Sportsbook Resources
Pennsylvania long ago established itself as one of the most sports-mad regions in the United States.
And thanks to lawmakers setting the stage for the state to legalize sports betting even before the Supreme Court repealed PASPA, it wasn’t long before sports fans in the Keystone State had numerous retail and online options at their disposal.
Read More. ↓Ask 10 Pennsylvanians about their favorite mobile sports betting operator, and you might very well get 10 different answers.
The competition for the lucrative Pennsylvania sports betting market is as fierce as any in the United States. More than a dozen online sportsbooks have already launched within the state’s borders, and it’s a virtual certainty that we will see a couple of additional entries in the field before the year is out.
Here’s a look at our top-rated online sportsbooks in Pennsylvania.
Read Less. ↑Caesars is proving to be one of the most aggressively expanding brands in sports betting. Unfortunately, like all major U.S. sportsbooks, they are quick to limit you if you go on a tear and their odds boost promos offer low maximum bet limits.
Known for: $1,250 On Caesars + 1000 Tier Credits + 1000 Reward Credits®
BetMGM is one of the top-rated sportsbooks in the U.S. offering some of the best live betting odds in the industry. They’re also the largest iGaming operator across the U.S.
FanDuel reigns supreme right now as the No. 1 betting site in America. And it has largely earned that spot on the strength of superior brand recognition, an easy-to-use product, an overwhelming number of markets for North America’s most popular sports, and representation in every state in which it is permitted to offer legal sports betting.
DraftKings had a solid reputation as the leading DFS provider in the country, so the shift to legal sports betting felt natural. They offer one of the most voluminous collections of ongoing promos and odds boosts in the industry as they cater to the beginner crowd. However, their reputation has dwindled as outspoken CEO Jason Robins leads the charge of the anti-profitable bettor mentality that runs rampant amongst sportsbooks that are quick to limit winning players.
PointsBet’s innovative nature shows that they don’t want to just be another book you place typical bets. Unfortunately, they are quick to limit bettors on a hot streak and limit the number of promos you’re able to take advantage of, making it necessary for you to shop at other books regularly.
Barstool Sportsbook’s controversial practices have made them one of the most polarizing companies in sports media. In addition, their fun-over-function business model offers little profitability for bettors who quickly find themselves limited after a hot streak.
Wynn has been steeped in the legal gambling scene in Vegas for as long as anyone out there. In other occurrences where you have an operator with a rich history and influence in retail casino operations and resorts, the focus can predominantly be on slots and table games. The online sportsbook can be a casualty of convenience. We were pleasantly surprised to find that isn’t the case with the WynnBET app.
Unibet offers its customers an excellent online betting experience. Our Unibet review feels that the company's experience as a global brand shines through with a streamlined, easy-to-use gaming platform.
Unless you live near a physical casino/sportsbook to potentially take advantage of some rewards programs, there is no reason to use BetRivers as your primary sportsbook.
Known for: Get up to $500 back in free bets if the initial wager loses
Bally Bet’s bare-bones operation and limited features don’t warrant much consideration as a part of your regular sportsbook rotation unless you find holes in their lines. Still, it’s a company to be bullish about going forward.
The Sports Illustrated Sportsbook is very much in its infancy, which is noticeable upon browsing the betting site or app, as the design is mediocre to go along with below-average betting odds. However, their relationship with 888 Holdings should allow them to evolve as they continue to grow in this hyper-competitive space.
Hard Rock sportsbook is an excellent choice for super casual bettors. It is simplistic and offers some of the best sign-up bonuses for new users looking to try sports betting for the first time or those betting for light entertainment.
Just about everyone loves free stuff, and Pennsylvanians are certainly no different. Pennsylvania-based sportsbooks are clamoring to add new customers – and that’s great news for those of you looking to join the fray. Here are the top bonuses and signup offers available in PA:
PointsBet offers new players a $100 risk-free bet on each of their first five days as an account holder. Their deal is of the "if you don't use it, you lose it" type, so to get the most out of this, you must be super active in your first week as a player.
PointsBet used to be one of the most generous betting sites with their new player promos, but as the industry as a whole has cut back on promotions, so has PointsBet.
Caesars Sportsbook is now offering its "Go Full Caesar this Football Season" welcome bonus for new users. For prospective bettors, your first bet is on Caesars up to $1,250. If the bet loses, you get 100% of your stake back as a free bet.
Note that $10 is the minimum wager amount accepted to qualify for this offer. All credits will be added to a user's account within 7 days. The free bet is for one-time use within 14 days and cannot be divided across multiple wagers.
New users will also receive 1000 Caesars Rewards Tier Credits and 1000 Caesars Reward Credits®, win or lose. Tier Credits contribute to your Tier Status, which gives you more benefits and faster service.
Tier Statuses are as follows:
Gold: 0 – 4,999 Tier Credits
Platinum: 5,000 – 14,999 Tier Credits
Diamond: 15,000 – 24,999 Tier Credits
Diamond Plus: 25,000 – 74,999 Tier Credits
Diamond Elite: 75,000+ Tier Credits
Seven Stars®: 150,000+ Tier Credits (exclusive invitation only)
Sports bettors can earn 1 Tier Credit for every $5 of potential profit on sports bets placed *Up to 10 times the original amount staked* Users can redeem these points when playing, dining, shopping, or staying at Caesars resorts and casinos.
FanDuel regularly changes its welcome bonus, especially during peak sports seasons like the NFL. The latest offer from FanDuel is a "No Sweat First Bet" of $1,000.
If your first bet loses, FanDuel will offer you a free bet credit in the equal amount of your first bet up to $1,000. If your first bet wins, you win.
BetMGM has an average sign-up bonus for Pennsylvanians, offering a $1,000 risk-free bet for new users. It’s a bump up from the lowly $600 they were offering for a while.
With the risk-free bet, you only get money back if your first bet loses, and they match your first bet up to $1,000. There are no minimum or maximum odds restrictions on your first bet, which is nice since sign-up promos usually feature those. While that’s admirable insurance, it rewards you with nothing if your first bet hits. For that reason, deposit matches are generally slightly more appealing.
Barstool Sportsbook has an average sign-up bonus offering a $1,000 risk-free bet for new users. They word it differently by calling it a “2-for-1,” but Pennsylvania residents know better: it’s a standard welcome bonus.
With the risk-free bet, you only get money back if your first bet loses, and they match your first bet up to $1,000. While that’s commendable insurance, it rewards you with nothing if your first bet hits. For that reason, deposit matches are generally slightly more appealing.
At DraftKings Pennsylvania, you will receive a $50 free bet with a minimum deposit of $5. If you don’t have the bankroll to make a more extensive first deposit, this is a humble offer. Still, this is far from generous, considering that DK is a multi-billion dollar industry giant.
The more significant offer DraftKings features is a 20% first deposit match up to $1,000. In this case, you must deposit $5,000 to be eligible to receive the maximum possible bonus amount of $1,000. This is not a reasonable offer for the casual bettor.
If you’re a new user in Pennsylvania, you won’t be floored by the welcome bonus offered at FOX Bet. While the industry standard has been set at $1,000 by leaders such as DraftKings and FanDuel, FOX Bet has decided to provide new users just $500 insurance in the form of a risk-free bet.
With the risk-free bet, your first qualifying bet placed will be refunded if it’s graded a loss in the form of free bets for up to $500. You need to play through that bonus money 1x before you can cash it out. If your first bet wins, congratulations. You get nothing for signing up. But at least you won your bet!
BetRivers PA offers a deposit match up to $250, which is nice as it gives you free money to play with instead of risk-free bets that only award you if your first bet is graded a loser.
The deposit match at BetRivers Pennsylvania isn’t automatically given to you either. You have to opt in to activate it. To do that, go to the Cashier / Deposit menu and make your first deposit. Enter the code 250MATCH within the promo field. Your bonus funds will be applied to your account within 48 hours, and you’ll receive an email once the funds are ready to be activated.
(Note: Terms and conditions apply to all offers and bonuses.)
| 🚀 Launch Date | November 2018 |
| 💰 # of Betting Sites | 14 |
| 📱 Online Sports Betting | ✅ Yes |
| 🎰 Retail Sports Betting | ✅ Yes |
| 🖥️ Online Casino | ✅ Yes |
| 🃏 Retail Casino | ✅ Yes |
| 🏈 College Sports Betting | ✅ Yes |
| 🌎 2022 Population (est.) | 12.9 million |
| 💵 2021 Betting Handle | $6.75 billion |
| 💸 Tax Rate | 36 percent |
PointsBet is the newest horse in the Pennsylvania race, but it brings the strongest set of credentials. The Australia-based sportsbook offers a giant $2,000 risk-free bonus to new users, and provides hundreds of bet types for specific game matchups. Online sportsbooks don’t get much better than this.
Check out our PointsBet sportsbook review.
The famous lion has its paw prints all over the Pennsylvania betting landscape – which is a very good thing for bettors, because the product is terrific. Its ongoing promos and contests are numerous and accessible even to casual players, and its library of available sports is among the largest in the field.
Check out our BetMGM sportsbook review.
Reputation matters in the sports betting game – and it’s hard to quibble with the name cache that Caesars carries. A strong welcome bonus is a great start, and the Caesars Rewards Loyalty Program is one of the most immersive and appealing of its kind in the United States.
Check out our Caesars sportsbook review.
The innovators of the modern-day Same Game Parlay will need to hang their hats on something else, now that most sportsbooks offer the same option. Fortunately for FD and its users, there are a lot of other things to like here, including a wonderfully friendly interface and frequent odds boosts.
Check out our FanDuel sportsbook review.
A few frustrating bits prevent Barstool from reaching the upper tier on this list. It doesn’t offer live streaming, and has been known to lag on live betting from time to time. Still, with some of the most open parlay rules in the industry and a solid risk-free bet for new users, this operator is worth a look.
Check out our Barstool sportsbook review.
DraftKings has a great offer for those of you willing to deposit $5,000 on your initial foray. But that doesn’t do much for a casual bettor, and comes with ridiculous playthrough requirements – and that’s part of the problem with DK, which doesn’t really endear itself to either new players or sharper bettors.
Check out our DraftKings sportsbook review.
FOX Bet is heavy on star power, but light on nearly everything else. A subpar risk-free bet amount is a rough way to start, and it gets worse from there: no standalone rewards program, lighter prop markets than most of the competition and a clunky, glitchy interface put this app firmly in the lower tier.
Check out our FOX Bet sportsbook review.
Give BetRivers credit for lounging up Pennsylvania’s two marquee arenas (more on that later). Unfortunately, there isn’t much else going for this operator: There’s too much happening on the home screen, and its ongoing promos are sorely lacking. Add in a ho-hum $250 deposit bonus, and we’re left unimpressed.
Check out our BetRivers sportsbook review.
Consult our top list above for the best sports betting options available to you in Pennsylvania. Our interactive list allows you to sort sportsbooks based on a number of criteria, including banking options, bonuses and quality of customer service.
If you’re looking for more information before making your choice, be sure to check out our detailed, unbiased reviews for each of the top sportsbooks in Pennsylvania. This is especially important if you want to understand how each book’s bonus offers work.
Registration requirements vary slightly by sportsbook, but most follow the same protocols. Be sure to have your personal information (name, address, phone number) and credit card details (number, expiry date, CVV) handy.
Once you’re comfortable with how your sportsbook’s new signup bonus works, it’s time to make your initial deposit and claim that sweet bonus. The majority of first-time offers for Pennsylvanians come in one of two forms:
Congratulations! You’re ready to place a wager. Take some time to familiarize yourself with the app interface before diving in. Most mobile operators make it easy for new sports bettors to navigate, but it’s still a good idea to know where everything is.
From there, you can place any type of wager you like; the most popular bet types are the moneyline, spread or total. You can also dive into team or player props, or even kick things off with a futures bet.
Once you have the desired wager(s) in your betting card, take one last look to ensure you’ve made the selections you want. If everything is good, simply click the “Bet” button – and you’re off!
You’ll undoubtedly hear divergent thoughts on the history of legal sports betting in Pennsylvania, depending on who you ask.
Some will credit state lawmakers for getting well out in front of the federal government overturning PASPA, putting sports betting legislation in place the year before. Others, on the other hand, will criticize Pennsylvania for not moving as quickly as New Jersey did once the Supreme Court repealed PASPA.
Here’s a look at Pennsylvania’s sports betting history:
Having built a reputation as one of the most formidable casino states in America going into the mid-2010s, Pennsylvania lawmakers opted to set their sights on bigger things. Representative Rick Kotik expressed a desire to bring legalized sports betting to the state back in 2015, hoping to capitalize on what was a thriving illegal betting market.
Kotik had at least one notable backer, who had hoped to take things one step further. Two months after Kotik introduced his bill, Representative Rob Matzie headed up a bill aimed at convincing U.S. Congress to remove the nation-wide ban on sports betting.
While the federal government hesitated to eliminate the ban on sports wagering, Pennsylvania moved quickly to get out in front of a potential law change. In October 2017, Governor Tom Wolf officially signed Bill H271 into law, removing the state ban on sports betting and officially making the practice legal.
That move paid off handsomely, as the Supreme Court overturned PASPA in May 2018. Suddenly, Pennsylvania was in prime position to accelerate the process and have legal sports betting in place in short order. And that’s exactly what happened, with Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course accepting the first retail wager in November.
With retail sports betting officially in place, Pennsylvanians anxiously awaited a rapid influx of online sports betting operators. But it didn’t come – and it was hardly a surprise as to why. Not only did Pennsylvania require a staggering $10 million license fee, it also approved a 36 percent tax rate that ranks as one of the highest in the country.
Gradually, online operators began to yield to the state’s requirements. SugarHouse was the first mobile sportsbook in the market in May 2019, followed closely by Parx, BetRivers and FanDuel. Pennsylvania saw its first $100 million handle month in August, and finished with a respectable $1.5 billion in handle for the year.
On the heels of Pennsylvania welcoming eight online sportsbook operators into the state, a handful of other major players joined the club in 2020.
Caesars Sportsbook launched in March – just as the North American sports world was beginning to shut down due to the COVID-19 pandemic – while Barstool (September), BetMGM (December) and Wind Creek/BetFred (December) followed suit.
The pandemic put a major dent in Pennsylvania’s handle and revenue, resulting in eight-figure handle in April, May and June. But football season brought bettors back in droves, resulting in four straight months north of $450 million in handle to end 2020.
A much more normal sports calendar meant big things for Pennsylvania bettors, sportsbooks and the state. January 2021 saw the state set a new monthly handle record at $615 million, and October’s new mark of $776.3 million kicked off a stretch of three consecutive months with $750+ million in handle to close out the year.
Yet, while bettors came out in full force en route to a $6.75-billion showing in 2021, only one additional sports betting operator came on board. Betway partnered with Live! Casino Philadelphia in June 2021, becoming the 13th mobile sportsbook in the state.
PointsBet’s absence from Pennsylvania was conspicuous – but the Australia-based sportsbook made a splash in 2022 by taking its first wager as part of a three-day soft launch just prior to the Super Bowl.
The state also saw one of the more intriguing happenings in the U.S. sports betting landscape in 2022, with Chickie's and Pete's becoming the first restaurant/sports bar to open a race and sportsbook, doing so via Parx. The popular eatery offers four live customer tellers and four sports betting kiosks for patrons.
The new year also saw a new monthly record handle, as Pennsylvania brought in $793.7 million in January. March was also a lucrative month for the state’s sports betting industry, generating nearly $715 million in handle.
Like most states, Pennsylvania’s state gaming authority has put safeguards in place to ensure that bettors have a way out of any potential trouble spots.
The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board offers players all the tools they need to control their problem gambling, including options for online self-exclusion (where players enroll and are subsequently removed from the gambling vice of their choice.)
Visit the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board site.
It will come as no surprise to see a rather extensive list of major professional and amateur sports available to Pennsylvania bettors – a list that includes (but is not limited to):
That doesn’t leave much off the table, but there are still several markets in which wagering in Pennsylvania is prohibited:
Pennsylvanians absolutely love their pro sports teams – so it’s no surprise to see sports betting take off the way that it has in the Keystone State.
Pennsylvania sports franchises are steeped in history, with the Philadelphia-Pittsburgh rivalries in the NFL, NHL and MLB among the fiercest in each sport. And operators were quick to forge partnership agreements with all of them, getting their logos and brands in front of millions of Pennsylvanians.
Here’s a look at the sports betting picture as it relates to Pennsylvania’s major pro sports teams:
If you want to be a direct part of the Eagles’ partnerships with FOX Bet or DraftKings, you’re going to need money – or an invite. The FOX Bet Lounge at Lincoln Financial Field requires a steep membership fee ($3,750 US for lower level, $7,500 for VIP upper level) while access to the DraftKings Field Club is limited to roughly 20 guests per game.
While the Eagles are tied to three sportsbooks (Unibet also has a partnership with the club), the Steelers seem content to be tied exclusively to BetMGM. The gaming giant became the official Gaming Partner of the team, a deal that includes sponsorship of the kickoff show, broadcast programming and in-game promos and signage.
If you want to get a sense of just how diverse the Pennsylvania sports betting market is, just pay a visit to the Wells Fargo Center. The 76ers have secured partnerships with four different sportsbooks: BetMGM, DraftKings, FOX Bet and Betway. All four have signage deals with the club, while DraftKings is also the team’s official DFS partner.
Major League Baseball sits behind the other three professional sports when it comes to sportsbook partnership agreements. The Phillies have seen a sprinkle of sports betting exposure, with DraftKings sponsoring a pre-game radio show and FanDuel partner Live! Casino Philadelphia becoming an official team sponsor in 2021.
Armed with a predominantly-yellow-and-black color scheme, should we really be all that stunned that BetMGM is one of the leading sportsbook partners for Pennsylvania sports teams? The sportsbook giant joined forces with the Pirates in July 2021, a deal that includes branding throughout PNC Park and the team’s social media content.
While the Flyers aren’t doing a great job of creating memories on the ice, they’ve done plenty of history making off it. The Broad Street franchise was the first in the NHL to have its own sports betting lounge courtesy SugarHouse (later rebranded BetRivers). The venue has a pair of betting lounges, taking up a combined 12,180 square feet.
BetRivers has a monopoly on sports betting lounges in Pennsylvania-based pro arenas. The BetRivers Lounge at PPG Paints Arena opened to much fanfare in April 2021, and features two new rows of luxury seating along with a bar area. The partnership also allows BetRivers to promote within the arena through marketing and ad material.
Unlike a handful of legislated states where retail sportsbooks are limited to two or three locations, Pennsylvania has 13 different cities and towns listed with at least one brick-and-mortar sportsbook. And there’s a good selection of operators available, as well, with only a handful of sportsbooks running more than one.
Here’s a list of the in-person sportsbooks available to those in Pennsylvania:
Harrah's Casino (Caesars Sportsbook, 777 Harrah's Blvd., Chester, PA, 19013)
Hollywood Casino (Barstool Sportsbook, 777 Hollywood Blvd, Grantville, PA, 17028)
Lehigh Valley Race & Sportsbook (Unibet Sportsbook, 1780 Airport Rd., Allentown, PA, 18109)
Live! Casino & Hotel Philadelphia (FanDuel Sportsbook, 900 Packer Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19148)
Mohegan Sun Pocono (Unibet Sportsbook, 1280 PA-315, Wilkes-Barre, PA, 18702
Mount Airy Casino (Mount Airy Sportsbook, 312 Woodland Rd, Mt. Pocono, PA, 18344)
Parx Casino (Parx Sportsbook, 2999 Street Road, Bensalem, PA, 19020)
Rivers Casino Philadelphia (BetRivers Sportsbook, 1001 N. Delaware Ave., Philadelphia, PA, 19125)
RIvers Casino Pittsburgh (BetRivers Sportsbook, 777 Casino Dr, Pittsburgh, PA, 15212)
South Philly Turf Club (South Philadelphia Race & Sportsbook, 700 Packer Avenue, Philadelphia, PA, 19148)
The Meadows Racetrack & Casino (Barstool Sportsbook, 210 Racetrack Rd, Washington, PA, 15301)
Valley Forge Casino (FanDuel Sportsbook, 1160 1st Ave, King of Prussia, PA, 19406)
Wind Creek Casino (Wind Creek Bethlehem's Sportsbook, 77 Wind Creek Blvd, Bethlehem, PA, 18015)
[NOTE: Presque Isle Downs & Casino (TwinSpires Sportsbook, 8199 Perry Hwy, Erie, PA, 16509) is closed for sports betting.]
Pennsylvania was one of the first U.S. states aside from Nevada to start racking up sports betting handle and revenue thanks to speedy legislation before PASPA was even repealed. And while it took a while for Pennsylvania to put up the kind of monthly totals that have now become en vogue, it has carved out a spot as one of the biggest overall handle generators of any state in America.
Here’s a look at Pennsylvania’s monthly sports betting handle beginning in 2018:
| Month | Handle |
| November | $1.4 million |
| December | $16 million |
| Total | $17.4 million |
| Month | Handle |
| Janaury | $32 million |
| February | $31 million |
| March | $44 million |
| April | $37 million |
| May | $36 million |
| June | $46 million |
| July | $59 million |
| August | $109 million |
| September | $194 million |
| October | $241 million |
| November | $316 million |
| December | $342 million |
| Total | $1.5 billion |
| Month | Handle |
| January | $348 million |
| February | $329 million |
| March | $131 million |
| April | $46 million |
| May | $77 million |
| June | $89 million |
| July | $165 million |
| August | $365 million |
| September | $463 million |
| October | $526 million |
| November | $492 million |
| December | $548 million |
| Total | $3.5 billion |
| Month | Handle |
| January | $615 million |
| February | $509 million |
| March | $560 million |
| April | $479 million |
| May | $447 million |
| June | $420 million |
| July | $304 million |
| August | $348.5 million |
| September | $525.8 million |
| October | $776.3 million |
| November | $761.6 million |
| December | $750.4 million |
| Total | $6.75 billion |
| Month | Handle |
| January | $793.7 million |
| February | $597 million |
| March | $714.9 million |
| April | $572.8 million |
| May | $493 million |
| June | $393.5 million |
| July | $336.5 million |
| August | $363 million |
| Total | $4.24 billion |
Pennsylvania bettors came out in force once online sports betting operators came on board. Nearly $1.3 billion was generated during the first full NFL season with mobile sportsbooks in place, and the autumn numbers grew year-over-year in each of the next two years (complimenting equally steady growth over the rest of the calendar).
Participating in one of the largest markets in the United States is a major benefit for the sportsbook operators of Pennsylvania – but the state tax takes quite a bit of sheen off that involvement. Sports betting revenue is taxed at 36 percent, one of the highest rates in the country.
Yes! Retail sports wagering officially began in Pennsylvania in November 2018 (Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course), while SugarHouse recorded the first-ever online wager in the state in May 2019.
You can create an account, deposit, make bets and withdraw using any regulated mobile sports betting app in Pennsylvania, as long as you are within state borders. Be sure to complete all of your transactions before you leave, however; once you’re outside the state, you will no longer be able to access your account(s).
You certainly can! Any regulated mobile sports betting app should work in whatever Pennsylvania-based sports venue you’re in at that time.
Check out our list of the top-rated Pennsylvania sportsbooks above!
You are permitted to wager on any Pennsylvania-based professional or collegiate sports team, as long as sportsbooks are offering odds on those clubs.
At the moment, esports betting is prohibited in Pennsylvania. The state’s House of Representatives introduced legislation in June 2021 that would legalize esports, but it has not yet been approved.
It might only be a matter of time before Pennsylvania residents and visitors can add esports picks to their sports betting tickets, though it’s likely that all markets will need to first be approved by the Esports Integrity Commission before becoming available.
The legalization of sports betting in Pennsylvania was a particularly big deal to mobile sportsbook operators, given the fact that it’s the fifth-most populous state in the country at 12.8 million (2022 estimate). Pennsylvania is second only to New York among states with online sports betting approval.
The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board has jurisdiction over sports betting in the state. You’ll find plenty of information on the website, including directions for self-exclusion, laws and regulations, and mobile sports wagering reports.
Nothing is imminent in this regard, though there are two additional sportsbooks that might launch in the not-too-distant future. Both BetFred and Golden Nugget have expressed interest in entering Pennsylvania, which would bring the total to 16.
