PA Sports Betting: Best Pennsylvania Online Sportsbooks

PA sports betting key developments and updates

Pennsylvania sports betting quick facts

Is sports betting legal in Pennsylvania?

Yes, sports betting is legal in Pennsylvania. Former Governor Tom Wolf signed HB 271 into law on Oct. 30, 2017, authorizing retail and online sports wagering in the state. PA retail sportsbooks opened their doors in November 2018.

Currently, Keystone State bettors can access 12 online sportsbooks.

Pennsylvania sports betting promos and bonuses

When Pennsylvania’s legal online sportsbook market launched in 2019, only a handful of sports betting sites were in the mix. That number has swelled to 12 operators, all vying for your attention with generous welcome bonuses and ongoing promotions. New bettors at PA sports betting sites and Pennsylvania sports betting apps can earn bonuses, including:

• $1,000 first bet on Caesars via Caesars
• $1,500 back in bonus bets from BetMGM
• Up to a $500 bonus bet at BetRivers

New sports bettors are encouraged to shop around each of the operators for the best bonus and user experience because the bonus bets and matches won’t always be there, and you want a sports betting site or PA sports betting app that provides an easy-to-use experience, too.

Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER.

Veteran sports bettors who may have already signed up for one or more of these PA online sportsbooks can’t cash in on welcome bonuses. Still, with the industry becoming more crowded and neighboring states snatching market share away from the Keystone State, operators are going to look to build loyalty with long-time players by offering boosted odds, reduced juice, bonus bets, and bonus same-game parlays for those who stick around.

Top Pennsylvania sports betting sites

All Pennsylvania betting sites possess a unique trait that separates them from the crowd. Sportsbooks in Pennsylvania are well-known for features. Like Betway, which offers sports betting and Pennsylvania online casino games for real money, and PointsBet’s proprietary Points Betting system that rewards those who assume more risk.

Why Caesars is the best sportsbook in Pennsylvania

Caesars Palace may have opened its retail casino in the Las Vegas desert more than five decades ago, but the global brand has embraced mobile betting. It is showcasing its industry-leading legal betting app in Pennsylvania and more than a dozen states.

New players can earn a $1,000 first bet when they enter Caesars Sportsbook promo code SBRBONUS1000 during registration. Caesars Sportsbook PA is now an official sports betting partner of the Philadelphia Eagles and Philadelphia 76ers. PA sports bettors can wager on the most significant sporting events like the Super Bowl, World Series, and Masters golf tournament. 

Caesars PA presents a full slate of banking options to help make deposits and payouts a breeze with as short of a wait time as possible.

Should you run into any issues, Caesars Sportsbook's customer support is second-to-none, and sports bettors can chat live with representatives around the clock.

Where to bet on sports in Pennsylvania: Caesars review

PointsBet Pennsylvania 🔴

Since PointsBet PA doesn’t advertise as much as the other top-five Pennsylvania sports betting operators, it continues to fly somewhat under the radar, but 4.8 and 4.7 ratings by mobile users prove that it's among the best products on the market today.

PointsBet offers daily parlay boosts, their name-a-bet feature where you create your wager and PointsBet bookmakers price it for you, and a customized rewards program that can earn you bonus bets daily.

Where to bet on sports in Pennsylvania: PointsBet review

FanDuel Pennsylvania 🔵

FanDuel is an industry leader, offering their popular legal sports betting app in Pennsylvania (along with 20+ other states). You'll find a huge selection of betting markets, along with a best-in-class same-game parlay (SGP) builder, along with their SGP+ feature.

The sportsbook welcomes new bettors with a bet $5, win $150 in bonus bets promotion — no FanDuel promo code necessary. This bonus comes with built-in flexibility, allowing you to split your bonus bets into multiple smaller wagers.

Where to bet on sports in Pennsylvania: FanDuel Review

DraftKings Pennsylvania 👑

DraftKings rivals the very best PA sportsbooks, regardless of where you land on the FanDuel vs. DraftKings debate. With years of experience as a premier daily fantasy sports (DFS) provider, DraftKings transitioned seamlessly into the online sports betting world as soon as it became legal in the U.S.

Bettors will love DraftKings sleek mobile app, frequent odds boosts, and a bet $5, get $150 in bonus bets welcome offer that requires a minimal original stake to take full advantage. You don't even need a DraftKings promo code to activate this offer — it's fully automatic.

  Where to bet on sports in Pennsylvania: DraftKings Review

Pennsylvania sportsbooks honorable mentions

Though these nine remaining online sports betting sites didn’t crack our top two Pennsylvania sportsbooks list, they are reputable betting sites. Check out SBR’s independent and thorough reviews of each sports betting site below by clicking on the links.

• ESPN BET
• Betfred
• betPARX
• BetRivers
• Betway
• SugarHouse
• TwinSpires
• Unibet

How we rate and review Pennsylvania sportsbooks

With 12 Pennsylvania online sportsbooks to choose from, residents of the Keystone State have several factors to consider before signing up for a new account. The SBR editorial team also considers each sportsbook’s unique traits when evaluating, critiquing, and independently rating and reviewing the overall quality of the sports betting site. Our review process focuses on the entire site and betting app but strongly emphasizes these six categories.

Welcome bonuses and promotions

The proverbial juice needs to be worth the squeeze. New bettors love to be wooed by online sports betting sites via generous welcome bonuses and ongoing promotions after the honeymoon ends. This includes first-bet insurance, first-deposit match bonuses, and bonus bets banked after your first wager.

Ongoing promotions can include boosted odds for Pennsylvania-based sporting events like the Pittsburgh Steelers, Philadelphia Eagles, or Philadelphia Flyers, and Pittsburgh Penguins. Sports betting apps also love promoting same-game parlays and have recently gone out of their way to increase the value of these bets for players.

User experience

To each their own, but our SBR editorial guidelines view the user experience in several ways. First, how easy is it to sign up? This should be a streamlined process that is quick and simple. Is the site easy to navigate? Does the app crash often? How many clicks does it take to place a bet? Are there enough banking options to suit your needs? How accessible is customer support, and what security measures are in place to keep my data safe?

Sports bet variety

It may be fun to focus most of your betting energy on the basics, like moneylines, point spreads, and point totals, on the four major U.S. sports leagues: NFL, NBA, MLB, and NH. However, it can get a bit boring betting on the Pirates day after day, right?

Therefore, various sports betting markets and odds are essential to the user experience. This means international sports betting markets like European soccer, international tennis tournaments, and golf tournaments played across the pond.

Banking options

Online sportsbook banking used to be a friction point and barrier to entry, but not anymore. We only recommended the best online sports betting sites, which offer a wide assortment of banking methods, including a wide range of options like credit and debit cards, digital wallets like PayPal, bank wire transfers, and other payout options like check by mail. If you choose that former options, they typically takes less than five business days. A mailed check, however, can take up to 15 business days to arrive at your residence.

Payout speed

Imagine yourself hitting a three-team Philly special parlay, and you’re ready to visit the cashier and process a withdrawal. Here's where you don’t want to wait forever to receive the funds you just won, right? Depending on your preferred banking method, this can take as little as a couple of business days to enjoy your payout. Be sure to review each sportsbook’s review for more details on average payout timeframes or see out list of the fastest payout sportsbooks.

Security and customer support

Online sportsbook and sports betting app security is top of mind for every operator. They know you are trusting them with your personal and financial information. In exchange, the operator uses SSL encryption software to hide your data when it’s being beamed back and forth over the internet.

Suppose you encounter an issue related to account security or banking methods or have a question about an ongoing promotion. Our experts have also based their reviews on customer support teams and response times. At this point, with legal sports betting available in so many states, customer service should become more accessible via the phone, email, and our favorite, live chat. It’s the fastest way to get answers to your questions.

How to start betting in Pennsylvania

The 2023 state budget projects that Pennsylvania’s sports betting handle will creep closer to $8 billion in accepted wagers this year. With the Philadelphia Eagles among the top teams in the NFL and MLB's Philadelphia Phillies competitive, a lot of home cooking in the City of Brotherly Love will have PA sports betting sites sizzling. Here’s how you can get in on the action and start betting in Pennsylvania.

1. Select a sportsbook licensed in PA

For starters, you'll need to choose from one of 12 online sportsbooks licensed in the state by the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board. Caveat: Do not pick one blindly. We go beyond rudimentary checks by independently reviewing each betting site for quality. Read those reviews and do your homework on all the crucial categories we noted above before settling on preferred legal sports betting apps. Once you have honed in on one you like, sign-up or download it to your iOS or Android mobile app.

2. Register online

Next, you’ll sign-up for a new account. The operator, DraftKings Sportsbook, Caesears Sportsbook, etc., will ask you to provide basic personal information such as your name, address, email address, phone number, date of birth, and social security number. The SS number verifies your identity, helps with age verification and expedites payments when you are ready to cash out.

The operator will also send you a verification email to activate your account. At this point, you’ll need to create a unique username and password. The safest account passwords include at least eight characters with a combination of uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and special characters.

3. Deposit and claim a bonus

Following account registration, it’s time to make your way over to the sports betting site cashier. Linking your preferred banking method to your new account is a critical step. Most online sportsbooks accept credit, debit cards, and digital e-wallets like PayPal or ACH bank wire transfers. Remember to punch in your first deposit amount, and clicking submit, keep any welcome bonus promo codes handy because this is where you’ll type them in prior to placing an initial deposit. Once you click submit, you won’t be able to go back and enter the promo code later on and earn those free bet credits.

4. Select and finalize your bet

Now comes the fun part. With your account fully funded and welcome bonus credits applied, it’s time to identify the types of bets—no need to rush the process. Flip through the online sportsbook or sports betting app and find a betting market you know well and are comfortable wagering on based on your experience following the league, team, or player.

Remember, not everything needs to be a moneyline, point spread or point total, over-under wager. Plenty of Pennsylvania sports betting markets allow you to bet on Bryce Harper’s home run totals for 2023, Jalen Hurts' odds to win MVP, or the Pittsburgh Penguins' odds to win the Stanley Cup. Shop for the best odds, and remember to apply for those bonus bets when applicable. Once you find the types of bets you like, add it to your bet slip and click submit. The receipt of your wager will be saved to your account.

5. Withdraw your payout

If you win a couple of bets and are interested in securing the profits, revisit the account cashier page to start the withdrawal process. Enter the amount of money you’d like to withdraw and click submit. Once the payout is approved, some legal sports betting apps send payouts in as little as 48 hours. If you want a check mailed to your house in the Keystone State, it can take up to 15 business days to arrive.

Pennsylvania sports betting handle

Pennsylvania has enjoyed significant handle and revenue growth over the past several years as a state that embraced sports betting in the early innings and become a major player. The betting handle represents how much money in wagers all online sportsbooks, retail sportsbooks, and legal sports betting apps accept in a calendar year. The sports betting revenue is the tax percentage cut the state gets from these operators for allowing them to take sports bets and run their businesses.

In 2022, Pennsylvania’s sports betting handle set a record when it eclipsed $5.2 billion in wagers. That figure was nearly $500 million more than the 2021 PA sports betting handle. The projected handle for 2023 is expected to rise approximately 3%, with Pennsylvania expected to rake in $7.6 billion worth of bets.

Revenue from sports betting handle taxes goes to fund a wide range of state initiatives, including youth programs, gambling addiction treatment, prevention, and resources.

PA sports betting handle 2023

Pennsylvania sports leagues and teams to bet on

Having the option to wager on one’s hometown team or teams can lull us all into a false sense of security. Who else knows your hometown squads' intricacies and advanced metrics better than you? Bookmakers and online sportsbooks make it their business to know better than you. While it might be fun to bet on Pittsburgh’s pro teams and back the Steelers to cover against the Browns based on loyalty and emotion alone, backing your favorite teams is not a sound strategy and can bleed your bankroll quickly.

Before wagering on any Pennsylvania hometown teams, do your homework, and research betting trends, the latest injuries, depth chart changes, and weather conditions that could impact the betting odds and outcome of the game.

While not as popular as the big four pro sports leagues, Major League Soccer (MLS) betting markets are widely available if you’re interested in backing the Philadelphia Union.

As noted on this page, it is legal to wager on Pennsylvania in-state college sports teams such as Temple and Penn State.

Sports bettors can check out the top sportsbooks for specific sports, leagues, playoffs, and categories:

Legal Pennsylvania sports betting options

Pennsylvania was one of the early adopters of online sports betting. Governor Tom Wolf legalized sports betting in October 2017, and the Supreme Court struck down PASPA in May 2018. SugarHouse became the first mobile app in PA a year after the PASPA ruling. There are 12 available online sportsbooks and sports betting apps accepting wagers.

PA’s online and mobile sportsbooks

Land-based PA sportsbooks

Pennsylvania sports bettors have 14 land-based retail sportsbooks to choose from, and what’s nice is that the 14 are not concentrated all in one or two major metropolitan cities.

Who can bet on sports in Pennsylvania?

Legal age

To legally wager on sports in Pennsylvania, players must be at least 21 years of age for both online and retail sportsbooks to accept bets.

Mobile betting

Betting on sports with a mobile app is legal in the state of Pennsylvania. SugarHouse powered on Rush Street Interactive launched the first PA online sportsbook in late 2019.

Remote registration

Pennsylvania residents do not have to visit a physical sportsbook at a retail location to register for mobile sports betting. Players can register on their mobile device, desktop, or laptop computer from anywhere in the state.

Within state borders

Keystone State visitors can wager on sports along with full-time PA residents. To wager at Pennsylvania online sportsbooks and PA sports betting apps, you must be within state borders when you place your wager. Operators will not accept sports bets outside of state borders, which are verified using geotagging location software.

Retail sportsbooks

Pennsylvania offers land-based, brick-and-mortar sportsbooks sprinkled across the state. Wagers can be placed at commercial casinos, betting kiosks, and even a betting lounge inside PPG Paints Arena, home of the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Taxable winnings

The federal government taxes winnings greater than $600 at 24%, but you can claim bet losses to decrease your taxable income from betting—the state of Pennsylvania taxes income at 3.07%. Sports betting revenue is taxed at 36% by the state and its counties. Operators must also pay a $ 10 million licensing fee when applying.

What you can't bet on in Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania provides access to more than a dozen online sportsbooks, and with that comes an introduction of several new betting markets, both domestic and international. From NFL Sundays to March Madness and French Open tennis, betting odds exist for nearly every event on the planet. However, Pennsylvania law prohibits some events from landing on the odds board.

Politics

The 2024 U.S. Presidential election will garner plenty of attention. Still, it is not legal to wager on a political event in Pennsylvania or other states where online sportsbooks operate legally.

Entertainment award ceremonies

Online sports operators cannot offer betting markets for the Oscars, Grammys, or other entertainment events that occur off the field, like the NFL Draft. We all love Taylor Swift, but your inside info on her winning album of the year cannot be leveraged to place a legal wager.

eSports

Compared to most states, Pennsylvania is pretty progressive regarding online sports betting. It was an early adopter of legal sports gambling and allows for betting on college sports, which is a rarity. However, the PGCB does not allow betting on esports despite the popularity of video game tournaments and the industry at large.

What about PA college sports teams?

Pennsylvania players can legally wager on college sports teams both in and out of state and in collegiate events that take place within the state. If you’re itching to lay some money on Penn State football or Villanova basketball futures, online sportsbooks will accept wagers in Pennsylvania.

Responsible Pennsylvania sports betting

The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB) is the governing body regulating sports betting operations in the state. The mission statement revolves around responsible sports betting and gaming, and its responsibility is to ensure the integrity of sports betting within state borders by enforcing laws and regulations. The PGCB is in charge of licensing approval and maintaining regular audits of the 12 operators in the state.

If a Pennsylvania sports bettor believes they are experiencing gambling addiction symptoms, the PGCB site offers several resources and treatment options. This includes a voluntary self-exclusion option that bettors may enroll in, phone numbers to help such as 1-800-GAMBLER, live chat support available 27/7, and low-to-no-cost treatment help supported by the PA Department of Drug and Alcohol Program.

For more information, you can learn how to protect yourself.

Sportsbooks to avoid in Pennsylvania

Before November 2018, Pennsylvania residents looking for online sportsbooks likely had to look at offshore, illegal operators. Though not illegal for players to use, these sites exist in a grey area of sports betting and are not the safest way to wager. You can avoid these illegal sites now that PA offers 12 regulated mobile betting options.

Offshore sportsbooks tend to skirt regulations and have complicated terms and conditions, sketchy banking options, and convoluted payout processes that can take significant time to finalize a withdrawal.

Here are three sportsbooks to avoid in Pennsylvania:

Sports betting across the U.S.

Are you looking for information on sports betting across the U.S.? Check out our comprehensive guide to legal sports betting in the United States.

Sports betting in legal U.S. states

Keep informed about the state of online sports betting in legalized states:

Upcoming legal U.S. states

Stay up-to-date on the potential legalization of online sports betting in the following state:

U.S. sports betting apps

Sports betting in other regions

Ready to place your bets? Check out our list of the top sports betting sites in the US, Canada, Ontario, and the U.K. for the best odds and bonuses:

• Canada best sportsbooks (excludes Ontario)

• Ontario best sportsbooks

• British Columbia sportsbooks

• Alberta sportsbooks

• U.K. best sportsbooks