Pennsylvania Sports Betting: Best PA Sportsbooks, Betting Sites, and Promos - 2024

Is Sports Betting Legal in Pennsylvania?

Yes, Pennsylvania sports betting is legal and launched in 2019. Today, Pennsylvania is one of 40 states that has some form of sports betting legalized or in the process of launching. There are 12 online Pennsylvania sportsbooks, each of which has a retail casino partnership.

The first online sportsbook to launch in Pennsylvania was PlaySugarHouse, launching on May 31, 2019. Since then, 11 additional online sportsbooks have launched, bringing the current total to 11.

With so many options, it can be hard to parse through which one is best and for what purpose, so below, the experts at USA Legal Betting composed a full list of all the sites, breaking down their best attributes so you can choose the one that suits you best.

1. BetMGM Sportsbook PA – 📱Best Betting App in Pennsylvania 
2. Caesars Sportsbooks PA - 🔢Most Competitive Odds 
3. DraftKings Sportsbook PA - ⚾Best for Betting on PA Sports Teams
4. FanDuel Sportsbook PA – 🏈Best for PA Daily Fantasy Betting
5. Fanatics Sportsbook PA - 🎁Best for Reward Programs
6. BetRivers Sportsbook PA - ⚙️Best for User Experience
7. ESPN Bet Sportsbook PA – 📈Best for the Widest Variety of Betting Markets
8. Betway Sportsbook PA - 🏟️Best for Top Events
9. Betfred Sportsbook PA – ⛹️Top Sportsbooks for Betting Props
10. BetParx Sportsbook PA – 🏀Widest Variety of NBA Betting Markets
11. PlaySugarHouse Sportsbook PA – 🤝Great for New Player Bonuses

We covered the best attributes for the 11 online sportsbooks in PA and now we’ll take a closer look at the top Pennsylvania sportsbooks that are live in the state.

Here, we’ll cover the promo offers, minimum deposits, when it launched, and provide resources for sportsbook reviews, sportsbook promos, and more.

With so many high-quality PA sportsbooks available, it can be hard to choose. One way they differentiate themselves is through their welcome bonus for new players. Each PA sportsbook has a unique offer allowing you to earn free bets or site credits, helping you get started on the right foot.

Below are the top five welcome bonuses currently available for players who are new to PA sports betting.

DraftKings Sportsbook - Bet $5, Get $200 & Deposit Match Up to 1,000

DraftKings is currently offering new bettors not one but two welcome bonuses. The first allows players to claim $200 in bonus bets after placing an initial bet of at least $5. The second is a 20% deposit match of up to $1,000. That means new bettors can claim up to $1,250 in bonuses just by signing up, making a deposit, and placing a bet of at least $5.

FanDuel Sportsbook - Bet $5, Get $150 If Your Bet Wins

FanDuel is one of the most popular Pennsylvania betting sites, and their welcome bonus is a big reason why. While their welcome bonus offers a smaller maximum than their competitors, it is a great offer for the average bettor. Unless you are planning to place an initial wager of over $150, FanDuel will give you more bonus bets while requiring the smallest real-money investment.

BetMGM Sportsbook - First Bet Offer up to $1,500

BetMGM Sportsbook is a great option for new players who are looking to swing big on their initial bet. The legendary Vegas-based sportsbook is offering to refund losing initial wagers in bonus bets of $1,500. This means new players can bet big on their initial wager, knowing that if it loses, they will receive the equivalent of their stake back in bonus bets.

BetRivers Sportsbook - Second Chance Bet up to $500

BetRivers has become a major player in the PA sports betting industry. Part of their success can be attributed to their second chance bet welcome bonus. This offer allows new players to place their initial wager, knowing they will be refunded up to $500 in bonus bets if they lose. If the bet wins, the original stake and any winnings will be attributed to the player’s BetRivers account.

📰 June 5, 2024: Caesars Gaining Market Share In Pennsylvania With Harrah’s Philadelphia.

📰 May 15, 2024: Pennsylvania lawmaker to introduce legislation banning credit cards for online gambling

📰 April 24, 2024: PGCB annouces that March 2024, total sports wagering handle is $800,718,332 or 10.67% above the March 2023 total of $723,545,806.

📰 January 22, 2024: Fanatics Sportsbook launched in PA, replacing PointsBet.

📰 October 31, 2023: The Philadelphia 76ers announce that BetMGM will be their new PA sports betting partner.

📰 October 18, 2022: Pennsylvania posts handle of over $645 million during September.

📰 October 18, 2022: FanDuel led all Pennsylvania sportsbooks in handle with $212 million; DraftKings finishes in second at $207 million.

📰 September 19, 2022: The states posted a handle of $363 million in August.

📰 September 2, 2022: Caesars Sportsbook PA relaunches its Sportsbook & Casino app.

📰 August 17, 2022: Reported handle of $336.5 million for July.

📰 August 3, 2022: BetMGM PA pulled its welcome bonus prior to the start of the NFL season.

📰 July 22, 2022: Posted handle of $393.5 million in June.

📰 July 1, 2022: Five PA legislators sent a letter to U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland seeking action against offshore sportsbooks.

📰 June 24, 2022: Fanatics president Michael Rubin sells minority share in 76ers; prepares for Fanatics Sportsbook launch.

📰 June 1, 2022: Pennsylvania had a massive 36% tax rate, but New York went even higher than that at 51%.

📰 January 15, 2023: Pennsylvania sets a new gambling revenue record with $5.2 billion on 22.

📰 March 06, 2023: Penn State study finds problem gambling was down by 7% in 2022.

📰 May 15, 2023: Fanatic acquires PointsBet Sportsbook for $150 million and announces the launch of Fanatics Sportsbook in the summer of 2023.

With 12 online sportsbooks in Pennsylvania right now, the number of potential sites is fairly small compared to others. We know that the Fanatics Sportsbook is working on gaining market access after launching in September 2023.

One candidate for expansion is Golden Nugget, which is available in a few states and has been gaining popularity.

That said, Pennsylvania has always been fairly pro-iGaming, so offering permits to new online sportsbooks should and can be expected.

• Today - PA takes in hundreds of millions monthly across 12 online sportsbooks.
• May 2019 - The first online sportsbook, PlaySugarHouse, launched on the eve of June 2019.
• November 2018 - Hollywood Casino takes the first retail sportsbook bet.
• 2018 - The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board established the processes and regulations for gambling sites.
• 2017 - The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board became the main body for audits over casinos and other betting spots. (HR 519)
• 2017 - Pennsylvanian state legislators passed bill ‘HB 271’, for legal PA sports betting, online casinos, poker sites and daily fantasy sports in the Keystone State.
• June 29, 2016 - The House Gaming Oversight Committee approved HR 619.
• December 2015 - Rep. Rob Matzie, among others, introduced HR 619 to remove the ban on Pennsylvania sports betting and allow it.

Pennsylvania Betting Law 

Dating back to 2015, Rep. Rob Matzie and Rick Kotik wanted to legalize Pennsylvania sports betting.

Then, in 2017, before the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act was overturned in May 2018, the state passed legislation for PA sports betting in October 2017.

Governor Tom Wolf signed the bill into law including online casinos and daily fantasy sports. However, PA sports betting couldn’t launch due to federal law.

Then, when PASPA was overturned, Pennsylvania got to work before eventually launching online sports betting in May 2019.

The first retail sportsbook, Hollywood Casino, launched in November 2018.

To bet in Pennsylvania online, you must reside in the state and be 21 years old.

Who regulates PA sports betting?

Since 2017, the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board has regulated PA sports betting. It was founded in 2004 as a state licensing agency.

The agency administers Act 71, also known as the Pennsylvania Race Horse Development and Gaming Act, which is meant to uphold regulations and give confidence to residents.

The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board introduced a self-exclusionary tool for PA online sports betting in December 2020, making themselves the first to do so.

Absolutely. Not only can you wager on sports from a desktop, but mobile apps are offered for players to make bets, these are offered for both iOS and Android devices.

How do I use a PA sportsbook mobile app?

• Download the app using our exclusive links
• Sign up for an account and get your welcome offer
• Make your first deposit using one of the available payment methods
• Place your first bet 

In Pennsylvania, you can wager on numerous sports. The Keystone State has countless professional sports teams. It is known to have some of the most passionate sports fans in the United States. 

Football

NFL 

The NFL is always the most popular sport to wager on. As you can see from the betting handles above, there’s no coincidence that some of the higher totals come between September and February. Pennsylvania has two professional NFL teams: the Pittsburgh Steelers and Philadelphia Eagles. When it comes to the best NFL betting sites, you can’t go wrong at any of them as the NFL is so popular to bet on.

Super Bowl

The Philadelphia Eagles won the Super Bowl in 2018 before PA sports betting was legal, but returned to the sport’s biggest game last season. The top Super Bowl betting sites will offer a plethora of prop bets, including the color of the Gatorade dumped on the winning head coach.

NCAA football

There are multiple college football teams in Pennsylvania, but the most well-known is the Penn State Nittany Lions. The team has had a lot of famous NFL players like New York Giants running back Saquon Barkley and Dallas Cowboys linebacker Micah Parson. The best NCAA football betting sites will offer single-player prop bets. 

Basketball

NBA

The state of Pennsylvania has been patiently waiting for its home team, the Philadelphia 76ers to have some success. The team fell short last season by losing to the Celtics in the second round of the playoffs, but they should compete for championships for years to come.  You can find all of the best NBA basketall betting sites right here.

NCAA Basketball

Several schools offer college basketball, but in recent memory, schools like Villanova have enjoyed success. The best NCAA basketball betting sites not only offer March Madness—more on that later—but offer excellent prop bets in season. 

March Madness

March Madness is the yearly NCAA Basketball Division 1 tournament. This is some of the most exciting betting you can do during March. This helps Pennysylvania sportsbooks post-Super Bowl time to draw in new players. March Madness betting sites will sometimes offer other ways to enjoy the event such as building your own bracket.

Baseball

MLB

Like the NFL, there are two MLB teams that you can bet on. These include the Pittsburgh Pirates and the National League representative in the 2022 World Series, Philadelphia Phillies. With two teams in the state, there are plenty of excellent MLB betting sites to choose from.

Hockey

NHL

While the NHL isn’t exactly the most popular sport, there are, once again, two professional teams in Pennsylvania. These teams are the Pittsburgh Penguins and Philadelphia Flyers. The best NHL betting sites can be a bit harder to find, but DraftKings and FanDuel do an excellent job with it. 

Golf 

You’ll be able to bet on golf in Pennsylvania, and some of the top bets include the outright winner and whether or not a player will finish in the top five, 10, 15, and more.

NASCAR Auto Racing 

NASCAR betting is quite popular in the United States. Pennsylvania is home to The Tricky Triangle, also known as Pocono Raceway. With a track in the state, the best Pennsylvania betting sites will have exclusive offers when the race comes through town.

Boxing

You can wager on boxing in Pennsylvania as well. Some top boxers to come out of the state include Bernard Hopkins, Danny Garcia, and Jeff Chandler. The best Penssylvania betting sites now include fights such as Anderson Silva and Jake Paul.

MMA 

Whether it’s the UFC, Bellator, or even some other niche leagues, you can bet on MMA. The best MMA betting sites offer not only bigger UFC events, but other niche leagues and even UFC Fight Night events.

Horse Betting

Horse racing betting is legal in Pennsylvania and has been since 2004 when lawmakers passed the Pennsylvania Race Horse Development and Gaming Act. There are six racetracks in the state that feature some casinos. A popular place to go in PA for horse betting is TVG betting.

Soccer

You can bet on soccer, including the Philadelphia Union, at all online sportsbooks in the state. The best Pennsylvania betting sites will not only offer MLS, but other international leagues as well. 

Daily Fantasy Sports (DFS)

You can participate in Daily Fantasy Sports (DFS) in Pennsylvania. The more popular sites include FanDuel and DraftKings. Here, you’ll craft a lineup of players from a particular sport and stay under the salary cap given by the site. 

Tennis

The sport of tennis offers multiple tournaments all over the world and the best Pennsylvania betting sites offer these and live betting options. 

College PA Sports Betting

In Pennsylvania, you can wager on college sports without any restrictions. In some states, you’re not allowed to wager on college teams based in the state, but this doesn’t exist in Pennsylvania. 

Prohibited PA Sports Betting

High School and Youth Sports.

Professional Sports Teams in PA 

Philadelphia Eagles

The Philadelphia Eagles last won the Super Bowl in 2018 with Nick Foles as their starting quarterback. That year, they beat the New England Patriots. Last season, they reached Super Bowl LVII but lost a thrilling game to the Kansas City Chiefs. The Eagles have another great team this season and will look to return to the league’s biggest game in February.

• League: NFL
• When Founded: 1933
• Stadium: Lincoln Financial Field
• Location: Philadelphia, PA
• Partners/ Sponsors (Sportsbooks): Caesars, DraftKings

Philadelphia 76ers

After drafting Ben Simmons No. 1 overall in the 2016 draft, the 76ers had several issues with him after a bad playoff stint. The team eventually traded him to the Brooklyn Nets, but they failed to advance past the post-season in the 22-23 season, regardless of a great performance by Joel Embiid. The Sixers will look to avenge their playoff loss this season with one of the league’s best rosters.

• When Founded: 1946
• Stadium: Wells Fargo Center
• Location: Philadelphia, PA
• Partners/ Sponsors (Sportsbooks): BetMGM, Betway, Caesars, DraftKings

Philadelphia Flyers

Winning Stanley Cups in back-to-back years in 1973-74 and 1974-75, the Flyers, as of late, haven’t had that much success. They last won their division in 2010-11. The bet types in the NHL are pretty much the same as in the NFL, MLB, and NBA. The only difference is instead of the point spread, you have the puck line.

• League: NHL
• When Founded: 1967
• Stadium: Wells Fargo Center
• Location: Philadelphia, PA
• Partners/ Sponsors (Sportsbooks): Betway, PlaySugarHouse

Philadelphia Phillies

The Phillies have been one of the best teams in baseball over the last two seasons. They lost the 2022 World Series and lost in game seven of the 2023 NLCS. With a loaded roster, expect them to continue to compete for years to come.

• League: MLB
• When Founded: 1883
• Stadium: Citizens Bank Park
• Location: Philadelphia, PA
• Partners/ Sponsors (Sportsbooks): N/A

Pittsburgh Steelers

As a franchise, the Steelers have won six Super Bowl titles. They looked far from that last season with rookie quarterback Kenny Picket at the helm, but the team has been improved this season. The Steelers are known for their physical style of play as well as their diehard fanbase.

• League: NFL
• When Founded: 1933
• Stadium: Acrisure Stadium
• Location: Pittsburgh, PA
• Partners/ Sponsors (Sportsbooks): BetMGM, DraftKings

Philadelphia Union

Founded in 2008, the first Union season was in 2010 as an expansion team. Even as a newer team, the Union has succeeded, including leading the Eastern Conference in points in 2022.

• League: MLS
• When Founded: 2008
• Stadium: Subaru Park
• Location: Chester, PA
• Partners/ Sponsors (Sportsbooks): betPARX

Pittsburgh Penguins

The Penguins have one of the longest and richest histories in the NHL. They have been some of the league's greatest players, including Mario Lemieux and Sidney Crosby. They have been dissappointing lately, missing the playoff this past season. Win or lose, Penguins fans have never faltered in supporting their home team.

• League: NHL
• When Founded: 1967
• Stadium: PPG Paints Arena
• Location: Pittsburgh, PA
• Partners/ Sponsors (Sportsbooks): N/A

Pittsburgh Pirates

The Pirates lost 100 games in 2022, but showed improvement with a 76-86 record in 2023. The Pirates were the first team to represent the National League in the first-ever World Series. In total, they’ve won five World Series titles. The Pirates are now in the NL Central and have never won the division.

• League: MLB
• When Founded: 1882
• Stadium: PNC Park
• Location: Pittsburgh, PA
• Partners/ Sponsors (Sportsbooks): BetMGM

College Sports Teams in PA

Penn State

There’s no college football team in Pennsylvania like the Penn State Nittany Lions. Playing in the Big 10, the Nittany Lions may not have much national success in winning national titles. At their home games, you’ll find a “white out,” meaning all the fans are wearing white, which provides a unique home-field advantage.

La Salle

La Salle is a D1 school most known for its college basketball team that plays in the Atlantic 10 Conference. The Explorers haven’t had much recent success last appearing in the NCAA Tournament in 2013.

University of Pittsburgh

Possessing the lone quarterback to go in the first round of the 2022 NFL Draft, it’s hard to deny the football team as the University of Pittsburgh’s most successful program. Kenny Pickett played 52 games for the Panthers and had his best season in 2021. He threw for 4,319 yards and 42 touchdowns.

Villanova

Regarding men’s basketball in Pennsylvania, nothing beats the Villanova Wildcats. Since 2005, the Wildcats have appeared in the NCAA tournament every year except 2012. Playing out of the Big East, they’ve won three national titles (1985, 2016, 2018).

Temple

The Temple Owls have had several high-level coaches come through their football program, including Matt Rhule and Bruce Arians, but their basketball team has had the most success. Coming out of The American Conference, the Owls have made 10 NCAA tournament appearances since 2000 and made it to the Elite Eight in 2001.

Saint Joseph’s

Coming out of the Atlantic 10, Saint Joseph’s men’s basketball team makes up a fifth of the Philadelphia Big 5, including the University of Pennsylvania, La Salle University, Temple University, and Villanova University. The creed of the Big 5 reads, “They say there’s no trophy for winning the Big Five. They must not be from Philadelphia."

Drexel

The Drexel Dragons don’t have any particularly successful teams, but their men’s basketball program made the NCAA tournament in 2021. They’ve also made it to the Round of 32 in 2008 and have a record of 1334-1186.

Not only can you wager on your favorite teams from the comfort of your own home on a desktop or a mobile device, but you can also visit one of the many retail Pennsylvania Sports betting sites throughout Pennsylvania. Sports betting was legalized in November 2018, and Hollywood Casino was the first place to take a bet.

Below are all the places where you can wager in person.

Rivers Pittsburgh Casino

Opening in August 2009, Rivers Pittsburgh is home to a BetRivers Sportsbook, more than 2,400 slots, and 100+ table games. It launched its Pennyslvania sports betting location on December 13, 2018.

Rivers Philadelphia Casino

Formerly known as SugarHouse Casino, Rivers Philadelphia opened in 2010 and has over 45,000 square feet of gaming space. Rush Street Gaming, the Rivers Philly and Pittsburgh owner, rebranded to Rivers Casino. There’s an on-site BetRivers sportsbook.

Like Rivers Pittsburgh, it launched its Pennsylvania sports betting on December 13, 2018.

Harrah’s Philadelphia

Under the Caesars umbrella, Harrah’s Philadelphia is the land-based partner of Caesars Sportsbook. Harrah’s Philadelphia launched on January 22, 2019. The site is located in Chester, PA, and has an on-site racetrack.

Parx Casino

Partnered with betPARX, Parx Casino launched Pennsylvania sports betting in-person on January 10, 2019. The casino is located in Bensalem, PA, and has a site coming to Shippensburg in 2023. You can wager on horse racing here, too.

South Philadelphia Race & Sportsbook

This sportsbook is considered an off-track sportsbook operated by Parx Casino. It launched Pennsylvania sports betting on January 17, 2019. It’s located at 700 Packer Ave in Philadelphia, PA.

Mount Airy

Mount Airy launched in-person Pennsylvania sports betting on September 20, 2019. It offers in-person betting along with a wall of TVs and lounge chairs to watch the games you wager on.

Presque Isle Downs

Partnered with SG Digital, Presque Isle Downs is directly linked to Churchill Downs and is the land-based partner for TwinSpires Sportsbook, the online sportsbook for Churchill Downs. Online Pennsylvania sports betting sites launched on December 16. 2019 whereas in-person launched on July 26, 2019.

Valley Forge Casino

Valley Forge Casino is partnered with FanDuel Sportsbook. Land-based betting launched on March 13, 2019, and FanDuel Sportsbook, in partnership with Valley Forge, launched months later on July 22, 2019.

Hollywood Casino at Penn National

Hollywood Casino is most famous for being the first casino to take a legal sports bet in Pennsylvania, launching in November 2018. There are three Hollywood sites: Penn National, York, and Morgantown. The Penn National site is partnered with ESPN Bet, which launched online Pennsylvania sports betting on November 14, 2023.

Wind Creek Casino

Wind Creek Casino is partnered with Betfred Sportsbook for online sports betting. However, the front-facing site is labeled as Wind Creek. The land-based Wind Creek launched Pennsylvania sports betting three days after Hollywood Casino at Penn National on November 18, 2018.

The Meadows Casino and Racetrack

The Meadows Casino and Racetrack is partnered with DraftKings Sportsbook. Online sports betting for DraftKings launched in the state on November 4, 2019. However, the retail site on the casino floor does not feature DraftKings branding but still offers one of the best Pennsylvania sportsbooks

Mohegan Sun Pocono

Previously partnered with Unibet, Mohegan Sun launched in-person Pennsylvania sports betting on October 22, 2019, followed by Unibet offering PA online betting on November 13, 2019.

Live! Casino & Hotel Philadelphia

Live! Casino & Hotel Philadelphia is one of the most recent retail casinos to open, launching on January 19, 2021. Partnered with FanDuel Sportsbook, Live! Offers a small but luxurious sports betting atmosphere.

Hollywood Casino York

This is another Hollywood Casino sportsbook location partnered with Penn Entertainment. The location features a video wall, dining, and fantastic promotions that keep bettors coming back.

Hollywood Casino Morgantown

Hollywood’s Morgantown location now has a retail sportsbook that is partnered with Penn Entertainment. It is one of Hollywood Casino’s smaller locations, but they do offer a small lounge to place bets and dine as you watch games.

In Pennsylvania, you can bet on sports at casinos, online, on racetracks, and even at satellite locations. The Keystone State is one of the more ahead-of-the-curve legal sports betting states, even ahead of the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act getting overturned in May 2018.

PA legislators passed laws in October 2017 to bring legal sports betting to the state as part of a larger gambling expansion package. Part of that package included HB 271 which included a 16% tax rate on all online gambling verticals and a licensing fee of $8 million

The first retail casino to take a wager was Hollywood Casino at Penn National on November 15, 2018, and the first online sportsbook was PlaySugarHouse on May 31, 2019.

Below, we’ll look at other states that offer sports betting near Pennsylvania and compare them.

New Jersey

While the Pennsylvania sports betting market was one of the first to go live, New Jersey was at the forefront of the fight against professional leagues and the NCAA, eventually overturning PASPA.

The Garden State launched sports betting in June 2018, wasting no time. Before this, New Jersey had online casinos back in 2013.

New Jersey sports betting has seen a $41 billion sports betting handle since launching (data as of November 2023).

New York 

It took some time for online sports betting to come to New York—January 2022—but since it has, New York has brought in an absurd amount of money, seeing multiple months of $1 billion or more. Retail sports betting launched in July 2019.

Maryland 

Maryland sports betting has had retail betting since December 10, 2021. However, online sports betting didn't launch until the beginning of 2023.

In May 2021, legislators passed a bill allowing up to 60 mobile operators, leaving many to speculate how successful Maryland could be handle-wise.

Delaware

Interestingly, Delaware sports betting was the first form of legalization, but it only recently launched its first online sportsbooks. BetRivers is the sole operator in the state, working in conjunction with three casinos. The Delaware Lottery oversees all gambling in the state.

Ohio 

Ohio sports betting became legal in December 2021 and launched in the beginning of 2023. They have seen massive numbers of sports bettors flock to online sportsbooks, so they expected the revenue to be one of the largest in the country in 2023. 

West Virginia 

While there are just five retail sportsbooks in West Virginia, the state went after legalizing sports betting and offered it just in time for the 2018 NFL season.

The first site to open was Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races on September 1, 2018. Online sports betting launched in August 2019, with FanDuel and DraftKings (August 26 and August 28, respectively).

North Carolina

North Carolina sports betting is legal, but only in person. There are two Caesars sites and a tribal casino, Catawba Two Kings. However, mobile sports betting is set to launch until March 11, 2024.

Real money online casinos are legal in Pennsylvania and were actually legalized before sports betting. Legal PA online gambling came to the state in October 2017. The package included online poker, daily fantasy sports, and sports betting.

The first Pennsylvania online casinos—Hollywood Casino, PlaySugarHouse Casino, and betPARX—launched in July 2019.

Today, there are over 20 online casino options. Visit our PA online casinos page to learn more.