Gambling in Pennsylvania
When someone mentions gambling in the US, the first thought is Nevada. Perhaps even New Jersey. However, there is another state that has skyrocketed in the world of gambling. We are talking about Pennsylvania. New Jersey’s next-door neighbor has quickly realized it is not fair for the Garden State to get the biggest slice of the gaming cake, and leave nothing but crumbs, so it showed incredible dedication to regulating all sorts of gambling entertainment.
Pennsylvania Online Casinos
Is online gambling legal in Pennsylvania? Or is it limited only to brick-and-mortar establishments? We’ll repeat it once again: in Pennsylvania, gambling takes place online and in land-based casinos, so players can choose whichever style fits them. Needless to say, online casinos in Pennsylvania are completely legal and highly regulated. And, just like we said before, nothing is stopping you from enjoying sports betting in Pennsylvania either. So, how did all this happen?
The Beginning of Pennsylvania Online Gambling
Well, online gambling Pennsylvania experiences are not something that happened over the course of a single night. Back in 2013, Rep. Tina Davis (D) of District 141 was the first politician to officially suggest the bold move of making online gambling available on the right side of the law. Still, seeing the first real money online casino Pennsylvania had to offer took a couple more years.
In House Bill 1235, Davis suggested that already licensed land-based venues should also be allowed to operate online. Unfortunately, the proposition didn’t pass. Lawmakers were too afraid that there would be a gambling explosion within the State and wanted to see how the neighboring New Jersey would handle the transition.
Progress Finally Made
The next big step happened in 2015, when no less than four bills were proposed, all of which aimed to get a hold of the online gambling industry. In 2017, Pennsylvania finally made it happen! HB 271 was quickly approved, although it does feature a couple of hostile points. These mostly apply to revenue taxing.
Pennsylvania Online Gambling Taxes
The most notorious stipulation is the 54% revenue tax on slot machines and table games. It is followed by a far more reasonable 16% tax on online poker games, but with the astonishing licensing fee of $5 million. There is no free lunch in Pennsylvania!
Online Poker in Pennsylvania
Unlike in many other states, where poker is treated as a completely separate genre of gaming that requires special regulation and legislation, in the Keystone State, things are pretty simple. Online poker has simply dragged along other online gaming forms and got approved at the same time as online casinos.
Online poker in the state is 100% legal, but only when provided by authorized gaming platforms, approved by the PGCB. Players can choose among a couple of big brands that have been widely recognized as safe and serious poker platforms. The short, but strong list, includes the WSOP and Poker Stars. Poker operators have nothing to fear, as residents of this state just love this intense card game.
Pennsylvania Sports Betting Online
Legal sports betting Pennsylvania is a relatively new concept, just like all other forms of online gaming. Formally introduced in 2017, sports gambling took only a couple of months to see the first bets placed.
The pleasure of providing sports betting Pennsylvania opportunities first went to SugarHill, a casino with online sports betting partnership with Monmouth Park. Nowadays, sports betting is widespread, but players who want their daily dose of excitement have to fulfill a couple of conditions.
First, they must be older than 21 (most other types of gambling require the player to be over 18 years old). If you work in the sports industry, beware, as key sports league personnel are banned from wagering on their own leagues. Betting on esports events and non-sports events is deemed illegal.
Pennsylvania's Best Gambling Destinations
The Quaker State packs quite a punch with its approach to the legalization of gambling. Players who find themselves here can legally enjoy traditional casino gambling, buy tickets for the Pennsylvania Lottery, or bet on horses (which is always fun). Additionally, they can legally play bingo and small games of chance. The latter can even be conducted by non-profit organizations, clubs, and taverns, albeit under certain circumstances.
And while all this is fine and dandy, one can’t help but wonder if all those Pennsylvania casinos make any impact on the state’s economy. The first thing you need to know is that the gambling business is relatively new to the state. And second, only commercial casinos in Nevada have higher revenue than Pennsylvanian ones. Pretty impressive for a state with no major Pennsylvania casino city, isn't it?
Top Gambling Cities in Pennsylvania
Casinos in Pennsylvania are not located all in one place, and there is no distinctive place to be called THE Pennsylvania gambling city. Regardless, some towns are simply more worth visiting than others and have a wider selection of casino joints one might enjoy.
Philadelphia
In West Philadelphia, born and raised, at the casino was where I spent most of my days… okay, the song doesn’t go exactly like that, but it might as well. This casino city in Pennsylvania is home to seven casinos, with slot machines, table games, and all sorts of fun stuff. In fact, it is estimated that these seven places have around 3,955 slot machines and more than 250 tables combined.
Wilkes-Barre
Wilkes-Barre would be a totally forgettable American little town if there wasn’t for Mohegan Sun Pocono. It is the gambling establishment that makes it worth visiting! This gambling city in Pennsylvania has to thank the Mohegan Sun Pocono racino for getting nationwide recognition.
Wilkes-Barre is a top choice for anyone looking for casinos in Pennsylvania with slot machines. The site features over 2,300 slots, live tables of all sorts, and a sportsbook. The main attraction, however, is a 5/8-mile harness track.
Tribal Gaming
There are two tribes that operate commercial casinos, one of them being the Mohegan Tribe of Connecticut, which runs the famous Mohegan Sun Pocono we mentioned previously. The tribe purchased it in 2005 and run it as a business and not as a means of funding for public causes (at least not in the way traditional tribal casinos are).
The second tribe with a good nose for business is the Poarch Creek Indian Tribe of Alabama. Parch Creek Tribe purchased Sands Bethlehem for $1.3 billion and renamed it the Wind Creek Bethlehem back in 2019.
Pennsylvania Casinos FAQs
What is the legal gambling age in Pennsylvania?
To legally gamble inside a casino, you need to be 21 years and older. However, 18-year-old citizens can take part in the lottery, horse betting, bingo, and online casino gambling.
Is online gambling legal in Pennsylvania?
Yes, online gambling is legal in Pennsylvania. However, gambling is only legal on the websites and apps approved by the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board as they are regulated.
What is the largest casino in the State of Pennsylvania?
The Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs is one of the largest and most distinctive casinos. The layout is over 55,000 square feet, and there are about 2,300 slot machines and over 80 table games.
Does Pennsylvania have Indian casinos?
While there are no Indian casinos in Pennsylvania, but there are 2 Native American tribes that own gambling facilities in the state. These are regulated by the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board.
Is sports betting legal in Pennsylvania?
Yes, online sports betting in the State of Pennsylvania is legal. There are eight retail sportsbooks available and only five online operators licensed in the state. In Pennsylvania, most sports betting is done online.
When did Pennsylvania legalize gambling?
In 2004, Pennsylvania legislators passed act 71, which would make progress toward legalizing gambling. This act, also known as the Racehorse Development & Gaming Act, established the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board and helped legalize casinos and racetracks within the state.