Legal retail and online sports bettingis now alive and well in Pennsylvania. Retail books began launching in late 2018, and online sportsbooks began taking bets in May 2019. Read on for a complete breakdown of every legal brick-and-mortar, online and mobile sportsbook operating in PA, along with links to exclusive bonuses and answers to frequently asked questions.
Best Online Sportsbooks in Pennsylvania
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BetMGM Sportsbook
Get a 20% Deposit Match up to $1,500 in Sports Bonus!
Betting on sports in the state of Pennsylvania has never been easier, thanks to the launch of several online sportsbooks. Online sports betting kicked off in May 2019 when SugarHouse online sportsbook first started taking bets. Since then, the market has grown exponentially, granting players an even greater ability to bonus hunt and line shop. For those who would rather do their betting at a live venue, Pennsylvania has those too.
In the following sections, we outline every single sportsbook active in the Commonwealth and will provide regular updates as soon as a new entity takes its first wager.
Barstool Sportsbook at Hollywood Casino Morgantown
Hollywood Casino Morgantown
Kambi
Dec. 2021
Live and Licenced Sportsbooks in PA
Pennsylvania has become a hub for sports betting enthusiasts! If you’re looking to place a legal wager on your favorite teams or athletes, this guide is for you. We’ll break down all the live and licensed sportsbooks operating in PA, so you can get in on the action.
FanDuel Online Sportsbook
Type: Skin
FanDuel may not have been the first online product to hit the Pennsylvania sports betting market, but so far, it has been the most successful. The operator dominates the New Jersey market, and it has effectively brought the same exact experience to PA.
FanDuel is heavily entwined with some of the heaviest hitters in the sports betting industry, including GAN, which handles account management, and IGT, which supplies other aspects of the FanDuel platform. Its experience in the market and strong partnerships will pay dividends, as FanDuel Sportsbook already offers a fluid wagering experience on both desktop and mobile devices.
Still, the site’s overall player-value is mixed, diminishing during slow seasons, but really ramping up for NFL. And the lack of a loyalty program knocks it down a peg, but the promotional offerings more than make up for it.
FanDuel Sportsbook at Valley Forge Casino
Type: Brick & mortar Location: 1160 1st Ave, King of Prussia, PA 19406
All right, Valley Forge Casino is small, but the sportsbook is really small, only clocking in at 1,800 sq. ft., with limited seating options. Despite its small stature, Valley Forge/FanDuel did a great job incorporating the book into their casino design. The book flows nicely out into the casino floor where there are several full-service bars, live entertainment, table games, slots and a ton of TVs to watch the action unfold.
Inside the FanDuel sportsbook there are 27 television screens, seven betting windows, and the aesthetics are pleasing. But with just two tellers, and located in a competitive Philadelphia market, we expect that most bettors are going to be accessing FanDuel from their smartphones or tablets.
BetRivers Online Sportsbook
Type: Skin
BetRivers was among the first online sportsbooks to enter the Pennsylvania market. Its first-mover status and strong brand association has helped the company carve out a sizable niche in the maturing PA sports betting market.
The sportsbook shares the same custom-built platform as its counterpart to the east, Play SugarHouse Sports. Both books use Kambi’s tech to set the lines and for basically any other technical services. As such, it comes as little surprise that BetRivers is a sturdy app, chock full of betting options, markets, and supported by a stellar player rewards program, iRush Rewards. Another plus is that it’s available as an app for both iPhones and Android devices.
The lines could be a little tighter and it could stand to have a few more promos, but otherwise this is a top-tier sportsbook for the PA market.
PlaySugarHouse Online Sportsbook
Type: Skin
SugarHouse, like BetRivers, is among the most comprehensive and well-thought out sports betting platforms we’ve had the pleasure to encounter. It was also the first app to hit the PA sports betting market, granting it a much coveted first-mover status in what is turning out to be a hyper-competitive industry.
The app should be a first stop for hungry sports bettors, as it offers them a sizable and easy to clear first-deposit bonus, access to one of the industry’s best loyalty programs in iRush Rewards, and better-than-average pricing for most major markets.
Not to mention, the app shares a wallet and platform with its online casino.
BetRivers Sportsbook Philadelphia
Type: Brick & mortar Location: 1001 N Delaware Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19125
Rivers wasted little time getting its temporary retail sportsbook up and running, debuting it just one month (December 2018) after the first book at Penn National went live.
In October 2019, SugarHouse Casino was formally re-branded as Rivers Philadelphia, and debuted the brand new state-of-the-art $5 million BetRivers Sportsbook. The permanent sportsbook is 3x the temporary digs and features club chairs and table seating for 115 guests and a 57 foot by 10.5 foot wall monitor. There are six betting windows and 22 self-serve kiosks. There is also food and beverage service that includes text-to-order so you will never miss a minute of the game.
Now that’s a book worthy of a Fishtown Casino.
FOX Bet Online Sportsbook
Type: Skin
FOX Bet online sportsbook is the result of a landmark deal between media giant FOX Sports and internet gambling legend The Stars Group. This is a match made in heaven as The Stars Group’s internet gambling experience paired with FOX Sports advertising and sports experience brings an online sports betting app like no other.
Mount Airy hit the jackpot by partnering with FOX Bet as they also bring with them a casino and the popular PA online poker site, PokerStars, along with the deal.
FOX Bet is a fun, easy to use online sportsbook that offers, by far, the most odds boosts and custom bets every single day. For almost all sports events, there are at least 3-5 odds boosts, and the custom bet options can yield odds as high as +50000.
FOX Bet does things a little different, but overall it is a solid option for sports bettors of all ages and ability.
Sportsbook Mount Airy opened their doors in September 2019, and was the first sportsbook to start taking bets after their online counterpart. The book takes up 7000 sq ft of space where the Gypsy’s lounge used to be and shares the space with a 12 table PokerStars themed poker room.
The book features 40 state-of-the-art TVs showing 15 games at a time, luxury lounge seating and an in-house bar on the weekends. There are three teller windows and eight kiosks (four in the book and four on the gaming floor).
When the book is not open, you can use the kiosks to place your bets and cash out at the main casino cage.
DraftKings Online Sportsbook
Type: Skin
It was clear that DraftKings was coming to PA, but how was always the question. After almost all the suitors were gobbled up, it was announced that DraftKings had found their ticket via a deal with Meadows Racetrack and Casino, now known as the Hollywood Casino at the Meadows.
DraftKings was previously more known for their DFS site, but have emerged out as a huge competitor for the top spot in the online sportsbook world in any market they enter.
DraftKings has a full slate of promotional offers, odds boosts, innovative player pool contests and giveaways that keep their customers coming back.
Barstool Online Sportsbook
Type: Skin
Barstool Sportsbook is owned by Penn National, which also owns multiple Hollywood Casino locations in PA. Barstool has brought its bawdy, disruptive sportsbook to several states, including Pennsylvania, where it has settled in the middle of the pack based on revenue.
Barstool Sportsbook offers an appealing product with fair prices, a wide variety of creative promotions, and a great app. Barstool may not be for everyone due to its sometimes controversial nature, but its sportsbook product is solid and worth checking out.
Barstool Sportsbook
Type: Brick & mortar Location: 777 Hollywood Blvd, Grantville, PA 17028
In March 2022, the Hollywood Casino at Penn National debuted a brand new, remodeled version of their in-house sports betting facility.
The new-and-improved Barstool Sportsbook features a 28-foot jumbotron with 15 individual screens showing different games, countless betting windows and kiosks, and a fully-stocked bar and restaurant offering patrons just about everything they could possibly ask for.
BetMGM Online Sportsbook
Type: Skin
BetMGM’s online sportsbook has become a constant in any state with legalized gambling, meaning it was only a matter of time until its product surfaced in PA.
The brand finally went live just ahead of 2021, hitting the market on December 17, 2020 in partnership with Penn National Gaming and their Hollywood Casino franchise.
TwinSpires Sportsbook (Presque Isle Downs)
Type: Brick & mortar Location: 8199 Perry Highway Erie, PA 16509
TwinSpires (formerly BetAmerica) Sportsbook at Presque Isle downs features over 50 self serve kiosks, with 25 inside the sportsbook and 25 spread throughout the casino floor.
You can also place bets at a teller at the casino cage, but with the amount of self serve kiosks, its pretty clear that TwinSpires prefers you to place your bets digitally.
There is a wall of TVs located in the sportsbook, or you can place your bets and watch the games at one of the many bars or restaurants at the casino.
Despite TwinSpires announcing plans to pull out of the bookmaking and iCasino game, the brand’s brick-and-mortar sportsbook at Presque Isle Downs remains open for business, for now. If and when any changes are made, we’ll be sure to make note of it.
Harrah’s Philadelphia
Harrah’s Philadelphia held off a bit on launching its retail sportsbook, skipping a temporary book, and going straight to permanent facilities.
The simply titled “The Book” went live in January 2019, just ahead of the Super Bowl. It was later rebranded to Caesars Sportsbook, as the casino behemoth owns and operates Harrah’s Philadelphia. The location also hosts the Caesars Sportsbook mobile app as an online skin.
Caesars Online Sportsbook
Type: Skin
In August 2021, Caesars announced a major rebrand and introduced its new and greatly improved Caesars Sportsbook app throughout the U.S., but have yet to offer it in Pennsylvania.
Instead, Caesars rolled out an alternate app in collaboration with Harrah’s Philadelphia, offering no promotions for sports bettors, no welcome bonus, and a completely different layout with different technology. It’s been somewhat of a disappointment and we hope to see the regular version of the app available to PA bettors soon.
Caesars Sportsbook (Harrah’s)
Type: Brick & mortar Location: 777 Harrah’s Blvd, Chester, PA 19013 Extra info: House Rules
The retail Caesars Sportsbook at Harrah’s Philadelphia features stadium seating, countless big screen televisions, 16 self-betting kiosks, and a nearby Party Pit, located just a few steps away, where bettors can sneak in a quick hand of blackjack or roulette. It’s a modest book, but it’s the book that’s here to stay.
Parx Casino
Parx Casino, owned by Greenwood Gaming & Entertainment Inc., is the highest revenue producing casino in Pennsylvania. So it makes sense that it would want to jump head-first into the retail sports betting waters.
The casino had been a reluctant participant in online gambling and sports betting, fearing that iGaming would threaten its stranglehold on the Philadelphia casino market, but that didn’t stop it from being among the first to market in the online betting sphere.
Parx Casino opened its temporary sports betting facility in January 2019, and followed this up with the launch of a very impressive $10 million permanent venue in August of that same year.
betPARX Online Sportsbook
Type: Skin
Parx’s mobile sportsbook was among the first wave of regulated online sportsbooks in the state, having launched on June 27, 2019.
It was a bit underwhelming to say the least, and ultimately failed to pick up any steam in PA over the last few years.
Parx Sportsbook
Type: Brick & mortar Location: 2999 Street Rd, Bensalem, PA 19020
If Parx was less than enthusiastic about online sports betting, it was certainly gung-ho on building a retail outlet. After launching a rather pedestrian temporary sportsbook in January 2019, Parx Casino unveiled what is perhaps the most impressive book on the East Coast in August 2019.
The $10 million book, located in the old 360 Lounge, clocks in at 10,000 sq. ft, and thanks to its many viewing portals, has the ability to display up to 28 games at once.
Rows upon rows of seating line the book, and with seven live teller windows and over 40 self-serving kiosks, there should never be much of a line.
Smack dab in the middle of Philly’s sports plaza, the recently re-branded South Philadelphia Race & Sportsbook has to be among the most ideal venues for plunking down a wager.
In celebration of Pennsylvania sports betting, the facility underwent a $1 million renovation and is now powered by over 100 HD displays, and features a modernized kitchen, a revamped food and beverage menu, and Kambi kiosks.
The facility began offering wagers on sports beginning in January 2019. Bettors are still able to place wagers on their favorite horses from the venue.
Wind Creek Casino Online
Type: Online
Wind Creek launched an online casino in 2020 and decided to attach a sportsbook to it. Bettors in PA can download the casino on their iPhones through the App Store or using the APK download process by visiting the Wind Creek Casino Online page on their Android phone browser. Once you have the app, you can browse lines and bet on sports knowing that you are seeing competitive lines and promos based on the Betfred platform, a well-known and highly regarded European sportsbook that is live in a few states here in America. Betfred partnered with Wind Creek but did not get its name on the online sportsbook.
Either way, Wind Creek may be harder to access than the other online sportsbooks but its offerings and customer experience are solid.
Wind Creek Bethlehem Sportsbook, Powered by Betfred Sports
Type: Brick & mortar Location: 77 Wind Creek Blvd, Bethlehem, PA
Wind Creek’s online sportsbook may be hidden in its casino app, but its retail location is front and center, prominently featured in the massive casino.
There is a bar and an enormous 21-panel TV wall along with 8 betting kiosks and several betting windows. All bet types are accepted here and all major sports are offered. This is a fun place to go watch the game and put down some bets. Check it out the next time you’re in Bethlehem.
Live! Casino Philadelphia
The Live! Casino in Philadelphia, located inside the South Philadelphia Sports Complex, opened its doors on February 4, 2021. The Cordish Companies property quickly became a favorite among Pennsylvanians and has continued to surprise and delight their customers since opening.
One of the big draws for sports fans has been the FanDuel Sportsbook located within the casino and within walking distance from several Philly sports stadiums.
Betway Sportsbook
Type: Online
Betway Online Sportsbook is licensed through the Live! Casino & Hotel, despite Betway not having a branded retail sportsbook anywhere in the state. Live!
Casino houses a FanDuel-branded sportsbook within its Sports Complex location. Betway’s customer interface is one of the best in the industry and offers bettors easy navigation and a long list of bet types and sports markets.
While the Valley Forge Casino is small, the Live! Casino is massive in comparison, which makes it a perfect location for FanDuel’s second retail sportsbook in Pennsylvania.
Located in the heart of Philadephia’s Sports Complex, the FanDuel-branded sportsbook comes equipped with a state-of-the-art AV system, which includes a massive 52-foot LED display as well as 24 televisions creating the ultimate sports viewing experience.
Pennsylvania State Teams and Sports You Can Bet On
Pennsylvania takes immense pride in its sports teams, and their accomplishments continuously foster a sense of unity and camaraderie among residents throughout the state. Some of the most popular state teams on which you can bet are:
Philadelphia Eagles (NFL)
Pittsburgh Penguins (NHL)
Philadelphia Phillies (MLB)
Philadelphia 76ers (NBA)
PA online sportsbook reviews
At Penn Bets, we aim to provide readers with transparent and comprehensive reviews of all Pennsylvania online sportsbooks. Our reviews were all conducted from the Keystone State, so rest assured that we have vetted these sites thoroughly before writing up our analyses. Our primary focus has been on the following categories:
New player welcome offers: New player, or welcome bonuses are a hot topic among readers. And rightfully so, as there is perhaps no better opportunity to cash in than right when a bettor first signs up for a site. But not all new player offers are created equally. In our reviews, we cover what kind of bonuses each book offers, how valuable it is relative to competing offers, and discuss in detail any fine print associated with said offer. When applicable, we also provide exclusive promo codes that often provide readers with an offer that exceeds the one offered to the public.
Betting lines: Line shopping is arguably the most important tool in a bettor’s arsenal. They want to know which sites provide the best lines for a given game or event. We’re always watching the lines on every PA online sportsbook, and are well-equipped to inform you where you’ll get the most bang for your buck.
Game selection: An online sportsbook without an array of ways to place a wager is no better than a bicycle without wheels. We cover which key markets a book permits, and look at all the different ways bettors can plunk down a wager on their favorite contest. Niche formats like Live Betting and Cash Outs are covered in-depth.
Software: Server stability, mobile access, and a smooth interface — it’s imperative that operators provide their consumers with a superior product. We relay our experiences with every operator, judging them on the aesthetics of their site, how many platforms it’s available for, and whether it’s a breeze or a chore to use.
Cashiering: The ability to easily and swiftly get funds on and off a PA online sportsbook is among the biggest selling points for bettors. Not only do we look at all the payment processing methods available at a book, but we go through in-depth testing to see just how long it takes for a withdrawal to get processed.
The benefits of legal online sports betting
Regulated & safe
At regulated sites, players have to undergo a verification process designed to protect both their identity and their funds. Speaking of funds, all deposits are held in segregated accounts, separate from operating accounts, ensuring that players will receive their payout requests in an expedited fashion. By contrast, illegal offshore sites often impose lofty fees on payout requests, and they can take weeks to process. On the shadiest of sites, a player may never see their funds again.
Pennsylvania online sportsbooks are regulated by the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board, which has provided oversight of the state’s casino and horse racing industries for years.
The benefits of having such an organization at the helm are unparalleled. As an example, the Board provides a complaint/dispute form that bettors can fill out if they have an unresolved issue with a sportsbook.
The Board can then step in as a mediator, and after a thorough investigation, will provide a final ruling. Players on offshore sites have no such fail-safe in their back pocket.
Easy deposits, easier withdrawals
Offshore sites cannot legally accept funds from U.S. banks. Therefore, they have to provide workarounds that often place a user’s money in harm’s way.
With the rise of crypto as a viable form of currency exchange, getting money on an offshore site has become easier, but even then, you’ll have to jump through hoops to make a deposit — and even more hoops for other payment vehicles!
An offshore site will never offer PayPal, Skrill, or ACH as a depositing method, but all PA online sportsbooks accept these safe and secure options.
Going further, players on legal sites can also do direct cash deposits, either at local 7-Eleven’s, CVS’s, or Family Dollar’s, or by going to their local land-based casino and loading their online account up right at the casino cage.
Moving to withdrawals, bettors are rolling the dice on offshore sites. Will I get paid? Why will it take so long? Why is the minimum withdrawal amount so high, and why can I only withdraw funds once or twice a month?
These are all serious questions that offshore bettors have to take into account. At regulated sites, withdrawal turnaround times are generally exceptional, on some sites instant, but usually no longer than a day or two.
And no, PA online sportsbooks don’t extend credit like a corner bookie might. So yes, that’s a drawback, but at least you can only lose what you can ante up.
Mobile Accessibility
Sports bettors are generally on-the-go wagerers, so mobile access is essential. In a legal environment, bettors will have no problem getting their hands on a slew of mobile sportsbook options.
PA online sportsbooks can easily be downloaded to mobile devices, either via direct download or Google Play (Android) or through the Apple App Store (iOS). The apps that operators in the legal space have put forth are generally remarkable, bearing a strong resemblance and the same functionality as their desktop counterparts, just in pocket-sized form.
Not to mention, geolocation technology has gotten to the point where as long as bettors are located in eligible areas (all of Pennsylvania minus land-based casino floors), they should have little-to-no trouble being located via 4G or WiFi.
Pennsylvania’s sports betting law and framework
Pennsylvania did not dally on the prospect of legalizing sports betting within its borders. In 2017, lawmakers passed an expansive gambling package which, aside from regulating online gambling, also included an option for the state’s casinos to open their own sportsbooks once New Jersey prevailed in its case.
The law allowed the state’s licensed casinos to pursue sports wagering on sporting events, although the exact minutiae took some time to work out. Physical sportsbooks began launching in late 2018, with online options beginning to spring up in mid-2019.
PA sports betting taxes and fees
Since PASPA was overturned, PA slot licensees have had the opportunity to offer single-game sports wagering both live and through mobile apps and websites.
To get up and running, venues are required to pay the following taxes and fees:
$10 million licensing fee
34% tax on gross gaming revenue
2% local share assessment tax
.25% federal excise tax on handle
In total, sportsbooks will be giving back around 41% of their profits, a huge chunk for a vertical known for razor-thin margins.
For comparison, New Jersey’s most recent bill stipulates the following:
8.5% on gross gaming revenues for bets made in-person at a physical sportsbook
13% on gross gaming revenues for online and mobile wagers
1.25% local share
$100,000 per license
A brief history of legal U.S. sports wagering
New Jersey takes action
Since 1992, the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act banned all sports betting in most of the United States. New Jersey was given a short window in which it would pass its own sports betting legislation in order to be grandfathered as an exception like Nevada, but Garden State lawmakers couldn’t come to an agreement on a bill in time, essentially shutting NJ out of what could have been a very lucrative industry.
Realizing its missed opportunity, NJ passed the Sports Wagering Act in 2012 to allow sports betting at licensed New Jersey casinos and racetracks despite the overarching PASPA prohibition. Five sports leagues subsequently sued to stop them, so then-Governor Chris Christie brought a case before the U.S. Supreme Court to argue that PASPA violates states’ rights under the 10th amendment.
Oral arguments were heard in December 2017, with the justices appearing open to New Jersey’s perspective. On May 14, 2018, a decision was handed down that PASPA violated the “anti-commandeering” principle and as such was struck down as unconstitutional.
As a result, New Jersey finally overcame this obstacle to join Nevada in sports betting, needing only to finalize its own specific regulations to begin awarding sportsbook licenses.
Results for other states
Initially there was some concern that SCOTUS could choose a partial decision which would leave parts of PASPA in place and only allow sports wagering for New Jersey. In this outcome, each other state would then be responsible for a lengthier process of fighting their own legal battle in the same vein.
Fortunately, Murphy v. NCAA resulted in the complete negation of the law. This has left the rest of the country in a relatively easier position to self-regulate on a state level, at least until Congress potentially passes a new Federal law. The sky is now the limit for this ever-growing industry.
Yes, almost all land-based casinos and a few OTB betting sites in Pennsylvania now accept wagers. There are also several options for online/mobile betting in PA with a few more still to come.
Anyone who can currently participate in any other form of legal gambling in the state, namely all individuals who are at least 21 years of age except those who placed themselves on a self-exclusion list. For online and mobile activity the only additional requirement is registering an account with a licensed casino operator and being within the state’s physical borders.
Yes, there is currently a substantial list of online sportsbooks operating in the state. Upon successful registration, bettors can place real-money wagers from anywhere in the state.
Let’s face it, an online sportsbook that doesn’t provide its services on mobile is crippled. That’s why operators have taken pains to get their books on smartphone and tablet devices as quickly as possible.
Going mobile is particularly important in a state like Pennsylvania, as so many of the books are tightly concentrated in the state’s major markets, leaving the rest of the population out in the cold as far as live wagering goes.
All online operators currently offer a product for both Android (downloadable directly from the main mobile site) and iOS. However, some operators do not offer iOS apps yet, instead enabling players to wager directly on their mobile browser, by first downloading the GeoGuard app from the App Store.
Bill has over a decade of experience working in diverse aspects of the online gambling space. He is currently focused on legal, US online gaming, which he has reported on since the industry first became regulated in the country.
Bill has over a decade of experience working in diverse aspects of the online gambling space. He is currently focused on legal, US online gaming, which he has reported on since the industry first became regulated in the country.
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