In the US, Pennsylvania is an ideal location for sports betting for the large population of residents interested in gambling. Following the legalization of online sports betting activities in the state, many residents consider signing up with various sportsbooks.

Keep reading this guideline to learn more about Pennsylvania sports betting. You will also find extra information on gambling sites in this state.

Yes, Pennsylvania legalized online sports betting in May 2019. The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board oversees betting activities and released new regulations about legalizing sports betting in the state.

Besides, Pennsylvania is one of several states that has adopted a regulated sports betting model, so players can legally bet on sports events. However, this is only true if the player lives in Pennsylvania and meets other eligibility requirements.

Best online sports betting sites in Pennsylvania

Below you will find a list of some of the best online sports betting sites in Pennsylvania:

Tipico Pennsylvania

The Tipico is one of the most popular online sportsbooks in Pennsylvania. Founded in 2004 in Malta, Tipico sportsbook has some of the most competitive odds in the sports betting industry.

Apart from being popular, Tipico also has a reputation for being one of the safest sites to bet online. Also, the betting site features maximum player protection and security to curb risky gambling behaviors.

Additionally, the company has partnered with some significant football leagues. These include Hamburger SV, Austrian Bundesliga, and FC Bayern Munich. Currently, Tipico is the official partner of the German Football League.

FanDuel Pennsylvania

This sportsbook is one of the largest fantasy sports sites in existence. Rob Jones and Nigel Eccles launched the betting site in July 2009, among other key people. FanDuel offers traditional betting options and various bets, including football, baseball, basketball, hockey, soccer, golf, etc.

Besides, the company became an official DFS partner of the NHL in 2018, including a separate team partnership with the New Jersey Devils. In 2022, FanDuel became sports betting partners with the New York Yankees and Buffalo Sabres.

DraftKings Pennsylvania

This sportsbook is another popular daily fantasy sports site launched by Jason Robins in 2012. Players can bet on significant American sports events such as NFL, NHL, EPL, Champions League, etc.

Moreover, Pennsylvania is among the first US states to offer mobile sports betting for DraftKings. Its top partners include several MLB, NFL, and NBA teams, including media property Bleacher Report. Also, DraftKings has an advertising contract with ESPN as its official DFS platform, including deals with 21st Century Fox.

The sportsbook boasts of partnering with several other agreements, with giant companies showing its popularity and prominence in sports betting.

FoxBet Pennsylvania

The FoxBet is a Pennsylvania sports betting site owned and operated by The Stars Group. It was launched in Pennsylvania in 2018.

Also, the site offers a wide range of betting options, including live betting, mobile apps, and over 140 markets every day in all major sports leagues worldwide. Others include horse racing and casino games like blackjack, roulette, and slots.

Furthermore, FoxBet has an extensive live dealer casino section where you can play baccarat, poker, and other table games against real dealers in real-time.

FoxBet has partnered with Penn National Gaming to offer online sports betting services to Pennsylvania players. The betting site has a partnership with Pokerstars to provide players with poker and casino betting options.

BetMGM Pennsylvania

This sportsbook is one of the most popular online sports betting in Pennsylvania after launching in 2018.

The company received a license from the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB) to offer online sports betting in the state after its legalization. In addition, BetMGM has partnered with many well-known brands, such as Buffalo Wild Wings, Yahoo Sports, Boyd Gaming Corporation, and several North American professional sports leagues.

Besides, all BetMGM partnerships have helped it become one of Pennsylvania’s top sports betting sites. As a result, BetMGM has some of the most competitive odds on horse racing, football, basketball, and baseball games.

UniBet Pennsylvania

This betting site is one of the leading and best Pennsylvania online sportsbooks. Anders Strom officially launched the first site in 1997, and the site has been growing ever since.

The company has partnerships with various sports leagues, teams, and organizations to help it become one of the most popular platforms for online sports betting in Pennsylvania.

Also, UniBet has become one of the most trusted brands in the online sports betting industry because of its unique approach to service delivery. The company believes that customer satisfaction is not just about offering attractive odds on major sports events. Also, it’s about providing them with tools that will help them make informed decisions about their bets.

Additionally, if you want to bet on your favorite teams but aren’t sure where to start, UniBet has all the features you need. They offer a wide selection of games from all over the world and are always adding new ones every day, so, you’ll never run out of options when deciding to bet on a match.

PointsBet Pennsylvania

This sportsbook is a state-of-the-art Pennsylvania sports betting site that offers the best sports wagering and entertainment. The company initially launched in 2015 in Australia but has grown worldwide. In Pennsylvania, the PGCB authorized the state to open its online casino product in April 2022 after launching a sportsbook app in February.

Furthermore, PointsBet offers sports betting in all major professional sports leagues, including the NFL, NBA, NHL, and MLB. They also offer betting options for soccer leagues like the English Premier League and La Liga.

Significant partners include media broadcaster NBC Sports, Canadian professional sports, and real estate business Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment.

BetRivers Pennsylvania

The BetRivers is one of the best Pennsylvania online sports betting sites and has been around since 2012. It offers various betting options, including wagers on individual games and competitions.

Also, the site has partnered with hundreds of different companies across the country, with a significant strong partnership with New Orleans Pelicans. They also have partnerships with sports organizations like the NHL and MLB, which offer exclusive odds for those particular games.

Caesars Pennsylvania

Caesars is one of the biggest names in the gambling industry. Caesars Sportsbook started operating in 1996 as part of a partnership between Caesars Entertainment Corporation and Eldorado Resorts. In Pennsylvania, Harrah’s Philadelphia Casino was established in 2019 and rebranded to Caesar’s sportsbook.

Also, Caesars offers several games and sports betting options, including slots, table games, poker, horse racing, and football. They also have a mobile betting app available from Google Play or Apple Store.

Moreover, Caesars betting site operates a list of many properties it owns, including several partnerships with big brands.

A history of online sports betting in PA

Online sports betting has been a controversial issue in the US for many years. The legality of online sports betting has gone through court debates, and state governments have struggled to figure out how to handle the issue.

However, a significant historical highlight in Pennsylvania took place in 2004. During that period, Pennsylvania legislators passed Act 71, known as Pennsylvania Racehorse Development and Gaming Act, and progressed to legalize gambling. Later, the act created PGCB and legalized racetracks and casinos in Pennsylvania.

In 2013, the PGCB issued regulations about online gambling that included a provision allowing for sports betting. The laws responded to a lawsuit filed by the National Football League and National Basketball Association against the state’s attempts to legalize sports betting.

Besides, these regulations effectively blocked sports betting in Pennsylvania until 2017, when the Supreme Court ruled that this provision violated federal law and struck it down.

As a result, Governor Tom Wolf signed a bill in 2018, that legalized Pennsylvania sports betting by amending Act 71.

Later, in 2019, Pennsylvania became among a few states to legalize online sports betting, with the first online casinos rolling out.

Retail sports betting locations in Pennsylvania

In the US, Pennsylvania is one of the legal states offering sports betting, coming from several retail sports betting locations. Currently, there are 13 retail sportsbooks at PA casinos.

Also, several sports betting apps in Pennsylvania went live in 2019, allowing players to bet in the state from anywhere with an internet connection.

Below is a list of the best retail sports betting locations in Pennsylvania to place bets and watch your favorite games.

  • SugarHouse Sportsbook launched a permanent sportsbook in Oct 2019. Philadelphia, PA 19125, 1001 N. Delaware Ave.
  • Rivers Sportsbook launched its permanent sportsbook in Sept 2019. Pittsburgh, PA 15212, 777 Casino Dr.
  • The FanDuel Sportsbook in the Valley Forge Casino opened in March 2019. King of Prussia, PA 19406, 1160 1st Ave.
  • Live! Casino Philadelphia (FanDuel Sportsbook) launched in Feb 2021. Philadelphia, PA 19148, 900 Packer Avenue.
  • Live! Casino Pittsburgh Sportsbook opened in Nov 2020. Greensburg, PA 15601, 5260 Lincoln Highway.
  • The Harrah’s Philadelphia (Caesars Sportsbook) launched in Jan 2019. Chester, PA 19013, 777 Harrah’s Blvd.
  • Hollywood Casino Sportsbook launched the first legal sportsbook in Nov 2018. Grantville, PA 17028, 777 Hollywood Blvd.
  • Parx Sportsbook opened a permanent sportsbook in Aug 2019. Bensalem, PA 19020, 2999 Street Road.
  • Wind Creek Casino Sportsbook launched the Betfred Sportsbook in Nov 2020. Bethlehem, PA 18015, 77 Wind Creek Blv.
  • Presque Isle Downs & Casino launched a BetAmerica sportsbook in July 2019. Erie, PA 16509, 8199 Perry Highway.
  • Mount Airy Casino Sportsbook opened in Sept 2019. Mt Pocono, PA 18344, 312 Woodland RD.
  • The Meadows Sportsbook launched in Oct 2019. Washington, PA 15301, 210 Racetrack Road.
  • Mohegan Sun Pocono. Wilkes-Barre, PA 18702, 1280 PA-315.

A breakdown of online sports betting taxes in PA

Bettors in Pennsylvania need to understand how taxes work from their gambling winnings. However, knowing how taxes operate can be pretty challenging following the development of the state’s online casinos and legal betting apps. So, the following is a breakdown of betting taxes in PA:

Residents in Pennsylvania with a Social Security number (SSN) will have casinos withholding 25% of their winnings. Also, for those without SSN, the payer may withhold 28%.

Currently, Pennsylvania’s individual income tax comprises a 3.07% flat tax rate. This rate applies to all taxable income, including lottery and gambling winnings. Pennsylvania sports betting has the lowest flat tax rate in the US.

Also, for online betting wins, the payer should send Form W2G only if the bettor achieves the following limits:

  • Winnings (not decreased by the bet) from a slot machine or bingo game are over $1200.
  • The Winnings (decreased by the bet) from a keno game, which is over $1,500
  • Winnings (reduced by the bet or buy-in) from a poker competition are over $5,000.
  • All the winnings not mentioned above decreased by a bet over $600 and at least 300 times the bet amount.

Besides, bettors can demand a report from online betting sites specifying wins and losses in terms of tax deductions.

FAQ

What is the legal sports betting age in Pennsylvania?

Players must be at least 21 years or older to practice legal sports betting in Pennsylvania. After all, it is the average age required to wager on licensed and regulated betting sites in most US states. So, underage bettors may risk a permanent ban from online sportsbooks, court fines, or legal persecution.

Who oversees online sports betting in PA?

Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB) oversees online sports betting in PA. This responsibility includes licensing and regulating the entities that offer online sports betting. Also, the PGCB's mission ensures gaming integrity and consumer protection. The board works closely with law enforcement agencies and other regulatory bodies to protect consumers from fraud or other crimes associated with gambling at sporting events.

Do all online sports betting sites in PA have a retail location?

While all online sports betting in Pennsylvania do not have a retail location, they need to have an office and a physical address within the state. Besides, the primary goal is to prevent online gambling sites from operating from offshore locations and avoid taxes on their earnings. Also, the law requires the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB) to license all operators and regulate all aspects of sports betting in the state.