Online Sports Betting in Pennsylvania

Sports betting has been legal in Pennsylvania for several years. After opening its first retail sportsbooks in November 2018, Pennsylvania launched online sports betting in May 2019.

Since then, several new sportsbooks have come to the state, bringing the current total to 13, and the sports betting industry has taken in more than $1 billion in gross revenue.

Here’s everything you need to know about online sports betting in Pennsylvania, including who can bet, where you can bet, and how to bet responsibly.

Details About Sports Betting in Pennsylvania

• Online sports betting has been legal and active in Pennsylvania since 2019. The state boasts one of the country’s largest sports betting markets, featuring over a dozen sportsbook apps, including DraftKings, FanDuel, and BetMGM.
• Pennsylvania’s sports betting industry set its all-time record in January 2022 with a handle of more than $794 million.
• Unlike some other states with legal online sports betting, Pennsylvania does allow residents to bet on college sports, including in-state college teams. However, you cannot place individual prop bets on college athletes.
• Operators who want to open a sportsbook in Pennsylvania must pay a one-time $10 million licensing fee.
• Sports betting revenue in Pennsylvania is subject to a 36% tax rate.
• All online sportsbooks in Pennsylvania must be partnered with a land-based casino. Each licensed casino is permitted to have one online skin. This contrasts PA’s online casino and poker room licenses which allow an unlimited number of skins per license.

Recent Sports Betting News in Pennsylvania

Since launching in 2019, the Pennsylvania sports betting industry has grown rapidly, and more sportsbooks continue to open in the state. Here are some of the most recent developments in Pennsylvania’s sports betting industry:

• May 19, 2022: Pennsylvania sportsbooks report a $572 million handle for April, which marks a 19.5% increase from last April. However, this handle is down about 19.9% from March 2022 due to a slower sports calendar.
• April 19, 2022: After the sports betting industry’s March report, Pennsylvania sportsbooks have officially surpassed $1 billion in gross revenue since the launch of sports betting in the state.
• April 18, 2022: After launching its online sportsbook app in February, PointsBet launches its online casino platform in Pennsylvania.
• April 8, 2022: The payment platform Paysafe announces it’s expanding its partnership with betPARX to Pennsylvania and New Jersey.
• March 16, 2022: Parx Casino relaunches its sports betting app in Pennsylvania. The betPARX app is now live in Pennsylvania and powered by Playtech. The app originally launched in June 2019.
• Feb. 7, 2022: PointeBet officially launches its online sportsbook platform in Pennsylvania.
• Jan. 2022: Pennsylvania sets a new all-time record for betting volume by surpassing a $794 million handle.
• Oct. 2021: Pennsylvania’s sports betting industry takes in a total of $776 million in wagers, setting a new record for betting volume.
• June 28, 2021: The Betway Sportsbook app launches in Pennsylvania as the state’s 13th legal online sports betting platform.

Online Sports Betting Apps Available in Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania is currently home to 13 legal sports betting apps — all of which are partnered with land-based casinos in the state. Here’s a comprehensive list of all the legal online sportsbooks currently available in Pennsylvania:

Are Daily Fantasy Sports Apps Legal in Pennsylvania?

Daily fantasy sports (DFS) apps let you create a fictional team using players from multiple teams and compete against other users in daily and weekly contests to win cash and other prizes. Due to the nature of these contests, some states ban them under their gambling laws, while others consider them to be games of skill. As such, even in states where sports betting is illegal, residents may still be able to participate in DFS contests.

Daily fantasy sports apps are legal in Pennsylvania, and many of the most popular DFS platforms are available in the state, including industry leaders like FanDuel and DraftKings.

How to Place Responsible Sports Bets in Pennsylvania

Anyone 21 or older and located in Pennsylvania can start betting on sports by creating an account with any of the legal sports betting apps available in the state. After verifying your age and identity, you can deposit funds and begin placing bets.

While sports betting can be a fun hobby, it’s important to gamble responsibly as gambling addiction is a serious issue that can have a major impact on your personal life, professional life, mental well-being, and financial health.

Responsible sports betting practices include:

• Only using licensed and legal sports betting apps to avoid scams, fraud, and legal consequences
• Setting and sticking to a strict gambling budget to avoid betting more than you can afford to lose
• Taking breaks or quitting gambling completely, if necessary, to avoid developing a problematic gambling habit
• Never betting while under the influence of drugs or alcohol

If you believe you may be addicted to gambling, contact the National Council on Problem Gambling hotline at 1-800-522-4700 to find local resources that can help you deal with your addiction.

Pennsylvania residents may also consider enrolling for self-exclusion. Self-exclusion allows you to voluntarily ban yourself from casinos, internet-based gambling, video gaming terminals, and fantasy sports wagering.

Pennsylvania Sports Betting FAQs

Editor’s Note: Information accurate as of May 2022.