BetRivers was among the first online sportsbooks to enter the Pennsylvania market, having launched in June 2019. Its first-mover status and strong brand association is helping it to carve out a sizable niche in the nascent PA sports betting market. Pennsylvania Sports Betting: PA Sportsbook Sites, Apps & Promos. Legal sports betting is alive and kicking in Pennsylvania and you can play online if you haven’t done so already. As long as you are physically located in Pennsylvania you can join online sportsbooks, deposit money and place wagers. Here are the 3 Best Online Betting Sites / Sportsbooks Bovada. Bovada has changed the face of Sports betting online. They have a great sportsbook, racebook and one of the largest online poker rooms for players in the US. Their racebook is only open to North American thoroughbred and harness races. Bovada offers a 50% signup bonus up to. Sports betting is available in Pennsylvania and at Parx Casino ®. You can expect all your favorite ways to sports bet, including: spread, moneyline, over/unders, props, parlays, and teasers. All your favorite sports are available too, including pro & college football, pro & college basketball, baseball, hockey, golf, soccer. The path toward legal PA sports betting. The push for legalized sports betting in PA was effectively spearheaded by Rep. Rob Matzie, whose 2017 bill, H 519, eventually found its way into an omnibus gambling package which also authorized daily fantasy sports, online gambling, iLotto, satellite casinos and more.

It’s time to relax if you’ve been cruising the internet looking for the best Pennsylvania sports betting sites.

Our team has put all the contenders under the microscope, and ranked them based on a range of important factors. If you’re in PA, it’s these online sportsbooks you’ll want to use for your real money sports wagers.

With legal sports betting in Pennsylvania, residents in the state have a few options for where to place their wagers. Some of these options are regulated directly by PA, others are based outside the state and regulated by their local gambling authorities.

While it’s good to have options, choosing where to bet on sports in Pennsylvania becomes tricky as a result. First, there’s a decision to make about using land-based sportsbooks or online sportsbooks. And if you decide to bet online, you have LOTS of sites to choose from.

That’s precisely why we’ve compiled our list of the best Pennsylvania betting sites. We’ve made it easy for you to choose a safe and legitimate online sports betting site that provides a great experience.

Ranking the top PA sports betting sites is an onerous task. Luckily, we enjoy what we do. And, more importantly, we take great satisfaction in helping our readers find the best places to bet on sports online.

We’ve written a detailed guide explaining our process for ranking sports betting sites, so we want get into the details here. Just rest assured that we look at every aspect of all the online sportsbooks we assess, and only the very best of them make our list of recommended sites.

You can sign up with one of our top-rated Pennsylvania betting sites with confidence. You’ll enjoy what they have to offer.

Why Bet With Pennsylvania Betting Sites?

You can look at sports gambling in a couple of different ways. There are those that are very serious about making a profit over the long haul, and this can be done, but it’s extremely difficult. It’s not necessarily a lot of fun, because strict bankroll management is required at every turn.

The vast majority of people that would consider themselves to be professional sports gamblers grind out modest positive winning percentages.

Recreational sports betting is usually the way to go, and every sports fan should seriously consider it for a very simple reason.

When you’re watching a game that your favorite team is participating in, you can enjoy about three hours of gripping, edge-of-your-seat entertainment because you really care about the outcome.

If the next game on television features two teams you couldn’t care less about, where’s the intrigue? You may enjoy the sport in general and marvel at some good plays, but the excitement just isn’t there. However, all that changes when you put down some money on one of the teams.

People routinely set aside budgets for entertainment each month. That’s well and good, but you’re never going to get your money back after you go to a movie or purchase some type of content at home.

When you bet on sports, at worst, you got some affordable entertainment. At best, you will be paid some cold hard cash after you’ve enjoyed every second of a contest, and it doesn’t get better than that.

Here some of the reasons why you should use the best PA sports betting sites for your wagers.

If you live close to a brick and mortar sportsbook, you’re not going to take the drive, find a place to park, and walk through the facility to make a bet in the spur of the moment. When you use the top sites for betting on sports online, you can bet at any time, from anywhere, in the blink of an eye.

Imagine going to a sports bar to meet up with some friends after work on a Friday. You see that they will be televising a game in 10 minutes, you intend to hang out for a few more hours. Under these circumstances, you can quickly make a bet on one of the participants and enjoy the game to the utmost.

The PA sportsbooks we recommend are very generous when it comes to the promotions they offer to new and existing players. When you first sign up, you will get some extra money for your troubles, and it can be hundreds of dollars depending on the extent of your initial deposit.

As time goes on, additional promotions will be offered, including reload bonuses. You will be rewarded for referring new players, and if you decide to play at a particular site, you can accumulate loyalty rewards points that have significant value.

Online gambling sites offer several different ways to fund your account and collect your winnings. Each site has different policies, but you can expect to see some combination of Visa, Mastercard, eChecks, bank wires, and Play+ cards.

If you would rather deal in cash, you can make deposits at 7-Eleven and CVS stores using the PayNearMe option.

These are just a few great reasons to consider using our recommended Pennsylvania sports betting sites for you wagers. There are many more advantages to betting online, too.

Why Is Sports Betting Legal in Pennsylvania?

The trail that led to state-sanctioned sports gambling in the Keystone State began in the neighboring state of New Jersey. In 2011, voters there were given the opportunity to weigh in on a proposed state-level constitutional amendment that would allow for the legalization of sports betting.

Right around that time, the casinos in Atlantic City were falling on hard times, and the horse racing tracks were also in need of some type of boost. This proposal would allow the licensed gambling facilities to apply for permits that would give them the ability to offer sports betting as well.

People in New Jersey were open-minded enough to vote in favor of Atlantic City casino gambling back in the 1970s, so they acted according to form when they voted on sports gambling in 2011. By a 2-1 margin, the measure was approved, and then-Governor Chris Christie signed the measure into law in 2012.

A lawsuit was filed by the NCAA in conjunction with the NBA, the NFL, the MLB, and the NHL. They contended that New Jersey could not take this action because it would violate a federal US gambling law.

The statute they were referring to was the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA). This piece of legislation was authored by US Senator Bill Bradley. As a result, it’s alternately referred to as the “Bradley Act.”

In a stroke of irony, Bradley represented the state of New Jersey. His passion for the prevention of sports betting came back around years later to hinder efforts in his home state to boost the economy. His actions also allowed the illegal bookmakers to maintain their monopoly on the activity.

The Jersey sportsbook plans were stalled at first by the courts, but appeals were filed by the state’s legal team. In 2017, the Supreme Court agreed to make the final determination, and they did just that in May of 2018. They struck down PASPA on constitutional grounds.

In short order, Delaware and New Jersey opened up sportsbooks, and Pennsylvania followed suit in November of 2018. It’s now perfectly legal to wager on sporting events at brick and mortar sportsbooks that are licensed by the state, while online sports betting is available at places such the top-rated Pennsylvania betting sites we recommend.

You will find that you can place wagers on a vast array of different sporting events at online sportsbooks that have received our seal of approval. In a real sense, the lineup is identical to what you would see at a well-developed sportsbook on the Las Vegas Strip.

The sport that generates the most interest in the United States is NFL football, and the second most popular sport is college football. It’s no surprise that sportsbooks here take more action on these sports than any other. Indeed, many aficionados feel as though football is the best sport to bet on for a couple of different reasons.

One of them is the fact that it’s ideal for handicapping compared to other sports. There are limited games on the pro and college levels, so each one is important. Since there are no “throwaway” contests on the schedule, you can rest assured that each team will give a supreme effort every time.

The nature of the scheduling also allows for a week between games, and this gives you more than ample time to do your research before you make any bets. On the college side, there are dozens of contests on the board every week, so as a handicapper, you benefit from the sheer volume of possibilities.

From an entertainment perspective, watching a football game with action on the outcome is where it’s at. Each drive is like a game within a game, so each and every play is extremely important. There’s nothing comparable in the sporting world, and this is one of the reasons why football betting generates so much interest.

While it’s true that each scoring event is not that significant in the game of basketball, it’s still a lot of fun to place a bet and watch these amazing athletes do their thing.

March Madness is one of the most exciting times at the sportsbooks, and the NBA playoffs also get hot and heavy.

Our national pastime is a fantastic game on many different levels. This being stated, it’s a bit slow-paced, so it’s hard to get totally engrossed if you don’t have a real interest in the final score.

On the other hand, if you’re betting on baseball, you can turn a boring snooze-fest into a few hours of intriguing drama.

The National Hockey League is well represented at the best Pennsylvania sports betting sites.

You can get down on all the games during the regular season, but as fans know, the real hockey gets played during the Stanley Cup playoffs.

Outside of the “big four” American sports, you will see many other types of sporting events covered by Pennsylvania sports betting sites.

The books take bets on mixed martial arts, boxing, cycling, World Cup soccer, motorsports, golf, tennis, and more.

After a Supreme Court ruling in 2018, the federal prohibition on legalized sports gaming was lifted. Any state that would like to legalize sports betting is now free to do so without interference from the feds, and Pennsylvania took advantage of the opportunity in November of 2018.

Sports betting can enhance your life in a very significant way, because you can turn every sporting event into a few hours of gripping entertainment. If you want to take considerable risks, that’s up to you, but you can alternately stay conservative and have a lot of fun with no real worries.

The PA betting sites that have earned spots on our rankings provide top-notch customer service, and they make it easy to withdraw and deposit funds. They sweeten the pot with robust welcome bonuses, and there are other promotions that can boost your bankroll on an ongoing basis.

You can bet on any and all sporting events at the best Pennsylvania sports betting sites, and there are many different betting options offered online. We find that people who finally take the plunge have just one regret. They wish they had gotten started sooner, because they truly enjoy betting on the sports they love.

Legal Pennsylvania sports betting at the state level launched in 2018, not very long after PASPA's repeal. Their state-regulated betting options expanded to online and mobile sports apps in May of 2019.

Despite ridiculously high licensing fees ($10m), seven casinos had launched physical sportsbooks and/or launched online sportsbooks by the end of 2019. There are currently 12 retail casino sportsbooks, while there are 8+ online domestic books operating in PA.

Pennsylvania residents also have access to international sports betting sites operating legally outside of the US, such as the sportsbooks listed below. Overseas sports betting has been allowed in the United States for over a decade and tends to offer more betting lines across more sports as well as more generous promotions.

Is Sports Betting Legal In Pennsylvania?

Yes. in 2017 Pennsylvania passed a sports betting bill that allows mobile and in-state betting. The bill went into effect in 2018 with brick-and-mortar retail betting options and since May 2019 there have also been state-regulated online and mobile sportsbooks available to in-state residents and visitors.

In addition, there are no sports betting laws in Oregon that prevent residents from placing bets at international sportsbooks that are operating legitimately under the appropriate licensing credentials. The same holds true for US federal gambling laws.

Pennsylvania Sports Betting Laws

The state legislature passed HB271 in October of 2017 in anticipation of New Jersey's success with the Supreme Court as they sought to overturn PASPA. Turns out that was a smart move and allowed PA to be one of the early regions to embrace state-licensed sports gambling as the state launched retail sports betting in November 2018.

Pennsylvania Sports Betting Bills

There is currently not any active legislation relevant to sports betting in the PA state legislature. From time to time new bills have been introduced over the last few years to address fiscal elements of the industry, taxation, regulatory oversight, or expansion proposals.

Our bill tracker tool keeps you up to date with all current legislation and changes being made to state bills that could affect how you wager on sports.

Legally Online Sportsbooks That Accept Pennsylvania Residents

The following are our recommendations for reputable, safe, premium online sportsbooks that accept PA residents. They offer mobile and live, in-play betting, attractive bonus offers, a US-friendly banking suite, and an impressive range of betting lines and wagering options. They are all individually licensed or are owned and operated by a parent company that holds licensing credentials in multiple jurisidctions.

The table below includes their current welcome bonus offers, but if you'd like more information on any of these brands, you can visit our reviews section.

Sportsbooks in Pennsylvania

There are currently several domestic sportsbooks and mobile sportsbooks operating inside of Pennsylvania's borders. The following casinos are some of the most popular PA sports betting destinations, and most of them also have online mobile apps.

• Sugarhouse Casino
• Play SugarHouse (mobile)
• Valley Forge
• Harrah's Philadelphia
• Rivers Casino
• Parx Casino
• Hollywood Casino
• Presque Isle Downs Casino
• South Philadelphia Turf Club

PA Sports Betting Details

Here you can find a brief summary of everything related to sports betting in the state of Pennsylvania. This section is packed with details like minimum gambling age, launch date, in-play betting options, and more.

• Legal Sports Betting: Yes, In-state; Offshore
• Launch Date: October 2018
• Pennsylvania Minimum Sports Betting Age: 21 years old
• Land-Based Sportsbooks: 12+ locations
• Online Sportsbook: State-based, Offshore
• Mobile Betting App: State-based, Offshore
• In-Play/Live Betting: Land-based locations; Offshore
• State Sportsbook Revenue: $37,350,246
• Eligible Operators: Casinos, mobile operators
• Commission: Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board
• Licensing Fee: $10 million
• Tax Rate: 36%

What You Can Bet On In Pennsylvania:

• In-state: All bet types and professional and college sports are allowed.
• Offshore: All betting lines, odds, and props for all games, teams, and players across all college and professional sports.

What You Can't Bet On In Pennsylvania:

• In-state:Politics, Amateur sports.
• Offshore: No restrictions.

Biggest Sports Betting Cities In Pennsylvania

Sports Betting In Philadelphia, PA

Philadelphia, the city of brotherly love, is home to 4 major sports franchises—the Philadelphia Eagles (NFL), Philadelphia Phillies (MLB), Philadelphia 76ers (NBA) and Philadelphia Flyers (NHL). With representation in each of the major US sports leagues, Philly fans have options when it comes to betting. In any case, betting lines are available for all these teams through any of the licensed sportsbooks recommended in our guide.

Sports Betting In Pittsburgh, PA

Pittsburgh has many successful sports franchises and is home to the Pittsburgh Steelers (NFL), Pittsburgh Pirates (MLB) and Pittsburgh Penguins (NHL). Pittsburgh residents are no strangers to winning when it comes to these franchises and betting lines are open for all 3 teams via sanctioned offshore betting sites.

Frequently Asked Questions About Sports Betting In Pennsylvania

Will I Get Arrested For Betting On Sports In Pennsylvania?

No, domestic sports betting launched in 2019 giving PA residents the legal option to betting on sports. In addition to the domestic options, there have been federal or state laws forbidding PA residents from accessing and betting with offshore sportsbooks. Placing a bet with the guy on the street corner (illegal) could get you into some trouble, but placing an illegal bet shouldn't warrant a trip to jail.

Can I Bet On Teams Outside Of PA?

Yes. You can bet on any team outside of PA—betting options are not restricted to your state. PA residents can bet on any team in the US, college or professional, and there are even options for international teams.

Are Mobile Sports Betting Apps Legal In Pennsylvania?

Pa Online Sports Betting Websites

Yes, there are currently several mobile sportsbooks offering betting lines to in-state residents. You can also find several offshore mobile sportsbooks that will accept your wagers at this time.

Who Regulates Sports Betting In Pennsylvania?

The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board regulates the gaming industry in PA. Recently the control board made headlines when they launched an exclusion program where bettors can add themselves to the list to prevent problem gambling.

Pennsylvania Legislative Resources

Pennsylvania Gambling Resources

SportsBetting.legal wants you to enjoy sports betting in a healthy way. If you feel that you have a problem or are developing a problem with sports gambling we suggest you reach out to the PA Council on Compulsive Gambling, or call 1-800-848-1880 to seek help.

Pennsylvania News

Pa Sports Betting Sites

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