residents of the Keystone State . Additionally, the Pennsylvania Local Option Small Games of Chance Act passed in 1988 allowed limited specific types of gaming in non-profit organizations as well as in for-profit taverns.

Retail Casino Laws

Land-based casinos have been regulated in Pennsylvania since Act 71 permitted slot casinos to open. Commercial gambling in PA is governed under sections of Title 18 and Title 4 of the PA General Assembly, permitting:

• Licensed horse and harness racing
• Daily drawings, pull-tabs, and tavern raffles for a charitable purpose are permitted.
• Bookmaking, punch boards, private wire for gambling information, cockfighting, and bullet play are not permitted.
• Bingo, small games of chance sponsored by charitable organizations, and antique slot machines are permitted.
• The minimum wager allowed is $0.01, and the maximum is $15,000.

Gambling History in PA — Timeline

Pennsylvania may be a recent entrant in the US casino industry, but it is a powerhouse for revenue. Pennsylvania out paces New Jersey only to Nevada and out-paces New Jersey. The history that got us here is full of ups and downs.

Best PA Casinos Online

Get some more info before deciding which of our best PA casinos is right for you. All of our top five recommendations have been thoroughly vetted in our online casino reviews.

Las Atlantis

Las Atlantis has one of the most modern and unique user interfaces on this list. Relatively new on the market, the game library is still developing, but is regularly updated with new games.

The slots library has the biggest variety, and there’s at least one option for classic table games.

The welcome bonus offer is the highlight of Las Atlantis. Up to $14,000 in match deposits on slots titles is up for grabs.

The banking options are somewhat limited right; notably no digital wallets are accepted at the moment.

Visit Las Atlantis Las Atlantis

El Royale

El Royale is all in on players looking a great slots library, while their table game offerings are more limited.

There’s a great variety of bonuses on top of deposit matches; you’ll find lots of opportunities for free spins, which have an assigned value for players to wager.

Navigating the site is a breeze, with links to the games, promotions, and banking sitting atop the homepage for easy access.

Visit El Royale El Royale Review

Bovada

Bovada is the highest ranking combination sportsbook and casino on our list. This mainstay site has been around since 2011 and has built an impressive platform for every type of gambler.

As a new player, you’ll receive a 100% deposit bonus worth up to $3,000 across three total deposits. A highlight is a crypto-only welcome bonus of up to $3,750.

There’s a healthy library of live dealer games, and Bovada is excellent regarding a variety of table games.

Of Bovada’s broad variety of payment methods it’s worth noting the ability for players to withdraw their winnings as a voucher.

Visit Bovada Bovada Casino Review

DuckyLuck

DuckyLuck’s vibrant design is eye-catching to say the least. But the best aspect of DuckyLuck is the robust player rewards program, DuckyBucks. With every deposit players earn points in a tiered system.  Depending on your tier you’ll receive cashback, birthday gifts, custom bonus packages, comp points, reload offers, and more.

The slots library is impressive but there’s a solid variety of tables games that includes several poker, roulette and blackjack varieties.

The welcome bonus is a 500% match up to $2,500 and 150 free spins. While the $2,500 may be less than the others listed above, the 500% match calls for much less upfront for the deposit.

Visit DuckyLuck DuckyLuck Review

Popular Games & Betting Pennsylvania

As one of the biggest states for gambling, we know players looking for a new PA online casino will want a broad variety of high quality games. We’ve got everything you need to know about popular gambling types and the best sites that offer them:

Retail Casinos in Pennsylvania

With a well-regulated but relaxed attitude towards gambling, it’s not surprising that Pennsylvania is second only to Nevada (Vegas, baby!) when it comes to retail casinos. Several are actually dual casino-horserace tracks known as “racinos.” Here are our top picks:

• 
  Harrah's Philadelphia

  777 Harrah’s Blvd, Chester, PA 19013

  Visit Harrah's Philadelphia
• 
  Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course

  777 Hollywood Blvd, Grantville, PA 17028

  Visit Hollywood Casino — Penn National
• 
  Hollywood Casino Morgantown

  6021 Morgantown Rd, Morgantown, PA 19543

  VIsit Hollywood Casino — Morgantown

• See All Pennsylvania Retail Casinos

  LOCATION	WHAT’S THERE	ADDRESS	VISIT
  	Mini-Casino	2899 Whiteford Rd York, PA 17402	Hollywood Casino York
  	Casino & Resort	4067 National Pike Farmington, PA 15437	Lady Luck Casino Nemacolin
  	Mini-Casino	5260 US-30 Greensburg, PA 15601	Live! Casino Pittsburgh
  	Casino	900 Packer Ave Philadelphia, PA 19148	Live! Casino & Hotel Philadelphia
  	Casino & Race Track	210 Racetrack Rd Washington, PA 15301	Hollywood Casino at The Meadows
  	Casino & Race Track	1280 PA-315 Wilkes-Barre, PA 18702	Mohegan Sun Pocono
  	Casino	312 Woodland Rd Mt Pocono, PA 18344	Mount Airy Casino Resort
  	Casino & Race Track	2999 Street Rd Bensalem, PA 19020	Parx Casino & Racing
  	Casino & Race Track	8199 Perry Hwy Erie, PA 16509	Presque Isle Downs & Casino
  	Casino & Race Track	1001 N Delaware Ave Philadelphia, PA 19125	Rivers Casino Philadelphia
  	Casino & Race Track	777 Casino Dr Pittsburgh, PA 15212	Rivers Casino Pittsburgh
  	Casino & Resort	1160 1st Ave King of Prussia, PA 19406	Valley Forge Casino Resort
  	Casino	77 Wind Creek Blvd Bethlehem, PA 18015	Wind Creek Bethlehem

In 2018 Pennsylvania hosted another auction of 10 additional licenses for mini casinos, also known as satellite casinos, which condense their offerings of games compared to larger establishments such as Harrah’s. Although ten licenses were available, only five were sold. Of those five currently only two are planned to be built.

The Future of Pennsylvania Online Casinos

It should come as no surprise that the future for online gambling in the state of PA is exceptionally bright. When legislation in favor of gambling online passed a few years ago, it paved the way for explosive growth.

We predict more Pennsylvania online casino sites entering the market over the next few years. Additionally, we predict the number of patrons using online casinos over brick and mortar locations to grow.

Deposit & Withdrawal Methods for PA Online Gambling

Every online casino review we do at Best US Casino’s is assessed against our six variables, one of which is payment methods. Below you’ll see some of the brands and companies we look out for at US gambling sites as deposit methods and withdrawal options.

Credit Cards

Crypto

Digital Wallets

Traditional Banking

These old school methods can make payouts and deposits take a little longer, but for some players the security of a bank’s endorsement matters more.

Gambling Safely & Responsibly in PA

One of the best things to come out of Pennsylvania’s robust gambling regulations is the PGCB’s website dedicated to responsible play and its 1-800-GAMBLER hot line. The site is full of resources for players looking to take control of their gambling habits should they become a problem. The Self-Exclusion program allows people to request the state to exclude them from retail and online casinos in PA. If you think you have a gambling problem or addiction, there a resources to help you.

Pennsylvania Online Casino Site FAQs

• Are winnings at online casinos in Pennsylvania taxed?

  Gambling and lottery winnings are classified as a form of income under 72 PA C.S. §7303(a)(7). This means they will be subject to income federal and Pennsylvania state income tax regulations.

• What is the legal gambling age in Pennsylvania?

  The legal gambling age in Pennsylvania is 18 years old for sports betting, horse racing and casino games. However, you must be 21 to play at a land-based casino.

• Can I play casino games for real money in Pennsylvania?

  All of our recommended sites are real money online casinos available to PA residents.

• Are online casinos available on mobile?

  Yes. We never recommend online casino sites that don’t have high-quality mobile gaming offerings. You’ll be able to play all games for real money from your phone or tablet in PA.

• Is playing online casinos in PA safe?

  All of the casinos we recommend for players in Pennsylvania are licensed and regulated by international gaming commissions. They are encrypted sites and use secure payment methods. We’d never discourage from doing your own research though!

• How much can I win at online casinos?

  You could win a lot of money. But it is important to remember there are no guaranteed winnings. Even in table games like blackjack, baccarat, or roulette where you can use strategy to increase your odds of a payout. Slot machines have large jackpots, but they use random number generators for a reason. Our best advice is to never rely on a casino for a big pay day.