Pennsylvania Sports Betting

Pennsylvania sports betting first launched towards the end of 2018 with retail sportsbooks debuting throughout the state. Mobile betting would not be far behind, eventually going live midway through 2019 with popular online brands such as FanDuel, BetRivers, and FOX Bet jumpstarting the PA iGaming market.

Since its launch, few states have seen as much growth as the state of PA, and that trend is only expected to continue as time progresses.

Updated on 11/21/24

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Both Pittsburgh and Philadelphia are home to a number of professional sports teams, and both cities ultimately help drive up the sports betting handle in the state. Online sports betting is available state-wide, allowing both residents and visitors of Pennsylvania to get in on the action.

The total sports betting handle in Pennsylvania during January 2022 was over $793 million, setting a new single-month record for the state. In the rest of 2022 and beyond, that record is expected to be shattered, especially as more online sportsbooks continue to enter the market.

Today, Pennsylvania hosts one of the largest sports betting markets in the United States, and it isn’t showing signs of slowing down anytime soon. The PA online sports betting industry has provided plenty of additional revenue for the state, and other areas are looking to follow suit after seeing Pennsylvania’s success.

Sports betting is still just a few years old in PA, but it has already become an important part of the culture and fabric in the state.

Pennsylvania Online Sportsbooks

PA online sports betting can be offered by any land-based casinos in the state, but most of these properties have opted to partner with third party operators instead. One of the biggest reasons as to why PA has seen so much growth within its iGaming industry is largely due to the quality of the state’s sports betting service providers.

The following online sportsbook brands are currently live and available for use in Pennsylvania:

• DraftKings
• FanDuel
• BetRivers
• SugarHouse
• FOX Bet
• BetMGM
• Unibet
• Betway
• betPARX
• Barstool Sportsbook
• Betfred (via Wind Creek Casino)

Signing up for a PA sports betting account can be done online, which is yet another factor that has helped drive the industry to record-setting new heights. Bettors never have to step foot inside of a retail sportsbook in order to get started, unless of course they are looking for that kind of action.

All legal, regulated sportsbooks will require some basic personal information when creating a sports betting account, such as your legal name, physical address, and the last four digits of your social security number. Any and all personal info provided will remain safe, secure, and confidential at all times, as this information is solely used to protect both the service provider and the customer from any potential fraudulent activity.

Pennsylvania Retail Sportsbooks

Pennsylvania online sports betting might bring in the most action each month, but the retail betting scene is still strong throughout the state. PA sports betting can be done both in-person or online, and creating an account on either platform is extremely easy and convenient.

Retail sports betting went live towards the end of 2018, and the state has managed to attract some popular sportsbooks. All of the PA casinos in the state are eligible to apply for a sports betting license, and there are currently more than ten retail sports betting locations open for business in Pennsylvania.

A few of the more popular retail sports betting locations include:

Pennsylvania Sports Betting Markets

PA sports betting features a large number of betting markets, with both US and international competitions featured. Sportsbooks are allowed to choose and feature any betting markets that are permitted by state law. Even though sportsbooks are able to choose their own sports betting markets, there are plenty of similarities offered across the state’s various bookmakers.

Here are some of the most popular sports betting markets in PA:

• Australian Rules Football
• Baseball
• Basketball
• Cricket
• Football
• Golf
• Hockey
• MMA
• Motor Sports
• Olympics
• Soccer
• Tennis

You can also bet on all collegiate sporting events in Pennsylvania, which provides another huge boost to both the sportsbooks and the state’s sports bettors.

Pennsylvania does, however, have three major betting restrictions. Players in the state won’t be able to wager on entertainment awards like The Oscars, events like the NFL Draft, and anything involving esports. Some of the other nearby states that offer sports betting, such as New Jersey, offer all three options.

In June 2021, the Pennsylvania House of Representatives introduced legislation that would allow for esports betting in the state, but it has yet to be approved and little progress has been made since. In any case, this legislation shows that changes may be on the horizon.

Pennsylvania Sports Betting Regulations

Pennsylvania sports betting legislation actually dates back to 2017, months before the federal ban on sports betting was lifted. This allowed PA to launch sports betting quickly when it was up to each state to create their own rules and regulations. 

In 2017, the state was facing a massive budget deficit, and lawmakers went to work on passing an expanded gambling package. Sports betting was included as a part of that deal, even though it was still technically illegal at that time. 

Bill H 271 was the piece of legislation that was ultimately signed to expand gaming options in the state and make sports betting legal. Governor Tom Wolf signed that bill into law in October 30, and sports betting was legal, but there was still no place to bet.

When the federal ban was lifted in 2018, it didn’t take Pennsylvania long to launch the industry and approve sportsbooks. The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board oversees and regulates all sports betting in PA.

Any business that holds a slot machine license is eligible to apply for a sports betting license to offer retail sports betting. Pennsylvania does have some high licensing fees and tax rates, but it has not stopped operators from applying for a license. Pennsylvania online casinos also launched at the same time as PA sports betting.

There is a $5 million licensing fee to offer sports betting, and all revenue is taxed at a rate of 18 percent. 

The legal gambling age to bet on sports in Pennsylvania is 21 years of age. 

Summary

Pennsylvania sports betting has shown plenty of growth since first launching in 2018, and it doesn’t appear to be slowing down anytime soon. PA is now one of the biggest sports betting markets in the US, and online betting has helped drive the industry.

There are a number of professional sports teams in the state, but bettors in Pennsylvania can also wager on some of the biggest sporting events worldwide. Sportsbooks have plenty of freedom in terms of available betting markets, and the operators take full advantage.

Signing up for an online sports betting account in PA is a simple process that can be done entirely online. There is no requirement to ever visit a retail sportsbook or casino, and that has allowed the state to attract bettors from around the country. 

Now that Pennsylvania has already gone over the $750 million mark in betting handle for a single month, the next logical step will be trying to break the $800 million mark. That’s a lofty goal, but one that should be attainable at some point in 2022.

PA is one of the first states that you should think of when discussing the sports betting market in the US.

Pennsylvania Sportsbook FAQs