Best Online Gambling In Pa
Regulated Casino, Poker and Gambling Sites in Pennsylvania
PA representatives had been trying to get a piece of online gambling legislation passed as early as 2015. However, it was not until October 30th, 2017 that then-Governor Tom Wolf signed the. That puts SugarHouse among some of the best online casinos PA, namely because your benefits are numerous and graduating to higher tiers isn’t a huge hassle. We are hoping that SugarHouse Online Casino expands its selection of games, however- right now only slots are live, but clearly SugarHouse has plans to expand that to table games, card.
PA online casinos are flourishing in 2020. Pennsylvania recently overtook New Jersey in terms of casino revenue – taking second place behind Nevada.
The PA online gambling market is now firing on all cylinders. You have multiple online casinos and PA sports betting sites to choose from. Pennsylvania players can also play legal online poker. If you want to get playing right now, there are plenty of great regulated gambling sites and legal online casino sites in PA you can get started on in a matter of minutes. Unibet online casino in PA is one of the top options in the state, with $10 free just for signing up and a 100% match of your deposit up to $500. For the free money, use promo code UBCASINO10. For the deposit bonus, use promo code UBCASINO500.
This guide covers everything you need to about online casinos in PA, gambling online and PA poker sites.
2020 is shaping up to be a busy year in the Keystone state, with close to a dozen gambling sites available. There are multiple sites to choose from in Pennsylvania, including, poker, casino and sports betting.
This guide walks you through the best PA casino apps, including bonus offers available and how to choose a site that works for you.
Best Online Casinos in PA
Here is what you’ll find in this detailed Pennsylvania online gambling guide:
- Legal Overview: Recent law changes and current news
- Online Casinos in PA: The partnerships we know about so far
- Sports Betting Sites in PA: Betting on sports online
- PA Poker Sites: Partnerships and the possibility of shared player pools
- What to Look for: What makes one online casino better than another?
- Gaming Options: Slots, table games, live dealer options and online poker are all covered here.
- PA Online Gambling FAQ: Everything players need to know before heading online
- The Road to Regulation in PA: History and timeline of the legislative efforts
PA Gambling Sites Overview: What’s New?
2020 will be a busy year for Pennsylvania. With both real money PA casinos and poker sites already online, you can expect new games, new promotions and new operators to expand in the Keystone State.
The initial licenses are awarded to holders of existing gaming licenses (brick and mortar casinos). A second batch awarded to ‘qualifying gaming organizations’ bringing increased choice for players further down the line.
Many big brand names including Scientific Games and PokerStars have already found partners – and have launched. While some live casinos declined to move online (for example Sands Bethlehem), other big names including Harrah’s Casino and Mohegan Sun are all posed to make this move.
Sports betting is live in PA live casinos, following New Jersey’s victory at the Supreme Court. Licenses have since been issued for a number of sites and many have launched in 2019 with more expected come 2020.
Slots are taxed differently to table games and poker in PA. With a 54% tax on gross gaming revenues, these games will not be as profitable for the casinos as in other states. This high tax rate also applies to slots at existing B&M casinos – and help make PA the state with the highest tax take from casinos, even beating out Nevada.
PA Online Casinos
Most of the license holders have formed technology partnerships already. Big international brands and equivalents gave some clues as to what players could expect with Pennsylvania online gambling sites. The first casino to go online was Sugarhouse, followed by Parx, BetRivers and Hollywood Casino.
Here is a list of online casinos in PA and known partnerships to date:
- BetAmerica – Presque Isle Downs
- BetRivers – Rivers Philadelphia
- BetMGM – Hollywood Casino
- Caesars Online Casino – Harrah’s Philadelphia
- DraftKings Casino – Hollywood Casino
- FanDuel Casino – Valley Forge
- PokerStars Casino – Mount Airy
- Unibet – Mohegan Sun Pocono
- SugarHouse Online Casino – SugarHouse
Pennsylvania Online Casino Bonus Guide
With the online casinos in PA open, players have a unique opportunity. The brands (and their partner land-based casinos) are keen to get a great start. This means bonuses and promotions for new players should be both generous and easy to come by.
You’ll find the best PA online casino bonus codes here along with some pointers of the types of bonus and promo deals to expect – and how to take advantage of each one.
- Free Play Bonuses: Over in New Jersey, all NJ online casinos offer new players free play on real money games without the need to deposit. This is money is placed in a bonus account – and can’t simply be withdrawn. You can keep what you win with it, subject to a play-through requirement (and at some casinos a deposit). PA internet casinos are also offering no deposit offers, however, its few and far between.
- Matched Welcome Bonuses: As well as showcasing games with free-play, Pennsylvania online casinos will be keen to encourage deposits. To do this, matched bonuses are on offer. A typical casino deal is 100% matched to your first deposit, up to $500 (sometimes more). You’ll then need to wager this bonus money a number of times before it can be withdrawn.
- Other Deposit Deals: Some casinos in Pennsylvania offer extras along with your deposit. This can be entry into a slot tournament, a free chip for live-dealer casino games or free slot spins.
- Reload Bonuses: You might need to top up your account at times, and casinos are keen that you stay with them instead of seeking a fresh welcome bonus elsewhere. You’ll find reload bonuses similar to your matched welcome offers, with a percentage match and play-through requirement. Remember to check for these if you decide to reload, that simple casino bonus code can make a big difference to your bankroll!
- Comp / Loyalty Schemes: These work in a similar way to schemes at live casinos. You get points based on your play. Instead of swapping them for drinks, you’ll get extra bonuses online instead.
One significant type of casino bonus you can expect from PA gambling sites is one-off and special promos. These can be tied to holidays, sporting events like the Super Bowl or sometimes just new slot games. A solid number of one-off promos shows that a casino is serious about looking after their regular players, and not just attracting new ones.
PA Sportsbooks & Online Betting Sites
At the time of writing, over half a dozen live casinos have applied for online sports betting licenses. Mid 2019 saw Sugar House become the first PA sports betting site, albeit with a soft-launch. Since then, Fanduel, FoxBet Bet Rivers and Unibet PA have launched.
The other casinos that launched PA sports betting sites in 2020 include:
- BetMGM via Penn National – Coming 2021
- Harrah’s via Caesar’s Sportsbook – Launched March of 2020
- Hollywood Casino via Barstool Sportsbook – Launched September of 2020
- Presque Isle via BetAmerica Sportsbook – Launched December of 2019
- Valley Forge via FanDuel Sportsbook – Launched July of 2019
- Meadowlands Race and Casino via DraftKings Sportsbook – Launched November of 2019
- Mohegan Sun Pocono via Unibet Sportsbook – Launched November of 2019
- Mount Airy Casino via Fox Bet Sportsbook – Launched September of 2019
- Rivers Pittsburgh via BetRivers Sportsbook – Launched June of 2019
PA Online Poker Sites
Poker relies on a larger number of players to offer bigger prize tournaments and a wider choice of games / formats. It was assumed that a link-up would happen, though the recent reassessment of the opinion on the Wire Act has now bought this into question.
PA has a big enough population (12.8 million) to make online poker viable alone – though the benefits to players of the extended player pool would be considerable.
Giant brands including 888 and Party Poker PA are preparing to enter PA, while PokerStars PA has already launched.
PokerStars was the first online poker site in Pennsylvania to go live and is partnered with Mount Airy Casino.
Here are the rest of the sites and partnerships announced so far:
- Harrah’s:888 Poker
- Hollywood: IGT
- Parx: GAN / Kambi
- Valley Forge: Party Poker
- Sugar House: Rush Street Interactive
What to Look for with PA Online Gambling?
With so many options available, choosing the best PA online gambling site might not be easy. This section draws on years of casino, poker and sportsbook experience to bring you the key things to look out for before you sign-up.
For casino fans, the software, games, bonuses and live-dealer options all come into play. Casino site software has come on a long way since the big brands left the US back in 2006. This is now responsive to your screen size, with animations and 3D effects which will blow you away.
In the past, casinos required you download a software package onto your PC. These days, your choices are mostly browser-based – with some smartphone apps.
Instead of games from a single software provider, casinos curate their own choice of slots, table games and novelty titles. You’ll find games from giants like SG and IGT alongside titles from new and innovative software houses. I recommend you try out casinos (with free no-deposit money where possible) to find the game selection and software that you like best.
Poker fans will also have some choices to make. While a lot depends on whether player pools are shared or PA-only – there are differences between the games and formats each site offers. With poker, size matters. While you might prefer software on one site, if all the opponents (particularly the recreational ones) are playing elsewhere, then it makes sense to switch. As well as welcome bonuses, ongoing offers make a big difference to your bottom line in poker games. The best PA poker site will combine a lot of players, a great selection of games and regular reward.
Finally, sports bettors will know that the lines on offer at PA sports betting sites are more important than the software client. That is not to say bad sportsbook software should be tolerated! This area is one where having a choice of site (and the ability to shop for the best lines each time you bet) is more important than a long list of features or gimmicks.
What Casino Games Are Available to PA Residents?
The choice of slots online these days will come as a pleasant surprise to many new players. You can enjoy online versions of slots from live casinos (including many movie and TV show themed games). You will find the depth of game-play in online-only slot titles has significantly improved. Increased competition from smaller software houses, combined with classics from the likes of Bally, IGT and others will give you a huge choice.
If you prefer your slot play more traditional, then you’ll be happy to know 3-reel slots – which mimic the original mechanical machines – are also widely available. Many PA online slots have huge (million+) jackpots these days too.
Table games can be played via casino software, or with live dealer via a real-time video link. Live dealer games are hugely popular – adding a social element to online casino gambling. You’ll find plenty of options including blackjack, roulette, baccarat and casino poker variants. Software based table games give you even more choices including many innovative side-bets and rules variations.
Between table games and slots, you’ll already have 1000’s of games to choose from. Add in video poker, keno, scratch-cards and novelty games – and your choices get even better.
Other states with legal online gambling
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PA Online Gambling: The Road to Regulation
Like many East coast states, Horse Racing, and the gambling associated with them, were popular as far back as the 1830’s. A lottery and limited charity gambling options were all that was available for a long stretch – until 2004.
In that year ‘Act 71’ was passed, legalizing live casinos and betting at horse racing tracks. These forms of gambling would become a big source of income for the state coffers. High tax rates (particularly on slot and casino gaming), meant that more tax revenue came from gambling in PA than in any other state in 2018. This includes Nevada, where the revenues are higher – though tax rate is significantly lower.
On Oct. 25, 2017, the Pennsylvania Senate passed a comprehensive gaming expansion package that includes online gambling in the form of online poker, online slots, as well as online table games. The next day, the PA House passed the bill as well, making Pennsylvania the fourth state in the nation to authorize online gambling.
The package then went to Gov. Tom Wolf, who signed the bill on Oct. 30, 2017, officially cementing PA’s status as the fourth US state to legalize online gaming.
The legislation, H 271, permits a variety of other gambling expansions, including daily fantasy sports, sports betting both online and off (should the federal government repeal PASPA), video gaming terminals (VGTs) in authorized truck stops, and tablet gaming at qualified airport locations.
Now that Wolf signed the bill into law, it will likely be around nine months before the first legal online gambling sites launch in Pennsylvania. Regulations will need to be promulgated, licenses issued, sites tested, and so forth.
When legal NJ online gambling was passed, it was roughly nine months before sites went live.
Pennsylvania has surpassed their first year of online gambling and in that year they saw half a dozen sportsbooks go online, one poker site and four casinos. More are expected to rollout over the course of 2020.
Online poker is legal in Pennsylvania since 2017. PA players can access real money poker sites and play different games with poker players in the state.
PokerStars PA is the only legal PA poker site right now to play real money poker games online.
If you want to play (and secure a free $30 bonus to start with your first games) continue to this page.
On this page, you are going to learn:
- How to play online poker in Pennsylvania
- What are the best PA poker sites
- Why Pennsylvania gambling laws allow PokerStars to operate in PA
- Lots more
If you want to play the BEST online poker games in Pennsylvania, and you want to do so with the largest bonuses available to PA poker players, you'll love this new guide.
Let's dive right in.
PA Online Poker Sites
PokerStars PA is the best online poker site to offer real money games in Pennsylvania.
You can play legal real money online poker games in Pennsylvania from November 4, 2019.
That day, industry-leader PokerStars celebrated the first-ever 'shuffle up and deal of their PA-focused poker site.
888poker and partypoker are also expected to launch an online poker site in Pennsylvania in 2020 to compete with their arch-rival.
The opening of more PA online poker sites like 888poker PA and partypoker PA represents a great opportunity for all PA poker players.
More competition between international giants like these three is sure to result in great online events, synergies between online and offline operations and (why not) all great PA poker bonuses.
Here's a recap of the best PA online poker sites available to play real money poker games in Pennsylvania right now:
| Poker Site | Status | Play |
|---|---|---|
| PokerStars PA | Active | Register Here |
| 888poker PA | Coming Soon | N/A |
| partypoker PA | Coming Soon | N/A |
PokerStars Pennsylvania
PokerStars is the only poker site authorised to offer real money poker games to PA players.
This is the only PA poker site where you play free games to win real money (freeroll tournaments), play all the most popular poker variants, and experience international hits like PokerStars' Spin and Go tournaments.
When you register to play online poker games in PA on PokerStars, you get:
- An excellent bonus package with tickets to play Spin and Go tournaments
- A bonus match bonus on your first deposit
- The best customer support service in the industry
- Unlimited access to the only online legal poker games in PA
PokerStars PA has seen well over 600 players activate an account during the first night of action alone — with that number growing ever since.
The games on PokerStars PA are ring-fenced. Pennsylvania gambling laws do not allow the PA online poker sites to share liquidity (and player pool) with any of the poker sites in NJ, Delaware, and Nevada.
PokerStars' PA online poker site is operated in cooperation with the Mount Airy Casino Resort, the brands' partner in the State.
Games and Tournaments on PokerStars PA
Since this is the only legal poker site in Pennsylvania, PokerStars PA is where you find all the best online games.
The PokerStars PA poker client features an extensive offer of both cash games and poker tournaments.
Cash Games on PokerStars PA
The ring action reaches its peak in the evening when PokerStars PA continues to register the highest number of active players at its tables.
The cash games feature stakes that start at $0.01/$0.02 and go all the way up to $25/$50.
While not many PA poker players can afford the $25/$50 tables, you get a lot of action when you join the $1/$2 NLH games.
The majority of players on PokerStars PA are on the site to play no-limit hold'em games. However, this poker site also features a great range of other options, including:
- Limit Hold'em
- Omaha
- Seven-Card Stud
- H.O.R.S.E
- Razz
- 2-7 Triple Draw
Online Tournaments on PokerStars PA
As a tournament player, you are going to love the offering and the tournament calendar that PokerStars has planned to become the top online poker site in Pennsylvania.
The offer of no-limit hold'em is great and so are some of the guaranteed prizes available every day.
Some of the top daily events run by PokerStars in Pennsylvania include tournaments like the Hot Turbos, the KO Fever, the Moonlight Express, and the Nightly Stars.
You can also enjoy some Omaha, Omaha Hi/Lo, and Stud poker action with the Change Up daily events.
But the daily guaranteed multi-table online poker tournaments are events where everyone end up, sooner or later.
| Tournament | Time | Buy-in | Guarantee |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Big $5 | 4 p.m. | $5 | $500 |
| The Big $30 | 5 p.m. | $30 | $1,000 |
| The Big $50 | 6 p.m. | $50 | $2,000 |
| The Big $10 | 6 p.m. | $10 | $1,000 |
| The Big $20 | 7 p.m. | $20 | $1,500 |
All times are EST
The Sunday Majors on PokerStars PA
Now that online poker is legal in PA you can join your share of weekend actions with PokerStars' legendary Sunday poker tournaments.
The Sunday Majors are the best poker tournaments in PA. There you find the most exciting action and, of course, the best real money prizes.
The Sunday action at PokerStars PA begins with the $8,500 GTD Sunday Warm-Up, a $50 buy-in event starting at 4 p.m., and leads to the $500 buy-in Sunday Special, the marquee event of the day where the players compete for a guarantee of $15,000.
| Tournament | Time | Buy-in | Guarantee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sunday Warm-Up | 4 p.m. | $50 | $8,500 |
| Sunday Storm | 5 p.m. | $10 | $4,500 |
| Sunday Special | 6 p.m. | $200 | $45,000 |
| Sunday High Roller | 7 p.m. | $500 | $15,000 |
| Sunday Supersonic | 10 p.m. | $75 | $5,000 |
PA Online Tournament Series
PokerStars brings to Pennsylvania poker players also some of their most successful annual online tournament series.
This is the site where you find massive multiplayer events like the Pennsylvania Spring Championship of Online Poker (PASCOOP), the Pennsylvania Championship of Online Poker (PACOOP), and the Summer Series.
Keep visiting PokerNews.com to know more about these events and their online qualifiers as the respective schedules are released.
888poker Pennsylvania
888holdings is expected to launch their own 888poker PA poker site shortly after PokerStars.
The 888poker PA website will be the result of a cooperation between 888poker/WSOP.com and Harrah’s Casino.
The fact 888 and WSOP.com might merge their player pools could lead to their product being the one with the highest number of active players in Pennsylvania.
However, we do not have an official date for the launch of 888poker PA.
Back in September, 888poker's Head of Commercial DevelopmentYaniv Sherman announced that the company intended to adopt a 'selective approach' to online poker in Pennsylvania and would launch a new product in the state 'as soon as possible.'
Sherman mentioned PA's tax and fee regime as the main reason why the company decided to take a more cautionary approach and intended to work closely with their partners Harrah's and WSOP.com to make sure a jump in the PA online poker market would be as cost-efficient as possible.
partypoker Pennsylvania
Best Online Gambling In Pa
partypoker is also expected to join the race and compete for a share of the market contended by the other PA poker sites.
GVC's online poker site intends to enter Pennsylvania in partnership with the Valley Forge Casino.
Like in the case of 888poker, we have yet to receive the official date of partypoker's launch in Pennsylvania.
Legal Online Gambling In Pa
Other Pennsylvania Poker Sites
PokerStars, 888poker, and partypoker are not the only companies that have decided to shape Pennsylvania's online poker market.
More names in the industry have decided to secure a license to offer real money poker games online to PA players, and so we can only expect other Pennsylvania poker sites to launch soon.
The list of companies that hold a license to launch poker sites in Pennsylvania includes:
- SugarHouse Poker
- Harrah's Poker
- Hollywood Casino Poker
- Mount Airy Poker
- Parx Poker
- Valley Forge Poker
- Wind Creek Poker
Pennsylvania Poker F.A.Q.
Can you play poker online in Pennsylvania?
Yes. PA players can play online poker games for free and for real money. Free-to-play poker apps like the WSOP Poker app are all legal in Pennsylvania.
PokerStars PA is the only poker site authorised by the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board to offer real money games online.
Can you play online poker for money in PA?
Yes. You can play real money cash games, tournament, sit-and-go and more on the PokerStars PA website. At present, this is the only real money poker site that operates in Pennsylvania under a license issued by the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board.
When will online poker start in PA?
Real money online poker in PA started on November 4, 2019, with the official release of the PokerStars PA online poker client.
How to play online poker in PA?
- Select one of the PA poker sites approved by the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board
- Register a free gaming account
- Confirm your identity
- Choose a poker game and play
Where can I play online poker in PA?
To date, the only online poker site authorised to offer real money poker games to PA players is PokerStars. Other PA online poker sites are expected to enter the state between Q1 and Q2-2020.
Is online gambling legal in Pennsylvania?
Online gambling is legal in Pennsylvania. On October 30, 2017, PA governor Tom Wolf signed into law the bill that legalised online sports betting, online casino gambling, and online poker in Pennsylvania.
PA online casinos and sports betting sites started to offer their services to PA players on July 15, 2019. The first real money online poker hand in Pennsylvania was dealt on PokerStars on November 4, 2019.