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• When Is Online Gambling Legal In Pa
• When Will Online Sports Betting Be Legal In Pa
• When Will Online Gambling Be Legal In Paris

Gambling and Lottery Winnings Class of Income. Gambling and lottery winnings is a separate class of income under Pennsylvania personal income tax law. Between July 21, 1983 and Dec. 31, 2015, all prizes of the Pennsylvania Lottery were excluded from this class of income. Online sports betting is fully legal in PA. In addition to betting at eight physical sportsbooks, users can bet online through the web and on mobile apps. You must be 21 or older and physically located in the state to place a bet. An October 2017 law regulated online casinos in Pennsylvania. Any legal land-based casino or racetrack had the opportunity to buy an online casino, poker, or sportsbook license. Most took the opportunity. Casino sites cost $7.5 million, while poker sites cost another $2.5 million. A sports betting license cost $10 million. There is a mystery in Pennsylvania. On Monday, July 15, regulated online gaming launched in the state by way of a law that was passed in October 2017. And though online poker was a part of that gaming expansion and is now legal in Pennsylvania, no online poker sites were a part of that launch.

Online poker is back in Pennsylvania. Many of the biggest and best-known poker sites are now legal and licensed to run games within state lines. They include PokerStars – with partypoker and WSOP.com expected to join soon.

As a player you can take advantage of the big marketing budgets these sites will use to gain traction in the Keystone State. There are no-deposit bouses, big matched welcome offers and generous loyalty schemes available right now.

This page has everything you need to understand the games, bonuses, and software options available at the legal PA online poker sites. You’ll also find a brief explanation of how the sites work and a detailed FAQ located at the bottom of the page.

Play online poker in Pennsylvania at PokerStars

Is online poker legal in PA?

Yes. Seven casinos took up the poker license, most as part of a package deal.

Instead of $4 million per gambling vertical, several PA casinos paid $10 million for poker, online slots, and online table games licenses. Many also spent $10 million for a separate sports betting license.

It took a long time from when the gambling expansion act (H 271) of 2017 was passed for PA online poker sites to appear. License holders prioritized sports betting and casinos as these have higher revenue than poker.

Best Poker Sites in Pennsylvania

Poker sites need to reach a critical mass of players to offer a good enough choice of cash games and big guarantees for their tournaments. This naturally limits the number of successful rooms possible, and healthy market share is critical.

The biggest rooms in other regulated states are strong favorites to be the biggest and best in Pennsylvania. Here are the sites to check out:

• PokerStars: Poker players the world over agree that PokerStars has the best software. While you will not be able to play against the giant global player pool in PA, you can enjoy the huge game choice and slick platform. New players get $30 in free play with a small ($20) deposit, with the ‘Stars Rewards’ loyalty scheme keeping your bankroll topped up after that.
• Party Poker: Soon, PA players will be able to check out the software and the famously soft poker games at Party with free money. Party offers NJ players $25 simply for signing up – which we expect to see on offer in PA too. Enjoy tournaments, cash games and the new Fast Forward poker format.
• WSOP.com/888: This brand is owned by Caesars Entertainment and will partner with Harrah’s Philadelphia to bring their unique platform to PA. There is more to this site than just qualifiers to the WSOP tournaments. You can play cash game, ‘Blast’ poker and a packed tournament schedule. New players get a matched welcome bonus of up to $1000 to get their bankrolls off to a flying start.

What do these PA poker apps offer?

PokerStars Pennsylvania

Poker players worldwide consider the PokerStars desktop client and apps to be the best software around. This covers the speed and smoothness of the games – plus small factors like how easy it is to resize tables and the ability to upload your own pictures.

PokerStars partnered with Mount Airy Casino. They were the first online poker site to launch in Pennsylvania – and have exceeded expectations in popularity. Player pools are not shared with their New Jersey site for the time being, which will be the case for all PA online poker rooms until further notice.

There are two bonuses for new players:

• Deposit a minimum of $20 to get $30 in tournament buy-ins and cash game tickets with bonus code THIRTY.
• Alternatively, PokerStars will match your first deposit up to $600. To claim this offer, use bonus code STARS600.

Regular players will enjoy a novel loyalty program. Stars Rewards gives you chests as you play, these have prizes tailored to you – going up in value depending on the stakes you play.

Games at PokerStars include the usual mix of cash games, tournaments and sit & goes. This site has a fast-fold cash game called Zoom Poker, and a lottery sit & go format called ‘Spins’. Regular ‘PACOOP’ (Pennsylvania Championship of Online Poker) events feature big prize tournaments – the highlight of a busy tournament schedule. They also run a number of other exciting tournament series that come with hefty guarantees.

Party Poker Pennsylvania

Party Poker is the biggest rival to PokerStars. This site is owned by gambling giant GVC, which has a national deal with MGM. Valley Forge Casino will supply licenses for GVC.

Once live, PA poker players should receive $25 simply for signing up. This bonus comes in two parts:

• $10 is a cash bonus, you can use this for any type of game
• $15 is in tournament tokens

If you like what you find, then you can get a 100% matched welcome bonus on your first deposit up to $1000 max. Promotions include leaderboards, reload bonuses and a loyalty points program.

In addition to the packed list of cash games, tournaments and sit & goes, you can now play ‘Fast Forward’ poker at Party. This is a fast-fold format, where players are moved to a new hand as soon as the current hand is folded.

The partypoker software has been completely revamped since they were last available in the US. You will find smartphone apps and desktop downloads for both Windows and Mac devices. At launch, games will only be against other players from PA. In time it is hoped that the shared player pools will expand to cover Pennsylvania – allowing games against other partypoker players from other states.

WSOP Poker Pennsylvania

WSOP is short for ‘World Series of Poker’. This brand is owned by Caesars Entertainment – owners of the iconic Harrah’s Casino in PA. There are active WSOP.com poker sites in both Nevada and New Jersey – and soon, Pennsylvania.

Software for this site is powered by 888 Poker, offering both an app and a downloadable desktop version.

There are some generous bonuses for new players at WSOP Pennsylvania:

• A no deposit bonus of $10 to check out the games with zero risk. Use bonus code 10FREE to claim this
• A huge bonus of up to $1000 matched to your first deposit

You can clear your bonus by collecting points in the real money games. WSOP have satellite qualifiers to the World Series events – as well as online poker promotions. Look out for new poker formats including ‘Blast’ lottery Sit and Goes, alongside the usual mix of NL Hold’em and PLO cash games and tournaments.

How legal online poker sites in Pennsylvania work

For online casinos and sportsbooks, you’ll normally access the website to enjoy gambling. Poker sites are different. Most players prefer to download a desktop software client to access the games. This gives you all the game types, and the ability to comfortably multi-table (play more than one table at a time). It also ensures the games are stable. Avoiding the client crashing just as you get dealt pocket aces is important.

PokerStars PA launched with both an Android and an iOS app available.

When you access the PA poker rooms, you will find four main poker formats. Which are available (and have games running) will depend on the size of the player pool at each site.

Here are the main formats:

• Cash games: Your chips have a real monetary value and can be topped up to the table maximum at any time. Online poker cash games start at $2 buy-ins (micro-stakes) up to around $1,000+ buy-ins. The stakes at these tables range from $.02/$.04 to $1,000/$2,000. Tables typically have two, six, or nine players.
• Poker tournaments: A knockout format where each player starts with a stack of chips in exchange for their buy-in. The bet sizes increase steadily, and play continues until one player has all the chips. Expect 10% or so of the field to get prizes. There are many variations in speed, poker game type, and the ability to rebuy or re-enter if you bust.
• Sit & Go tournaments: Usually single table games, these kick off whenever a table is full. New variations include PokerStars’ Spin & Go. These are three-handed games with a random prize pool of up to 10,000x your buy-in.
• Fast-fold poker: This innovation dispenses with the waiting time while other players finish hands by taking you to a new hand as soon as you fold. Players sit in pools rather than individual tables. Fast fold poker is used for both cash games and tournaments but is not available in Pennsylvania yet.

At international sites, there are a lot of poker variations to enjoy. The smaller player pools in Pennsylvania will mean that only No-Limit Hold’em and some Omaha variations like PLO and PLO8 will be available. If PA joins a wider group of state sites then Stud, Draw, and mixed games could become available.

Real Money Poker vs Free Online Poker

If you have only ever enjoyed poker on free to play apps, you will need to read up on strategy before you jump into the real money games. There is a huge difference in skill level as soon as real money is on the line.

The online poker rooms in Pennsylvania have options to enjoy play-money only tables. These can help you get to know the different types of poker game and how the betting rounds work. At PokerStars, the Home Games function lets you create private tables for your friends and colleagues. You can even play them with friends outside of PA, as long as they are for play money.

You can try out real money poker games at some sites without making a deposit. Party Poker should offer $10 in cash plus $15 in tournament entry tokens just for signing up. Other sites like PokerStars give you tokens worth $30 for just a small deposit.

To get off to a solid start at the real money poker tables, it is worth starting off at smaller buy-in levels than you would play in a live setting. This will give you a chance to assess the skill levels of your opponents and make sure you can beat the games before you move up to higher buy-ins.

Pennsylvania online poker: Bonuses and promotions

The online poker sites which have the most players in PA will have a huge advantage over competitors. PokerStars got a leg up on the competition as the first to market and exceeded expectations right away, taking in nearly $2 million in rake and tournament fees in its first month back in November.

As the number of players grows, bigger tournaments, better promotions, and a wider choice of cash games become available. This has the effect of attracting more players. Currently, PokerStars PA offers a choice of two welcome bonuses, namely $30 free if deposit $20 using marketing code FREE30, or a 100%bonus match up to $600 using marketing code STARS600, not both though.

Once more online poker rooms go live in Pennsylvania, there will be fierce competition for new players. You can take advantage of this by getting your bankroll off to a great start thanks to the sites’ big marketing budgets and generous bonus offers.

Based on poker rooms in other regulated states, here is what to expect:

• No-deposit bonuses: Some poker sites will offer completely free chips, no deposit needed. This will sometimes come in the form of buy-ins to different tournaments or cash games. You’ll need to play this money through a set number of times before it can be withdrawn.
• Matched welcome bonuses: Expect your first deposit to be given a 100% (or better) match. Some sites offer up to $1,000 in bonus money this way. This is usually released in increments as you play.
• Freeroll tournaments: New players will be given access to beginners or depositors freerolls with real money prize pools. There may be additional entries based on loyalty schemes or future deposits.
• Reload bonuses: If your bankroll gets depleted, you will usually be offered an extra bonus to reload. Be advised these are usually smaller offers than the initial deposit bonus.
• Loyalty schemes: Poker sites all handle their loyalty programs differently. For PokerStars PA, expect to be awarded treasure chests, which have prizes tailored to your individual gambling preferences.

Depending on the brand, you might also be offered crossover promotions for the different gambling verticals.

Sports betting and casino games are well established in Pennsylvania, with many of the license holders for poker involved in all three industries. For example, players can now sign up for Fox Bet online sports betting and also access the PokerStars PA online poker and online casino verticals.

Depositing and withdrawing at PA online poker rooms

With poker being a skill game, more players will withdraw money than the other gambling verticals. You’ll have a lot of choices for how to get your money on board and your profits back off again.

While not all the online poker rooms will have all of the methods listed, the deposit methods below are the most commonly accepted.

• Credit / debit cards: Instant payments can be made with your regular bank cards. Visa and MasterCard are accepted by all the sites. Some sites will also allow deposits with Discover cards as well.
• Prepaid Play+ cards: Many gambling sites have branded debit cards. These add security and can be used for withdrawing your winnings. Then players can access funds via ATMs.
• Casino cage: You’ll be able to deposit and withdraw at the casino associated with each of the poker room brands.
• PayNearMe: This is another way of depositing cash, this time via 7-Eleven or CVS stores. Note that the fixed costs make this expensive for smaller deposits.
• PayPal: This is a popular online wallet system. It is used as a secure bridge between your bank and online merchants. PayPal is used for both deposits and withdrawals. However, do not be surprised if this option is not available at most online poker sites. The fees associated with PayPal, combined with the high tax rates for PA online operators mean this will be a rare option, not a common one.
• Neteller / Skrill: Owned by the same company, these wallet services work in a similar way to PayPal. They have been popular with poker players internationally for many years. Like PayPal, there is a chance these will not be available at every site because of hefty fees.
• eChecks: Also known as ACH transfers, this poker deposit method comes directly from your bank. You can get pre-verified, making your eCheck deposits and withdrawals instant.
• Bill pay: If you use a major bank, you might already pay your utility bills with Bill Pay. Paying into your poker account works in the same way. This banking option is not used for withdrawals.
• Bank wire: This is a slower way to transfer from your bank, though can still be used if you wish to securely transfer large amounts.
• Money order / paper check: Another slower banking method welcomed by many sites. If there are no alternative ‘online’ methods, you can withdraw your profits via a paper check.

Online poker partnerships in PA

For now, PA poker games are ring-fenced. This means that tables will not be shared with poker players from other regulated states like New Jersey and Nevada.

Three major international brands already partnered with Pennsylvania casinos, with only PokerStars and Mount Airy Casino live with their online poker product. More announcements are expected soon to clarify plans for online poker.

This is the full list of the PA casinos which have licenses to open online poker rooms:

Live poker in Pennsylvania

There are 10 live poker rooms in Pennsylvania. They are:

• Harrah’s Philadelphia: This poker room is branded using the World Series of Poker name. It is open 24/7 and has 28 tables featuring cash games and tournaments. Types of poker include the popular No-Limit Hold’em, Seven-Card Stud, and Omaha.
• Mohegan Sun Pocono: Located close to Wilkes-Barre, this poker room holds 18 tables. Daily tournaments include bounty events. The room also offers bad beat and royal flush jackpots for cash games.
• Parx Casino: This is one of the bigger poker rooms, hosting 48 tables including a separated three-table high-limit poker room. Parx is located at Bensalem, northeast of Philadelphia. They hold big buy-in tournament events, as well their own regular schedule of tournaments and cash games.
• Rivers Casino: Located in Pittsburgh, Rivers Casino hosts a 30-table poker room, which covers more than 8,000 square feet. Hourly high-hand bonuses keep the cash games lively, while bigger buy-in tournament events run alongside their busy weekly schedule.
• The Meadows Casino: Rather than a separate room, the 14 poker tables at The Meadows are on the main casino floor. You’ll have a view of the live racing while you play. This room is located 25 miles southwest of Pittsburgh, at Strabane Township.
• Hollywood Casino: This live poker venue is located at the Penn National Racecourse, at Grantville, PA. They have 17 tables and run cash games with a high hand promotion. Tournaments include both standard and turbo blind options.
• Mount Airy Casino: The poker parlor at the Mount Airy resort in northwest PA is a smaller live poker venue. With only nine tables, Texas Hold’em is the only variation you will find here.
• Presque Isle Casino: This is the smallest poker room in Pennsylvania, with only seven tables. While most rooms are 24/7, this one opens at 10 a.m. / 12 p.m. and continues only as long as there is substantial play. Single and multi-table tournaments are advertised, in addition to cash games.
• Sugarhouse Casino: Located in Philadelphia, Sugarhouse offers a 24/7 poker room which holds 28 tables. High hand and bad beat jackpots are run. Buy-ins for their cash games range from $60 to $3,000.
• Wind Creek Casino: This 28-table live poker room is located close to Bethlehem, PA. This was previously known as Sands Casino. With a complimentary beverage service, tableside dining, and a lot of TV’s showing sporting action, this poker room is advertised as state of the art.

Pennsylvania has experienced a quick rise in the gambling world. After
legalizing casinos and racinos in 2004, they have now earned over $3 billion
from 13 casinos.

Thanks to high casino taxes, the state collects over $1.4 billion in annual
tax revenue – highest of any American casino market.

Gambling is big business in the Keystone State, and they’re looking for ways
to increase this business. The most discussed option right now is regulated
online gambling. The exciting thing is that Pennsylvania is close to legalizing
the activity at the time of this writing.

So, what are your Internet gambling options in the meantime?

This is one question that we’ll answer while covering Pennsylvania’s online
gambling laws.

Online Gambling and Pennsylvania Law

Pennsylvania’s criminal code doesn’t mention online gambling or any related
terms like “Internet” or “computer.”

This leaves their Internet gambling market in a grey area-one that’s served
by many offshore operators. Going further, you can access a number of online
casinos, poker rooms and sportsbooks from Pennsylvania.

Of course, just because offshore gambling is available doesn’t mean it’s
legal. This is why we’re going to take a deeper look at Pennsylvania’s gaming
laws below.

Is Online Gambling Legal in Pennsylvania?

No, but it’s not explicitly illegal either.

The Pennsylvania Constitution doesn’t offer a definition of illegal gambling.
Instead, their criminal code is mainly focused on illegal operators – especially
those offering lottery games.

Code 5513 is the closest thing that could be used to pursue offshore gambling
operators. Here are a few excerpts from this law, which lays out first-degree
misdemeanor penalties:

(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.”

These statutes are aimed at illegal land-based gambling businesses. They can
also be used against offshore gaming sites if Pennsylvania feels the need to do
so.

In summary, we don’t see anything too damning against Internet gambling. This
is why offshore operators continue to offer services to Quaker State residents.

How Close is Pennsylvania to Legalizing Internet Gambling?

At the time of this writing, Pennsylvania is very close to regulating
iGaming.

The Keystone State’s legislative efforts dates back to 2013, when House
Representative Tina Davis introduced a bill to legalize online poker. This
legislation didn’t go very far, but it did get the ball rolling.

2015 saw another advancement when the House Gaming Oversight Committee passed
HB 649 by an 18 to 8 vote. The State House, however, rejected the legislation by
an 81 to 107 vote.

In 2016, HB 649 passed the State House by a 114 to 85 vote, but the State
Senate elected not to vote on the bill before their session ended.

Currently, two bills are on the table in SB 900 and HB 271. Here’s a closer
look at both pieces of legislation:

SB 900 – Sponsored by State
Senators Kim Ward, Joseph Scarnati and Elder Vogel, this bill would legalize
online casino and poker games. The tax rate is 54% though, and the licensing fee
is $10 million for 5 years. The 54% tax rate will scare many potential operators
away.

HB 271 – Another bill that
would regulate online casino games and poker, this legislation has passed the
Senate Appropriations Committee (24 to 2 vote), Senate Community Economic &
Recreational Development Committee (11 to 3 vote), State Senate (38 to 12 vote)
and State House (102 to 89 vote). The House lowered the tax rate (also 54%), and
the Senate must now vote to see if they approve.

Considering that the State House and Senate have both passed iGaming
legislation, it’s obvious that the state is in favor of the activity.

This is the case especially when considering that they must be creative about
finding ways to fund their $32 billion budget plan. The biggest hang up, though,
is the enormous tax rate.

If they can get this aspect settled, then it won’t be long before
Pennsylvania has regulated iGaming.

Can I Get Arrested for Gambling Online in Pennsylvania?

It’s very unlikely that you will be – if not downright impossible.

Pennsylvania’s criminal code doesn’t include any language that would result
in prosecution solely for playing online casino or poker games.

When Will Online Gambling Be Legal In Panama City

The one way this will change, though, is if Pennsylvania legalizes online
gambling.

This would make it perfectly legal to play at licensed online casinos and
poker sites, but the state government would almost assuredly ban residents from
playing at offshore gaming sites.

We’ve yet to see any of the states with regulated iGaming markets (Delaware,
Nevada, New Jersey) arrest anybody for offshore gaming. Then again, all three
states have also banned offshore companies and made it clear that they won’t
tolerate these sites operating in their boundaries.

Are Offshore Gaming Sites Safe?

We see Pennsylvania legalizing online gambling in the near future. Until this
happens, your best option is offshore sites.

The key is making sure that you only choose reputable sites that offer good
customer service and longevity. The latter aspect is especially important so you
know that the company operates honestly enough to stay in business.

Here are a few other key factors you want to look for in an offshore gaming
site:

• Deposit options that you can use.
• 24/7 customer service with live chat.
• Good game variety.
• Limited customer complaints (google for complaints).
• Favorable bonus terms & conditions – the lower the bonus wagering
  requirements, the better.
• Fair gaming with no major scandals.

Remember that offshore gaming companies aren’t licensed in the U.S., so they
don’t adhere to laws in unregulated states.

This makes it important to read reviews and do your research to make sure
that you’re signing up with a quality operator. If it makes you feel better, the
majority of offshore sites are reputable and value repeat business.

Also On This Page

More Gambling Laws in Pennsylvania

• Casino Games: Legal
• Sports Betting:Illegal
• Poker: Legal
• Racing Betting:Legal
• Lottery: Legal
• Bingo: Legal
• Charitable Gambling: Legal
• Social Gambling: Not Specified

Casinos: Legal

The Racehorse Development and Gaming Act of 2004 allows for legal commercial
casinos, racinos and slots parlors in Pennsylvania.

The Keystone Stone has experienced major success with their casino market,
pulling in over $1.4 billion in tax revenue annually.

They’ve also managed to keep many of their residents from traveling to New
Jersey and other destinations for gambling. While this has been detrimental to
Atlantic City, it’s kept billions of tax dollars in state over the years.

Pennsylvania has video gaming in its bars, nightclubs and restaurants. These
are only Class II gaming machines, though, meaning they must determine results
through virtual bingo cards.

Aside from having a predetermined number of prizes, Class II gaming is
similar to slot machines in commercial casinos.

Charitable Gambling: Legal

The Small Games of Chance Act sets forth laws and regulations for charity
gambling.

This act allows approved groups to generate revenue through bingo, drawings,
pull tabs, punchboards, raffles and weekly drawings.

Eligible groups must advance one or more of the following causes:

• Combat juvenile delinquency.
• Helping the aged, distressed and/or poor.
• Improving mental, physical or spiritual aspects of young men and women,
  such as the YMCA and YWCA.
• Offering humane services.
• Volunteer ambulance, firefighter, rescue squad, senior and wildlife
  organizations.

Lottery: Legal

Approved in 1971, Pennsylvania has one of America’s biggest lotteries,
pulling in over $4 billion in annual revenue.

Available games include: Big 4, Cash 5, Daily Number, Mega Millions and
Powerball. They also feature scratch off/instant tickets, which are their
biggest sellers.

Poker: Legal

Pennsylvania has several poker rooms throughout the state, and they offer
over 260 tables combined.

Available poker games include: 7 card stud, 7 card stud Hi Lo, mixed games,
Omaha, Omaha Hi Lo and no limit Texas holdem.

Racing: Legal

The Coal State has six racetracks, including Harrah’s Philadelphia, Hollywood
Casino (off track), Meadows Racetrack, Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs, Parx Casino
and Racing and Presque Isle Downs and Casino.

Thanks to the Race Horse Development and Gaming Act, all of these venues can
offer slot machines.

Social Gambling: Not Specified

Pennsylvania’s gambling laws don’t offer a definitive statement on social
gaming.

Code 5513 (2) does contain the following excerpt though:

“… allows persons to collect and assemble for the purpose of unlawful
gambling at any place under his control.”

This would technically make hosting a social gambling function illegal, but
without a concrete definition on illegal gambling, it’s hard to make this
determination.

The case
Commonwealth vs. Watkins makes it seem as if social gambling is legal in
Pennsylvania.

Pennsylvania charged Diane Dent and Walter Watkins with holding illegal poker
games in their garage. Dent received tips while working as the dealer, which was
one of the biggest issues.

Despite the voluntary dealer tips, Judge Thomas A. James Jr. acquitted Dent
and Watkins as he ruled that poker is skill based game.

Pennsylvania will bust an illegal gambling function where the host is
profiting through rake and/or by selling food and drinks. You’re most likely
safe to engage in social gambling here, provided everything is legal.

Gambling Venues in Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania has one of the largest casino gambling markets in the world with
over 29,000 gaming machines and 1,100 table games.

Their biggest gaming venue is Parx Casino and Racing, which has over 3,500
slot machines and 130 table games. The second largest is Sands Bethlehem with
more than 3,000 gaming machines and 180 table games.

Below, you can see details on these casinos and others in the Pennsylvania
gambling market:

1) Harrah’s Philadelphia Casino & Racetrack

777 Harrah’s Boulevard, Chester, Pennsylvania

2) Hollywood Casino & Off Track Betting

777 Hollywood Boulevard, Grantville, Pennsylvania

3) Lady Luck Casino Nemacolin

4067 National Pike, Nemacolin Woodlands Resort

4) Live! Hotel & Casino Philadelphia

900 Packer Avenue Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

5) Meadows Racetrack & Casino

210 Racetrack Road Washington, Pennsylvania

6) Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs

1280 Highway 315, Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania

7) Mount Airy Casino Resort

312 Woodland Road, Mount Pocono, Pennsylvania

8) Parx Casino and Racing

2999 Street Road, Bensalem, Pennsylvania

9) Presque Isle Downs & Casino

8199 Perry Highway, Erie, Pennsylvania

10) Rivers Casino

777 Casino Drive, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

11) Sands Casino Resort Bethlehem

77 Sands Boulevard, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania

12) SugarHouse Casino

1001 North Delaware, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

13) Valley Forge Casino Resort

1160 First Avenue King of Prussia, Pennsylvania

History of Gambling in Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania had a quiet gambling history until 2004, when the Racehorse
Development and Gaming Act approved casinos, racinos and slots parlors.

Since then, Pennsylvania has had 12 casinos spring up in their state.

Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs became the first casino to launch in the Quaker
State. Nine more gambling venues would open over the next three years alone.

One thing that’s currently missing from Pennsylvania’s gambling history,
though, includes legalizing online gaming. With several legislative attempts in
recent years, this should come very soon.

Racehorse Development and Gaming Act passed, allowing commercial casino, racinos, and slots parlors.

Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs opens in Novewmber, becoming Pennsylvania’s first casino; Philadelphia Park Casino and Racetrack opens the following month.

Harrah’s Chester Casino and Racetrack, Presque Isle Downs and Casino, Meadows Racetrack and Casino, and Mount Airy Casino open.

Hollywood Casino at Penn Nation becomes seventh casino to open.

Sands Bethlehem Casino and Rivers Casino both open.

When Is Online Gambling Legal In Pa

Gov. Ed Rendall approves legislation to allow table games at casinos.

House Rep. Tina Davis introduces bill to legalize Internet gambling.

Parx Casino and GameAccount Network launch play money gaming site.

Four pieces of iGaming legislation are introduced, but none are approved.

HB 649, a bill to legalize Internet casino and poker games, passes Senate by a 114 to 85 vote, it fails to receive a vote during the House’s session.

HB 271 (legal online casino/poker games) passes State House and Sentate, the Senate must agree on the House’s amended tax rate.

Pennsylvania FAQs

The Keystone State doesn’t have any laws for or against online gaming. This
leaves a lot of questions to be answered regarding both daily fantasy sports
(DFS) and other forms of iGaming.

Let’s look at a few of the FAQs that we’ve received on Pennsylvania’s online
gaming market.

Are Daily Fantasy Sports Legal in Pennsylvania?

Pennsylvania follows a “predominance test” with regard to daily fantasy
sports. This means that levels of chance and skill are measured to determine if
DFS is a legal skill based activity.

As of now, DFS is in a grey area in Pennsylvania. There’s currently
legislation on the table that would legalize and regulate the activity.

State Senator, Gary Reschenthaler has introduced legislation that seeks to
legalize DFS. This bill is receiving some attention because it would help the
aforementioned state budget problem.

Even if Reschenthaler’s bill doesn’t pass, players can still enjoy DFS
through Pennsylvania’s unregulated market.

Why does Pennsylvania Allow Offshore Gaming Sites?

The Quaker State doesn’t have any legislation in place that allows offshore
operators. They don’t pay much attention to these sites though.

Like other states, Pennsylvania has more pressing matters to worry about
other than chasing offshore companies in the Caribbean or Central America. Plus,
it takes a lot of manpower and legal resources to pursue such a case.

The U.S. Department of Justice carried out a successful case against online
poker sites. Dubbed
Black Friday,
this operation busted the owners of Absolute Poker, Full Tilt Poker, PokerStars
and UltimateBet for money laundering and bank fraud.

Pennsylvania won’t carry out the same kind of largescale case against
offshore operators – especially when they already have budget difficulties.

Pennsylvania’s stance against offshore gaming companies will change when/if
they legalize iGambling. For now, they’re taking a laidback approach.

Why do I Keep Seeing Commercials Bashing Online Gambling?

For a while, the Coalition to Stop Internet Gambling (CSIG) ran numerous
advertisements railing against Pennsylvania’s online gambling efforts.

Their key points included biased studies that Internet gambling will lead to
widespread addiction and an increased number of underage players.

Las Vegas Sands Chairman Sheldon Adelson, who owns the Sands Bethlehem
Casino, funds the CSIG. His main goal is to stop Internet gambling in
Pennsylvania as well as other states.

Adelson would also like to see iGaming banned on a federal level. He’s funded
several politicians who have in turn
introduced the Restoration of America’s Wire Act (RAWA) to U.S. Congress.

The good news, though, is that Adelson’s bill has
failed to gain any traction with conservatives, despite the fact that he’s
one of the top GOP donors.

Will Pennsylvania Legalize Online Sports Betting?

This seems unfathomable right now with the current federal ban in place. We
do see the Quaker State eventually being able to regulate Internet sports
betting though.

The Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) of 1992 bans
sports wagering on a federal level. The only four exceptions include the
grandfathered states of Delaware, Montana, Nevada and Oregon.

New Jersey has been fighting PASPA in an attempt to have land-based
sportsbooks.

NBA Commissioner, Adam Silver – although not approving of sports gambling –
believes the
activity should be legalized to give consumers options besides offshore
sportsbooks.

The Pennsylvania House Gaming Oversight Committee preemptively passed a
sports betting law (23 to 1 vote) to legalize sports betting. This would take
effect if Congress ever repeals PASPA.

Is It Legal to Gamble on My Smartphone in Pennsylvania?

Keeping with the theme of Pennsylvania’s other gambling laws, we don’t see
anything that would deem smartphones gaming to be illegal.

Many states have broad laws that cover wireless capable devices like
computers, smartphones and tablets, but Pennsylvania’s criminal code doesn’t
discuss such devices in a manner that would make them illegal. Instead, all
language regarding illegal devices is aimed at operators – namely those with
slot machines.

Here’s an example from code 5513 (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.”

As you can see, this discusses physical gambling devices that illegal gambler
operators would offer. It doesn’t, however, come remotely close to deeming smart
phones/tablets as gaming devices.

When Will Online Sports Betting Be Legal In Pa

Long story short, you’ll likely never be arrested for playing online casino
and poker games on your phone.

Additional Resources

The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board oversees the state’s 13 licensed
casinos and slots parlors. They also work with the State Horse Racing Commission
to oversee racinos.

Here’s a closer look at both of these agencies along with more resources on
Pennsylvania gambling laws.

When Will Online Gambling Be Legal In Paris

The Gaming Control Board’s website offers revenue reports, regulations, info
on hearings and licensing information.

Pennsylvania’s gaming laws are constantly influx, but this page will help you
keep up with some of the updates they make.

The Future & Your Views

Pennsylvania is the next closest candidate to legalize online gambling.

They’ve introduced several pieces of iGaming legislation over the past few
years. HB 271 has passed both the State Senate and House, even though the latter
takes issue with the taxes.

The main sticking point is the 54% tax-rate that’s featured in HB 271 as well
as several other legislative attempts.

Pennsylvania taxes land-based slot machine revenue at 55%. Politicians would
like to see the online gambling rate approach this amount.

We don’t see this being viable, though, because nobody in the world taxes
Internet gambling at 54%.

Many consider Spain to have a high iGaming tax rate at 25%, not even charging
half of what Pennsylvania bills have proposed.

By comparison, neighboring New Jersey only taxes online gambling revenue at
15%.

The good news is that Pennsylvania needs as much revenue as possible to meet
their current $32 billion budget. This makes it likely that they’ll work out the
tax-rate problem and pass something soon.

In the meantime, Quicker State gamblers still have access to a wide variety
of offshore gaming sites.