PENNSYLVANIA
ONLINE GAMBLING

The law legalizing iGaming in PA authorizes Internet slots, table games such as blackjack and roulette, online poker and sports betting. All verticals are now live, with new sites coming online steadily.

What’s more, there is a significant likelihood that PA poker sites will eventually pool liquidity with online card rooms in other legal U.S. poker markets. Already, New Jersey has merged its player pools with Nevada and Delaware, so adding PA is a natural extension.

Daily fantasy sports and online lottery were also legalized as part of the expanded gaming bill. Both went live in May 2018.

True sports wagering became legal in Pennsylvania late in 2018, and the first real-world sportsbooks launched in November and December of that year. Online sportsbooks began launching in late spring of 2019.

Online casinos use third-party geolocation software companies to verify that their real money patrons are indeed within the borders of the state and outside the casinos. When playing from a desktop computer, gamblers will be prompted to install a small web browser extension which verifies and sends back a notification to the casino that the player is physically inside PA. A similar check will be made on mobile gamers with features built into iOS and Android casino apps.

Yes, curious patrons can play for free on PA gambling sites in a few different ways. First, most casino sites offer demo/play money versions of their games so patrons can get a taste of the action without risking real money.

Another way to play for free is to take advantage of the free money sign up bonuses which several PA iGaming sites offer. These types of bonuses usually range from $10-$30 and are awarded to players for simply creating an account at a gambling site.

The deal is meant to entice potential customers to check out the casino site without having to make a deposit, giving them the chance to win real money in the process.

A wide array of banking methods are already available at PA online casinos and sports betting sites, making it easy for nearly anyone to make a deposit or withdrawal. As these sites mature, even more methods will be added. Here are a few common deposit types we have seen so far:

• Instant eCheck (ACH)
• PayPal
• Cash at the cage in the casino
• Online banking transfer
• Branded Play+ cards
• Visa/MasterCard credit cards
• Cash at 7-Eleven/CVS/Family Dollar
• Bank wire transfers
• Paper checks 

Withdrawals can be made using some of the methods mentioned above.

Minimum deposit amounts are almost universally set to $10 in PA, whereas the maximums vary depending on a variety of factors. These include the deposit method used, reputation with the bank, and VIP status, amongst other things. Certain methods can allow for deposits of up to $10,000 per day, while average maximums for methods like ACH and prepaid cards range from $500-$2,000.

PA iGaming sites are available for play directly through popular web browsers like Google Chrome, Firefox and Safari, on both Windows and Mac operating systems, with no download required. Some casinos and sportsbooks might also provide the additional option of a standalone software client, though this isn’t as common anymore except for online poker.

Gamblers can also play on mobile through free, dedicated apps for iOS and Android devices. Some sites offer the option to play directly from mobile web browsers without the need to download any apps at all, but this is rare for mobile devices.