Pennsylvania Sports Betting
The story of sports in Pennsylvania will forever be split between the state’s two main cities: Pennsylvania and Philadelphia. While the rivalry between these two cities and the sports teams is intense, it has also helped PA become one of the biggest betting states in the US.
Pennsylvania was ready for sports betting before most of the US, with lawmakers passing legislation in 2017 to permit online and retail sports betting. However, this didn’t come into effect until May 2018, when the US Supreme Court struck down the federal ban on sports betting, the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act of 1992 (PASPA). The state launched retail sports betting six months later and online sports betting a year later in May 2019.
Since the launch of sports betting, fourteen online sportsbooks have gone live in the Keystone State. Every betting brand is partnered with a land-based casino, which means there are plenty of retail sportsbooks in the state.
| Regulator | Launch Date | Tax Rate | Registration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board | November 18, 2018 | 36% | Online or In Person |
Check out our complete guide to betting in Pennsylvania. This includes information on PA sportsbooks, an overview of the legislation that led to legalization, the state’s land-based sportsbooks, and the teams and events you might want to bet on.
Sports Betting Operators in Pennsylvania
The first online sportsbook in Pennsylvania, SugarHouse, launched in May 2019, and 13 other operators have gone live in the state. Every sportsbook needs to be licensed by the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB) and must partner with one of the state’s land-based casinos to launch.
Some of the top US brands are available in PA, including DraftKings, FanDuel, and Caesars. However, the state has also welcomed famous European sportsbooks with less US presence, like Unibet and Betfred. See a full list of available operators below.
| Name | Operator | Launch Date |
|---|---|---|
| Barstool Sportsbook | Penn National Gaming | September 18, 2020 |
| Betfred | Betfred | December 29, 2020 |
| BetMGM | Entain | December 18, 2020 |
| betParx | Greenwood Gaming & Entertainment | June 24, 2019 |
| BetRivers | Rush Street Interactive | June 25, 2019 |
| Betway | SGHC Group | June 28, 2021 |
| Caesars Sportsbook | Caesars Entertainment | August 30, 2022 |
| DraftKings Sportsbook | DraftKings Inc. | November 4, 2019 |
| FanDuel Sportsbook | Flutter Entertainment | January 24. 2020 |
Best Sportsbook Apps and Bonuses in Pennsylvania
DraftKings was already available in Pennsylvania through its Daily Fantasy Sports (DFS) games when it launched its online sportsbook in November 2019. The betting site is partnered with both Hollywood Casinos in the state, which allowed it to receive its license from the PGCB. The sportsbook is also an official betting partner of every major league, and Pennsylvania has at least one team in each of these leagues.
Recently, the PGCB banned DraftKings from offering its Reignmakers product, which allows you to buy NFTS and use those players to build DFS teams. However, you can still access all of DK’s other gambling products, including its online casino and other DFS games.
Every betting site in Pennsylvania needs to partner with a land-based casino to launch in PA, and FanDuel did this in January 2020 through a deal with Valley Forge Casino Resort. Through this partnership, FanDuel launched its online sportsbook in the state and opened a retail sportsbook at the casino.
The retail sportsbook covers 1800 sq ft and provides bettors with seven betting windows. You can also watch sports with 27 TV screens and keep track of the action with two sports tickers. You can find similar FanDuel retail sportsbooks at the Live! Casino Philadelphia and Live! Casino Pittsburgh. All these betting locations let you add and withdraw money from your online betting account at the casino cage.
Most US gambling brands will launch a sports betting platform in a new state before introducing an online casino, partially due to the fact online casinos aren’t legal in many states. However, BetMGM did things differently in Pennsylvania, launching its online casino platform on December 4 before going live with sports betting two weeks later.
BetMGM partnered with Hollywood Casino to get its license from the PGCB. The sportsbook quickly won over one-half of Pennsylvania by partnering with the NFL’s Pittsburgh Steelers. This was the first deal with a betting brand the NFL team had signed and allows players in the state to access exclusive games like Steelers blackjack and slots through the BetMGM online casino.
Caesars Entertainment operates land-based casinos across the US, and this market coverage makes it easy for its online betting site, Caesars Sportsbook, to launch in new states. The sportsbook went live in Pennsylvania with a license from the PGCB in September 2022 by partnering with Harrah’s Casino, Chester.
If you visit the retail sportsbook, you can relax in lounge seats and wager at 16 self-service betting kiosks and six betting windows. There are more than 45 TVs where you can watch the latest actions, and a range of bars and restaurants are readily available. This casino signed a partnership with the NFL’s Philadelphia Eagles in 2019, including branding at the team’s Lincoln Financial Field.
NBCUniversal is PointsBet’s most significant partner, and NBC Sports is headquartered in Pennsylvania. Kyle Christensen, CMO PointsBet USA, highlighted the importance of NBC Philadelphia to the sportsbook’s success in the state when PointsBet launched in PA in 2022. As a part of this launch. the sportsbook brought its access to exclusive TV and digital assets to appeal to bettors in the state.
The sportsbook also partnered with Hollywood Casino to get its license from the PCGB. Currently, it does not operate a retail sportsbook in PA.
As one of the earliest sportsbooks to launch in Pennsylvania, it is no surprise that FOX Bet has deep ties to the state. The betting brand partnered with the Philadelphia Eagles and launched the FOX Bet Lounge at the team’s stadium, but you must have a membership to get into this exclusive area. The sportsbook is also partnered with the NBA’s Philadelphia 76ers.
FOX Bet received its licensing from the PGCB and launched in PA in September 2019, thanks to its deal with Mount Airy Casino. This casino was the first AAA Four Diamond Casino Resort in the state and houses a retail FOX Bet sportsbook. You can watch 15 games across 40 TVs while relaxing with lounge-style seating and a bar that opens on the weekends.
Unibet has a history of partnering with professional sports teams in other states, and the brand used this strategy in Pennsylvania with its deals with the Philadelphia Eagles and Pittsburgh Steelers. This allows the brand to offer exclusive promotions for these two NFL teams, and branded casino games like Eagles blackjack in its online casino.
The PCGB licensed Unibet through its partnership with Mohegan Sun in November 2019. The operator has launched a retail sportsbook at the Mohegan Sun Casino Pocono and another facility at The Downs, Lehigh Valley.
Rush Street Interactive operates BetRivers in Pennsylvania and is well known in the state thanks to its two land-based casinos. BetRivers was licensed by the PGCB and launched in June 2019 through partnerships with these casinos.
You can visit Rivers Pittsburgh or Rivers Philadelphia and place bets using a retail BetRivers sportsbook. These retail betting locations give you access to all of BetRivers markets with amenities like bars and restaurants.
In September 2020, BetRivers signed a partnership with the NHL’s Pittsburgh Penguins and now has its advertising around the Penguin’s PPG Paints Arena. You can also visit the Rivers Casino Lounge in the stadium to get an authentic sportsbook experience with a bar, massive video walls, and sports betting ticker.
TVG is a pari-mutuel horse racing betting site that allows you to wager on races across the US, including events at The Downs at Mohegan Sun, Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course, and Parx Racing at Parx Casino. The betting site operates in partnership with FanDuel, and lets you use your sports betting winnings to wager on horse races.
Pennsylvania Legislation Timeline
- June 9, 2016: Bipartisan HB 2150 is introduced to the Pennsylvania House to legalize DFS games. The bill passes through the House, the first time an iGaming bill passes either the House or the Senate. However, the bill dies in the Senate.
- October 30, 2017: Governor Tom Wolf signs HB 271 into law, which will legalize sports betting and DFS games, pending a change to federal law.
- May 2, 2018: PGCB oversight of DFS comes into effect, allowing DFS providers like DraftKings and FanDuel to operate daily fantasy contests.
- May 14, 2018: The US Supreme Court strikes down PASPA allowing sports betting legislation to be decided by individual states. This lets HB 271 come into effect in Pennsylvania.
- December 15, 2018: The first retail sportsbook opens in Pennsylvania at the Hollywood Casino in Grantville, launching sports betting in the state.
- May 31, 2019: SugarHouse becomes the first Pennsylvania sportsbook to offer online sports betting.
Sports Betting in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania was one of the first states in the US to embrace sports betting, and with so many passionate sports fans, it has become one of the biggest betting markets in the US. The regulations on sports betting in PA have changed since 2018, so even experienced bettors may need to familiarize themselves with the rules.
Is online sports betting legal in Pennsylvania?
Online sports betting is legal in Pennsylvania and has been since the US Supreme Court struck down PASPA. You can wager using one of 14 sportsbooks licensed by the PGCB if you are within PA’s borders and are 21 or over. Alternatively, you can visit a retail sportsbook at a brick-and-mortar casino.
What sports can you bet on in Pennsylvania?
You can bet on all major professional sports in Pennsylvania, including the NFL, NBA, NHL, and MLB. Other popular sports like UFC, MLS, European soccer, and golf also attract the interest of bettors in the state. You can bet on any college team competing in an NCAA event approved by the PGCB for wagering. However, you can’t place player props to protect young athletes from the pressures of gambling.
Who can bet on sports in PA?
You must be 21 or older to bet on sports in Pennsylvania, and you need to play within the state’s borders. You will need to prove your age while using sportsbooks with a photo ID. While most people over the age limit can play, some are prohibited from betting in the Keystone State.
If you are a member of a professional or college sports team, you cannot bet. This includes athletes, coaches, staff, and owners. In addition, if you work for an organization that creates the rules for these teams, such as the NHL and NCAA, you won’t be allowed to wager.
There are land-based casinos in Pennsylvania with retail sportsbooks, and if you work at one of these locations, you will be stopped from wagering. This includes everyone from betting window cashiers to owners. Finally, sportsbooks won’t let you sign up and play if you are prohibited from betting, whether through criminal history or self-exclusion.
Official League Data usage in Pennsylvania
Most US sportsbooks use Genius Sports to provide live stats and data for major league sports, including many operators in Pennsylvania. This information from Genius Sports means you’ll be able to see live stats when you place wagers pre-game or in-play.
Pennsylvania Sports Betting Handle
A betting handle tells you how much players in a state have bet over a certain period, not including whether those wagers won. Each US state releases its monthly betting handle, which gives experts a great insight into how the market is performing. Check out Pennsylvania’s betting handle below.
| Month/Year | Handle |
|---|---|
| November 2018 | $1,414,587 |
| December 2018 | $16,173,090 |
| January 2019 | $32,011,839 |
| February 2019 | $31,500,742 |
| March 2019 | $44,527,575 |
| April 2019 | $36,769,145 |
| May 2019 | $35,934,215 |
| June 2019 | $46,334,244 |
| July 2019 | $59,331,959 |
| August 2019 | $109,038,051 |
| September 2019 | $194,504,622 |
| October 2019 | $241,186,066 |
| November 2019 | $316,468,264 |
| December 2019 | $342,560,389 |
| January 2020 | $348,381,708 |
| February 2020 | $329,765,782 |
| March 2020 | $131,330,059 |
| April 2020 | $46,015,988 |
| May 2020 | $77,510,033 |
Pennsylvania Sports Teams
Pennsylvania has a wide range of major league sports teams, with every major league represented in the state. Along with professional sports franchises, there is also a rich history of collegiate sports in the state, with college football and basketball well represented. Read our overview of Pennsylvania’s sports teams below.
One of the behemoths of the National Football League, the Pittsburgh Steelers has won the joint most Super Bowls and won the combined most AFC Championships in the league’s history. The Steelers have a fanbase, the Steeler Nation, that spans the US and plays home games at Acrisure Stadium.
Owned for all its history by the Rooney family, the Black and Gold were founded in 1933. The team competed in the NFL until the 1970 merger when it was one of three teams to transfer to the AFC. The franchise has won a record six Super Bowls, eight conference championships, twenty-four divisional titles, thirteen in the AFC Central, and nine in the AFC North.
Referred to as the “Bucs” or “Buccos,” the Pittsburgh Pirates have been ever-present in the MLB’s National League line-up since 1900. The team has won the World Series five times, picked up nine NL Pennants, and won nine divisional titles. However, it is still searching for its first division title since joining the National League Central.
Its home ballpark is PNC Park, constructed in 2001 after the Pirates left its previous home, Three Rivers Stadium.
The Pittsburgh Penguins were founded in 1967 and have been one of the strongest teams in the NHL during its history. The franchise has won five Stanley Cups, making it the joint fifth most successful team in the league’s history. Along with its five victories, the team also lost a Stanley Cup Final in 2008. However, only losing one final gives it the best Stanley Cup Final win percentage of any team with four or more successes.
The team plays at the PPG Paint Arena, which was constructed in 2010, and previously hosted the Pittsburgh Power from the Arena Football League.
Founded in 1883, the Philadelphia Phillies are one of the “Classic Eight” of the National League that began its stint in the Senior Circuit in 1900. The Phillies have the distinction of having one of the longest stays in the same city while using the same name of any sports franchise. The team plays at Citizens Bank Park and has won two World Series titles, eight National League Pennants, and eleven East Division Titles.
Philadelphia Flyers joined the league as part of the 1967 NHL Expansion, which saw the expansion of ice hockey outside of the “Original Six.” The franchise plays in the Metropolitan Division of the NHL in its Eastern Conference, and its home games are held at the Wells Fargo Center in South Philadelphia. The team won two Stanley Cups in 1974 and 1975, eight conference championships, and sixteen divisional titles.
Competing in the NBA’s Eastern Conference, the Philadelphia 76ers are one of the oldest teams in professional basketball, starting life in the NBA as the Syracuse Nationals in 1946. Playing at the Wells Fargo Center, the 76ers spent twenty-nine years playing its home games at the Spectrum in South Philadelphia. The franchise has won three NBA Championships, five conference championships, and twelve divisional titles.
Established in 1933, the Philadelphia Eagles have one of the longest histories in the NFL. The Eagles, known by fans as the Birds or the Iggles, had a long wait to secure a first Super Bowl. However, the wait finally ended in 2017 when the Eagles defeated the New England Patriots in Super Bowl LII.
The team plays its home games at Lincoln Financial Field with one of the most committed fanbases in the NFL, with the team selling out every home game since 1997. The Eagles won three pre-merger NFL Championships, four conference championships, and fifteen divisional titles.
Major League Soccer added Philadelphia Union as its 16th franchise in February 2008, which had its inaugural season in March 2010. Playing at Subaru Park in Chester, Pennsylvania, professional basketball player Kevin Durant serves as a minority owner.
The team has yet to win an MLS Cup but has won the Supporters Shield once and the Eastern Conference playoffs once. The Union has also won the Eastern Conference playoffs once, in 2022, and finished as runners-up in the US Open Cup three time.
Penn State Nittany Lions are one of the country’s most successful collegiate athletics programs, winning 52 NCAA Team championships and a further 34 championships in sports that the NCAA did not award. The most prominent of these was the school’s two national football championships in 1982 and 1986. In college football, Penn State is a member of the Big Ten Conference.
The Nittany Lions play its football home games at Beaver Stadium, its basketball home games at the Bryce Jordan Center, and its ice hockey home games at Pegula Ice Arena. All three are located on campus.
Competing in the Atlantic Coast Conference, the Pittsburgh Panthers, commonly known as Pitt, is one of the only athletics programs in NCAA history to win multiple national championships in football and basketball, winning nine and two, respectively.
Pitt plays its football games at the Acrisure Stadium, home of the Steelers, its baseball games at Charles C Cost Field, and its basketball games on campus at the Petersen Events Center.
Playing in the Big East Conference that features many of the top teams in college basketball, like St Johns, Georgetown, Syracuse, and UConn, Villanova has a proud history of collegiate basketball. The program won three national championships in 1985, 2016, and 2018. The Wildcats have also won the Big East 6 times and finished runners-up on five occasions. Villanova plays its basketball home games at William B. Finneran Pavilion.
Temple Owls are the fifth most winningest team of all time in NCAA College Basketball, amassing nearly 2,000 wins in its time. Playing in the American Athletic Association (The American) since 2013, the team has yet to win the NCAA Division I Basketball Tournament. However, the Owls claimed victory in the National Invitational Tournament twice, in 1938 and 1969.
St Joseph’s University in Philadelphia sponsors nine men’s and women’s NCAA-sanctioned sports at the Division I level. It is a member of the Atlantic 10 Conference and competes as part of the Philadelphia Big 5, the intercollegiate competition between the colleges in the Philadelphia Metropolitan Area. Its most successful side is its men’s basketball program.
The Hawks men’s basketball team has appeared twenty-one times in the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament. The furthest it has reached in the tournament was the Final Four in 1961. In addition, they have made the Elite Eight four times, the Sweet Sixteen ten times, and won the Atlantic Ten Tournament six times.
Penn Quakers is the athletics program representing the University of Pennsylvania. It competes in NCAA Division I as part of the Ivy League, and its most prominent team is its football team. Penn is one of the most historic teams in college football - it has played 1,413 football games, the most of any school in any division. Its home stadium Franklin Field is also the oldest football stadium in the US.
The Quakers claim seven national championships. There was a dispute over the 1907 national championship when the team was 11-0-1. The team also has won eighteen Ivy League championships, five of which were shared. It has the most outright Ivy League championships, the highest number of unbeaten Ivy League seasons, and the longest Ivy League winning streak between 2001-2004.
Several prominent football figures played for the Quakers during its history, including John Heisman, former NFL commissioner Bert Bell, and Chuck Bednarik. Sixty-three consensus All-Americans have played for the Quakers over its history.
Pennsylvania Sports Events
Radnor Hunt Races
Held on the third Saturday in May yearly, the Radnor Hunt races are an annual spring steeplechase horse race, featuring six races over timber fences and hurdles at the Radnor Hunt Club in Malvern, PA. The Radnor Hunt Races is a 91-year tradition where spectators can enjoy tailgating, a carriage parade, and races. The event has raised millions for the last 42 years to benefit good causes.
Land Grant Trophy
Since the ending of the in-state series between Penn State and Pitt in football, greater attention was placed on the Land Grant Trophy, awarded to the winner of the Big Ten game between Penn State and Michigan State Spartans.
First played in 1914, and alternating between Beaver Stadium and East Lansing, MI, the Nittany Lions, and Spartans have played each other annually since the Nittany Lions joined the Big Ten in 1993. While Penn State leads the series 16-10 since it joined the Big Ten, the Spartans lead the series overall 18-17-1.
Backyard Brawl
The Backyard Brawl is a college football rivalry between the Pitt Panthers and West Virginia Mountaineers, played alternately between Mountaineer Field in West Virginia and Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh. While it occasionally refers to meetings between the two college’s basketball teams, it is the 14th oldest football rivalry in the United States.
After an eleven-year hiatus, the rivalry was revived in 2022 with a Pittsburgh city record for attendance at a sporting event. 70,622 fans watched Pitt overcome the Mountaineers 38-31 to claim bragging rights.
UFC Fight Night
Pennsylvania has hosted six UFC Fight Night events in the state. The first, UFC on ESPN 2, was held at the Wells Fargo Center in May 2019 and saw Justin Gaethje defeat Edson Barboza in its title fight in front of 11,123 spectators. Events are usually held at Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia and PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, with three events hosted at each arena.
Pennsylvania Land-Based Sportsbooks
Currently, Pennsylvania has one of the largest retail sportsbook industries in the US, behind Nevada. Every online sportsbook must partner with a land-based casino, and many of these operators choose to launch retail betting locations.
While wagering online is convenient, you can’t replicate the atmosphere of a real-life sportsbook. Most sportsbooks are fitted with giant video screens so you can watch the latest action while you bet, and comfortable seating. You can also easily access amenities like bars and restaurants with hundreds of passionate sports fans. Check out the retail sportsbooks in PA below.
| Name | Location |
|---|---|
| Barstool Sportsbook | Hollywood Casino, Grantville |
| Betfred Sportsbook | Wind Creek Casino, Bethlehem |
| BetRivers Sportsbook | Rivers Casino Philadelphia |
| BetRivers Sportsbook | Rivers Casino Pittsburgh |
| Caesars Sportsbook | Harrah’s Casino, Chester |
| FanDuel Sportsbook | Valley Forge Casino, King of Prussia |
| FanDuel Sportsbook | Live! Casino Philadelphia |
| FanDuel Sportsbook | Live! Casino Pittsburgh |
| FOXBet Sportsbook | Mount Airy Casino, Mt Pocono |
| Parx Race & Sportsbook | Chickie’s & Pete’s, Malvern |
| Parx Sportsbook | Parx Casino, Bensalem |
| South Philadelphia Race & Sportsbook | Citizens Bank Park, Philadelphia |
| The Meadows Sportsbook | The Meadows Racetrack & Casino |
| TwinSpires Sportsbook | Presque Isle Downs & Casino |
| Unibet Sportsbook | Mohegan Sun Casino, Pocono |
| Unibet Sportsbook | The Downs, Lehigh Valley |
Pennsylvania Responsible Gambling
Pennsylvania provides bettors with a state-wide self-exclusion program, which you can use to ban yourself from betting, casinos, and DFS games. You can sign up for this service online or in person. To sign up online, you can visit the PGCB website and complete a form to add yourself to the self-exclusion list.
You can also book an appointment at the PGCB office or visit a PGCB office located in a licensed facility. You can schedule your appointments through the Office of Compulsive and Problem Gambling.
In addition, every sportsbook in PA must provide responsible gambling resources to comply with regulations in the state. This can include deposit limits, time limits, and more account tools. Many brands will also guide players to third-party support organizations, like the National Center for Responsible Gambling.
FAQs
Yes, sports betting is legal in Pennsylvania. Retail sportsbooks arrived in PA in November 2018 when the Hollywood Casino in Grantville accepted the first wager. Online sports betting launched in PA in May 2019. You can wager on all major professional sports and collegiate games, although player props on college athletes are not permitted.
There are loads of sportsbooks in Pennsylvania offering great bonuses, and you can find many of these providers on this page. Most sportsbooks will offer a welcome bonus to new players who register and make a deposit. Some betting sites, such as BetMGM and Caesars, provide loyalty programs that will give you rewards for betting.
Yes, all Pennsylvania sports betting sites that the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board regulates are safe. When you use a licensed betting site, you are guaranteed fair treatment and security with your finances and personal data.
Yes, DFS is entirely legal in Pennsylvania. In October 2017, the Pennsylvania State Legislature passed a bill that formally legalized DFS in the state. You can legally use one of the popular DFS providers in PA, like DraftKings or FanDuel, anywhere in the state. To use these services, you must be over the age of 18.
In addition to federal taxes payable to the IRS, Pennsylvania levies a 3.07% tax rate on gambling income. You can report your Pennsylvania taxable winnings on a PA-40 (Income Tax Return) Schedule T. If your gambling winnings come from a different state or country, you are still required to report them on your Income Tax Return.
You can bet in Pennsylvania using an online sportsbook or by visiting one of the state’s retail sportsbooks. 14 online betting sites are licensed to operate by the PGCB. Following Pennsylvania sports betting regulations, you can find every retail sportsbook in the state at a land-based casino.
Yes, FanDuel Sportsbook is legal and secure in Pennsylvania. The PGCB licensed the operator in January 2020. However, you must be over 21 and physically within state lines to use this PA sports betting app. This means you can use FanDuel to place wagers on several sports betting markets, including moneylines, pucklines, totals, and futures.
Yes, since its December 2020 launch, bettors in Pennsylvania can use Bet MGM PA. BetMGM is licensed by the PGCB and is available for all those over 21 and physically within Pennsylvania to bet on a range of major sports leagues and collegiate sporting events.