Pennsylvania sports betting

How legal sports betting works in Pennsylvania

With sports betting banned under the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) for so many years, this area will be brand new to many people. This section covers what you need to get started with sports betting online in Pennsylvania. This includes the types of bets you can place, how to register and verify your online sports betting account and how to deposit (and withdraw your winnings).

Bets: You can place a lot of different bets at the new sportsbooks. By breaking these down into simple categories, you won’t have to remember the whole list until you get more familiar with the apps and sites.

• Singles bets: These bets are usually placed on the outcome of a single match. You could also place bets on league winners as futures bets. There are three popular singles: moneyline, where the books give you odds based on their assessment of each team’s chances; totals, where you bet on the combined scores of both teams reaching a specified level; and spreads, where the books add points or goals to the underdog to the point they believe equals the two teams’ chances.
• Multiples bets: Parlays are a popular way of winning big from a small stake. Here you are betting on three-plus matches. There are variations called teasers. These are parlays that involve spreads, and you can use the spreads to make winning easier. Round-robin bets involve a list of matches; they all play against each other in single and multiple bets. If one team loses, then only the selections that involve that team are lost.
• Live bets: This is an innovation for state-regulated sportsbooks. You can bet on matches as they occur. Odds update immediately based on action on the field.
• Props: Bets based on other outcomes are collectively called proposition bets, or props. You might be betting on the most yards rushed or points scored.

There are sport-specific bets, and period betting is also available for many sports. If you are brand new to online sports betting, you may want to stick with the simple single bets, e.g., spread or moneyline, while you get used to the platform.

All of the current PA sportsbooks include how-to information, taking you step-by-step through how to place bets.

How to sign up for a Pennsylvania online sportsbook

No sportsbook has an interest in making the registration process too difficult. At the same time, they need to protect against gambling by minors and add fraud prevention to stop multiple accounts.

Once you decide which books to play at, you’ll need to fill in some basic registration information. Your name, location and email will get things started. The sites might also ask for the last four digits of your Social Security number.

You can register an account via either the responsive websites of the sportsbooks or via the apps.

Depositing and withdrawing from PA sportsbooks

Regulation makes depositing at sportsbooks straightforward and safe. You’ll be able to use many of the regular payment options used for buying goods online. On top of these, there are some extra ways to pay at the license-holding casinos.

Here are your main options:

• Bank cards: You can use either a debit or credit card. Both are quick and easy. Visa and Mastercard are always welcome, and some books also accept Discover and Amex cards.
• Prepaid cards: This includes branded prepaid cards that the sportsbooks offer, as well as Visa gift cards.
• Bank transfers: You can use e-checks (ACH transfers), and pre-verification will speed these up. Bill pay can also work (this will depend on individual banks). If you are depositing large sums, then you can use wire transfers.
• Electronic wallets: Many people already have a PayPal account, which is quick and secure. PayPal is not the only brand in this category. Skrill and Neteller are popular low-cost alternatives.
• Cash: PA sportsbooks accept cash payments at the casino cage. You could also use PayNearMe. This method involves cash payments at the cashier of your local 7-Eleven.
• Check or money order: A slower and more traditional alternative, though one to consider for the safe transfer of larger sums.

If it is possible to withdraw onto the same method you deposited with, that will be the default method. This serves as additional protection against money laundering. Common withdrawal methods include e-checks, PayPal (or similar), prepaid cards (branded ones) or via a paper check.

What can’t you bet on in Pennsylvania?

All states have a restriction for betting on high-school sports events, and Pennsylvania is no exception.

The major omission is for bets on non-sporting contests. An example of this is the NFL draft, which you can’t bet on either at live or online PA sportsbooks.

You can’t bet on esports in Pennsylvania.

If you are involved professionally in a sporting league (for example as an official or coach), then you can’t bet on your sport.

Pennsylvania sports betting apps

Apple recently dealt iPhone users a blow. The company decided to restrict new gambling apps from its App Store until they are re-created in Apple’s programming language.

While Google has some restrictions, there are alternative ways of getting apps onto your Android devices. You can download these directly from sportsbook websites. While you will need to click some warning messages about “unknown sources,” the process is straightforward.

Apple devices don’t have alternative means of downloading apps. This means that until the PA sportsbooks comply with the new rules, iPhone and iPad apps are not available. You currently can’t even use them on web browsers on iOS devices.

Pros and cons of PA sports betting apps

Pros:

• Quicker to load and to navigate.
• Better for areas with slow network coverage.
• Intuitive navigation and everything within “thumbs’ reach.”

Cons:

• No PA sports betting apps for Apple devices until they are re-coded.
• Take up space on your phone (particularly crucial if you bet at several books).
• Additional software may be necessary for geolocation.

Location detection and state borders

There are sometimes advantages to being second. When New Jersey launched its online gambling sites, there were a lot of issues with geolocation. Since the law strictly prohibits the books from allowing bets or real money deposits outside of state borders, it is important to locate app users accurately.

What happened initially in New Jersey was “false negatives.” Players close to the border had their access or deposits blocked.

Fortunately, by the time apps arrived in Pennsylvania, this issue was mostly fixed.

For desktop devices, the technology will triangulate your known location with Wi-Fi data. For mobile devices without Wi-Fi switched on, there might still be the occasional issue next to the border. If this affects you too often, you can download additional software to assess your location more accurately.

You will be able to access your accounts from outside of PA, though bets and deposits are strictly prohibited.

Legal sports betting in PA

There are options for placing bets at casinos, racetracks, off-track betting (OTB) facilities and, of course, online betting in Pennsylvania. This section covers all of these with locations and opening hours information for each. You will also find information covering betting on horse racing below. The treatment there is different from sports betting; websites plus live betting have been around for a while.

Before getting to the venues, here are the most popular sports, with an emphasis on the local PA teams.

Overview: Popular legal sports for betting in Pennsylvania

With representation in the major leagues in all the main sports, PA residents and visitors can now enjoy wagers on all of their favorite teams. Below are the opportunities to bet on local NHL, NFL, MLB and NBA games.

Some bets are common to all sports (moneyline, totals and spreads). You will also find many individual bet types covering each sport. You’ll find these by locating your match in a sportsbook app or website, then click the “more bets” or “all bets” link.

Major sports will also see inclusion in the live betting options, which means you’ll be able to place wagers while the match is underway.

NHL bets in Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania is home to two hockey teams:

• Philadelphia Flyers: Wells Fargo Center, 3601 South Broad St., Philadelphia
• Pittsburgh Penguins: PPG Paints Arena, 1001 Fifth Ave., Pittsburgh

With two teams in the Metropolitan Division of the Eastern Conference, there are regular rivalry matches. This fierce rivalry is known as the “Battle of Pennsylvania.” Things reached fever pitch on four occasions in recent years — when the two teams met in the Stanley Cup playoffs.

You can bet on the conference winners and Stanley Cup results at the start of the season. When it comes to individual NHL matches, you can enjoy period betting for each of the three periods, first (or next) goal scorer and correct scores. Spreads are known as the “puck line” in hockey betting.

NFL bets in Pennsylvania

The Keystone State is home to two major football teams. Again, these are located in Philadelphia and Pittsburgh:

• Pittsburgh Steelers: Heinz Field, 100 Art Rooney Ave., Pittsburgh, PA
• Philadelphia Eagles: Lincoln Financial Field, 1020 Pattison Ave., Philadelphia, PA

With the two PA football teams in different conferences, matches between them are rare, only once every four years. Both teams have a rich history, established in 1933.

NFL betting includes many unique wagers. Under the “props” heading you’ll be able to bet the under or over for each quarterback’s yards, or the running back’s yards/carries. Bets on the first team or even player to score are also popular. The NFL is also a popular sport for teaser bets and regular parlays.

MLB bets in Pennsylvania

As with the football teams, the two Major League Baseball teams in PA play in separate divisions. This means that their rivalries are with out-of-state teams. As with the other major sports, Philadelphia and Pittsburgh have one team each:

• Pittsburgh Pirates: PNC Park, 115 Federal Street, Pittsburgh, PA
• Philadelphia Phillies: Citizens Bank Park, 1 Citizens Bank Way, Philadelphia, PA

The large number of fixtures in the MLB season — along with teams in two different divisions — mean that there are a lot of betting opportunities.

There are several bets unique to baseball. These include the popular “run line” bets. This is a variation of point spreads, which appear in many sports. Unlike regular spreads, which try to even up the teams’ chances, run lines are always plus or minus 1.5 points.

Prop bets include the number of strikeouts per pitcher, or hits per batter. You can combine the total number of runs, hits and errors in the popular R + H + E props. Bets on the first five innings are also available.

Totals bets on the entire day’s action are the final unique MLB bet. If you can guess the under / over on the runs for all fixtures on a day, you could win the “grand salami.”

NBA bets in Pennsylvania

While the other major sports have two top-tier teams, basketball sees Pennsylvania represented only once in the top flight. This is the Philadelphia 76ers — usually known simply as the “Sixers.”

Dating back to 1946, the Sixers play in the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference. They play at Wells Fargo Center, which the Flyers NHL team also calls home.

The high scoring nature of games means there is plenty of scope for totals and spread bets in the NBA. These can be team totals, match totals or even prop bets on totals for individual players. Quarter betting on the game periods is also possible.

A different way of approaching wins for NBA bets is to wager on a big or little win. A big win is 10 or more points, with a little win is 1-9. A fun way to bet is to select whether the total for both teams will be odd or even.

Betting on horse races in Pennsylvania

You can bet on horse races in three ways. First, head to the tracks and place a bet there on either live action or simulcasts for other tracks. Second, there are OTBs (many known as turf clubs) dotted around the state. You can also bet online on horse races. Separate sites exist for this, including BetAmerica, TVG and TwinSpires. These sites are legal, and US-based. They give you access to the parimutuel betting pools that operate at the tracks and OTB offices.

Note that the newly regulated PA sportsbooks do not offer betting on horse races.

Below are the racetracks in Pennsylvania:

• Hollywood Casino at Penn National Racecourse (thoroughbred)
• Parx Casino and Racing (thoroughbred)
• Presque Isle Downs & Casino (thoroughbred)
• Harrah’s Philadelphia (harness)
• The Meadows Racetrack (harness)
• Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs (harness)

The most famous horse in PA racing history is Smarty Jones. He won the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes in 2004 and finished second in the Belmont Stakes.

Pennsylvania has its own Grade 1 stakes. This is the Pennsylvania Derby. With a purse of $1 million, this event attracts the best 3-year-olds in the country. It is run over 9 furlongs on dirt at the Parx Racetrack.

Other famous races in PA include the Penn Mile Stakes, Pennsylvania Governor’s Cup Stakes and Greenwood Cup Stakes.

Off-track betting in PA

You can bet on horse races at tracks around the country, via off-track betting venues. Simulcast streams and access to parimutuel betting pools are available at the six horse racing tracks. In addition, there are seven “turf club” venues.

These show races and allow you to bet, and they have bar and dining options. Note that the Valley Forge Turf Club already allows sports betting in addition to horse racing bets.

Retail and brick-and-mortar sportsbooks in Pennsylvania

You can place sports bets in person at eight locations. The original tranche of licenses was open to current live slots casinos. This leaves four locations that have not taken up their live sportsbook options as yet.

Harrah’s Philadelphia

This racetrack and casino location was formerly known as Chester Downs. It is now operated by Caesars Entertainment. As well as harness racing, you’ll find a big casino (2,900 slots), event center and retail — as well as a big live sportsbook.

• Address: 777 Harrah’s Blvd., Chester, PA 19013
• Telephone: 1-800-480-8020
• Sportsbook hours: Monday to Friday, 11 a.m. to close; Saturday and Sunday, 10 a.m. to close

Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course

Located at Grantville, the Penn National is home to thoroughbred racing, including the Pennsylvania Governor’s Cup Handicap and Penn Mile. Hollywood Casino has almost 2,500 slots, 54 table games and a poker room. It added a live sportsbook in November 2018.

• Address: 777 Hollywood Blvd., Grantville, PA 17028
• Telephone: 1-717-469-2211
• Sportsbook hours: Monday to Friday, 11 a.m. to midnight; Saturday and Sunday, 10 a.m. to midnight

Rivers Casino Pittsburgh

This casino has an impressive 3,000 slots, 107 table games and a 30-table poker room. It added a sportsbook in December 2018. The name comes from its location at the point where three major rivers meet.

• Address: 777 Casino Drive, Pittsburgh, PA 15212
• Telephone: 412-231-7777
• Sportsbook hours: Monday to Thursday, 10 a.m. to midnight; Friday, 10 a.m. to 1 a.m.; Saturday, 9 a.m. to 1 a.m.; Sunday, 9 a.m. to midnight

SugarHouse Casino Philadelphia

The first mover in PA sports betting online also opened its live sportsbook first. The casino itself became an addition to the casino landscape in Pennsylvania when it opened in 2010. In addition to the live sportsbook, the casino includes 3,000 slots as well as dining and entertainment options.

• Address: 1080 N. Delaware Ave., Philadelphia, PA 19125
• Telephone: 877-477-3715
• Sportsbook hours: Monday to Friday, 11 a.m. to 1 a.m.; Saturday and Sunday, 9 a.m. to 1 a.m.

Parx Casino and Racing

This thoroughbred racetrack is the single biggest casino in Pennsylvania. It offers 3,300+ slot machines, 180 table games, 48 poker tables — along with both a sportsbook and separate race book with simulcast betting. Parx is located northeast of Philadelphia, close to Bensalem Township.

• Address: 2999 Street Road, Bensalem, PA 19020
• Telephone: 1-800-LUV-PARX
• Sportsbook hours: Monday to Friday, noon to 11 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m. to midnight; Sunday, 10 a.m. to 11 p.m.

South Philly Turf Club

This sportsbook is located in downtown Philadelphia. It is associated with the Parx Casino and Racetrack. South Philly Turf Club has been an off-track betting venue for many years — offering bets on the PA tracks and simulcasts of other tracks. You can now bet on sports at this location, too. Amenities don’t match the casinos, though it does have a bar and restaurant.

• Address: 700 Packer Ave., Philadelphia, PA 19148
• Telephone: 215-551-8270
• Sportsbook hours: Monday to Friday, noon to 11 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m. to midnight; Sunday, 10 a.m. to 11 p.m.

Valley Forge Race and Sportsbook

Another off-track betting office, run by the Parx Casino and Racetrack. This venue is located in the suburbs of Philadelphia. It has been offering simulcast betting on horse races for many years. You can now enjoy the full sports betting experience too, with plenty of major sport and college action.

• Address: 600 Cresson Ave., Oaks Corporate Center, Oaks, PA 19456
• Telephone: 610-650-0100
• Sportsbook hours: Monday to Friday, noon to 11 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m. to midnight; Sunday, 10 a.m. to 11 p.m.

Valley Forge Casino

You’ll find a FanDuel branded sportsbook at the Valley Forge Casino. This opened for business in March 2019. The casino is a smaller one, with only 600 slots and 50 table games. It is close to King of Prussia and has two attached hotels.

• Address: 1160 First Ave., King of Prussia, PA
• Telephone: 610-354-8118
• Sportsbook hours: Monday to Thursday, 10 a.m. to 1 a.m.; Friday, 10 a.m. to 2 a.m.; Saturday, 9 a.m. to 2 a.m.; Sunday, 9 a.m. to 11:30 p.m.

List of the 9 Pennsylvania sportsbooks licensed for online betting

Eleven casinos have now applied to offer live sports betting in Pennsylvania. Of these, nine are expected to introduce online betting. Many of these are technology providers, which will have to partner with local casinos to produce their licensed betting sites. Here is the list:

1. SugarHouse Sportsbook (live)
2. FanDuel Sportsbook
3. William Hill / Hollywood Sportsbook
4. Bet Rivers Sportsbook (live)
5. Caesars Sportsbook
6. Parx Sportsbook (live)
7. Mount Airy/Fox Bet
8. Presque Isle/BetAmerica
9. Mohegan Sun/Unibet

Pennsylvania sports betting law and framework

Sports betting was included in the 2017 gaming expansion package, signed by Gov. Tom Wolf on October 30. At that time, New Jersey was challenging a long-standing federal law known as PASPA. This challenge went all the way to the Supreme Court. The court overturned PASPA in May of 2018.

That triggered a clause in HB 271 in Pennsylvania, allowing licensing for both live and online sportsbooks. Betting is legal on both pro sports and college fixtures. The key legal requirements are that bettors have to be 21 or older and inside state lines.

Licensing and regulation are under the jurisdiction of the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board. At $10 million per license upfront, plus an effective tax rate of 36%, sports betting is expected to create significant revenue for the state.

Pennsylvania sportsbooks go live in 2019

Three sportsbooks are currently live. More are likely to follow over the coming months. You can access these books via their websites or Android apps. iOS (iPhone) apps are delayed due to Apples’ new rules on how they are programmed. In the meantime, regular websites are effective for mobile phone betting:

• SugarHouse Sportsbook: Went live May 28, 2019
• BetRivers Sportsbook: Went live June 27, 2019
• Parx Casino Sportsbook: Went live June 27, 2019

The future of sports betting in PA

Several factors point to sports betting being a win-win for both the state and sports fans. First, the success of live and sports betting in New Jersey has shown that partnerships between technology providers, betting brands and local casinos are effective. Revenues have already beaten expectations in New Jersey. With a larger population, Pennsylvania revenues could be potentially even bigger.

Like any new endeavor, there are some issues to overcome. Difficulty with apps for Apple devices, the future introduction of sports betting in New York and the relatively high tax rate on bets are all factors to consider.

PA sports betting frequently asked questions

Are offshore betting sites legal or safe?

While offshore betting sites are legal within the jurisdiction they are based in (usually Caribbean island nations), they are not recognized or regulated by any US jurisdiction. With no safety checks, oversight or means of recourse in the event of a dispute, offshore betting sites are extremely risky.

With regulated, safe sportsbooks now in Pennsylvania, there are no advantages of offshore sites that would balance out those risks.

How do I download the SugarHouse Sportsbook app?

If you are using an Android device, you’ll be able to download this from the SugarHouse website. For a while, it looked like no Apple users were able to use the PA online casinos or sportsbooks until the brands recode their apps using Apple’s proprietary programming language. Now, only SugarHouse Sportsbook, BetRivers and SugarHouse Online Casino have a workaround for iOS. They must use their phone browsers to visit the sites they wish to play and will be prompted to download GeoGuard. This will verify the player’s location, and they can proceed to play and bet. Others, such as Hollywood Casino and Parx, must stick with Android for now.

Can I use my SugarHouse NJ login for SugarHouse PA?

There is an express login option on the SugarHouse PA site for bettors with NJ accounts. While there were some issues with this during testing, you can expect these to be resolved soon.

Can you deposit into your PA account using an AC partner casino?

No. There are opportunities to deposit via the casino cages of Pennsylvania casinos, though not via Atlantic City casinos.

Is cash out betting allowed in PA?

Some online sportsbooks offer the option to redeem bets early, and others do not. This feature is currently available at SugarHouse PA.

Is FanDuel legal in PA?

Yes, you’ll be able to bet live at the FanDuel branded sportsbook at Valley Forge Casino. Expect an online sportsbook to follow soon. In the meantime, you can enjoy daily fantasy sports contests at FanDuel.

Is horse betting legal in Pennsylvania?

Yes, though betting on horse racing and sports is handled separately in many instances. You’ll need different websites and apps, which have been running nationwide for many years.

Can I use my PayPal account to bet online?

Yes. PayPal is perfect for people who do not want to link their bank or credit cards directly with an online betting site.

Is it legal to bet on college basketball if I live in PA?

Yes, both the live and online sportsbooks cover collegiate sporting events.

What types of sports bets are legal in Pennsylvania? What am I not allowed to bet on?

You’ll find the types of bet and sports covered on the page above. The only major restrictions are non-sporting novelty contests, esports betting and betting on games of skill (in bars and malls, for example). People directly employed in sports like coaches or officials can’t bet on their leagues.

If you have self-excluded from gambling, then it is the sportsbook’s responsibility to ensure you can’t place bets.

How big will the PA sports betting market be?

While it is too early to provide an accurate estimate, we can safely say that PA sportsbooks will generate hundreds of millions of dollars in revenue, based on the experiences of Nevada and NJ.

Which PA sites will have mobile sports betting apps?

All Pennsylvania online sportsbooks will offer players the ability to bet from their smartphones. Some will offer apps, while others will use website technology that will automatically adjust to your screen size. Apple users will need to wait until apps meet the company’s new guidelines.

Is sports betting legal in Pennsylvania?

Yes! By virtue of a 2017 state law and the Supreme Court’s strike-down of PASPA, Pennsylvania has legalized sports betting.

Where can I bet on sports in Pennsylvania?

Hollywood Casino at Penn National began accepting sports betting wagers on Nov. 15, 2018. On Dec. 13, 2018, Rivers Casino and SugarHouse both began a test period for taking bets. Parx Casino, South Philadelphia Turf Club and Harrah’s Philadelphia all went live with sports betting in January 2019. Valley Forge Turf Club and Valley Forge Casino followed in March 2019.

Will I be able to bet on my mobile device in Pennsylvania?

Pennsylvania law allows anyone inside the state lines to bet online or through mobile devices. Launch of online/mobile products began with SugarHouse Sportsbook on May 28, 2019. Many more are on the way

One thing to note is that state law prohibits more than one skin for each license issued. So, the mobile apps you play will be specifically branded for the land-based casinos they represent.

How old must I be to bet on sports in Pennsylvania?

You will need to be 21 years or older to wager on sports in the Keystone State.

Is there anything I can’t bet?

High school sporting events of any kind are not permitted for wagering. This rule will likely be universal no matter which state you visit. However, you can bet on college sports, even on PA teams playing in the state.

Olympic sports will likely be available. However, there may be some variation in availability on a case-by-case basis.