Online Gambling Legal In Pennsylvania

Posted By admin On 30/07/22

Are Online Casinos Legal in PA? Yes, there are NINE (and growing) legal and regulated online casinos in Pennsylvania. There are a few qualifications that make these legal. In addition, users must be eligible to participate. Online Casino Eligibility. Per Pennsylvania law, in order to gambling online you must: Be 21 years of age or older.

Online gambling in the state of Pennsylvania is not legalized, yet there is nothing in the state gambling laws that says it is a crime. Another thing we feel we need to emphasize to Pennsylvania residents is that we are not now and never have claimed to be lawyers. We recommend you seek more experience assistance about these laws by speaking to a lawyer. Online gambling at our sites is always safe, secure, and reliable.

Legal online gambling has arrived in Pennsylvania! Online casino games, poker, sports betting, iLottery and daily fantasy sports were all part of an expanded gambling bill that passed the PA legislature in October 2017. Best PA online casinos. Legal Online Sports Betting Age in Pennsylvania Sports Betting Age Adults must be at least 21 years of age to place sports bets online. Alcohol Age The legal drinking age in Pennsylvania is 21 years old. Weed Age As recreational cannabis is not yet legal in Pennsylvania, there is no legal age.

Pennsylvania Gambling Laws

§ 5513. Gambling devices, gambling, etc.

(a) Offense defined.–A person is guilty of a misdemeanor of the first degree if he: (1) intentionally or knowingly makes, assembles, sets up, maintains, sells, lends, leases, gives away, or offers for sale, loan, lease or gift, any punch board, drawing card, slot machine or any device to be used for gambling purposes, except playing cards; (2) allows persons to collect and assemble for the purpose of unlawful gambling at any place under his control; (3) solicits or invites any person to visit any unlawful gambling place for the purpose of gambling; or (4) being the owner, tenant, lessee or occupant of any premises, knowingly permits or suffers the same, or any part thereof, to be used for the purpose of unlawful gambling. (a) of this section shall be seized and forfeited to the Commonwealth. All provisions of law relating to the seizure, summary and judicial forfeiture, and condemnation of intoxicating liquor shall apply to seizures and forfeitures under the provisions of this section. (b) Confiscation of gambling devices.–Any gambling device possessed or used in violation of the provisions of subsection (c) Antique slot machines.– (1) A slot machine shall be established as an antique slot machine if the defendant shows by a preponderance of the evidence that it was manufactured at least 25 years before the current year and that it was not used or attempted to be used for any unlawful purposes. Notwithstanding subsection (b), no antique slot machine seized from any defendant shall be destroyed or otherwise altered until the defendant is given an opportunity to establish that the slot machine is an antique slot machine. After a final court determination that the slot machine is an antique slot machine, the slot machine shall be returned pursuant to the provisions of law providing for the return of property; otherwise, the slot machine shall be destroyed. (2) It is the purpose of this subsection to protect the collection and restoration of antique slot machines not presently utilized for gambling purposes. (d) Shipbuilding business.–Notwithstanding any other provisions of this section, a person may construct, deliver, convert or repair a vessel that is equipped with gambling devices if all of the following conditions are satisfied: (1) The work performed on the vessel is ordered by a customer who uses or possesses the vessel outside of this Commonwealth in a locality where the use or possession of the gambling devices on the vessel is lawful. (2) The work performed on the vessel that is equipped with gambling devices is performed at a shipbuilding or repair yard located within a port facility under the jurisdiction of any port authority organized under the act of December 6, 1972 (P.L.1392, No.298), known as the Third Class City Port Authority Act. (3) The person provides the Office of Attorney General, prior to the importation of the gambling devices into this Commonwealth, records that account for the gambling devices, including the identification number affixed to each gambling device by the manufacturer, and that identify the location where the gambling devices will be stored prior to the installation of the gambling devices on the vessel. (4) The person stores the gambling devices at a secured location and permits any person authorized to enforce the gambling laws to inspect the location where the gambling devices are stored and records relating to the storage of the gambling devices. (5) If the person removes used gambling devices from a vessel, the person shall provide the Office of Attorney General of Pennsylvania with an inventory of the used gambling devices prior to their removal from the vessel. The inventory shall include the identification number affixed to each gambling device by the manufacturer. (6) The person submits documentation to the Office of Attorney General of Pennsylvania no later than 30 days after the date of delivery that the vessel equipped with gambling devices has been delivered to the customer who ordered the work performed on the vessel. (7) The person does not sell a gambling device to any other person except to a customer who shall use or possess the gambling device outside of this Commonwealth in a locality where the use or possession of the gambling device is lawful. If a person sells a gambling device to such a customer, the person shall submit documentation to the Office of Attorney General of Pennsylvania no later than 30 days after the date of delivery that the gambling device has been delivered to the customer. (e) Penalty.–Any person who fails to provide records as provided in subsection (d) commits a summary offense. (f) Definitions.–As used in this section, the term “gambling place” does not include a vessel that is in the process of construction, delivery, conversion or repair by a shipbuilding business that complies with subsection (d).

§ 5514. Pool selling and bookmaking. A person is guilty of a misdemeanor of the first degree if he: (1) engages in pool selling or bookmaking; (2) occupies any place for the purpose of receiving, recording or registering bets or wagers, or of selling pools; (3) receives, records, registers, forwards, or purports or pretends to forward, to another, any bet or wager upon the result of any political nomination, appointment or election, or upon any contest of any nature; (4) becomes the custodian or depository, for gain or ward, of any property staked, wagered or pledged, or to be staked, wagered, or pledged upon any such result; or (5) being the owner, lessee, or occupant of any premises, knowingly permits or suffers the same, to be used or occupied for any of such purposes.

Sources:

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 SiteStatusPlay
PokerStars PAActiveRegister Here
888poker PAComing SoonN/A
partypoker PAComing SoonN/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:

Legal
  • 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.

Online Gambling Legal In Pennsylvania

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.

TournamentTimeBuy-inGuarantee
The Big $54 p.m.$5$500
The Big $305 p.m.$30$1,000
The Big $506 p.m.$50$2,000
The Big $106 p.m.$10$1,000
The Big $207 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.

TournamentTimeBuy-inGuarantee
Sunday Warm-Up4 p.m.$50$8,500
Sunday Storm5 p.m.$10$4,500
Sunday Special6 p.m.$200$45,000
Sunday High Roller7 p.m.$500$15,000
Sunday Supersonic10 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

partypoker is also expected to join the race and compete for a share of the market contended by the other PA poker sites.

Online

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.

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.

Online Gambling In Pennsylvania

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.