Pennsylvania Casinos, Online Gambling and Sports Betting

Pennsylvania's Licensed Online Casinos

Pennsylvania is the US leader in online casino gaming revenue — surpassing even New Jersey. In 2025, Pennsylvania's licensed online casinos generated $2.775 billion in iGaming revenue, a 27% year-over-year increase and the fifth consecutive annual record. January 2026 generated $210.7 million — up 40.5% from January 2024.

All licensed online casinos must be tethered to one of Pennsylvania's 17 licensed land-based casinos. Major brands include:

• BetMGM Casino Pennsylvania: Exclusive co-branded games (76 Slingo, Steelers Blackjack); tethered to Hollywood Casino.
• DraftKings Casino Pennsylvania: 1,400+ slots and 100+ table games; extensive daily promotions.
• FanDuel Casino Pennsylvania: One of the most popular platforms; live dealer and sports betting integration.
• Caesars Palace Online Casino Pennsylvania: First PA live dealer studio opened in Philadelphia; operated with Evolution Gaming.
• bet365 Casino Pennsylvania: Launched 2024 through a partnership with Presque Isle Downs; delivered significant revenue growth.
• BetRivers Casino Pennsylvania, Unibet Pennsylvania, PokerStars Pennsylvania, and others: all PGCB-licensed.

Online Poker — MSIGA Multi-State Network (April 2026)

Pennsylvania joined the Multi-State Internet Gaming Agreement (MSIGA) in April 2026, following Governor Josh Shapiro's October 2024 instruction to the PGCB to enter the compact. Pennsylvania players can now compete in online poker against players in New Jersey, Michigan, Delaware, and Nevada — dramatically expanding tournament fields and cash game player pools. WSOP.com events accessible to PA players expanded from 4 to 33 bracelet tournaments.

Social Casinos — For Entertainment Only

Free-to-play social casinos with no cash prizes remain legal in Pennsylvania and are excluded from the PGCB's sweepstakes enforcement actions.

• 7 Seas Casino: Free-to-play Vegas-style slots. No prizes, no purchase.
• Vegas World: Free slots, poker, and table games.
• Casino World: A broad range of free social casino games.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is online casino gaming legal in Pennsylvania?

Yes — Pennsylvania is the US leader in licensed online casino revenue. iGaming launched in July 2019, authorized under the 2017 gaming expansion act (HB 271, signed by Governor Tom Wolf). The PGCB licences and tethers all online casinos to PA land-based properties. 2025 iGaming revenue was $2.775 billion — up 27% year-over-year. Players must be 21+ and physically within Pennsylvania to access real-money games. Verify any platform's PGCB licence status at gamingcontrolboard.pa.gov before registering.

Are sweepstakes casinos legal in Pennsylvania?

The PGCB treats them as unlicensed gambling and sent "dozens and dozens" of cease-and-desist letters to sweepstakes operators throughout 2025. While some platforms remain technically accessible (they appear as available in our tracking data), the legal environment is actively hostile. Pennsylvania's 21+ licensed online casinos are the legal and protected alternative — they offer the same game libraries with full consumer protection, responsible gambling tools, and dispute resolution rights.

Is online sports betting legal in Pennsylvania?

Yes. Sports betting was authorized in the 2017 HB 271 package; retail sportsbooks launched in late 2018 and online betting in May 2019. Pennsylvania's 36% tax on online sports betting adjusted gross revenue is among the highest in the US. In 2025 the state generated $602.5 million in adjusted sports betting revenue from an $8.8 billion handle. Major licensed operators include FanDuel, DraftKings, BetMGM, Caesars, BetRivers, Fanatics, bet365, and others. Minimum age is 21.

How many casinos are in Pennsylvania?

Pennsylvania has 17 licensed land-based casinos across four categories: six Category 1 racetrack casinos, five Category 2 standalone casinos, two Category 3 resort casinos, and four Category 4 mini-casinos. Combined land-based casino revenue (slots and table games) was approximately $3.4 billion in 2025 — running alongside $2.775 billion in iGaming and $602.5 million in sports betting. Total combined 2025 gaming revenue: $6.796 billion, a record and a 10.7% increase.

What is Pennsylvania's total gaming tax contribution?

Pennsylvania's gaming industry generated nearly $3 billion ($2.98 billion) in tax revenue in 2025 — a record. Tax rates are among the highest nationally: slot machines are taxed at 54% of revenue; table games at 16%; online casino at 54% (slots) and 16% (table games); sports betting at 36% online. These high rates — particularly for slots and online sports betting — fund the state General Fund, property tax relief for homeowners, and local government share accounts.

What responsible gambling resources are available in Pennsylvania?

The Pennsylvania Problem Gambling Helpline is available at 1-800-848-1880, 24/7. The PGCB requires all licensed operators to offer self-exclusion, deposit limits, reality checks, and time limits. Pennsylvania's self-exclusion programme covers all 17 licensed casinos and all licensed online casino and sports betting platforms in a single registration, available at gamingcontrolboard.pa.gov.

Pennsylvania Gambling Laws — The PGCB

Pennsylvania gambling is regulated by the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB), established under the Pennsylvania Race Horse Development and Gaming Act of 2004 (Act 71). The PGCB licences and oversees all 17 land-based casinos, all online casino and sports betting operators, VGTs at truck stops, and fantasy sports operators. The Pennsylvania Lottery Commission operates the state lottery separately.

The landmark 2017 gaming expansion (HB 271, signed by Governor Tom Wolf in October 2017) transformed Pennsylvania's gambling landscape by authorising: online casino gaming (iGaming), online and retail sports betting, online poker, up to ten mini-casinos (Category 4), video gaming terminals at truck stops, and tablet gaming at airports. Pennsylvania became the fourth US state to legalise online casino gaming.

Tax rates in Pennsylvania are among the highest nationally: slots at casinos are taxed at 54% of gross revenue; online slots mirror this at 54%; table games at 16%; online table games at 16%; and online sports betting at 36%. The high tax environment has constrained promotional spending by operators but has generated exceptional tax revenue for the Commonwealth.

Pennsylvania Gambling History

Pennsylvania has a long gambling tradition centred on horse racing and lottery. Horse racing was legalised in 1959 (the Pennsylvania Race Horse Industry Reform Act); the oldest still-operational Pennsylvania racetrack opened in 1963. The Pennsylvania Lottery was established in 1971, with proceeds directed to property tax relief for senior citizens — a politically popular mandate that has driven broad public acceptance of gambling as a revenue tool.

Commercial casino gambling came relatively late. The Pennsylvania Race Horse Development and Gaming Act of 2004 (Act 71) established the PGCB and authorised electronic gaming at racetracks and standalone casinos. Slot machine parlors opened from 2006 onwards. Table games were added in 2010. Pennsylvania grew rapidly: by 2012, it had become the second-largest commercial gaming state in the US by revenue, a position it retained until online gaming made it even more dominant.

The 2017 HB 271 gaming expansion was one of the most comprehensive state gaming bills in US history, authorising online casino gaming, sports betting, online poker, mini-casinos, VGTs, and more in a single legislative package. Online casinos launched in July 2019; online sports betting launched in May 2019. The market grew consistently: $1.25 billion iGaming in 2021, $1.74 billion in 2022, $2.18 billion in 2024, $2.775 billion in 2025.

Land-Based Casinos in Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania's 17 licensed casinos span four categories across the state:

Category 1 — Racetrack Casinos (Racinos)

• Parx Casino and Racing (Bensalem): One of Pennsylvania's highest-revenue casinos; slots, table games, poker, and live thoroughbred racing at Philadelphia Park.
• Harrah's Philadelphia (Chester): Part of the Caesars network; located on the Delaware River with a limestone racetrack; 35-table poker room.
• Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course (Grantville): Penn Entertainment's flagship Pennsylvania property.
• Hollywood Casino at The Meadows (North Strabane Township): 3,500+ slots and video poker; year-round racing schedule; in the Greater Pittsburgh area.
• Presque Isle Downs and Casino (Erie): Churchill Downs Inc. property; partnered with bet365 for iGaming; saw 447% iGaming revenue growth in 2025 from the bet365 deal.
• Mohegan Pennsylvania (Wilkes-Barre): Operated by the Mohegan tribe; full resort with hotel, entertainment, and dining.

Category 2 — Standalone Casinos

• Wind Creek Bethlehem (Bethlehem): Formerly Sands Casino Resort; acquired by the Poarch Band of Creek Indians (Wind Creek Hospitality) in 2019; one of the largest casinos in the Northeast.
• Rivers Casino Pittsburgh: A full-service casino on the North Shore of the Allegheny River, with views of PNC Park.
• Rivers Casino Philadelphia (formerly SugarHouse Casino): Now part of the Rush Street Gaming portfolio; in the SugarHouse neighbourhood of Philadelphia.
• Live! Casino and Hotel Philadelphia: Opened 2021; operated by The Cordish Companies; a major Philadelphia-area resort casino.
• Hollywood Casino York: Penn Entertainment's mini-to-mid-size property; Fanatics sportsbook partnership drove 153% iGaming revenue growth in 2025.

Category 3 — Resort Casinos and Category 4 — Mini-Casinos

Category 3 resort casinos include Valley Forge Casino Resort (Upper Merion Township) and Mount Airy Casino Resort (Mount Pocono). Category 4 mini-casinos are smaller satellite venues authorised by the 2017 expansion — limited to 750 electronic gaming devices and 40 table games — located in communities that voted to accept them.

Responsible Gambling in Pennsylvania

• Pennsylvania Problem Gambling Helpline: 1-800-848-1880, available 24/7.
• PGCB Self-Exclusion: A single registration covers all 17 licensed casinos and all licensed online casino and sports betting platforms. Available at gamingcontrolboard.pa.gov.
• National Problem Gambling Helpline: 1-800-522-4700, available 24/7 by phone, text, and live chat at ncpgambling.org.
• Responsible Gambling tools: All PGCB-licensed operators must offer deposit limits, loss limits, session time limits, reality checks, and cooling-off periods under mandatory PGCB requirements.

References

1. Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board
2. Pennsylvania Lottery
3. Online gambling: are players at risk of prosecution?
4. American Gaming Association