Legal Online Casinos in Pennsylvania
All About Online Casinos in Pennsylvania (summary)
Pennsylvania is one of the few states in the U.S. where online gambling is legal. Here’s a quick look at the key points:
- Legalization: Online casinos were legalized in 2017 under House Bill 271.
- First Casino Launch: Hollywood Casino opened in 2019, marking the first online casino in the state.
- Available Games: Players can enjoy slots, table games, poker, and live dealer games.
- Bonuses: Pennsylvania casinos offer various bonuses like deposit matches, free spins, and no-deposit offers.
- Payment Methods: Popular methods include credit/debit cards, PayPal, and Venmo.
- Mobile Access: Casinos are optimized for mobile play, with apps for iOS and Android devices.
Conclusion
Pennsylvania offers a well-regulated and diverse online gambling market, with a wide range of games, payment options, and bonuses for players.
Trending News for Pennsylvania
Casino games
More about Online Gambling in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania is one of just a handful of US states where iGaming is legal. The state has one of the most thriving gambling industries in the country, which includes not only land-based casinos, sports betting and horse racing but also online casinos.
Online casino gaming was fully legalized in Pennsylvania in 2017, and the first sites opened their virtual doors to Pennsylvanians in 2019.
Stay with us as we take a deep dive into Pennsylvania’s gambling history and its journey toward legalizing real-money casino sites. You’ll also learn about casino games, casino bonuses, and popular payment methods that you can use on regulated PA gambling sites. Read on.
Legalization of Online Casinos in Pennsylvania
Online casinos in PA were approved when Governor Tom Wolf signed House Bill 271 into law on October 30, 2017. The main intention of the new bill was to expand legal gaming services to online gambling, sports betting, online poker, online lottery, and daily fantasy sports platforms. After adopting the 2017 gaming expansion bill, the Keystone State officially became the fourth US state with a fully regulated online gambling market.
Act 42 from HB 271 allowed land-based casinos to apply for licenses to offer online gaming services, which include online slot games, online table games, and peer-to-peer interactive games – online poker.
That same year, the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB), which was established in 2004, was tasked with creating new regulations that would define the rules for online casino licensing and their operations in general. The commission finished the task in 2018, and since then, the PGCB has been in charge of issuing licenses and overseeing the legal online gambling market in the state, ensuring a safe and fair gaming environment for all players.
Penn National Gaming launched the first online casino, Hollywood Casino, in PA in July 2019. Since then, the industry has experienced significant growth, attracting several leading operators to the state. Over 20 legal real-money casinos offer Pennsylvanians diverse online gaming entertainment, including slots, table games, live casino titles, online poker, and instant-win games.
How to Register With an Online Casino in Pennsylvania?
The sign-up procedure at any trustworthy and legal real-money casino in Keystone State is almost identical. However, if you’re new to casino gaming, check out our step-by-step guide to registering at Pennsylvania’s online casinos. Following these instructions will help you have a seamless experience right from the bath.
1
Create your login details
When you enter your email, type in your username and make a strong password to protect your account.
2
Enter the required personal data in the contact form
You need to provide your full first and last name, type in your home address, select your birth date, provide your mobile number, and enter the last four digits of your SSN. The casinos ask for your mobile number to keep your account safe and text you a code if they spot something suspicious going on.
3
Complete the registration
The casino will ask you to confirm you’re at least 21 years old and will require you to click the box to confirm you’re accepting the Terms and Conditions.
4
Verify your identity
When you complete the registration, you need to confirm your identity by uploading a picture of your valid ID. This can also be your driver’s license. Next, you must verify your home address using a bank statement or utility bill. When you submit the documents, the casino will review them, and if everything is okay, they’ll quickly approve your new account.
Bonuses at Casinos in Pennsylvania
We’ve already mentioned that more than 20 popular casino sites compete for players’ attention in Pennsylvania. In addition to offering extensive game selections, these operators use casino bonuses as a key incentive to attract and retain players. You will find different welcome bonuses and ongoing deals created to appeal to new and existing members alike.
No-deposit bonuses are among the most coveted casino perks, but they are also the rarest ones. If you find a no-deposit bonus, give it a go, but make sure to read the bonus T&C, as they have higher wagering requirements, and you can’t withdraw the money before meeting them.
The standard bonus offers at all PA online casinos are deposit match welcome bonuses. Some operators will even add some extra cash on the house to reward you for signing up.
Other attractive deals include free spins, reload bonuses, cashback, and refer-a-friend bonuses. Poker players can also look forward to deals tailored exclusively to them. Moreover, the casinos also have loyalty programs, and they organize different tournaments, lotteries, and more.
Available Casino Games in Pennsylvania
As we’ve said earlier, Act 42 allowed casinos to offer three types of games: online slots, RNG-operated table games, and online poker.
However, with the rise of live dealer titles, Pennsylvania became the second US state to legalize live casino games when Evolution got its license in September 2019. Moreover, many gaming platforms have exclusive games in their libraries.
The state allows operators to partner with licensed third-party content creators to offer various game types. Some of the top providers supplying PA online casinos are Games Global, Aristocrat, Everi, Genesis, Evolution, Playtech, NetEnt, IGT, Konami, OnAir Entertainment, Stakelogic and Relax Gaming.
Online Slots
Online slots are typically the most popular games at any iGaming site, and Pennsylvania is no exception. Casinos in the state offer diverse slot libraries featuring top titles from leading developers.
You can play classic 3-reel slots (also known as Steppers), offering a retro gaming experience, Megaways, and games with other innovative mechanics and features like Lock & Win and Link & Win. Some casinos include releases with the Bonus Buy option.
Fans of jackpot games will also find various titles with fixed and progressive jackpot prize pools, like Jackpot Royale and MegaJackpots.
Table Games
Players from Pennsylvania will find different variants of popular table games like blackjack, poker, baccarat, roulette, craps, and video poker. You can also look forward to branded games.
Some of the player favorites are American Roulette, European Roulette, Three Card Poker, 5 Hand Blackjack, War, and Evolution’s first-person game suite that also includes Craps, Sic Bo, and Lightning Roulette.
However, remember that you can find operators offering dedicated poker apps you can download to enjoy playing different games like Texas Hold’em and Omaha. Moreover, you can join tournaments and compete against other players.
Live Casino Games
Evolution, the world’s largest live casino content developer, got its PGCB manufacturer license in 2019. This seal of approval allows this industry gigant to supply live casinos in Pennsylvania with its top releases. The company has a studio in Philadelphia.
PA gamers can look forward to playing different popular live dealer table games like live blackjack, live roulette, live baccarat, poker and craps, as well as live game shows. Evolution also partners with some casino operators that launched their branded live dealer studios in Pennsylvania. Besides Evolution, Playtech also boasts its state-of-the-art live casino studio in the state.
Popular titles include Lightning Roulette, Crazy Time, Crazy Coin Flip, Mega Fire Blaze Roulette Live, and Buffalo Blitz Live.
Popular Banking Methods in Pennsylvania
Online casinos in Pennsylvania accept the most popular and widely accepted payment methods in this state. You can credit your casino balance and cash out winnings with bank cards, e-wallets, online banking, and cash at retail stores.
The most popular payment cards are Visa and Mastercard, but you can also find sites that accept Discover and American Express. Other accepted methods include PayPal, ACH e-check, PayNearMe, Apple Pay, Sightline (Play+) and Venmo.
When it comes to withdrawals, you can use wire transfers, checks, debit and credit bank cards, PayPal, Play+, Venmo, check by mail, and online banking. Some casinos even provide branded gift cards you can use on their sites.
Mobile Online Casinos
Online casinos with the PGCB license are well-optimized for seamless mobile gaming. You can load sites directly from the mobile browser and enjoy playing games on the go whenever you like.
At the same time, players who prefer mobile apps can download dedicated software for their iOS or Android devices from the App Store or Google Play and have the same seamless experience as on a PC.
Other Types of Online Gambling in Pennsylvania
Besides regulated casino platforms, Pennsylvania is a vivid gambling market with many more options for online gamers.
When PA lawmakers introduced HB 271 in 2017, the state started legalizing different forms of gambling entertainment: online casinos, sports betting, online poker, lottery, and DFS. The following year, in 2018, PA sports bettors were able to start placing bets at the state’s first sportsbook.
The law allows sportsbooks to accept wagers on professional and colleague sports, but eSports is not permitted. The best operators also offer mobile betting apps, and the first became accessible to PA bettors in 2019. Furthermore, the law lets land-based casinos and race tracks open and run retail sportsbooks.
If you’re a poker fan, you can download dedicated poker apps from leading operators and play popular poker games. The best-known brands regularly organize poker tournaments, allowing you to join and compete against other players. Moreover, you will also find several poker sites boasting the PGCB seal of approval.
Horse racing has a strong foothold in the Keystone State. The State Horse Racing Commission oversees and regulates the market, ensuring that horse racing meets the criteria set for guaranteeing a legal and safe racing industry.
The law from 2017 allowed the Pennsylvania Lottery to sell tickets online. Today, you can buy tickets for draw games, scratch-offs, Keno, Xpress Sports and Fast Play games. Pennsylvania Lottery also launched PaiLottery website, featuring various instant-win games. Additionally, the Pennsylvania Lottery is authorized to operate virtual sports betting terminals at approved locations, such as bars.
Daily fantasy sports (DFS) sites are legal in PA as well and are supervised by the state’s Gaming Control Board. This oversight ensures these platforms are fair and transparent. Consequently, major operators like FanDuel and DraftKings provide their top-rated DFS services in Pennsylvania.
Finally, if you prefer casino-style gaming without spending real money, you can pick one of the sweepstakes casinos available in the state. These websites don’t require a license from the Gaming Control Board as they operate under sweepstakes laws.
History of Gambling in Pennsylvania
The Keystone State needed more time than its neighboring states to overcome the stigma surrounding gambling.
However, in 2004, the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board was established, leading to the passage of the Gaming Act and the Pennsylvania Racehorse Development. The new law approved the construction of land-based casinos in PA and legalized racetracks. In 2006, casinos started offering slot machines, and in July 2010, these venues finally got approval to include table games – blackjack, poker, craps, baccarat, roulette, and more.
The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board started focusing on the ever-growing online market in 2017. Governor Tom Wolf signed HB 271 (Act 42) into law in October 2017, marking a significant milestone in the legalization of online gambling in Pennsylvania. The law covers online casinos, online poker, online sports betting, daily fantasy sports and online lottery.
Besides the online sphere, the new law introduced offline gambling expansion, allowing existing brick-and-mortar casinos to build up to 10 satellite casinos providing slot machines and table games. Moreover, casinos were also authorized to open gambling parlors at airports and truck stops were allowed to have video gaming terminals.
The first online casinos and sports betting sites were launched in 2019. Since then, the PA gambling scene has shown no intention of slowing down, bringing the state considerable tax revenues.
FAQs
Real-money iGaming sites in Pennsylvania accept players who are 21 or older and are physically located within the state borders.
Online casinos inPennslyvania offer a wide array of casino games, such as classic slots, video slots, jackpot slots, live dealer table games, live game shows, and instant-win releases. Additionally, you can play various RNG table games like roulette, blackjack, craps, baccarat, and poker, and you can also join poker sites or download poker apps to participate in tournaments.
No, you don’t. You can sign up and explore the site from other states. But if you want to play games using real money, you must be located in the state.
You can use the most popular payment options to deposit and withdraw winnings, like Visa, Mastercard, PayPal, ACH transfers, PayNearMe, Play+ online banking, or wire transfers. Some operators allow you to use their gift cards for casino transactions.
Of course. You can either load gaming sites from the mobile browser or install dedicated apps suitable for your iOS and Android mobile devices.
