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PA online casinos are up and running, and growing fast. If you are 21 years or older and inside Pennsylvania state lines, you can now enjoy online slots, table games, and video poker from your desktop computer or mobile devices. This page contains all the information you need to start playing at online casinos in PA.
- The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB) is working on the online and mobile betting regulations that each of the new online casinos in PA will have to adhere to. By all means, the Pennsylvania.
- Call 1-800-GAMBLER.The gaming service is brought to you by Rush Street Interactive PA, LLC, licenced by PGCB, address of record 1001 N. Delaware Avenue Philadelphia, PA 19125 SugarHouse™ and SugarHouse Casino.
Finally, PA online casinos are releasing PA casino apps and browser games for fans to enjoy! Win real money from the comfort of your phone or smartphone-- just follow this simple guide to get online and start playing today!
Contents
Best PA Casinos
Review | PA Casino | Welcome Offer | Bet Now |
---|---|---|---|
Visit | Review | Unibet | $10 Free & $500 Bonus on Your Deposit T & C’s Apply, 21+, Only in PA | |
Visit | Review | Hollywood Casino | 100% Deposit Match up to $500 T & C’s Apply, 21+, Only in PA | |
Visit | Review | SugarHouse | 100% Deposit Match up to $250 T & C’s Apply, 21+, Only in PA |
Top PA Casinos - How We View And Select Online Betting Sites
If you’re looking for the best PA online casinos, we’ve put together a handy guide for picking the right one. After all, you should be spending your money at a trusted, well-designed, and most of all, secure online casino! We’ve done the legwork so you can do less guessing and more betting.
We’ve taken these PA casino apps and sites for a test drive, including checking out customer support, trying out the games, poring over rewards programs and bonuses, and much more.
Confused about which PA online casino will be right for you? Read further for all you’ll need to know to get online and start betting ASAP! We’ll address a few frequently asked questions, but first, we’ve put our team on the task of testing these PA online casinos for a few of the following benchmarks:
Interface: Is the PA casino app or browser-based online casino easy to read? Is it difficult to understand when you’re making a bet, or is everything clearly defined? Is the main screen too busy, or well streamlined?
Customer support: Can you access customer support options during non-business hours? How promptly do customer service teams respond to user needs? What kind of banking options are available?
Games: Is there a good variety of games? Do they respond well whether you’re on mobile or on a home Wi-Fi connection? Do the games and graphics have a modern feel to them, or do they feel outdated?
Rewards programs and bonuses: Is there a rewards program? Are there welcome bonuses? If so, what are they and how do they work?
We’ll address all of these questions and more below using the aforementioned casinos. Let’s get started with our picks for noteworthy PA online casinos!
Parx Online Casino
Parx Online Casino boasts a modern and clear interface, worthwhile promotions, and a decent set of games. The Parx Xclub is also a great way of scoring yourself cashback bonuses and real-life comps, so be sure to get signed up and get your deposit bonus secured when you start a new Parx account.
Parx Online Casino has a well-rounded selection of games, but as with most PA Online Casinos, we’d like to see that menu expanded. Also, the Parx servers often have issues at peak times, so maybe don’t hop on right after you get off work. We’re hoping to see these issues improve as the PA online casino market matures.
Parx is one of the more modern online casinos on the market, and we’re eager to see what their people come up with in the future -- it’s a great destination for new players looking for a streamlined casino experience.
Hollywood Online Casino
Hollywood Online Casino has a clean interface and a great online experience. Link up with the mychoice Rewards Program to gain extra points on your play and get comps on hotel stays, enter your name into huge giveaways, and a bunch more.
We’re hoping to see a rollout of new promotions but it’s a great start for this new PA online casino. As the market expands, we expect great things from Hollywood Online Casino in the near future. You can find plenty of games at this online casino in PA.
SugarHouse Online Casino
SugarHouse PA gets many things right. As a new user, navigating to their main page is straightforward, and each page details exactly what you’re entitled to. A great choice for fans of slots, SugarHouse has new slots and old favorites in an easy-to-read menu with jackpots and sweepstakes amounts clearly visible.
The SugarHouse iRush rewards program is also one of the best we’ve seen. 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 games, and more.
Projected Future PA Online Casinos
Quite a few other favorite casinos in Pennsylvania are positioning to release their own online casinos, but they’re not yet live. Look forward to great service from Harrah’s Valley Forge, Mohegan Sun, The Meadows, Presque Isle Downs, and more.
Best PA Casino Apps
When we’re looking at the best online casinos PA, we’re also looking at their smartphone apps. Over half of all internet traffic is from mobile devices, so naturally, PA online casinos would look to implement PA casino apps. We’ll detail the process of getting these apps on your device below, but first, a few small considerations have to be laid out.
If you’re playing from your mobile device, you must be within the physical limits of the state and 21 years of age or older to play. The apps need to have location services turned on for this reason. Also, make sure you’re on a stable connection -- we’re hoping to see Live Dealer support for these apps in the future, which will require live streaming video to your app.
Apple users will not have much trouble finding the apps -- just search your favorite online casino and install from the App Store. The Google Play store does not allow for any real money gambling apps to be hosted on the platform, so you’ll have to navigate to your preferred online casino’s website and download the APK for your Android device. Don’t forget to “Allow installations from unknown sources” when prompted.
Apps are a great way to play on the go or from the comfort of your own home. Take a look at the interface and layout of your preferred online casino and see if it’s a good fit for you. If not, you can always play the casino games right from your browser.
Online Casino Games in PA
Admittedly, there is a bit to be desired when it comes to the variety of games at PA online casinos. It’s a new market and lining up developers to create games, or getting the licenses for existing games, can take time. We’re looking forward to a new game in PA online gambling’s future.
SugarHouse, for example, hasn’t yet rolled out most of its projected games catalog -- right now, we’re only seeing slots. There are quite a few virtual slot types and three-reel styles, but the absence of other games is a bit disappointing. However, a nice variety of table games, card games, and video poker variants are slated for the future.
Parx offers blackjack, roulette, slots, and video poker. Fans of baccarat and craps will have to wait, as it doesn’t seem those game types are going to be implemented just yet. Still, the Parx games play well, and they are not alone in having a scant selection of games. If you’re a fan of blackjack, right now Parx Online Casino is the only place in PA where you can play. As the industry matures, more games will come.
Hollywood Online Casino offers slots, roulette, baccarat, and video poker. Again, not as robust an offering as we’ve seen in other states, but it’s still one of the more expanded games menus of the three PA online casinos available in summer 2019.
We understand that the industry is new and there isn’t a whole lot of variety in the best online casinos PA just yet. It makes sense that operators would release their apps before they have a full menu of games.
PA Online Casinos Payment Options
When you’re looking to deposit new funds into your PA online casino account, you have quite a few options available to you. Don’t forget to sign up for any deposit bonuses before you make your first deposit, however -- don’t want to miss out on a potential 100% increase in your wallet! Here’s a quick list of commonly accepted payment methods at most PA online casinos:
- Visa
- Mastercard
- Discover
- PayNearMe (at locations all over PA)
- Cash @ Cage deposits (in-person at local casinos)
- ACH/eCheck
- Play+
When you’re making withdrawals from your winnings, there are quite a few more requirements that you need to meet. Those differ for each casino’s website, so make sure to read up on requirements before you withdraw.
In addition, these withdrawals usually take a bit of time -- bank processing times and casino processing times often lead to slow withdrawals. Be patient! Here’s a list of available withdrawal options:
- Check
- Preferred Prepaid Card
- Cash to Cage Withdrawals in-person at local casinos
- Bank transfers
- NETELLER or Skrill in some cases
It is unclear whether or not PayPal will be added as a preferred option to PA online casinos, but it is likely. We may also see a rollout of more PayNearMe locations as the industry matures.
PA Online Casinos Bonuses & Promotions
There are a bunch of different kinds of bonuses and promotions available to you with your new PA online casino account. Here are the details on a few different promotions that might be available to you:
Matched Deposit Bonus
Deposit bonuses are bonuses that trigger on your first deposit, and usually are 100% match bonuses up to a certain dollar amount. For example, if you deposit up to $250 and get up to $250 in your account with a matched bonus, you will get a total starting wallet of $500. With any deposit bonus, wagering requirements and deposit requirements may apply, so read the fine print before you decide.
Free Spins
Sometimes throughout the year you’ll notice “free spins” being handed out to online casino users. This is a great bonus, and you should always take your chance at the wheel, because the free spins are usually tied to some pretty impressive jackpots! Take a look at the promotions calendar on your preferred best online casino PA for more info.
Registration Bonus
Free cash bonuses trigger when you first open your PA online casino account, and usually don’t require any deposit. The casino of your choice will give you up to $30 of free starting cash which acts like real money -- bet with it, make winnings on it! Again, withdrawal and wagering requirements do apply.
Loyalty and Similar Recurring Bonuses
Also take a look at your favored PA online casino to see if there’s a rewards program that pays points for online play -- these points can often be used for cashback rewards, hotel stays, meal comps, VIP purchases, and more.
Often, you’ll earn tier rewards for every dollar you spend, so make sure that online play does in fact pay into the Rewards program of your choice before you sign up. (SugarHouse, Parx, and Hollywood Casino all have rewards programs that benefit online players.)
Refer a Friend
Lastly, refer a friend! Any online casino worth their salt will give its users a referral bonus when a friend signs up for an account and makes their first deposit! It’s a quick and easy way to get up to $50 extra in your wallet, and then you’ll have a friend to play alongside!
PA Online Gambling Regulations
When you’re gambling online, whether from the comfort of your smartphone or a browser, there are a few things you’ll need to keep in mind. Here’s everything you need to know to stay legal and above board when betting online:
All gambling is restricted to players 21 and older. Most sites will require you to offer some or all of your social security number to verify this. Don’t worry -- all gambling sites are regulated by the PA Gaming Control Board.
If you’re gambling on a PA online casino, you’ll need to be physically within Pennsylvania. The apps and browser version all have geotagging software that you’ll need to enable on your device to make sure you’re in PA at the time of sign in.
Once you’ve gotten all your details cleared and your location plugin enabled, you’re all set to play! Just sign up, grab your first deposit bonus, and play some of your favorite casino games online, at home or on the go!
PA Online Betting FAQ
You will find a couple of useful answers to the most frequently asked questions.
Are online casinos legal in the US?
Yes, online casinos are legal in the US, but only in certain states. NJ, PA, DE, and NV all have legal online casinos or poker tables. Any other state claiming to offer legal online casinos is likely using an offshore operator, which is illegal in the US.
What do I need to start my PA online casino account?
You will need your social security number, a bank account, and a smartphone or computer on which to register and play. Make sure you’re physically within the state of PA when you play, otherwise the location services or the geotagging plugin that you’ve enabled on your device will lock you out.
How can I be sure my data is safe?
All PA online casinos are registered with and regulated by the Pennsylvania Gaming Enforcement Board. In addition, when using a secure payment method like a credit card or bank transfer, standard transfer insurance like FDIC does extend to these transfers. Still, to be safe, use a verified and preferred method of payment like a credit card or bank transfer, though it may be compelling to just head to the casino and deal in cash.
I have a gambling problem. Can I limit my time on the sites?
Absolutely. You can lock your account down for a “cooling off” period if you need to step away for some time, or you can set deposit limits to limit the amount you are allowed to spend on your online casino account. (Sometimes this is referred to as a “self-exclusion” period.)
At any rate, all online casinos have a Responsible Gaming section that you can turn to if you think you may need a little help.
PA Online Casinos - Finishing Thoughts
As we already mentioned, it is likely that new brands will join the PA online casinos race. Exciting times are ahead for online gambling in Pennsylvania. Stay tuned, we will update this text as new brands join the online casino market.
PA online casinos are up and running, and growing fast.
If you are 21 years or older and inside Pennsylvania state lines, you can now enjoy online slots, table games, and video poker from your desktop computer or mobile devices.
This page contains all the information you need to start playing at online casinos in PA.
Below is a guide to the games you can play for free and for realmoney at PA online casinos. After that, you’ll find information on apps, bonuses, safety, and geolocationtechnology.
Regulated casinos also include protection for problem gamblers, which we cover at the end of this page.
Best online casinos in Pennsylvania 2020
Casino
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Real money and free online casino games in Pennsylvania
You can play most games at PA casinos online for fun. Playing games in demomode, or with play-money chips, allows you to find the titles you like before you gamble.
The only category of games that are notavailable for free play is live dealer table games. You can watch them, though you will not be able to wager on them – at least yet.
The current offerings on real money online casinos in PA are growing, and fast. Casino sites regularly add new games as they are approved by the PA Gaming Control Board (PGCB).
We offer an overview of how diverse these casino game categories are. Keep in mind that the most prominent New Jersey online casinos offer more than 600 titles.
Play PA online casino games for real money
The number of Pennsylvania online casinos is now in double-digits. All of the PA casino apps are available 24/7 and offer online slots, video poker, and table games such as roulette, blackjack, and baccarat. Use this table to compare the real money casinos in PA.
Rank | PA Casinos | Bonus Offer | Progressive | Slots | Play Now! |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1. | FanDuel Casino | $200 Risk-Free | N/A | 25+ | Play Now! |
2. | Unibet Casino | $10 Free + 100% up to $500 | Jackpot Shores + Divine Fortune | 75+ | Play Now! |
3. | Fox Bet Casino | 100% up to $1500 | N/A | 12+ | Play Now! |
4. | DraftKings Casino | $35 Free + 20% up to $500 + $100 in blackjack credits | N/A | 25+ | Play now! |
5. | BetRivers Casino | 100% up to $250 | Divine Fortune | 50+ | Play Now! |
6. | Sugarhouse Casino | 100% up to $250 | Divine Fortune | 70+ | Play Now! |
7. | Hollywood Casino | $10 Free + 100% up to $502 | Divine Fortune | 80+ | Play Now! |
8. | PokerStars Casino | 100% up to $1500 | N/A | 25+ | Play Now! |
PA online slots
Slots are the biggest category of games for any online casino. You can expect to see over 200 games listed on some sites and you’ll need some way to sort the list of slot titles.
Firstly, casinos will feature their most popular games. You can use filters to search by, e.g., the number of reels, game developer, progressive jackpots, and so on.
If you enjoy live casino slots, then you will be able to play a lot of these online. You can search by name, or browse the listings for IGT, Bally, or another live slot studio.
Many online casinos feature classic games, e.g., Wheel of Fortune, Cleopatra, and WolfRun. You can also find traditional three-reel slots. Online slot studios like IGT created these.
When you browse the tiled graphics for slots to enjoy, you’ll see progressivejackpots listed underneath many of them. These pools can get massive, up to $1 million or more.
Table games at PA online casinos
No limit games. Tablegames are a broad category, although it mostly covers all the casino games played on the greenfelt.
While most are card-based, dice and roulette wheels also fall under table games. Live dealer games are in this category; however, we will cover them separately.
This list is for the software-based versions:
- Blackjack: There are a lot of variations of basic blackjack rules. These include games with side bets, multi-hand games and entertaining variants like Blackjack Switch, Free Bet Blackjack, and Spanish 21.
- Roulette: You can bet your favorite numbers or try complex betting systems with online roulette. Where available, choose the European roulette wheel because the single zero reduces the house edge.
- Casino poker games: A lot of card-based table games use poker-hand rankings. Online casinos have Caribbean Stud, three-card poker, Ultimate Texas Hold ’em, Let It Ride, Pai Gow Poker, and Casino Hold ’em.
- Baccarat: Two of the three bets you can place in baccarat have a very low house edge. As long as you avoid the “tie” bet, this favorite among high rollers can be entertaining.
- Craps: With two betting phases and the chance to go on a hot streak as long as no 7s are rolled, craps is a lively live casino game. This appears at some online casinos, which gives you a chance to learn the complex bets.
Live dealer casinos in Pennsylvania
In other states, live dealer table games have become the go-to for many players and soon, they’ll be available in PA. With these, you’ll bet online although the action will be dealt in real-time from studios in PA live casinos. Bets will settle automatically.
Games available include blackjack (where you play on a seven-handed table), roulette, three-card poker, Casino Hold ’em, and baccarat.
Keep in mind, you need to act before the timer runs down in these games. Otherwise, your hand will be folded (or you’ll stand), depending on the game.
You can chat via text with the dealers and other players while you play. The added social element, plus the ability to watch the cards being dealt, make these increasingly popular games.
Video poker and novelty games
PA casinos allow you to play video poker games online. These include bonus poker and multi-hand variations, as well as traditional titles.
Pennsylvania online casino apps
There are pros and cons to online casino apps compared to mobile-friendly websites.
With apps, you often find only a limited number of game titles, along with account and cashier functionality. Compared to the hundreds of games you can play on your browser, this is a significant drawback.
On the positive side, having the graphics stored on your phone helps the games initialize faster. If you have ever had to wait for a bonus game to load on your mobile device after you hit it on a slot, you know how frustrating this can be.
Are the online casinos in Pennsylvania safe?
All online casinos in PA are licensed and under the jurisdiction of the PennsylvaniaGaming Control Board (PGCB).
Players are protected by know your customer (KYC) guidelines and responsible gaming laws. The games are tested for integrity and fairness. A complaint and dispute process is available if necessary.
When it comes to Pennsylvania online casinos, you really can’t get any safer.
The PGCB stated early in the licensing process that they have a deliberate, slow approach. This includes testing periods for new apps and websites. With the licenses for online casinos in Pennsylvania held by local live casinos and racetrack casinos, you’ll have trusted brand names behind each of the apps.
A major concern for players new to casino games is the fairness of the spins or deals. At regulated casinos, games are regularly audited and the expected return-to-player (RTP) percentages are published. While each game has a small edge in favor of the house, you can be sure that you are getting a fair shot at winning and it’s in line with the published figures.
Casino bonus offers in Pennsylvania
With a lot of real money online casinos opening in PA in quick succession, you can be sure they will be competing to attract new players.
This means 2020 is a perfect time to take advantage of their marketing budgets. Casino bonuses take four primary forms, and not every casino will offer them all. If not, the bonuses they do offer will need to be generous.
Here are the main types of casino bonuses:
- No-deposit welcome bonus: A popular way to attract new players is to offer free play for registering. This bonus is usually a small amount (between $10 and $25). You’ll need to wager it a number of times before you can withdraw it. These offers can start your casino bankroll, if you get lucky. If not, then you’ll have a chance to check out the real-money slot titles without any personal risk.
- Matched deposit bonuses: This is the most common form of a casino welcome bonus in PA. Your first deposit will be matched 100%, usually up to around $300, though sometimes much higher. You then get 30 to 60 days to meet the specified playthrough (wagering) requirements.
- Loyalty/comp point schemes: Some casinos will tie their online comp point schemes together with their live casino. Others have separate schemes, with complex tier systems unlocking progressively bigger bonuses. For high rollers, these loyalty schemes often have a VIP level, too.
- One-off promotions: How active a casino is with promos can make a big difference to your bankroll over time. These vary widely, and include double points deals, reload bonuses, promos linked to new games and free chips for sharing on social media.
While nothing is stopping you from taking up several casino bonuses, keep in mind that these are restricted to one per household for each casino. Many players have been tempted to sign up their entire family for a free-play offer only to find their accounts to be closed down quickly.
Licensed and legal PA casinos vs. offshore casinos
For many years, the only way to play online casino games in Pennsylvania was to risk your money at offshore casinos. While there were some limited legal options with sweepstakescasinos, the new legal PA internet casinos effectively remove the need to take this risk.
Offshore casinos are usually based in the Caribbean or Central America and their legal status is uncertain. While their host nation licenses them, they are not recognized or licensed by any US authority and our banks are legally obliged to block payments to them.
A greater concern is the lack of oversight and controls. Many offshore casinos have disappeared over the years, and many players have faced significant issues getting their winnings paid. If you have a dispute with an offshore casino, there is no industry body or organization to help you.
With PA casinos under the watchfuleye of the PGCB, they are licensed to accept conventional payment methods and thoroughly tested. There is no longer any reason to risk playing at an offshore site.
Geolocation and PA casinos
You will be able to access the PA online casinos fromanywhere. However, playing games for real money and making deposits can only be made within PA state lines.
Pennsylvania casinos will not allow real-money play if there is any doubt about your location. In New Jersey, this led to a lot of “falsenegatives.” Players who were on mobile devices near state borders were sometimes flagged as being outside of the state.
Fortunately, those initial problems were ironed out and geolocation technology is more reliable.
If you are using a VPN or proxyserver, you might still experience issues. Mobile users on 4G and close to the state border who experience problems can download additionalgeolocationsoftware in some cases.
Wi-Fi data is difficult to fake, and if you are not using a VPN, desktop players are unlikely to experience geolocation issues.
Full list of casinos allowed to offer online gambling in Pennsylvania
PA Online Casino | Launch Date |
---|---|
Sugarhouse Online Casino PA | July 17, 2019 |
Hollywood Casino | July 15, 2019 |
Parx Casino PA | July 15, 2019 |
PokerStars Casino | Nov. 4, 2019 |
Unibet via Mohegan Sun Pocono | Nov. 12, 2019 |
FanDuel Casino via Valley Forge | Jan. 24, 2020 |
BetAmerica (Presque Isle Downs) | Jan. 28, 2020 |
BetRivers (Rivers Philadelphia) | Jan. 30, 2020 |
Caesars Online Casino (Harrah's Philadelphia) | April 23, 2020 |
DraftKings Casino (Hollywood) | May 1, 2020 |
Wind Creek Casino | July 24, 2020 |
PlayLive! (Live! Casino & Hotel) | Aug. 14, 2020 |
MGM | TBD |
Golden Nugget NJ | TBD |
In the first month of 2020, FanDuel Casino, BetAmerica, and BetRivers Casino launched just before the Super Bowl. The long-awaited Caesars Online Casino in partnership with Harrah’s Philadelphia followed in April.
Rivers Philadelphia (Formerly SugarHouse Casino) was the first brick-and-mortar casino to offer two different online casino skins under its casino license: PlaySugarHouse and BetRivers. The latter is integrated with the Rivers Pittsburgh online sportsbook that carries the same BetRivers name. Rivers Casino Pittsburgh did not obtain an online casino license.
On May 1, 2020, DraftKings Online Casino went live, becoming the second interactive gaming site under the Hollywood Casino license. Meadows, DraftKings’ land-based partner for online sports betting, does not hold an online casino license. But both Meadows and Hollywood are owned by Penn National Gaming, which has a market-access deal with DraftKings.
FanDuel and DraftKings originally launched online casinos that were integrated with their sportsbooks. Now, both have stand-alone online casino apps live in PA.
In late July 2020, Wind Creek Bethlehem dove into the online betting scene, launching the Wind Creek online casino through a partnership with Pala Interactive.
List of live Pennsylvania casinos
There are currently 12 licensed gambling properties in the state of Pennsylvania, with another casino in the works in Philadelphia’s Stadium Park.
According to PGCB, this includes 10 stand-alone and racetrack casinos and two smaller resort casinos. The former two are Category 1 and 2 casinos, while the latter falls into Category 3. These gaming establishments employ approximately 18,000 people and generate close to $1.4 billion in tax revenue annually.
In total, there are 12 casinos licensed to offer PA online blackjack, slots and roulette.
- Harrah’s Philadelphia
- Hollywood Casino
- Meadows Casino
- Mohegan Sun Pocono
- Mount Airy Casino Resort
- Nemacolin Woodlands Resort
- Parx Casino
- Presque Isle Downs
- Rivers Casino Pittsburgh
- Rivers Casino Philadelphia (formerly SugarHouse Casino)
- Wind Creek Casino Resort (formerly Sands Bethlehem)
- Valley Forge Resort Casino
Mini-casinos: The next phase of Pennsylvania casino development
As part of its gambling expansion law passed in October 2017, the state had the ability to issue up to tenCategory 4 licenses. These licenses allow for mini-casinos with 300-750 slots. A supplemental license costing $2.5 million allows these satellite casino properties to offer up to 30 table games as well.
The process for the issuance of mini-casino licensing involves a series of auctions. The preliminary auctions began in January 2018 and were limited only to the licensed Category 1 and 2 casinos. The first license went to Penn National, who spent $50.1 million to secure a location 50 miles south of its existing Hollywood Casino. During the first round of auctions, PGCB awarded five licenses.
The PGCB ran a second round of auctions on Sept. 3, 2019 but there were no bidders this time around. As a result, the five remaining licenses will go unclaimed. In all, $114 million in license fees were raised.
Pennsylvania problem gambling support
A system for self-exclusion for problemgamblers is available at live casinos in Pennsylvania.
This program involves filling out some forms, providing a photo ID, and voluntarily requesting one-year, five-year or lifetime exclusion.
A list of excluded people is distributed to all live casinos. Then it is the casinos’ responsibility is to prevent those people from entering gaming areas.
Removal from this list (for the shorter periods) does not happen automatically. After the period expires, individuals must request their removal personally.
Online gambling prevents new challenges when it comes to the management of problem gambling. For the majority to enjoy safe gambling online, support systems need to be in place for players who experience issues.
The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Commission manages this support program.
Here is what legal Pennsylvania online casinos must provide:
- A prominentlink to their responsible gambling information page.
- Tools for time-out, self-exclusion and betting limits.
- A list of questions to assess whether you or someone you know has a gambling problem.
- Links to support organizations and therapists.
Support programs in the state include:
Overview of Pennsylvania’s casino industry
The Pennsylvania casino industry is relatively young. Casinos only became legal in 2004. Yet, in the dozen or so years in existence, the industry quickly became a powerhouse. Now it is the second-largest commercial casino industry in the country judging by gross revenue, trailing only Nevada.
Thanks to steep tax rates, Pennsylvania casinos actually generate more tax revenue for the state than Nevada does. That number has gotten even bigger thanks to the gambling expansion law passed in the fall of 2017.
Here is a look at the history of the Pennsylvania casino industry, starting with the latest news and moving back towards the casino industry’s more humble beginnings:
The year began on a high, but that soon changed as the spread of COVID-19 led to the shuttering of all retail casinos and racetracks in PA by mid-March. That meant furloughs for casino employees and falling casino stock prices.
Online sportsbooks were also hit hard, with most sports sidelined for a lengthy period of time.
On a positive note, three more online casinos joined the market before the Super Bowl. The FanDuel online casino made quite a splash, surging to highest handle and revenue earner after its first full month in February.
The long-awaited Caesars sportsbook went live on March 10 in partnership with Harrah’s Philadelphia, bringing the state’s online sports betting apps to a total of nine. The Caesars online casino followed on April 23, making it nine internet casinos too. An online poker room under the WSOP.com name is expected to follow.
On May 1, DraftKings added an online casino product to its established online sportbook. Its online casino product is under the Hollywood Casino license, while the DraftKings sportsbook partners with Penn’s other PA property, The Meadows. Both FanDuel and DraftKings later debuted standalone online casino apps in June and July, respectively.
Wind Creek launched its first online product with an online casino in late July, and Live! Casino brought PlayLive! online casino to PA in mid-August. Live! was the only casino to launch iGaming ahead of retail openings, which are to follow in 2021.
Online wagering sparked and sportsbooks blossomed.
With sportsbooks, there were just three operations at the beginning of the year, and all were retail. By the end of the year, the Keystone State had 12 retail sportsbooks.
But eight online sportsbooks were also running by year’s end, with around 84% of all sports wagering done online. Taken together, sports betting took in more than a billion bucks in 2019.
Five online casino sites went live, the first ones launching in July, though a new Wire Act opinion likely slowed that market segment at the start.
And at long last, an online poker site finally launched. On Nov. 4, FOX Bet was joined by PokerStars Casino and PokerStars PA, making poker a reality in the Keystone State.
In October 2019, SugarHouse changed its name to Rivers Casino Philadelphia, but not before launching the first PA online sportsbook in May. PlaySugarHouse sportsbook and online casino still retain the SugarHouse name.
After a summer of bickering, the state legislature drafted a new version of the gambling expansion package, which both the House and Senate passed. Gov. Tom Wolf signed it into law on Monday, Oct. 30, 2018. The new law allows for a wide range of new gambling ventures, including:
- Online casinos
- Video gambling terminals (VGTs)
- Daily fantasy sports (DFS)
- Satellite casinos
- Sports betting
It also offered a new class of license eliminating the amenity fee in place at Valley Forge and Lady Luck Nemacolin. Valley Forge paid the fee immediately after the bill became law.
New licensing fees brought in more than $311 million for the state.
The PA Lottery launched several new games and created the online platform iLottery.
A US Supreme Court ruling allowed sports wagering to begin and nine of 12 properties immediately applied for licenses.
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Total gambling revenue topped $3.4 billion.
Legislation which would legalize and regulate online gambling in Pennsylvania, and offer online gaming licenses to the state’s 12 casino properties first, was passed by the Senate. In June 2017 it was amended and passed by the House, sending it back to the Senate.
The law was approved at the end of October.
The law ushered in sportsbook wagering and video game terminals at truck stops, and a new category of “mini-casinos” was created. As part of the expansion, horse racing money from casino slot revenue was encumbered in a trust fund. The slot money was originally set aside as part of the deal which led to the 2004 approval of casinos.
Casinos set a revenue record of $3.227 billion.
Lady Luck Casino Nemacolin opened in July 2013.
Valley Forge Casino Resort opened its doors in March 2012 becoming the first Category 3 licensed casino in Pennsylvania.
After several ownership changes and failed financing plans with no construction to date, the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board voted to revoke the Foxwoods Casino Philadelphia gaming license in December 2010.
SugarHouse Casino opened its first phase in Philadelphia in September 2010.
Pennsylvania passed a law in January 2010, authorizing table game operations at the state’s licensed racino, casino, and resort casino properties. The law also clarified the size and scope of gaming and other operations at the state’s three different categories of gaming licensees, including:
- Allowing up to 250 table games and 5,000 slot machines at Category 1 racino facilities
- Allowing 250 table games and 5,000 slot machines at Category 2 stand-alone casinos. These properties were also authorized to operate amenities including restaurants, spas, and entertainment options, but not hotels.
- Allowing up to 600 slot machines and 50 table games at Category 3 resort casinos. These gaming facilities can include attached hotels.
Parx Casino standalone gaming facility opened its doors in December .
Rivers Casino opened in Pittsburgh, PA’s Chateau neighborhood along the Ohio River in September.
Sands Casino Resort Bethlehem opened on the Bethlehem Works development site in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania in May 2009. Table games were added in July 2010. The property officially changed ownership to the Poarch Band of Creek Indians in June 2019. The casino is now known as Wind Creek Bethlehem.
Hollywood Casino opened at Penn National racetrack in February 2008.
Mount Airy Casino Resort officially opened in the Poconos in November 2007, becoming the first Pennsylvania casino with lodging.
The Meadows Casino began as a temporary casino adjacent to the racetrack in Washington County, PA in June 2007. The permanent casino opened in 2009.
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Presque Isle Downs casino and horse racing track near Erie, Pennsylvania opened in February 2007.
A slots parlor began operation at Harrah’s Philadelphia racetrack on the Chester waterfront. Table games went live at the property in 2010.
Parx Casino opened as a temporary gaming facility at the former Philadelphia Park racetrack in December 2006.
Foxwoods Casino Philadelphia is granted one of five stand-alone casino licenses for a soon-to-be-built property located along the Delaware River in South Philadelphia. The project fell apart, resulting in PGCB revoking the license in 2010.
Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs became the state’s first slot parlor after opening its doors in November 2006 at a harness track near Wilkes-Barre.
State lawmakers made a number of amendments to horse track security bill authorizing both the use of 61,000 slot machines at racetracks and other new casino locations across Pennsylvania. Lawmakers rushed the bill through the House and Senate over the Fourth of July weekend, then quickly became law before any real opposition to casino gambling had a chance to oppose it.
The bill ultimately authorized the issue of three separate categories of slot machine licenses. These included:
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- Category 1 for existing racetracks.
- Category 2 for designated tourist areas, including two in Philadelphia and one in Pittsburgh.
- Category 3 for resorts.
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Former Philadelphia Mayor Ed Rendell runs for Pennsylvania Governor. He wins on a campaign that includes support for the idea of allowing slot machines at racetracks in an effort to lower property taxes.
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Under Then-Governor Tom Ridge the State Legislature came close to legalizing riverboat casinos. The state’s anti-gambling movement began to grow and Gov. Ridge said he would veto any gambling bill not approved by referendum. Eventually the entire idea was scrapped.
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A statewide survey found 48 percent of Pennsylvania residents supported legalized riverboat gambling and just 38 percent were opposed. However, Then-Governor Robert P. Casey claimed to be opposed to gambling and threatened to veto any gambling legislation passed in the state.
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First developed under Philadelphia Mayor Wilson Goode, and championed by mayoral successor Ed Rendell, a proposal to allow riverboat gambling in Philadelphia made it to the state legislature. The claim was it would create $25 million in new revenue for the city and 11,500 new jobs. However, the House of Representatives voted against it in November by a margin of 118-81.
Resorts Casino Hotel opened in Atlantic City, New Jersey, becoming the first legal casino in Atlantic City. Resorts and the rest of the Atlantic City Boardwalk is within 60 miles of Philadelphia. It quickly become evident that Pennsylvania residents are some of the budding Atlantic City casino industry’s best customers.